National Consultancy: National COVID-19 Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) Consultant, Juba South Sudan

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, Protection.

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

Support the design, implementation and monitoring of targeted SBC approaches to ensure equitable vaccination coverage among the priority groups. The consultant will also provide technical assistance to MoH in its efforts of integrating COVID-19 vaccination into the Routine Immunization and supporting SBC interventions in counties with Zero-dose and under-immunized children across the country.

Background & Rationale:

COVID-19 vaccines were first introduced in South Sudan in April 2021, targeting health workers and people with comorbidities. So far, two (2) vaccines have been used in South Sudan – AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson (JJ). AstraZeneca, which was the first to be introduced, requires two (2) doses given eight (8) weeks apart whereas JJ, which was the second to be introduced require one dose. Since 2022, South Sudan has been using Johnson & Johnson. The Ministry of Health has trained and deployed health professionals to ensure every eligible person is reached with the vaccine across the country. The COVID-19 vaccines are deployed through fixed health facilities, mobile teams (teams move from one location to another targeting unreached populations), outreach teams (conducted on regular interval to reach populations in areas that have limited access to vaccinating facilities), and Intensified COVID-19 Vaccine Optimization activities (targeting areas with low coverage for a specific duration of time) separately supported by WHO, UNICEF, Health Pool Fund (HPF), WVI and other partners. The vaccinations are also reaching IDP and refugee sites. As of 05th July 2023, a total of 4,158,517 eligible people are fully vaccinated representing 67.57% of the target population and 30.41% of the total population in SS. Also, as per the GAVI Immunization Agenda (IA 2030) that focuses on of “Leaving no one behind “, South Sudan aims to reach the most marginalized and vulnerable populations to ensure equitable inclusion in immunization activities. In South Sudan only about 44% of the population in South Sudan live within reach of health facilities and have consistent access to primary care services, leaving (56%) with little or no access to formal health care. This has largely impacted on routine immunization with national standing only at 47% Administrative data. Through GAVI Equity Accelerator Funding, UNICEF SBC will be providing technical support to MoH/partners and implementation of immunization interventions to reach zero-dose and under-immunized children through identified orphaned health facilities.

In order to reach the global target of 70% of coverage and ensure an equitable vaccination coverage among the priority groups such as the persons with comorbidities for which the coverage is still low (45.78%), additional efforts are required from the Government and its partners. The tranche of the population who remain not vaccinated represents those are hard-to reach, not only geographically, but also the hesitant groups and the youngsters. Specific Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) approaches will be needed to reach these groups.

Furthermore, for the purpose of sustainability and continuity of the COVID-19 vaccination, the country is engaging in the integration of the COVID-19 vaccination into the Routine Immunization. Supporting Social and Behavior Change approaches will be required for a successful programme integration and for the community to take the COVID-19 vaccination as a new norm, part of the national immunization schedule.

UNICEF is seeking to recruit a national consultant to support the development, implementation and monitoring of effective RCCE strategies to ensure equitable coverage of the vaccines and vaccine acceptance and uptake the priority groups and for an effective integration of the COVID-19 vaccination into the Routine Immunization.

Scope of Work

Under the supervision of the Chief of Social & Behavior Change (SBC), in close coordination with the Health Section, the support to MoH and partners, the consultant will support the design, implementation and monitoring of targeted SBC approaches to ensure equitable vaccination coverage among the priority groups (HCWs, elders, people with comorbidities, youth, IDPs, returnees). The consultant will also provide technical assistance to MoH in its efforts of integrating COVID-19 vaccination into the Routine Immunization.

The consultant will be responsible for the following:

1. Facilitate design, contextualization, and implementation of RCCE strategies on Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) including COVID-19 vaccination rollout to enhance public acceptability of the immunization programme and improve uptake in the country.
2. Assist and liaise with government and development partners in capacity-building, advocacy, and other activities to strengthen actions towards changing behaviours and public perception on COVID 19 vaccines, routine immunization, and supplementary immunization programme.
3. Support the conduct of reviews, assessments validations and other EPI-related activities, outbreak investigations for evidence-based development of SBC strategies and policies.
4. Identify the best practices as well as bottlenecks, challenges and constraints of the program or health system of the country through various methods of documentation (e.g., testimonies, case studies, or compiled stories from the field to include photo, video, written or other forms of documentations).
5. Support to identify areas and behavioural determinants that can be addressed by SBC to increase uptake of immunization services country-wide and in selected areas that with low coverage.
6. Encourage and facilitate community and religious leaders’ participation in various coordination meetings for immunization at all levels and support collection and collation of social data on demand creation for activities for immunization programme.
7. Engage community leaders on gender integrated approaches for Covid-19 vaccination, routine immunization, maternal and newborn care at community level
8. Provide direct technical support to the FOs / States in developing SBC related EPI annual work plan for 2022 and ensure implementation of all community engagement activities take place in field as planned.
9. Actively participate in bi-weekly national EPI technical working group meeting and other forums such as COVAX, SIA, RCCE TWG meetings and ensure UNICEF SBC is fully represented in the forum.
10. Closely work with all the FOs / States to plan and conduct evidence-based community engagement activities for COVAX/EPI
11. Support development/ adaption /revision and implementation of training modules and job aids for health workers and vaccinators as both first adopters of vaccines and as advocates for vaccination acceptance and uptake in communities
12. Support the implementation of the Community Feedback Mechanism (CFM) nationally and in all States for increased community participation in the COVID-19 response and EPI programming
13. Build the capacity of national and State level stakeholders in crisis communication, support the dissemination of the crisis communication guideline
14. Organize State-level workshops for the dissemination and contextualization of the SBC Strategy for priority groups and follow up the implementation by the States
15. Support Outbreak response activities including for Polio, Measles and related campaigns as well as new vaccine introduction
16. Final costed demand generation plan, keeping in mind the phased approach with the targeted population groups over the designated time period including oversight to IEC materials and messages.
17. Produce monthly consultancy reports of on-going implementation of SBC activities to promote behaviours to prevent and mitigate the spread of COVID-19

Location: Juba with possible travel to the field.

Work Assignment Overview

Tasks/Milestone: Deliverables/Outputs: Timeline

1. COVID-19 vaccine campaign design & implementation RCCE national strategy for COVID-19 vaccination campaign, training report of campaign stakeholders, campaign activity report on RCCE component available (40 days) 30 Sept 2023
2. Contextualized COVID-19 RCCE strategy for priority groups RCCE strategies addressing priority populations (HWs, elders, youth, IDPs/ refugees/returnees, disabled) implemented in 5 priority States with report available (40 days) 30 Nov 2023
3. Implementation of crisis communication plan National crisis communication plan implemented including training of involved counterparts (spokespersons, media, community mobilizers, etc.) in 5 priority States with report available (40 days) 31 Jan 2024
4. Implementation of integrated COVID-19 and RI SBC activities at state level Integrated COVID-19 & RI SBC strategy and implementation plan and activity reports for 5 priority states, with an emphasis on the engagement of community leaders (religious, women, youth, local authorities, traditional leaders) (40 days) 31 Mar 2024
5. Gender focused capacity building of health managers, frontline workers and community-based actors Integrated and gender focused training module for Health Managers, Social mobilizers / BHWs (Covid-19, RI, gender norms, etc.) rolled out in 5 priority States with activity report available (20 days) 30 Apr 2024
6. Support and monitoring of implementation of Human Centered Design (HCD) Human Centered Design for supporting Immunization implemented with activity report (20 days) 31 May 2024
7. Donor proposals, reporting and documentation Contributions made to donor proposals, reports, and documentations (10 days) 30 June 2024
8. Reporting Final report available with key realizations, challenges, gaps, and lessons learnt (10 days) 30 June 2024

Minimum Qualifications required:

Education level:

Masters degree in social/behavioral sciences, (Sociology, Anthropology, Psychology, Health Education) with emphasis on strategic planning for behavior change, social mobilization and community development, participatory communication, and research

Experience:

• A minimum of 4 years of experience in Social Behavior Change / RCCE Strategic planning and implementation
• Partnership development with Faith Based Organizations is an asset
• Experience in community systems strengthening and capacity building
• Excellent planning and coordination skills, with proven ability to work with various stakeholders
• Fluency in English (verbal and written). Good written and spoken skills in the language of the humanitarian operation and knowledge of Arabic is an asset.

All applications must be accompanied with detailed technical and financial proposal.

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.