Social and Behavior Change Communication Consultant, NO-B (For Liberian Nationals Only), Monrovia, Liberia (9 months - onsite)

Contract

This is a NO-2 contract. This kind of contract is known as National Professional Officers. It is normally only for nationals. It's a staff contract. More about NO-2 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, communications for programme delivery!!

Background:

Liberia is emerging from a long-protracted period of conflict, which has aggravated Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) and Harmful practices (HPs). It remains a deep-rooted problem that has impacted and blighted lives of current and future generations and needs urgent and immediate action. There are various forms of violence against women and girls in Liberia including rape, domestic violence, denial of resources, female genital mutilation, child marriage and teenage pregnancies amongst others. According to the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection 2017 GBV Report rape accounts for 49.6 percent of all reported GBV cases. The survivors of rape below 18 years constitute 43% (42.6 percent are girls while boys constitute 0.4% below 18 years old). Female Genital mutilation is actively practiced in 10 out of the 15 Counties. HIV/AIDS prevalence rate for women and girls is six times higher than their male counterparts. The root causes of the problems are identified as social and cultural norms, poverty, child marriage, high illiteracy rates and weak state preventive and response mechanisms to address the challenges.

Currently, the Government and United Nations (UN) are implementing a SGBV joint Programme (SGBV/HP JP 2016-20) to prevent and respond to the key issues through a multi-sectoral approach at the national, sub-national and community levels. The SGBV JP was formulated based on previous lessons learned. It focused on five main pillars which include Prevention, Response, Institutional Strengthening, Advocacy and Social Mobilization and Coordination. Importantly, was informed by an extensive consultative and participatory process including the directly affected communities to identify key priorities.

The Spotlight Initiative provides a unique opportunity to build on the ongoing joint effort and to facilitate an innovative approach and solutions. It will strengthen coherence to avoid duplication, prioritize investments and build synergy between the government, civil society and UN and add value through the six pillars. The Spotlight will use the SGBV JP as the main vehicle for adopting an innovative approach engaging the CSO, private sector, evidence-based data, regional cooperation and inclusive governance and poverty reductions.

In 2021 a Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC) strategy on violence against children and women was validated at the national and county levels. The strategy provides a long-term vision and guiding framework to address violence against women and girls over the next five years, and includes a monitoring and evaluation framework, as well as a detailed two-year implementation plan.

The strategy envisions a national level mass media roll-out and focused implementation in Grand Cape Mount, Grand Gedeh, Lofa, Montserrado, Nimba Margibi, River Cess and Bong counties.

A tailored SBCC and awareness campaign will be implemented to promote the importance of addressing issues of violence and key related messages and to draw attention to the SBCC effort. The campaign will support the sustained SBCC media assets and provide national-level visibility. It will also include a community engagement component implemented by CSOs in selected counties.

How can you make a difference?

Purpose of the Assignment:

Under the supervision of the Communication and SBCC Specialists, the consultant will design and develop a social and behavioural change and communication plan of action in close coordination with main stakeholders; design and implement social and behavioural change and communication activities; advocacy, networking and partnership building and documentation and external communication.

Summary of Key Functions:

2.1. Support the development and rollout of a social and behavioural change and communication plan of action in close coordination with main stakeholders.

2.2. Rollout and coordinate social and behavioural change and communication activities.

2.3. Advocacy, networking and partnership building.

2.4. Contribute to external communications.

Basic Objectives of the Consultancy:

Objective 1: Design and develop a social and behavioural change and communication plan of action in close coordination with main stakeholders.

Key Activities/Tasks

Outputs/Deliverables

Timeframe

1. Implement a comprehensive for the roll out of a social and behavioral change and awareness campaign focused on an approved concept note based on the SBCC strategy in place.

2. Support the desk review and audience consultations to understand norms, barriers and motivations, as well as to test some draft key messages and sentiments.

3. Support the drafting of a concept note showing how to utilize and activate campaign across different channels
4. Rollout of an awareness plan based on target groups and including all media tools.

Objective 2: Design and Implement Social and Behavioural Change and Communication Activities:

Key Activities/Tasks

Outputs/Deliverables

Time frame

1. Collaborate with, advise and consult national partners to design SBCC activities, including formulation, production and testing materials to organize communication campaigns, events and other activities to ensure engagement and participation of key audiences and maximum outreach and impact on behavioural and social change.
2. Coordinate implementation among partners and in close collaboration with the UNICEF communications team.

3. Monitor progress, advice adjustments and evaluate final results.

4. Implement a detailed plan of execution, including identification of internal or external support, timelines, production needs, etc.

5. Implement a monitoring and evaluation plan in coordination with UNICEF M&E teams.

Objective 3: Advocacy, Networking and Partnership Building:

Key Activities/Tasks

Outputs/Deliverables

Time frame

1. Identify, build and maintain partnerships and collaboration with strategic and key partners.

2. Reinforce cooperation and purse opportunities for SBCC advocacy to promote Spotlight and UNICEF goals.

3. Coordinate the implementation among a network of national stakeholders and partners.

4. Conduct monthly briefing sessions for main stakeholders.

Objective 4: Documentation and External Communication:

Key Activities/Tasks

Outputs/Deliverables

Time frame

1. Maintain close coordination with the communication team to ensure timely and effective input to media and social platforms on SBCC activities in the targeted counties, including through human interest stories, social media content and other tools.

2. Organize donor visits to targeted counties.

3. Coordinate the issuance of a newsletter with HIS and media content for dissemination through UNICEF and Spotlight platforms.

4. In coordination with the Child Protection and Communication teams, organize and document four donor visits to agreed counties.

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

Education:

• An university degree in one of the following fields is required: social and behavioural science, sociology, anthropology, psychology, education, communication, public relations or another relevant technical field.

Working Experience:

• A minimum of five years of professional experience in one or more of the following areas is required: social development programme planning, communication for development, public advocacy or another related area.
• Proven expertise in audience research and targeting in the context of social and behavioural change.
• Proven expertise in developing communication material and plans.
• Proven expertise in planning and managing media campaigns.
• Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered an asset.
• Previous experience in West Africa is desired.

Language:

• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or a local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA).

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are...

• Builds & Maintains Partnerships.
• Demonstrates Self-Awareness & Ethical Awareness.
• Drive to Achieve Results for Impact.
• Innovates and Embraces Change.
• Manages Ambiguity and Complexity.
• Thinks and Acts Strategically.
• Works Collaboratively with others-Establish.

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

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.

For every child, a future!