Consultant: Risk Communication & Community Engagement, Pretoria, South Africa, 4 months

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

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, HEALTH.

UNICEF South Africa

South Africa continues to respond to the measles outbreak since early 2023, as well as cases of diphtheria that have been reported in the country. In May 2023, the cholera outbreak worsened considerably in parts of Gauteng and has since spread to other provinces. The UN in South Africa, including UNICEF, was asked to respond by the National Department of Health both in the areas of WASH and risk communication and community engagement (RCCE).

This work builds of the extensive COVID-19 response through which UNICEF SA was a significant partner to the National and Provincial Departments of Health, working with civil society, academia, and the private sector to respond to the pandemic. UNICEF SA continues to engage with children and youth, build strategic partnerships, and work with technical experts to be a trusted source of information, promote community action, and influence behaviour to save lives.

This work contributes to UNICEF SA’s emergency public health response according to the UNICEF Cholera Outbreak Response and ongoing routine immunization promotion related engagement.

How can you make a difference?

Under the supervision of the Chief of Communication and Partnerships, while other relevant positions are recruited in UNICEF SA, the ‘Risk Communication and Community Engagement Consultant’ will further strengthen UNICEF SA’s cholera and measles outbreak response. Working in close coordination with the National Department of Health and relevant provincial and district authorities, the consultant will provide strategic inputs and support the management of partners and contractors supporting on the response.

This work contributes to UNICEF SA’s ‘Cholera Outbreak Response Plan’ and measles routine immunization related work. This work will also align with UNICEF SA’s work as a ’trail blazer’ country working on the UNICEF global advocacy related to mental health, with a focus on parenting advocacy.

The Consultant will work closely with internal staff and external partners. This includes, UNICEF SA communication, health, and social and behaviour change teams, as well as the National and Provincial Departments of Health. In addition, the consultant will be expected to provide guidance on emergency response with partners, developing relevant surveys and data gathering to better understand the evolving situation and on communication content produced in-house. This work will play a vital role in the emergency response to current public health emergencies, including the cholera and measles outbreaks. The consultant will bring significant expertise to continue and contribute to UNICEF SA’s strategic response in support of NDoH and UN in South Africa work to slow the spread of and prevent further deaths related to disease outbreaks.

Outputs/Deliverables:

1. Engage with National and Provincial Departments of Health at relevant meetings related to cholera and measles outbreaks and response 2. Support on the guidance and engagement with partners, including civil society, academia and contractors working on the public health emergency response. 3. Input into and finalize social and behaviour change related survey to better understand the needs and gaps related to the measles and cholera outbreaks. 4. Input and guidance on UNICEF SA social media campaign promoting routine immunization, including use of Meta credits. 5. Guidance to UNICEF SA staff on how best to evolve the response in relation to the situation on the ground.

This is a 4-month consultancy that is expected to follow a set timeline.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Social Behaviour Change, Development, Humanities, or Public Health
• A minimum of 8 years of relevant professional experience
• Skills and experience in social behaviour change approaches
• Skills and experience in substantial risk communication and
• Advanced skills in community engagement work on heath emergencies
• Solid experience in working with government, particularly the Department of Health; and in coordinating with partners, including civil society and contractors
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset
• Fluency in English is required
• Knowledge of at least one local language is an asset

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

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 be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

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

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract 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 and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors 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.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.