Consultant, Communication for Development

Contract

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Background & Rationale

Brazil is one of the countries most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. From the beginning in early March 2020, UNICEF Brazil has been supporting prevention efforts through Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) targeting families throughout the country as well as population groups particularly affected, including those in poor urban neighbourhoods as well as rural communities in the North-East and North of the country, areas in which UNICEF has been implementing its Municipal Seal and the Platform of Urban Centres (PCU) programmes. To reach these audiences, UNICEF has been using its digital platforms as well as other channels tailored to reach specific targets such as local radio stations, print materials online LIVE sessions. UNICEF has also been working with government partners at State and municipal levels to ensure that children, parents and other caregivers, communities in informal settlements, poor neighbourhoods, rural indigenous areas in need etc. receive humanitarian assistance and that sector and intersectoral public policies are adjusted accordingly.

The work of UNICEF contributes both to outbreak control and to mitigating the collateral socio-economic impact of the pandemic, supporting the continuity of essential social services for children, women and vulnerable populations. In this context access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene services proved to be particuarly critical.

Before the pandemic, the UNICEF Brazil Country Programme did not include any WASH activities. Supported by the Regional Office and in collaboration with the World Bank and the Stockholm Water Institute (SIWI) UNICEF Brazil developed a policy brief that takes stock of access to WASH services throughout the country as well as of the efforts at municipal, state and federal level to ensure continued access as a key intervention to support prevention of contamination.

During the second phase of the response, UNICEF will continue its RCCE outreach and add a specific focus on hotspot areas both in the Semi-Arid and Amazon regions (a total of some 250 particularly vulnerable and affected municipalities) as well as in specific neighbourhoods of the 10 state capitals participating in the PCU programme. Further to this, thanks to a grant by the British development partner DFID, UNICEF will support RCCE efforts of municipalities in the federal states of Amazonas and Pará as well as in the capital cities of these states, Manaus and Belém. The objective of this project is to strenghten the water and sanitation sector coordination in these states and cities.

Purpose

Under the guidance of the Chief of Communication and Partnership, and in close collaboration with the COVID Task Force, the WASH coordinator and the Amazon Territory Lead, the consultant will develop a Communication for Development Strategy to guide UNICEF’s RCCE during the second phase of the COVID response, with a specific focus on WASH. The C4D Strategy will ensure that prevention activities in communities, families and facilities (schools and healthcare facilities) are accompanied by behaviour change strategies and activities to ensure adequate adaptation of behaviours and practices.

The consultant will support the implementation of the strategy in close collaboration with the various programme areas involved to ensure proper coordination of social mobilization and community engagement efforts.

She/he will also work closely with the other consultants who are implementing the DFID project in Amazonas and Pará states to ensure that adequate behaviour change and social mobilization elements are included in their engagement with local government partners.

She/he will also ensure that these interventions involve the respective target population in all stages of planning and implementation, based on the principles of Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP).

Main acitivities

• strategy design

The consultant will develop a comprehensive C4D Strategy on Risk communication and community engagement to strengthen behaviour change interventions during the second phase of the response to the pandemic in Brazil. The focus will be on WASH and Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) -related prevention activities. It is expected to support the major programming strategies of BCO, including (i) the COVID response strategy in hotspot municipalities and for the safe re-opening of schools, (ii) the UNICEF-DFID-UNILEVER partnership for WASH policy coordination in the states of Amazonas and Para, (iii) the development of an Accountability to Affected Population (AAP) framework and feedback mechanisms, and (iv) other major flagship programmes, including UNICEF work with indigenous communities . The Strategy will provide guidance on

• the generation of evidence with regards to knowledge, attitudes and practices in the context of Covid prevention among key population groups;
• the involvement of these groups in assessing their needs and planning of activities;
• the integration of C4D activities in the overall phase II work plan;
• collaboration with and capacity building of partners including from local governments;
• the development of effective information materials for community engagement;
• which communication channels and methods to use for strongest impact;
• the use of appropriate monitoring tools.
• the development of an AAP framework and feedback mechanisms to be applied by UNICEF and implementing partners.
• the integration of feedback from affected population into the design of the programme.
• coordinate implementation of C4D activities
• Collaborate closely with the COVID Task Force and particularly the Communication Specialist to ensure integration and alignment of C4D activities with other programme interventions.
• Collect and synthesize qualitative and quantitative information and data to support comprehensive and evidence-based communication and community engagement activities.
• In close collaboration with the Communication Section recommend the development of communication material and the use of channels and platforms for effective community engagement.
• Support the use of digital platforms to create groups among key target audiences for exchange of information and to promote participation and dissemination of positive behaviours.
• Initiate and coordinate capacity building in C4D among partners.
• Establish initiatives to promote the participation and engagement of adolescents, especially among the most vulnerable ones, in the decision-making process in their communities as well as to disseminate behaviour impact initiatives.
• Put in place mechanisms to receive feedback from the affected community.
• integration of phase II C4D activities and the dfid-funded rcce partnership with Amazonas and pará state governments
• Provide guidance on and support implementation of C4D activities as part of the DFID-funded project in Amazonas and Pará.
• Identify possible synergies between phase II activities and the DFID-funded project to strengthen overall behaviour change and social mobilization activities.
• Ensure that the DFID-funded project includes effective feedback mechanisms and that they are used for two-way communication between local government partners and communities.

