Social and Behaviour Change UNV Specialist

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 fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in every-thing the organisation does — in programmes, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasising the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action.

In Roraima, UNICEF programme focuses in 3 main axes: the migration response, the UNICEF Seal Strategy and attention to indigenous populations.

Since 2018, UNICEF Brazil runs a multisectoral humanitarian response for migrants from Venezuela, based in the northern state of Roraima, with an office in Boa Vista and outpost in Pacaraima. All 18 Roraima municipalities participate in the UNICEF Municipal Seal of Approval, an initiative to promote the rights of children and adolescents by providing to the municipalities the tools and knowledge to enhance public policies.

Moreover, UNICEF has engaged in the Yanomami Public Health Emergency of National Importance, in coordination with Brazilian authorities at the national and local level, while also working to strengthen community resilience with a disaster risk preparedness project with the Yanomami population. The Yanomami response is intertwined with UNICEF’s indigenous advocacy and programmatic work with indigenous groups from both migrant and host populations in the state, working closely with indigenous organizations to protect the rights of native people of the state.

Social and Behaviour Change (SBC) in UNICEF is a cross-cutting programme strategy that analyses and addresses the cognitive, social and structural determinants of individual practices and societal changes in both development and humanitarian contexts. SBC brings social and behavioural evidence generation together with participation in community-led and human-centred processes. SBC is at the core of UNICEF’s mandate, with corporate results across sectors revolving around behaviours like immunisation, feeding practices, learning, hygiene, and positive discipline, as well as transformations across sectors needed to make societies more inclusive, equitable and peaceful.

UNICEF SBC employs a mix of approaches, including community engagement, strategic communication, applied behavioural science, service delivery improvement, systems strengthening, social mobilisation and policy advocacy to advance child rights, survival, development, protection and participation. .

Under the general guidance of the SBC Officer and the Chief of Field Office-Roraima, and in close collaboration with UNICEF programmes, the Social and Behaviour Change UNV Specialist is accountable for supporting the design, monitoring and evaluation of ongoing and new SBC strategies in the region, which includes the Community Mobilisation with Adolescent Participation Strategy (CMAPS), Radio Super Panas, U-Report Uniendo Voces, among others. They will undertake the following tasks and responsibilities:

Support the strategy design, development and monitoring of SBC activities and participation mechanisms in both development and humanitarian contexts  Participate in conducting comprehensive SBC situation analysis of social, cultural, economic, communication and political issues in the country/region. Collect and synthesise qualitative and quantitative information and data to support the establishment of operational strategies, approaches, plans, methods and procedures.  In collaboration with internal and external partners, provide operational and technical sup-port to the design of SBC strategies to implementing partners, government officials and programme colleagues, to ensure maximum outreach and impact on behavioural and social change of target audience, including migrants, refugees, indigenous populations and host community.  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 behavioural and social change of target audience.  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.). Advocacy, partnership building, innovation and knowledge management  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, to reinforce cooperation through engagement, empowerment and self-determination of host community and affected populations, ensuring appropriate visibility of UNICEF and partners in the field.  Institutionalise/share best practices and lessons learned/products with global/local partners and stakeholders to build the capacity of practitioners/users.  Support capacity-building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients/stakeholders/partners across programme sectors in SBC and Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP). Develop materials for training activities and revise them periodically for improvements and updates.

 Care  Respect  Integrity  Trust  Accountability  Sustainability

Competencies

 Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness  Works Collaboratively with others  Builds and Maintains Partnerships  Innovates and Embraces Change  Thinks and Acts Strategically

social and behaviour change, communication, community engagement or projects fostering civic participation of vulnerable groups is required. • At least one year experience in humanitarian settings or working with indigenous populations is required. • Proven ability to manage relationships with partners, including government counterparts, civil society, and local communities. • Excellent writing and communication skills in Portuguese and working knowledge in Spanish is required. English skills are an asset. • Knowledge on children’s rights issues is an asset.

Boa Vista is the capital and the most populated municipality of the Brazilian state of Roraima. Concentrating approximately two thirds of the population of the state, it is located on the right bank of the Branco River. It is a typically administrative city that concentrates all state services. Banking, transportation, telecommunications, and recreational facilities are available.

Security The UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) in Brazil advises to exercise a high degree of caution in Brazil due to the high levels of serious and violent crime, especially in major cities. Violent crimes such as assaults, armed robberies, kidnappings and sexual assault are very important. The most frequent security incidents in the region are robberies, various types of fraud and minor crimes. Slums (favelas) in large cities should be avoided and in case of attack, one is advised not to resist. Demonstrations can occur at any time and can turn violent with little or no warning. All United Nations personnel must scrupulously comply with UNDSS procedures and recommendations during their assignment, both on and off duty. For missions in rural areas or indigenous reserves, special procedures may apply; United Nations personnel should consult with the local DSS office in advance. Additional means of communication can be provided in Pacaraima.

Health Basic health services are available but specialized services are not offered locally. Travelers are advised to carry a supply of the necessary prescription medications. The yellow fever vaccine is mandatory, and evidence of yellow fever vaccine is required (at least ten days before the trip to the area). Dengue, Zika, Chikungunya and yellow fever are transmitted by the same mosquito, Aedes Aegypti. Preventive measures are key. The mosquito feeds mainly at dusk and dawn, indoors, in shaded areas or when the weather is cloudy. Wear long-sleeved clothing, use insect repellents, place windows with screens, keep residences cool with air conditioning and use mosquito nets.

Geography and climate Boa Vista is 90 meters above sea level. The climate of Boa Vista is considered tropical humid (type Aw according to Köppen), with the dry winter and the rainy summer. The temperature varies from 22 ° C to 35 ° C.

Development

Boa Vista has an inefficient urban transport. On the contrary, Boa Vista has two modern bus terminals, real shopping centres with food stores, various businesses, air-conditioned environment and elevators. The city's population also uses taxis shared by several passengers (not recommended for UN personnel). However, the streets of Boa Vista are wide and well-marked.

Boa Vista connects with the rest of the country via air and by land. There is an airport (Atlas Brasil Cantanhede International Airport). Boa Vista also has an International Bus Terminal, the José Amador de Oliveira - Baton International Rodoviária, which connects the city with others from the interior of Roraima, the Amazon (Manaus), Guyana, Esequiba and Venezuela.

Housing No furnished housing available. Power cuts are frequent but short.

As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging their own housing and other living essentials. National UN Volunteers are part of the malicious insurance plan.

Roraima is a unique State and has a unique humanitarian operation. It provides for an interesting and enriching environment, but also requires a mature level of cultural and security awareness, as well as more stamina and commitment than elsewhere to make life comfortable and affordable. Therefore, flexibility and the ability and willingness to live and work in harsh and potentially hazardous conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort, are essential.

Information on entitlements at the duty station is available at https://app.unv.org/calculator. The complete UN Volunteer Conditions of Service is available at https://explore.unv.org/cos.