Polio Communication for Development Consultant, Juba, South Sudan (South Sudan Nationals Only)

Consultant Programme & Policy Communications & PR

Contract

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Term of Reference

Contractor: Individual Consultant Technical Assistance to IP (individual)

Title: Polio Communication for Development (C4D) Consultant

Purpose: Provide technical C4D expertise and supervision for planning and implementation of quality communication response to cVDPV2 outbreak in Sudan.

Level: National Consultant

Location: Juba, South Sudan

Duration: 3 months

BACKGROUND AND RATIONALE

Sudan has been polio free since 2015 but is currently facing an outbreak of circulating vaccine derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2). The initial viruses were linked to the ongoing polio outbreak in Chad followed by local transmission. As of 23 September, 22 cVDPV2 cases have been confirmed across 11 of the country’s 18 states. No cases of wild polio have been discovered.

As an immediate response to the polio outbreak, the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) plans to conduct two rounds of the national polio vaccination campaign in October and November 2020 to stop the transmission of poliovirus. A total of 8,610,936 children under five years of age are to be vaccinated in each round. Vaccination will be house-to-house.

Communication for Development (C4D) is a critical component of the polio outbreak response and aims to inform caregivers and communities about polio risks and vaccination campaign in order to ensure their support and acceptance of the vaccination. To achieve it, C4D employs a strategic mix of communication channels and approaches including the engagement of health workers, community volunteers, traditional and social media, community and religious leaders, non-governmental partners and other stakeholders.

UNICEF in Sudan provides technical and financial support to the Health Promotion Directorate (HPD) under the Federal Ministry of Health to develop evidence-based communication plan, implement and monitor communication response activities for the upcoming polio vaccination. Due to the urgency of the response and the need for immediate technical support, a surge Polio C4D Consultant from the RRT was deployed for four weeks to coordinate and plan communication response and budget for the two rounds of vaccination. However, UNICEF Sudan needs additional C4D technical staff who can take over and continue supporting the government counterparts with communication and social mobilisation activities. The international polio communication / C4D consultant will be responsible for the overall coordination and supervision of the planned activities.

Therefore, UNICEF Country Office in Sudan is looking for a professional national communication / C4D consultant to support with polio communication response activities in the upcoming vaccination campaigns.

OBJECTIVES

The objective of the consultancy is to provide C4D support to the State and District level health promotion structures to plan, implement and monitor communication and social mobilization activities for polio vaccination campaigns in Sudan. Specific objectives include:

• Provide technical assistance to evidence-based planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and documentation of communication activities;
• Contribute to improving caregivers' awareness of polio risks and vaccine acceptance prior to vaccination /vaccinators visits;
• Contribute to the reduction of unvaccinated (missed) children due to vaccine hesitancy and refusals;
• Contribute to improving coverage by routine immunization, particularly in areas with low immunization coverage

DESCRIPTION OF THE ASSIGNMENT (SCOPE OF WORK) / SPECIFIC TASKS

Under the direct supervision of the International Polio C4D Consultant and the Country Office Chief of Communication for Development, the consultant will perform the following duties and responsibilities:

Before polio vaccination campaign

• Provide technical assistance for the development of evidence-based communication micro-plans (Independent Monitoring, Lot Quality Assurance Survey, KAP studies, and social research);

• Provide technically support to subnational communication sub-committees;

• Provide support to subnational Health Promotion to map out hard-to-reach areas, special populations (refugees, IDPs, migrants, nomads, etc.) as well as communities, who may refuse or hesitate vaccination;

• Provide technical support to building capacities of subnational Health Promotion and other stakeholders in planning and implementation of advocacy and social mobilization for polio vaccination;

• Ensure that national communication guidelines are well received and understood at subnational levels;

• Ensure that recruitment of community social mobilisers follows the pre-established criteria and guidelines;

• Provide technical assistance in planning of training / orientation of stakeholders at subnational levels;

• Provide support to quality assurance of capacity building of all stakeholders engaged in social mobilization and communication;

• Ensure timely and on-time distribution of media and other communication inputs in accordance with communication plan

• Participate in all meetings and teleconferences;

• Ensure that sub-national budgets for training and community-based activities are complete and duly submitted at subnational levels;

• Support communication research and evaluation on immunization services and polio campaigns;

• Provide support with piloting and rollout of Information Communication and Technology (ICT) tools for information dissemination, monitoring, report, rumor tracking and research.

