Social and Behaviour Change Consultant for the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia region

ABOUT WFP

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. The mission of WFP is to help the world achieve Zero Hunger in our lifetimes. Every day, WFP works worldwide to ensure that no child goes to bed hungry and that the poorest and most vulnerable, particularly women and children, can access the nutritious food they need.

JOB PURPOSE

Behavior changes are required among individuals and households but also changes and leveraging of the food, health, education, and social protection systems. Improving knowledge and practices supports availability, accessibility, and consumption of healthy diets as well as uptake of essential complementary health and nutrition services. Healthy diets are crucial to reduce the risk of all forms of malnutrition, promote healthy growth and development and prevent obesity and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) throughout life. The scale of cash/CBT programming and the increased focus on food system, food value chains and on social protection present unprecedented opportunities to influence diets, and SBC is required in order to empower recipients of this assistance to meet their essential needs and maximize the nutritional value of their purchases. The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is undergoing a nutrition transition. The coexistence of insecurity, food insecurity, undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, overweight obesity alongside migration, urbanization, and COVID-19 is a growing challenge in the MENA region. The scale up of SBC in MENA region is critical, many countries requested technical support to initiate or continue integrating this approach. The new WFP MENA SBCC strategy (2021-2030) will allow RBC countries to move forward.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

The main objective of the consultancy is to provide overall support for the successful planning and implementation of the country' s SBCC related activities/approach, as well as mentor staff at the WFP RBC/Country Office to support/implement the activities and to be able to collaborate with the government and other partners. The consultant will report to the RBC Head of Nutrition and School Based Programmes and will work closely with the Country offices including regular field missions. Below are main responsibilities:

• Use available data to define a problem statement, define project aims and select/prioritize the target audience • Conduct formative research (using primary and secondary data) and participatory methods to design SBCC strategies and to develop an all-round understanding of the target audience, their barriers to change and motivations. • Review of existing BCC & Social Marketing strategies, plans, tools and materials arrangements at national/ state/ district levels. • Development of CO BCC strategies and intervention plans based on evidence and tailored to address local needs and context to reach the target groups. • Coordinate with other UN agencies and NGO's to implement the strategy, plan at the local level and support CO focal point to monitor the work in collaboration with these agencies. • Develop M&E plan by involving stakeholders towards fostering ownership and ensuring sustainable end results. • Document, present and disseminate lessons learned of each stage of the project cycle and ensure a complete hand-over of project tools & templates to be used for future similar projects to CO focal points. • Support lessons learned and good practices sharing among RBC countries. • Online SBCC training and or webinars to support country teams implement activities in the field. • Support pilot projects in priority countries aimed to understand best practices for the integration of nutrition-focused initiatives for influencing purchasing behavior within WFP programming across systems, in the retail sector and using CBT modalities. a. Provide technical assistance for design and implementation of nutrition-focused initiatives to influence purchasing behavior into retail/CBT programming for improved nutrition outcomes. b. Design and implement methods to evaluate effectiveness of pilot projects integrating nutrition-focused initiatives to influence purchasing behavior into retail/CBT programming considering existing tools and guidance regarding nutrition and improving those when necessary. c. In collaboration with other relevant RBC and COs units’ support evidence generation and improved programming for better nutrition purchasing behavior in retail/CBT programming. d. Support proposal development for resource mobilization for nutrition-focused initiatives to integrating into systems and CBT programming.

4Ps CORE ORGANISATIONAL CAPABILITIES

Purpose

• Understand and communicate the Strategic Objectives : Utilizes understanding of WFP’s Strategic Objectives to communicate linkages to team objectives and work.
• Be a force for positive change : Proactively identifies and develops new methods or improvements for self and immediate team to address work challenges within own work area.
• Make the mission inspiring to our team : Identifies opportunities to further align individual contributions with WFP’s mission of making an impact on local communities.
• Make our mission visible in everyday actions : Helps colleagues to see the link between their individual tasks and the contributions of their unit’s goals to the broader context of WFP’s mission.

