Consultancy: Social and Behaviour Change Information and Data Management for Outbreaks, Polio Eradication Programme (9 months), Geneva (home based)

Contract

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UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, a future

The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) seeks to ensure that future generations of children will be free from the threat of polio paralysis. Achieving this goal depends on ensuring rapid and effective responses to poliovirus outbreaks in polio-free countries. Polio eradication continues to be an organizational priority and, like COVID-19, is a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC). The number of outbreaks of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV2) has far exceeded global expectations in recent years.

To provide continued support to outbreak response and preparedness, UNICEF is seeking to recruit a Social and Behaviour Change (SBC) Information and Data Management consultant to ensure UNICEF’s accountability during any polio outbreak is best managed as a critical component of the global outbreak Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). With increasing outbreaks and the need to implement a timely response in multiple contexts, additional support for rapid deployment is critical.

How can you make a difference?

The consultant will provide high-quality technical assistance to the country and regional teams to implement data-based campaign assessments, rapid social data assessments, gender assessments, and documentation of best practices to prevent and facilitate the timely response to misinformation and rumours. This will be done by developing data collection and analysis tools and guidance documents, building capacity for social data management, and facilitating the integration of online and offline tools and mechanisms within national response frameworks. Digital engagement and misinformation management is a fast-growing and emerging challenge that requires specific skills and knowledge to address. At present, there is a limited capacity at the global, regional, and country levels to be deployed rapidly to develop strategies, establish operational mechanisms, and collect and analyse data as part of the polio outbreak response.

The recruited consultant will be based in their country of origin and will work remotely under the supervision and guidance of the SBC Specialist for Polio Outbreaks. The consultant will be deployed as a global rapid response team (RRT) member to build capacity and provide assistance in M&E, leading to data-driven and evidence-based plans to quickly close the outbreak.

Key functions and accountabilities include the following:

Under the supervision of the SBC Specialist, the consultant will perform the following duties and responsibilities which are not within the scope of the existing polio outbreak response team:

• Build capacity of the regions and high-priority country teams on data collection, analysis, and interpretation for polio SBC, gender, and misinformation management impacting outbreak response. This includes the development/update of tools and guidance, technical assistance, and online/in-country training.
• Analyze available pre-campaign, campaign, and post-campaign data for consequential geographies and priority outbreak countries in alignment with the global templates and including vaccine management data; Produce relevant analytical reports as required by the polio outbreak team.
• Design tools and guidance for gender assessments in outbreak countries and build the capacity of the countries on gender assessment in close coordination with gender focal points.
• Compile and coordinate key performance indicators for SBC for outbreak countries.
• Design and implement integrated digital data collection tools to optimize and improve on-ground reporting activities on outbreak and parallel epidemic responses, specifically focusing on social data misinformation, rumors, and campaign performance, including vaccine management data. Assess existing mechanisms on the ground to monitor and address misinformation and vaccine perceptions, assess mainstream media monitoring sources and partners in the country, and integrate polio program-relevant reporting into new activities
• Create and implement a misinformation monitoring platform automatically aggregating reported data on misinformation and rumors along with real-time Web Listening data flows and providing real-time analysis and custom reports based on several criteria (district, source, channels, epidemic response segment)
• Provide data management support to ORPG data management working group and Rapid Response Team (RRT)/Incident Management Team (IMST) focusing on social data
• Assist countries in the design and analysis of rapid qualitative assessments.
• Design training sessions and materials to support the training of trainers (TOT) on social data management for polio outbreaks
• Provide ongoing maintenance and support to program managers on improving and updating the relevant dashboards
• Document key activities, lessons learned, and best practices from outbreak response activities.
• Support the organization of relevant outbreak response assessments, tracking recommendations, and following up on implementation.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will…

• Minimum of 6 years of experience in information and data management particularly managing Social data is desirable;
• Experience in working in an emergency context is an asset
• Experience in digital media technologies for development theory and research, participatory processes, formative research, and evaluation.
• Experience with the design and development of web applications, data collection, and visualization platforms
• Data and information management and analysis
• Understanding of media relations, crisis communication, and digital engagement are preferred;
• Fluency in English required (both verbal and written). French, Arabic, and Russian are preferred and will be given additional prioritization within the selection process. Any other language skill would be an additional asset.
• Excellent analytical and writing skills.
• Data management and analysis and M&E capacity would be important.
• Familiarity of the polio program and knowledge of UNICEF SBC efforts would be an additional asset

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

The competencies required for this post are...

• Demonstrates Self-Awareness and Ethical Awareness
• Works Collaboratively with others
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships
• Innovates and Embraces Change
• Thinks and Acts Strategically
• Drives to achieve impactful results

• Manages ambiguity and complexity

  To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

Requirements:

• Completed profile in UNICEF's e-Recruitment system and provide Personal History Form (P11)
• Upload copy of academic credentials
• Financial proposal that will include:
• your daily/monthly rate (in US$) to undertake the terms of references

• Your availability

• Any emergent / unforeseen duty travel and related expenses will be covered by UNICEF.

• At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage.
• Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed satisfactory deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process

Remarks

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants. Consultants are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws