Social and Behavior Change Specialist (3 positions), P3, TA, Kalemie, Lubumbashi, Kinshasa, DRC

Contract

This is a P-3 contract. This kind of contract is known as Professional and Director staff. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 5 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 120,483 USD and 157,764 USD.

Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

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, Hope

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been facing a cVDPV2 epidemic since May 2017. The epidemic began in the provinces of Maniema and Haut Lomami and has spread throughout the country. Response efforts have resulted in the closure of 11 outbreaks out of the 16 that the country has experienced since then. Only 5 active outbreaks remained in Maniema and Bas Uele provinces (4 in Maniema and 1 in Bas Uele) in 2022. The Maniema epidemic has spread to Tanganyika, Haut Katanga and Haut Lomami.

To ensure good preparation and organization of quality campaigns, continued support from Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) partners is critical to achieving the goals. The Polio Eradication Strategy 2022-2026 has two main goals based on the current stage of the eradication effort: I) to permanently interrupt all poliovirus transmission in endemic countries; and II) to stop cVDPV transmission and prevent outbreaks in non-endemic countries.

Also, with the current dynamics around the rapid spread of the disease in some provinces and countries neighboring the DRC, and the upcoming development and implementation of the "Strategic Plan for Polio Control in the DRC", it should be ensured that experts are available to support a rapid and effective response.

The Social and Behaviour Change play a crucial role in improving child immunization in general and for polio particularly, by fostering understanding of childhood diseases, creating demand for services and acceptance of the vaccines. In recognition of this important role, UNICEF in DR Congo is supporting the Ministry of Health to strengthen SBC to support national immunization programmes for polio and other disease outbreak campaigns.

How can you make a difference?

Under the administrative direction of the Heads of field offices and the technical guidance of the SBC Specialist for Immunization, the incumbent will provide support to the Ministry of Health on the development of systematic, planned and evidence-based and theory driven SBC strategies aiming at increasing sustainable demand and uptake of essential health services, including immunization.

The incumbent will also carry-out key interventions to support national immunization programmes and disease outbreak with particular emphasis on research and analysis (including human-centered design), evidence-based planning (with emphasis on micro-planning), implementation of demand promotion interventions (including behavioural insights), preparedness and response to vaccine-related events, community engagement, capacity development on front line workers, and monitoring and evaluation of demand promotion interventions.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Support to strategy design of Social and Behavior Change for immunization activities Provide technical support and oversight to the national and provincial department of the Ministry of Health: support UNICEF on the development of evidence-based SBC initiatives and plans aiming at sustainably increasing demand and uptake of essential health services, in particular those related to immunization for polio and other health outbreaks.
2. Implementation of Social and Behavior Change activities for immunization

• Generate and Use Evidence: support Unicef and his counterparts on the generation, analysis and utilization of SBC data to inform the design, testing, measurement, monitoring, and reporting of programmes, interventions and outcomes aiming at increasing the uptake of essential health services in both development and emergency contexts. This includes not only demand-related components, but also service-related aspects such as the improvement of quality of services and the adjustment of service delivery modalities to reach all.
• Confirm/verify the technical quality, consistency and relevancy of communications strategies for immunization, including materials that are developed, produced and disseminated to target audiences (e.g. individuals, communities, government officials, partners, media etc).

3. Technical and operational support

• Collaborate with internal field offices, sections colleagues and the regional office colleagues to contribute to the development of strategies, approaches, policies and the planning of SBC social and resource mobilization initiatives for immunization in support of programmes/projects implementation and delivery of results, including humanitarian response.
• Contribute to the M&E and reporting of SBC strategies including design, field testing, compilation, dissemination etc of experiences, lessons learned.

4. Advocacy, networking and partnership building

• Advocate and Build Partnerships: Support the operationalization of SBC by advocating and mobilizing resources, coordinating across stakeholders, sectors and teams, and building alliances and partnerships.
• Identify, build and maintain partnerships through networking and proactive collaboration with strategic partners, e.g. academia; social networks; celebrities, journalist, media, all sectors/levels of (socially aware) society and critical audience to reinforce cooperation and/or pursue opportunities for SBC advocacy to promote UNICEF mission and goals for child rights, social equity and inclusiveness.

5. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

• Implement innovative practices, approaches and latest technology on multiple media and social/digital platforms and networks for SBC that are appropriate/available for the CO context and audience.
• Institutionalize/share best practices and knowledge learned/products with global/local partners and stakeholders to build capacity of practitioners and disseminate these products to key audiences including donors and partners.

• Organize/implement capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients/stakeholders/partners (government and non-government) in SBC planning, implementation and evaluation in support of programmes/projects including in humanitarian settings. Visibility and branding

  • Ensure internal and external visibility of SBC activities implemented through high quality photos, videos, social media, webinars, internal and external publication.
  • Ensure proper use of UNICEF brand to contribute to the positive image and reputation of UNICEF in country.

  Impact of Results

  The strategic and effective development and implementation of SBC capacity strengthening and innovation promotion activities and resources for immunization will contribute to UNICEF’s ability to promote social, political and economic action and changes in behaviors, social attitudes, beliefs, harmful social norms and actions by communities, individuals and society on children’s rights, survival and wellbeing. This in turn contributes to enhancing the ability of UNICEF to fulfill its mission to achieve sustainable, locally-owned and concrete results in improving Key Results for Children, for the survival, development and wellbeing of children in the DRC.

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

Education: An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: social and behavioral science, sociology, anthropology, education, communication, public health, or another relevant technical field.

A minimum of five years of professional experience in one or more of the following areas is required: social development and social and behavior change programme planning, communication for development, community engagement, or another related area.

Experience:

A minimum of five years of professional experience in one or more of the following areas is required: social development and social and behavior change programme planning, communication for development, community engagement, or another related area.

Relevant experience in a UN system agency or international organizations is considered as an asset.

Experience working in a developing country is considered as an asset.

Language Requirements: Fluency in English and French is required. Knowledge of a local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies of Nurtures, Leads and Manages People, Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness, Works Collaboratively with others, Builds and Maintains Partnerships, Innovates and Embraces Change, Thinks and Acts Strategically, Drives to achieve impactful results, and Manages ambiguity and complexity.

The functional competencies required for this post are Deciding and Initiating Action, Following Instructions and Procedures, Entrepreneurial Thinking, and Analyzing.

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.

Applications from females qualified candidates are highly encouraged.