People

• Look for ways to strengthen people's skills : Is able to identify, support and encourage focused on-the-job learning opportunities to address gaps between current skillsets and needed future skillsets for WFP.
• Create an inclusive culture : Recognizes the contributions of teammates, and encourages contributions from culturally different team mates to recognise the value of diversity above and beyond just including it in programming for beneficiaries.
• Be a coach & provide constructive feedback : Provides and solicits ongoing constructive feedback on strengths and development opportunities to help develop individual skills, whilst also helping others identify areas for improvement.
• Create an “I will”/”We will” spirit : Sets clear targets for self and others to focus team efforts in ambiguous situations (e.g., unprecedented issues and/or scenarios)

Performance

• Encourage innovation & creative solutions : Thinks beyond team’s conventional approaches to formulate creative methods for delivering food aid and assistance to beneficiaries.
• Focus on getting results : Maintains focus on achieving individual results in the face of obstacles such as volatile or fragile environments and/or organizational roadblocks.
• Make commitments and make good on commitments : Takes personal accountability for upholding and delivering upon team’s commitments and provides assurance to stakeholders.
• Be Decisive : Demonstrates ability to adjust to team’s plans and priorities to optimize outcomes in light of evolving directives, while also responding quickly in high-pressure environments, such as in emergency settings.

Partnership

• Connect and share across WFP units : Demonstrates an understanding of when and how to tactfully engage other units in conversations on impact, timing, or planning
• Build strong external partnerships : Networks regularly with key external partners using formal and informal opportunities to understand each partner’s unique value proposition, and to build and strengthen relationships
• Be politically agile & adaptable : Demonstrates ability to adapt engagement approach in the context of evolving partner circumstances and expectations
• Be clear about the value WFP brings to partnerships : Demonstrates ability to articulate to internal and external audiences the value that individual contributions and immediate teams bring to partnerships.

DELIVERABLES

To complement above accountabilities of the consultant, • Design oversee and/or advice on the development of COs SBCC strategy and tools. • Implement the SBCC interventions and activities outlined above and in the SBCC strategy. • Design and implement theory and evidence-based strategies in consultation with the RBC COs, stakeholders in a range of contexts including frameworks for monitoring and evaluating outcomes and impact. • Design and pre-test multi-media materials using participatory methods • Establish feedback mechanisms and use feedback to inform SBCC strategy adaptation and Using technology-based approaches for effective and timely engagement, monitoring and providing timely feedback (e.g. in difficult to reach geographic areas) • Develop and implement a monitoring and implementation plan for the SBCC activities. • Development of a Theory of Change for the SBCC work at the country office. • Training and capacity building of WFP staff and partner s. • Develop and implement targeted capacity strengthening and technical assistance for government and non-government partners on SBCC and related methodologies. • Evaluate the contribution of SBCC strategies’ in achieving programme objectives and second order nutrition objectives as part of national programming and directly implemented programming. • Support to other work streams when needed.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE

Education: Advanced university degree in public health, social sciences, communications or related fields Experience: A minimum of 6 to 10 years of experience in implementing or advising the SBCC programmes in nutrition across systems (food, health, education, social protection) in developing countries, in communication, project management or programme. Experience in implementing communications programme. Previous experience in developing context specific social and behavior change strategies that include communications Experience designing and conducting qualitative research and monitoring and evaluation. Demonstrated experience in operations research or community based participatory research or public health required. Experience working in WFP nutrition sensitive programming required. Experience work ing in a country office or regional bureau desirable. Knowledge & Skills: Strong project management skills and demonstrable project management practices Exce llent communication skills and proven ability to work in collaborative setting and/or partnership building and managing Good interpersonal skills and ability to work in multicultural settings that involve a large number of stakeholders. Ability to juggle multiple projects and integrate diverse information Understanding of WFP operations and expertise Knowledge of common business principles and processes and the ability to quickly assimilate UN/WFP specific processes and systems Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office (including excel, PowerPoint and publisher). Languages: Fluency in English required. French would be appreciated.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

JOB TITLE: Programme Policy Officer - Social and Behaviour Change

TYPE & LEVEL OF CONTRACT: Regular Consultant level II

DURATION: 11 months

UNIT/DIVISION: RBC Nutrition and School Based Programmes Unit

DUTY STATION (City, Country): Regional Bureau in Cairo (RBC), Cairo, Egypt

REPORT TO (JOB TITLE): Head of Nutrition and School Based Programmes Unit

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

Interested candidates should apply before 27th February 2022

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WFP celebrates and embraces diversity. It is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all its employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of race, colour, national origin, ethnic or social background, genetic information, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, HIV status, physical or mental disability.

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All employment decisions are made on the basis of organizational needs, job requirements, merit, and individual qualifications. WFP is committed to providing an inclusive work environment free of sexual exploitation and abuse, all forms of discrimination, any kind of harassment, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. Therefore, all selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.