Social and Behavior Change Specialist, P3 WCARO, Dakar Senegal

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 107,719 USD and 141,049 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, an advocate.

The Social and Behavior Change Specialist reports to the Regional Adviser Social and Behavior Change, for general guidance and supervision. The Specialist provides technical and operational support for developing a systematic, planned and evidence-based strategy and process for SBC as an integral part of programme development, planning and implementation. The Specialist will provide technical assistance, on-demand guidance and capacity strengthening opportunities on social and behavior change approaches, with a specific focus on experimentation and innovation.

Innovation is, in this context, defined as “something different that adds value”. Innovation is, in this context, not equated with technology (even though innovation might be supported in some cases with technologies, including digital, mobile communication channels). Experimentation is considered as a precursor to innovation – one must try things, learn, adapt, possibly fail – and then try again, to arrive eventually at something innovative, which can never be guaranteed in advance.

How can you make a difference?

Key functions and accountabilities

Technical support for country offices on strategy design and development of SBC activities

• Conduct and/or participate in comprehensive SBC situation analysis of social, cultural, economic and political issues in the country/region, including through national/subnational working groups or committees. Assess/synthesize qualitative and quantitative information, data and evidence to support the establishment of comprehensive and evidence-based information for developing and planning the SBC component of the Country Programme of Cooperation (and UNDAF).
• Participate in regional and country programme planning and reviews, when requested, to contribute to discussions on the underlying and contextual issues to be addressed (e.g. policies, gender/children inequality, cultural/social behavior etc) to ensure the successful and sustainable delivery of programme results and provide technical recommendations on approaches, strategies and plans of action for SBC to promote behavioral and social change.
• Prepare or provide quality assurance on materials and related documentations for SBC strategies and plans (as a component of the CO and/or UNDAF Programmes) to ensure optimum impact, scale and sustainability of achievements/results.
• Collaborate/consult with a wide range of partners and stakeholders to ensure synergy, integration, coherence, and harmonization of SBC activities with UNICEF, including in humanitarian response.

Capacity strengthening support (design and implementation of learning opportunities, including field-based experiential learning)

• Collaborate with, advise and/or consult country offices on capacity strengthening for the design SBC strategies, including formulation, production and testing materials to organize SBC events and activities to ensure engagement and participation of key community groups (including government), and maximum outreach and impact on behavioral and social change, including in humanitarian response.
• Provide guidance and technical quality assurance for country-led capacity strengthening efforts, when requested.

Advocacy, networking and partnership building

• Identify, build and maintain partnerships through networking and proactive collaboration with strategic partners, e.g. academia. Pursue opportunities for SBC advocacy to promote UNICEF mission and goals for child rights, social equity and inclusiveness.
• Collaborate with internal global/regional partners to promote human-rights based approaches to social and behavior change, including experimentation and innovative approaches (rapid prototyping, digital methods for reaching the underserved, etc.).

Management of Experimentation/Innovation portfolio, including small grant program and professional development program (which is a longer-term investment, supplementing the periodic capacity strengthening activities).

• Promote innovative practices, approaches for SBC that are appropriate/available for the CO contexts, partners and stakeholders.

• 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 professional development initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients/stakeholders/partners (government and non-government) in SBC (including innovation) implementation support of country offices and the Key Results for Children, including in humanitarian settings.

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, psychology, education, communication, public relations or another relevant technical field.

• 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, public advocacy or another related area. Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization 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 another official UN language (Spanish or Portuguese) 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:

• Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (1)
• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (2)
• Works Collaboratively with others (2)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (2)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (2)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (2)
• Drive to achieve impactful results (2)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)

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.

“This position is classified as “rotational” which means the incumbent is expected to rotate to another duty station upon completion of the tour of duty.”

* This position is based in Dakar; the incumbent will therefore be expected to live and work from Dakar (the duty station).

* Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.