SBC Officer

Contract

This is a UNV National Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as National UN Volunteer. It is normally only for nationals. More about UNV National Specialist contracts.

The SBC Officer, under direct supervision of Chief of Field Office, and as guided by the SBC Manager in Addis will provide technical support for UNICEF SBC interventions, including emergency operations in the region. The SBC Officer spearheads multi-level strategic SBC interventions that are relevant and context specific to community-based interventions in the region. The SBC Officer will support in identifying strategic opportunities among key stakeholders including partners, government sector bureaus and CSO/CBOs for planning and initiating multi-channel SBC interventions, monitoring of on-going interventions and reporting, participating in different sectorial coordination forums and following up on tasks related to cross sectorial SBC interventions in development and emergency contexts. The SBC Officer is also required to provide cross sectorial technical support to ensure coherence of sector wide SBC activities in the field in line with the country programme SBC strategy.

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of Chief of Field Office or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UNV SBC Officer will:

1. Support to strategy design and development of SBC activities

•Research and/or participate in conducting comprehensive SBC situation analysis of social, cultural, economic, communication and political issues in the region. Collect and synthesize qualitative and quantitative information and data to support the establishment of comprehensive and evidence-based information for developing and planning SBC strategy and interventions in the region. •Collect, draft and/or organize materials and related documentations for SBC strategies and plans to ensure optimum impact, scale and sustainability of achievements/results. •Assess the impact of SBC activities on the CO and UNICEF goals to achieve measurable behavioral and social change resulting in the improvement of children’s rights and wellbeing. Submit qualitative report/synthesis of results for development planning and improvement. •Support to contextualize the development, pretesting, translation and repackaging of existing as well as new Behavior Change and Communication (BCC) materials in consultation with relevant Regional Bureaus, Programme Officers, the SBC unit, and other relevant stakeholders •In collaboration with UNICEF Programme staff and relevant government sector staff, participates in the development of evidence-based sectoral strategies and workplans (both development and emergency-related) to ensure the design and incorporation of specific Communication for Development components with objectives and activities aimed at different levels: (a) behavior development/change individual/household/facility levels; (b) community participation, social change and collective action at community level; and (c) social mobilization of community-based organizations and advocacy for decision makers;

2. Support to the implementation of SBC activities

•Collaborate with internal and external partners to provide operational and technical support to the design of SBC strategies, and research, develop, test, produce and use quality SBC materials and/or organize events and activities to ensure maximum outreach and impact on behavioral and social change of target audience. •Assess and recommend potential contacts, networks, resources and tools to support the maximum impact and outreach of SBC initiatives. •Follow up on the production of SBC materials to ensure technical quality, consistency and relevancy of communications materials that are developed, produced and disseminated to target audience (e.g. individuals, communities, government officials, partners, media etc).

3. Advocacy, networking and partnership building

•Build and maintain partnerships through networking and proactive collaboration with national and international civil society organizations, community groups, leaders and other critical partners in the community and civil society to reinforce cooperation through engagement, empowerment and self-determination and to pursue opportunities for greater advocacy to promote UNICEF’s mission and goals for child rights, social equity and inclusiveness. •Collaborate with internal global/regional communication partners to harmonize, link and/or coordinate messaging to enhance SBC outreach and contribution to programmatic outcomes. •Provide technical support to UNICEF, regional sector bureaus and partners including contributing to the adapting of or sharing relevant standards, protocols, guidelines and training materials for SBC

4. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

•Institutionalize/share best practices and knowledge learned/products with national/local partners and stakeholders to build capacity of practitioners/users, and disseminate lessons learned to key audiences including donors and partners. •Support the organization, administration and implementation of capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients/stakeholders/partners across programme sectors in SBC planning, implementation and evaluation in support of programmes/projects. Develop training materials for training activities and revise them periodically for improvements and updates. •Provide technical and coordination support to SBC trainings at regional, Zonal, and Woreda levels for Government counterparts, partner organizations, and their volunteer networks. •Build the capacity of a social mobilization multi-sectoral regional platform (Health, Education, Religious groups, CSOs, medias, etc.) in terms of coordination, planning, monitoring of SBC interventions including use of emergency communication materials for creating a strategic network of social mobilization trainers

5. Monitoring and Reporting

•Contribute to the regular monitoring of SBC actors’ capacity according to the needs raised during rapid assessments / KAP surveys •Compile regional SBC reports, emergency and development, from the field and update progress on key results •Ensure multi-media materials are distributed to the intended target groups and monitor and address gaps •Participates in regional and Zonal coordination mechanisms and follow up on SBC tasks •Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities:

•Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day); •Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country; •Provide annual and end of assignment self-reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities.
•Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.; •Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly arrived UN Volunteers; •Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

13. Results/expected outputs:

•As an active UNICEF team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly and high-quality support rendered to UNICEF and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including:

  o    Regional SBC plan developed and submitted to CFO in the first month of assignment
  o    Monthly reports on progress of planned interventions on the first week of the consecutive month
  o    Monitoring reports submitted bi-monthly
  o    Documentation of lessons learned and Human-Interest Stories (HIS) at least three per year

• Professionalism • Integrity • Teamwork and respect for diversity • Planning and organizing • Communication • Flexibility

planning and implementing SBC programmes • Previous experience in working/living in communities is an added advantage • Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills; • Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development.

Addis Ababa is the capital of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. The population is estimated at about 4 million or so. Addis Ababa located in the Ethiopian highlands at an altitude of 2,500-2,700 meters. The climate is sunny and temperate, but it can be very cold at night, with freezing temperature at times. It is therefore advisable to bring warm clothing and foresee using heaters and/or log fires when necessary. Addis Ababa is the headquarters for the UN Economic Commission for Africa as well as the African Union (ex-OAU). Thus, there is a very large community of expatriates from all over the world. There are some 80 embassies/diplomatic missions. Housing is most of the time readily available and the rents are, on average, reasonable. Most foodstuffs, beverages, household goods, furniture and clothing, mostly imported from the Middle/Far East, South Africa and Europe, or local brands, can be found, although they can be expensive. Meat, fish, fresh fruits and vegetables are cheap and abundantly available.

The basic infrastructures - roads, utilities, and telecommunications - are below standard, as are medical facilities, which are still largely inadequate, although a few private clinics and hospitals provide reasonably good routine care. There are lots of tourist attractions to visit around the country, although the amenities are often poor to average. Several restaurants around the city serve local or international cuisine and there are numerous social and cultural events throughout the year organized by the international and local communities. Sports facilities (fitness, tennis, swimming, riding, golf, etc.) exist in the major hotels or in different establishments around the city. There are no major or special security concerns within Addis Ababa city limits.

As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials.