EXTENDED - Consultancy - Support Confidence in Immunization and Address Backsliding - LACRO, Panama (12 Months)

Consultant Medical & Health Programme & Policy

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, health

How can you make a difference?

Background

The COVID-19 vaccination implementation has demonstrated large-scale global deficits in adult and life-course vaccination programming and policies. The collateral impacts of the pandemic include an alarming decline in routine immunization, with more than 25 million children missing out on life-saving immunization. (WHO/UNICEF WUENIC data 2022). Additionally, the persistent challenge of reaching zero-dose children and communities necessitates focused attention. WHO UNICEF Estimates of National Immunization Coverage (WUENIC) estimates are considered, and the same target population reported in administrative data is assumed. The countries with the highest numbers of zero-dose children in the LAC region in the year 2021 are Brazil(710k), Mexico(317k), Venezuela(120k), Argentina(112k), Colombia(72k), Ecuador(65k), Haiti(65k), Bolivia(64K), Peru(59K), Guatemala(40k). Voluminous evidence shows that zero-dose children and the communities they live in are often the most vulnerable and underserved group of people in any country. These children share geographic, socioeconomic, religious and/or cultural characteristics which place them at risk of not accessing vaccinations. This is the particular case for LAC, where around 1.8 million children are considered zero dose in countries such as Brazil, Mexico, Honduras, Venezuela, Bolivia, and Nicaragua, among others.

In response, UNICEF’s work on Social and Behaviour Change (SBC) to promote and sustain vaccination demand and uptake places special emphasis on:

i) Promoting pro-equity, gender transformative, and evidence-based tailored strategies to encourage demand and uptake of essential health services, including vaccination, while maintaining public trust in health systems and vaccines. ii) Capitalizing on COVID-19 investments to support demand and uptake for Routine immunization in priority countries while strengthening primary health care and community-based systems iii) Recovering gains in routine childhood immunizations and preventing backsliding through demand interventions to catch up children who have been left behind. iv) Building on its long-standing work of partnering with local actors, trusted networks, alliances and partnerships, UNICEF is uniquely placed to identify and implement strategies to reach zero-dose children through meaningful engagement of communities, particularly in vulnerable marginalized settings. v) Create more demand for vaccination while focusing on zero-dose community

Purpose/objectives of the Assignment

Under the overall guidance and direct supervision of the SBC Specialist – LACRO, and in working in close collaboration with the Senior Advisor for immunization - LACRO, the purpose of this consultancy is to support UNICEF LACRO SBC team in helping country offices to enhance their SBC approaches and tools towards increasing confidence to immunization and address backsliding through Human Center Design, Behavior Insights, system strengthening amongst other approaches and having the priority countries (Bolivia, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Colombia, Cuba, Guyana, Jamaica, and Haiti) as a focus of interventions. Other key areas of this consultancy include capacity building, monitoring, and tracking of progress on vaccine confidence and uptake initiatives regionally. Additionally, in collaboration with global and country office immunization/health teams, the incumbent will support the elaboration, distillation, and dissemination of high-quality knowledge products documenting outcomes of diverse vaccine confidence projects.

Specific Tasks

1- System Strengthening 1.1. Identify key actors (indigenous leaders, faith-based organizations, academic institutions) at the country level. 1.2. Support system strengthening through capacity-building activities and strategic alliances (academic institutions and faith actors).

2- Using Behavioural Insight Research (BI), Human-Centered Design (HCD) and social listening, generate evidence and develop guidance and tools to build the capacity of countries to gather, analyzing and applying social data to inform the design of tailored community demand 2.1. Design behaviour insights research/studies to identify and understand barriers and drivers of vaccination and better understand attitudes toward vaccination (routine immunization and HPV vaccine). 2.2. Support the strengthening of internal and external capacity in maximizing existing social media tools to assess and mitigate hesitancy and risk, including organizing a workshop.

3- Improve Knowledge Management 3.1. Gathering and disseminating high-quality knowledge products documenting outcomes and best practices.

Expected Results

• Enlighten SBC innovative tools and approaches to increase confidence and address backsliding in the most affected country offices in LAC region by zero dose children. • Having key countries offices supported in its strategic SBC interventions, with special focus on Behavioural Insight and Human Center Design. • Enhance the knowledge and dissemination of good practices and lessons learned across LAC and in Global platforms.

