National consultant on COVID-19 Vaccine C4D/Demand Generation activities in Kazakhstan (full-time/office based)

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

Type of contract: Consultant, full-time Duration: 8 months from 1 February 2022 to 30 September 2022 Workplace: remote & office-based (depends on the epidemiological situation)

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, a fair chance

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=E1xkXZs0cAQ

How can you make a difference?

The consultancy is to provide technical support to the MoH in C4D/Demand Generation activities to address COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and increase its uptake.

Purpose of the Assignment

Provide support to the UNICEF Kazakhstan Country Office in organisation and administration of C4D/demand generation activities within the national COVID-19 vaccination programme, including efforts to ensure uptake and access among all eligible populations, address vaccine hesitancy, and combat dis/misinformation:

1. Provide technical support in planning, launching and coordinating the behavioural insights research on drivers and barriers/factors influencing vaccine uptake, aimed at strengthening the national COVID-19 vaccine demand generation campaign. 2. Support the Ministry of Healthcare of the Republic of Kazakhstan (MoH) and regional healthcare departments in their targeted communication interventions to increase vaccine uptake, with a specific focus on the most vulnerable groups: pregnant, adolescents, diabetics, cancer survivors, patients with autoimmune diseases. 3. Facilitating coordination of digital outreach of the activities (special web page COVID-19 on existing vaccination site; social media: content generation & dissemination). 4. Facilitate the launch and implementation of the Kazakh-language special media project to address public concerns and rumors, mis/disinformation in relation to COVID-19 vaccination and promote evidence-based medicine with a focus on Kazakh speaking targeted groups. 5. Contribute to the production and distribution of informational materials for targeted audiences. 6. Provide technical support in engagement of communities, including religious leaders, teachers, other groups to address COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and combat misinformation spread. 7. Contribute to strengthen national capacities beyond the health sector to increase vaccine confidence, including sensitizing teachers on the importance of COVID-19 vaccination in coordination with the relevant authorities. 8. Facilitatee coordination with the involved stakeholders, including the governmental counterparts at the national and local levels, international partners (i.e. USAID, CDC, WHO), UNICEF RO and academia. 9. Conduct monitoring field trips (online or remotely), to ensure timely and efficient implementation of the project to strengthen national system on COVID-19 vaccine demand/acceptance.

The consultant is expected to perform tasks and contribute to the accomplishment of the following deliverables as listed below:

Evidence generation activities: 1. In coordination with the UNICEF Kazakhstan Procurement Officer and UNICEF Regional Office the research on social and behavioural drivers influencing vaccine acceptance and hesitancy (COVID-19 and routine immunization), including the country-specific recommendations for scaling up the vaccines uptake is conducted (including ToR, schedule of the field works, coordination with MoH and other relevant stakeholders and partners, arranging meetings/ sessions and follow up). 2. Discussion with the relevant national stakeholders and partners is organized to present the findings of the research for its validation.

Preparation for roll out of C4D activities: 3. Action Plan is drafted to address the recommendations of the social and behavioural drivers’ research. 4. Regional (oblast) communication departments are provided with the content (social media packs) for demand generation and combating misinformation. 5. COVID-19 vaccination web page is launched on existing vaccination site.

Delivery of C4D events with influencers, teachers, NGOs and social workers: 6. Online live sessions with influencers and experts are conducted. 7. A special media project on addressing public’s concerns and disinformation on COVID-19, routine immunization and evidence-based medicine in Kazakh language is designed and implemented. 8. COVID-19 vaccination materials are designed and disseminated to the regions (pregnant, adolescents, diabetics, cancer survivors, patients with autoimmune diseases, ethnic and religious minorities, social workers). 9. In collaboration with the UNICEF Health & Nutrition Section, 5,000 teachers and school personnel are trained in promotion of COVID-19 vaccination of children. 10. Partnership with the religion leaders (through the religious NGOs or Associations) is built (officially signed agreement) to promote the COVID-19 vaccination among religious groups, in coordination with the relevant authorities. 11. Social workers are equipped with the information materials to increase vaccine confidence and uptake.

Coordinated dialogue with key partners and donor reporting: 12. The relevant working group meetings with participation of relevant stakeholders and partners are conducted to support the implementation of the programme (at least 4 online/offline meetings); field trips are conducted to the regions (online or offline depending on the epidemiological situation). 13. Donor reports are prepared and submitted.

The consultant will work closely with the national and international consultants and partners under the implementation of the main tasks and accomplishment of the deliverables.

Work Assignment Overview

Tasks and deliverables_COVID-19 Vaccine C4D Consultant.docx

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have… • Master’s degree in Public Relations, Communications, Social sciences, Project Management, and other related fields • Experience in organizing and administering sociological research. • Fluency in Russian, Kazakh and English languages and ability to write quality reports, articles. • Highly developed communication and partnership skills. • Ability to work in an international and multi-cultural environment. • Ability to work independently and respond to feedback in a timely and professional manner. • Excellent analytical and organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to contribute to a team. • Competencies: - Communication; - Working with People; - Drive for results; - Planning and Organizing; - Organizing and administering sociological research. - Knowledge of the mass media in Kazakh language. - Partnership and Networking.

For every Child, you demonstrate… UNICEF’s core values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability (https://www.unicef.org/about/unicef-culture) View our functional competencies framework UNICEF Core Values.docx

Remarks: • Completion of the UN/UNICEF mandatory trainings is obligatory upon commencement of the contract. • Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. • 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, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. • 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. • All materials developed will remain the copyright of UNICEF and UNICEF will be free to adapt and modify them in the future. • The Individual contractor or Consultant will perform his/her duties in line with UNICEF standards and procedures. • The successful candidate will be required to have medical insurance (at his/her own cost), covering the whole period of contract, including travel. • 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. • Payment upon completion of each deliverable according to schedule. 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.