• Support fund-raising and fund-leveraging efforts at subnational level for vaccination campaigns;

• Support advocacy and awareness-raising on systematic Epi. and disease surveillance;

• Technical assistance for effective monitoring of rumors and misinformation, and device strategies, identify to tackle them.

During Polio Vaccination Campaign (Round)

• Oversee the implementation of communication and social mobilization activities especially in areas with underserved and hard-to-reach populations focusing on vaccine refusals and hesitancy;

• Provide strategic support to address refusal cases and rumors/ misinformation;

• Encourage and facilitate community participation in coordination meetings at all levels;

• Encourage and facilitate participation of community and religious leaders;

• Support the collection and reporting of communication data;

• Monitor funds utilization at subnational levels

After polio vaccination campaign

• Provide support to active search and retrieval of mOPV2 in health areas;

• Provide support to campaign independent monitoring with specific focus on lessons learned, good practices and recommendations for communication and social mobilization.

Other duties and responsibilities

• Provide support to social mobilization and communication activities for routine immunization (evidence-based planning, implementation and monitoring-evaluation);

• Provide support to the development and implementation a community-based surveillance plan;

• Develop Communication. and Social Mobilization innovations/ initiatives that should lead to ownership of vaccination activities by local communities, particularly among special pop/ underserved and hard-to-reach communities;

• Produce weekly, monthly and final reports

• Other tasks and assignments as required for successful outbreak response to the outbreak.

EXPECTED DELIVERABLES

Expected Output/Deliverables

• All areas social mobilization and communication micro-plans;
• Special populations and anti-vaccination groups at subnational levels are mapped out and updated before each round
• Vaccine and vaccination refusals are duly and effectively addressed.
• Religious and community leaders are oriented for the importance of vaccination and they publicly support children’s immunization.
• Promoters and social mobilizers are well trained to lead the community mobilization activities.
• Radio stations and media personnel are well oriented on the objective, duration and target of the polio campaign.
• Follow-up on the C4D supplies.
• Monthly technical reports on completed assignments are certified and submitted.
• Final consultancy report Before each round Monthly payment upon submission of technical reports certified by contract supervisor

REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

As outlined in the deliverables, the following are the reporting requirements for this consultancy assignment:

• A detailed work-plan for each month
• Monthly technical reports on completed tasks and activities as per TOR
• Travel Reports
• Final technical report of the consultancy assignment with key recommendations.

CONSULTANCY MANAGEMENT

Overall, the consultancy will be managed and supervised by the Chief of C4D. Specific workplans and activities will be coordinated with/by Polio International Consultant. The consultant will also have regular interactions and direct communication with State level EPI and Health Promotion staff, WHO, the Sudanese Red Crescent and other partners.

LOCATION AND DURATION

The consultant will be working with UNICEF South Sudan Country Offices and therefore, will have frequent missions/visits to the States/ areas.

QUALIFICATION/SPECIALIZED KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE

The expected consultant is required to have the following technical background, experience and competencies:

• University 1st degree in one of the disciplines of social/behavioral/communication sciences or university degree in other fields with relevant certified trainings in behavioural and social communication.
• A minimum of three years of professional experience in advocacy, social mobilization and C4D Programme planning and management at the national or sub-national level preferably in a developing country.
• Relevant experience in immunization Programme, polio supplementary immunization activities (SIA), project development and management in any UN system agency or organization is an asset.
• Experience of working in an emergency setting is required.
• Ability to work in most extreme hardships.
• Ability to work independently and to meet deadlines.
• Ability to write clear and concise reports in English.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively work and communicate in a multicultural environment.
• Computer literacy with high ability to use excel spread sheets.
• Completed training on BSAFE
• Fluency in Arabic and English is required

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

The functional competencies required for this post are...

View our competency framework at

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

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:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

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.

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Added 3 years ago - Updated 2 years ago - Source: unicef.org