National Consultant to support the development and implementation of a communication plan for the distribution of Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets (LLIN) in Guinea-Bissau

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

Malaria remains one of the major public health problems worldwide and in Africa. It is one of the main causes of infant mortality in Guinea-Bissau and poses a serious threat to women and children. Plasmodium falciparum is the most prevalent malaria parasite in WHO African Regions, accounting for 94 % of estimated malaria cases in 2020. West Africa had the highest prevalence of malaria exposure during pregnancy (39.8 percent), followed closely by Central Africa (39.4 percent), while prevalence was 22 percent in East and Southern Africa.

The Ministry of Public Health of Guinea-Bissau, through its National Malaria Control Programme (PNLP), with the support of partners, has been intensifying malaria control interventions in the country, namely early diagnosis, prompt and correct treatment, prevention through awareness and use of long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs), intermittent preventive treatment for pregnant women and seasonal malaria chemoprevention (QPS) for children aged 3 to 59 months in target regions.

One of the main prevention strategies adopted in Guinea-Bissau is the free mass distribution of LLINs to the entire population every 3 years – “MILDA campaigns”. The country has already carried out four national MILDA distribution campaigns (2011, 2014, 2017, and 2020).

In 2023, Guinea-Bissau with the support of partners intends to hold another national campaign to distribute free LLINs to the entire population.

For these reasons, the UNICEF Guinea-Bissau Country Office, as a strategic partner of the MoH wishes to recruit a National SBC Consultant to strengthen its communication interventions in contribution to the MILDA campaign.

How can you make a difference?

• Contribute to the development of a communication and social mobilization plan for the campaign.
• Contribute to the development, pretesting and dissemination of advocacy, awareness and social mobilization communication products, and tools (audio and visual) for the CMILDA campaign.
• Contribute to the production and distribution of visibility materials: Vests, posters, flyers, and banners.
• Contribute to the hiring process of service providers for the implementation of the communication plan.
• Contribute to the identification of required stakeholders on messaging related to the CMILDA and monitoring CMILDA activities.
• Assist the international consultant and conducting an Interpersonal Communication training.
• Lead the preparation and follow-ups of coordination meetings.
• Contribute to the planning sensitization sessions for social mobilization and community engagement activities at regional, sectoral, and community levels in collaboration with the international consultant.
• Lead planning, coordination and monitoring field activities related to the CMILDA programme.
• Support the evaluation of results of the communication plan (post-campaign).
• Participate in the rapid and final evaluation of the campaign (post-campaign).
• Prepare and submit a monthly technical report.
• Compile final report at the end of the contract highlighting findings and recommendations for SBC.

Purpose of the consultancy

Under the supervision of the SBC Officer and the International SBC consultant, the National SBC consultant will be responsible for providing the technical assistance to the International SBC Consultant supporting the development of the communication plan for the CMILDA campaign, including SBC requirements. The consultant will also serve as liaison between the International Consultant and the implementing partners to coordinate communication and social mobilization efforts.

General Conditions:

The contract will be for 44 working days over a three-period. This assignment includes field visits in all regions of the country. The consultant will be based at the UNICEF Country Office. The consultant is expected the use their own electronic devices to perform the assignment. However, they will be authorized to use facilities such as the Office copy machine and scanner during the contract period.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTION PROCESS

Interested consultants should provide the following:

1. Cover letter describing the candidate’s relevant experience with similar type of assignments (max 300 words).

2. Updated Curriculum Vitae

Include with your application:

1. A Technical proposal

The candidate should submit a proposal explaining a short description of methodology or approach on how to deliver the results of the assignment as per the TORs including field visits.

2. A financial proposal

The applicant should submit a financial offer including a breakdown of their all-inclusive fees (including professional fees, travel, and other cost).

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

• Bachelor or master's degree in health communication , public relations, social sciences or related fields.
• At least five years of experience in the field of health communication;
• Have experience in drafting strategic communication documents and plans in the healthcare sector;
• Knowledge and experience in the preparation and implementation of campaigns in the health sector and field surveys will be an advantage
• Good knowledge of the health system in Guinea-Bissau;
• Ability to work in a multidisciplinary team;
• Good interpersonal communication skills;
• Experience in the UN Common System is desirable.
• Language: Fluency in Portuguese is required. Knowledge of English is strongly desired

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.