• oversee monitoring of results

• Monitor and assess the impact of the implemented activities to achieve measureable behavioral and social change resulting in the improvement of children’s rights and wellbeing.

• Submit a qualitative report/synthesis of results for development planning and improvement.

Expected results and Deliverables

Result 1: C4D Strategy

Deliverable: Comprehensive C4D Strategy on Risk Communication and Community Engagement – including an AAP framework - in the context of the UNICEF Brazil phase II response to the COVID-19 pandemic is finalized in coordination with the COVID Task Team.

• Deadline: after one month
• Payment****: 25%

Results 2: Implementation of C4D activities

• Integrated work plan approved containing information on the main behavioral and communication contraints and bottlenecks among target population as well as communication materials and channels to be used to address these challenges.
• Deadline: after six weeks
• Tailored communication material are produced and activities for effective community engagement are initiated.
• Deadline: after six weeks
• Groups on digital platforms are created and facilitated for exchange of information and to promote participation and dissemination of positive behaviours.
• Participation and engagement of adolescents in the decision-making processes in their communities as well as to disseminate behaviour impact initiatives in facilitated.
• Deadline: Both activities are initiated starting six weeks after the beginning of the contract
• In close collaboration with programmes areas, at least two C4D workshops are organized to build the capacity of implementing partners, local leaders and other organizations working on the ground.
• Deadline: 10 weeks after the beginning of the contract
• Payment****: 25%

Result 3: Integration of C4D activities in DFID-funded project

• C4D activities are included in the DFID-funded project in Amazonas and Pará and guidance on AAP is provided.
• Deadline: after 3 months

• Payment****: 25%

  Result 4: Monitoring of results

• Monthly progress report detailing the activities carried out.

• Deadline: Day 30 of each month
• Two monitoring reports on C4D results are submitted, with adjustment being initiated after the first report if necessary.
• Deadline: after 3.5 months and after five months
• Payment****: 50%

Performance Indicators

• Products delivered on time (i.e. inputs for reports, proposals, etc.)
• Products in a high-quality UNICEF parameters (accuracy of documents, clear written, document-supported, etc.)

• Products elaborated with in a formal and consultative process with relevant staffs.

  Competencies

• Drive for results to ensure all deadlines are met

• Ability to produce high quality material
• Ability to work in a team
• Ability to think strategically

Duty Station

Brasília (or other city in Brazil as long as home office procedures are in place)

Key competences, technical background, and experience required

• A university degree in one of the following fields is required: social and behavioral science, social communication, sociology, anthropology, psychology, education, public relations or another relevant technical field.
• A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in one or more of the following areas is required: social development programme planning, communication for development, public advocacy, journalism or another related area.
• Familiarity with emergency contexts considered an asset, particularly if related to WASH
• Knowledge on children’s rights issues, including the Convention of Rights of the Child and the Statute of the Child and the Adolescent.
• Proven ability to manage relationships with partners, including government counterparts, local communities, adolescents.
• Strong writing and communication skills
• Strong communication and collaboration skills with experience in consensus building and in motivating cross-functional teams to meet ambitious project goals and timelines is highly desirable
• Fluency in Spanish or Protuguese is required, working knowledge of English desired.
• Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset

General Conditions: Procedures and Logistics

• Consultant will work from home using own equipment and stationary. UNICEF will provide office space for consultative meetings when needed.
• No contract may commence unless the contract is signed by both UNICEF and the consultant or individual Contractor
• Consultants / ICs will not have supervisory responsibilities or authority on UNICEF budget.

Financial Proposal

Costs indicated are estimated. Final rate shall follow “best value for money” principle, i.e., achieving the desired outcome at the lowest possible fee.

A financial proposal including the fee for the assignment based on the deliverables and number of days must be submitted. Consultants and individual contractors are asked to stipulate all-inclusive fees, including lump sum travel and subsistence costs, as applicable.

The payment will be based on submission of agreed 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.

Restrictions

In case of government officials, the contract cannot be issued without prior written clearance by the Government​, or unless on leave without pay.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all religious and ethnic backgrounds, representing the diversity of Brazil, such as black and indigenous people, to apply to become a part of our organization. Candidates will be treated equally regardless of gender, sexual orientation, special needs, social and HIV/aids status.