Deliverables

1. Updated action plan, considering the tasks and outcomes of this project. 2. Work plan for BI studies in the countries where feasible to understand drivers and barriers to vaccination. 3. Create a mapping of key actors in the nine priority countries (Bolivia, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Colombia, Cuba, Guyana, Jamaica, and Haiti): academic institutions, faith actors, and indigenous leaders, among others.

Generate a capacity-building plan, responding to specific needs identified through country offices, emphasizing BI and HCD for vaccine demand and vaccination services. 5. Draft a regional strategy for alliances with key actors (academic institutions, faith actors and indigenous leaders), considering national contexts, with the objective to implement actions to address social norms and drivers for vaccination confidence and uptake. 6. Design high-quality knowledge products documenting outcomes and best practices.

Description

Duration [in days]

Expected deadline

The updated action plan, considering the tasks and outcomes of this project

6

9 June 2023

Work plan for BI studies in the countries where feasible to understand drivers and barriers to routine immunization.

26 Days

10 July 2023

Mapping Report identifying key actors in the nine priority countries

56 Days

4 September 2023

The capacity-building plan to address specific needs at the country level, emphasizing BI and HCD for vaccine demand and vaccination services

96 Days

8 December 2023

Strategic design document for alliances with key actors (academic institutions, faith actors and indigenous leaders), in the national contexts, with the objective of implementing actions to address social norms and drivers for behavioural change.

156 Days

20 February 2024

Archive of high-quality knowledge products documenting outcomes and best practices.

240 Days

30 May 2024

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

Minimum Requirements and Qualifications Education

• A Master’s degree in Communication, Social Sciences, Statistics, Psychology, Anthropology, Sociology planning development.

Work Experience

• At least 3-5 years of solid work experience in Social and Behaviour Change / Communication for Development contexts, of which 1-2 years working in partnership (setting and/or practical roll out) in developing contexts, including relationship with academic institutions and civil society organizations, in particular in SBC in the area of immunization.
• Knowledge of and experience in immunization, having actively acted in the COVID-19 response through Risk Communication and Community Engagement and/or with participatory approaches.
• Knowledge of and experience in the social, political and economic environment of LAC countries.
• Strong writing skills with track record of conducting training, research and published knowledge products
• Demonstrated experience working with multi-cultural environment Ability to plan, coordinate and disseminate knowledge products.

Languages

• Oral and written proficiency in Spanish and English. Knowledge of French and Portuguese languages is considered an asset.

Other skills and attributes

Additional qualifications:

• Ability to work cross functionally to define problem statements, examine collected data, build analytical models and communicate final recommendations that drive decision making. • An inquisitive and creative mindset and excellent written and verbal communication skills for coordinating across teams, countries and regions. • A Team Player mentality and desire to collaborate with multicultural and diverse colleagues • Excellent project management skills and capacity to work independently.

Administrative details

Supervision

The consultant will work under the direct supervision of the Social Behaviour Change Specialist.

Workplace

This is a home-based consultancy.

Duration

This contract is expected to start in May 2023 and end in April 2024 (with an estimated duration of 12 months).

Insurance

The selected consultant must demonstrate a proof of medical insurance prior to the beginning of the consultancy and must be valid for the entire duration of the contract. In duty stations where UNICEF provides medical evacuation, the medical insurance that the consultant holds should include provisions for medical evacuation.

How to Apply

Application should be submitted online and should include: Resume, Cover Letter and Financial proposal. Qualified candidates are requested to submit daily, monthly and total fees in their financial proposal.

Is travel involved

Travel is foreseen for this consultancy.

Travel [if applicable]

Travel will be covered by UNICEF as per policy • Travel costs will be estimated and added to the contract once they are determined based on UNICEF Financial Rules and Regulations. • For agreed country visits, the consultant/consultant will be responsible in administering their own travel. UNICEF will reimburse travel related expenses based on actual costs or on the below criteria whichever is lower and upon presentation of receipts. • Any travel involved should be budgeted according to UN Travel Standards as a ceiling. • UN Secretariat Administrative Instruction on Official Travel, ST/AI/2013/3: Sect. 4, para. 4.2, numerals (d) and (e) • For information on Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA), can be found on the International Civil Service Commission website (all countries and destinations can be found by navigating on the map).

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.

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Added 11 months ago - Updated 11 months ago - Source: unicef.org