International Social and Behaviour Change Consultant to support the implementation of communication interventions for malaria programme in South Sudan

Contract

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Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

In 2021, UNICEF received Global Funds to mitigate Malaria and its impact in South Sudan. With the advent of COVID-19, additional Funds were availed to align the malaria programme to COVID-19 mitigation measures. Hitherto, socio-behavioural challenges hindered reaching universal LLIN coverage in South Sudan coupled with low levels of knowledge regarding correct and consistent use of mosquito nets, partially due to high level of illiteracy and inadequate coverage and continuity which were linked to social and behaviour change (SBC) interventions.

Sufficient investment in SBC is therefore needful to improve the understanding and commitment of communities to malaria prevention and control, and to improve the effectiveness and outcomes of interventions. SBC activities are included in planned activities during LLIN distribution campaigns as well as community level activities to improve health seeking behaviour. SBC specific interventions are included as integrated components under the vector control and case management modules, as well as cross-cutting interventions. The intervention also aims to improve the capacity of the National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP) and its partners to design and implement effective SBC interventions.

To better inform the mitigation of the COVID-19 pandemic on the malaria programme while ensuring that identified disparities and inequities are considered, Malaria Matchbox Toolkit (MMTK) will be implemented. The implementation of MMTK will offer the opportunity to address the Malaria and COVID-19 responses in an integrated manner, driven by evidence. SBC within this project will therefore focus on three main themes: Prevention; Response and Special Prevention Interventions (SPI). Specific activities have been planned for revamped campaign around the World Malaria Day. The consultant will lead in the implementation of the SBC activities under this programme while working closely with the Health team, NMCP and other key players within the country.

Main Duties and Responsibilities: Main duties include providing technical support towards the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of SBC interventions for malaria programme in South Sudan. Design/adapt capacity development materials and develop training plan for relevant stakeholders on interpersonal communication skills and SBC approaches. Scope of Work: • Support the SBC-TWG and NMCP in development and adoption of SBC strategy for Malaria programme. Ensure integration of COVID-19 into LLIN campaign. • Develop strategies for engagement of community leaders to address and mitigate the misconceptions around malaria response and use of Mosquito Nets. • Support campaign to buttress the mass distribution of LLINs in South Sudan. Adapt available training modules and job aids for BHTs and HHPs. • Provide oversight to /conduct a mapping of key stakeholders, influential, faith-based groups partners and most trusted sources of information to support acceptance and uptake of malaria prevention and response actions. • Lead in building the capacity of national consultants and partners including health workers, community mobilisers, CSOs, frontline workers on behaviour change communication on malaria. • In coordination with NMCP, development and action plan for world Malaria day commemoration at National and State levels. • Support comprehensive community mobilization before, during and after vector control interventions through CBOs and other community partners to address gender and cultural inequities. • Lead monitoring framework and checklists for community uptake of Malaria prevention and response practices. • Support in designing specific message targeting high risk populations of pregnant women and children under the age of 5 years. • Support community engagement with information on best practices to prevent breeding of vectors including compound maintenance. • Support coordination with national and sub-national stakeholders, including government, implementing partners. • Support the on-going implementation of UNICEF communication activities to promote positive behaviours to malaria prevention and seeking treatment. • Lead in implementation of Malaria Match box Survey including coordination with NMCP and other stakeholders as well as management of the consultant and consultancy process. • Support SSCO to strengthen the capacity of national staff to manage a system for registration and payment processes for the community mobilizers for the Cash for Work beneficiaries. • Final report.

Work Assignment Overview Tasks/Milestone: Deliverables/Outputs: Timeline

i. SBC strategy for Malaria programme developed and adopted in coordination with SBC-TWG and NMCP; COVID-19 prevention measures integrated into LLIN campaign SBC strategy for malaria programme adopted 2 months By June 2022 ii. Strategies for engagement of community leaders to address and mitigate the misconceptions around malaria response and use of Mosquito Nets developed Misconceptions mapped and corrected Community leaders’ engagement integrated in community mobilization

iii. Support campaign to buttress the mass distribution of LLINs in South Sudan. Adapt available training modules and job aids for BHTs and HHPs. CBO, BHTs and HHPs trained on SBC Aligned to LLIN Distribution May/June 2022

iv. Provide oversight to /conduct a mapping of key stakeholders, influential, faith-based groups partners and most trusted sources of information to support acceptance and uptake of malaria prevention and response actions. Stake holders mapped and involved in disseminating information on malaria response 3 months By August

v. Lead in building the capacity of national consultants and partners including health workers, community mobilisers, CSOs, frontline workers on behaviour change communication on malaria. In coordination with NMCP, development and action plan for world Malaria day commemoration at National and State levels. Training sessions conducted key players in LLIN distribution

World malaria day coordinated at National, State and county levels Aligned to LLIN Distribution May/June 2022

vi. Support comprehensive community mobilization before, during and after vector control interventions through CBOs and other community partners to address gender and cultural inequities. Community mobilization activities around vector control successfully conducted Aligned to LLIN Distribution May/June 2022

vii. Lead monitoring framework and checklists for community uptake of Malaria prevention and response practices. Conduct Field Monitoring visits Progress reports developed, success, challenges, mitigation measures developed- 2 Months

viii. Support in designing specific message targeting high risk populations of pregnant women and children under the age of 5 years. Message targeting high risk populations developed and used in the field- 2 months

ix. Support community engagement with information on best practices to prevent breeding of vectors including compound maintenance. Message targeting high risk populations developed and used in the field By June 2022

June 2022 – April 2023

x. Support coordination with national and sub-national stakeholders, including government, implementing partners. Support coordination efforts by NMCP/MoH in implementing National Malaria programme in South Sudan Continuous 11 months

xi. Lead in implementation of Malaria Match box Survey including coordination with NMCP and other stakeholders as well as management of the consultant and consultancy process. Gender, social economic and other bottleneck identified and used to formulate SBC interventions May – July 2022

xii. Final report produced and circulated April 2023

Qualifications Requirements

• A Masters’ degree in Health Promotion or, Public Health or Health Communication or Community Health, Social and Behavior Change Communication or another related field is an added advantage. • A minimum of 5 years’ experience in Humanitarian Programming, SBC and emergencies, risk communication and community engagement in developing countries. • Experience in working on immunization- preferably prior experience in new vaccine introduction. • Strong verbal and written communication skills. • Willingness to travel and work in field environments. • Excellent written and spoken English is required.

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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 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.