Social & Behavior Change (Nutrition) Specialist, NOC, Fixed Term, Islamabad, Pakistan

Contract

This is a NO-3 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-3 contracts.

UNICEF works in some of the most challenging places in the world to reach the 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, the champion!

Pakistan was the sixth country in the world to sign and ratify the Convention on the Rights of the Child, less than one year after it was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1989. However, children and adolescents living in Pakistan still face acute challenges.

UNICEF supports the Government of Pakistan to accelerate progress for children, work to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and help children realize their rights under the Convention on the Rights of Children. This will be made through, among other things, strong partnerships with provincial authorities, teachers and health professionals, frontline workers and social mobilizers, communities and families, and, of course, the children and adolescents themselves.

In particular, UNICEF will work so that:

• Every child survives and thrives by being in good health, immunized, protected from polio, and accessing nutritious food.
• Every child learns.
• Every child is protected from violence and exploitation and registered at birth.
• Every child lives in a safe and clean environment, with access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation.

To learn more about UNICEF work in Pakistan, please visit the country website, www.unicef.org/pakistan, and videos on YouTube and Vimeo.

The Social and behavior Change Specialist reports to the head of the section or Deputy Representative for general guidance and supervision. The Specialist provides technical and operational support for developing a systematic, planned, and evidence-based strategy and process for S&BC as an integral part of program development, planning, and implementation. Through communication and engagement, as well as the empowerment and participation of stakeholders, communities, children, civil society partners, and government counterparts, s/he promotes measurable behavioral and social change/mobilization. This subsequently contributes to the achievement of sustainable and concrete results in improving children’s rights, survival, and well-being in the country.

How can you make a difference?

Main duties and responsibilities for the post include the following:

1. Support to strategy design and development of S&BC activities:

• Conduct and/or participate in comprehensive S&BC 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 S&BC component of the Country Programme of Cooperation (and UNDAF).
• Participate in country program planning and reviews 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 program results and provide technical recommendations on approaches, strategies and plans of action for S&BC to promote behavioral and social change focusing on Nutrition, Early Childhood Development (ECD) and MIYCF.
• Prepare or provide quality assurance on materials and related documentation for S&BC 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 S&BC activities with UNICEF MTSP, CO global communications and advocacy activities and UN System development activities and initiatives at the CO level, including in humanitarian response.

2. Implementation of S&BC activities:

• Collaborate with, advise, and/or consult internal partners and external partners to design S&BC strategies, including formulation, production, and testing materials to organize S&BC events and activities to ensure engagement and participation of key audiences and maximum outreach and impact on behavioral and social change, including in humanitarian response.
• Confirm/verify the technical quality, consistency, and relevancy of communications strategies, including materials that are developed, produced, and disseminated to target audiences (e.g., individuals, communities, government officials, partners, media, etc.). I recommend appropriate multiple media formats (e.g., print, digital/social media, TV/radio, web, community networks, etc.). Oversee the production and implementation of multi-media initiatives for compliance with targets and plans that integrate the latest evidence.
• Carry out S&BC advocacy activities with/for a wide range of constituents, stakeholders, partners, communities, etc., to encourage/promote engagement and dialogue, inclusion, self-determination, and participation in mobilizing social and cultural change to achieve sustainable program results on children and women’s rights, equity and wellbeing. Develop/select materials and other communication tools for S&BC events.
• Identify, establish, and maintain active interaction/relations with media, academia, and other strategic partners to communicate/advocate UNICEF’s competencies and achievements to ensure their engagement, interests, and support in promoting social/political engagement for political action on children’s rights, and measurable changes in social and behavioral outcomes.
• Supervising community outreach activities for SBCC and social mobilization efforts, including community peer support groups for SBCC on ECD and MIYCF through the implementation of an effective community engagement strategy.
• Conduct and/or participate in M & E and Evaluation exercises, including country program previews, meetings, and mid-term/annual reviews to assess/report on the efficacy/outcome of S&BC on UNICEF and CO Strategic Plans/Goals. Recommend timely action to ensure the achievement of results as planned and allocated. Integrate/disseminate lessons learned in development planning and improvements.

3. Technical and operational support:

• Collaborate with internal CO, RO, and/or RO colleagues to contribute to the development of strategies, approaches, policies, and the planning of S&BC social and resource mobilization initiatives in support of programs/projects implementation and delivery of results, including the humanitarian response.
• Participate in CO strategic discussions to collaborate on policy and agenda setting for S&BC advocacy and investments and related external relations and resource mobilization initiatives.
• Participate in budget planning and management of program funds and prepare financial plans for S&BC initiatives. Monitor/track the use of resources as planned and verify compliance with organizational guidelines, rules and regulations and standards of ethics and transparency.

4. Advocacy, networking, and partnership building:

• Identify, build, and maintain partnerships through networking and proactive collaboration with strategic partners, e.g. academia, social networks; celebrities, journalists, media, all sectors/levels of (socially aware) society and critical audiences to reinforce cooperation and/or pursue opportunities for S&BC advocacy to promote UNICEF mission and goals for child rights, social equity and inclusiveness with focus on Nutrition and ECD.
• Collaborate with internal global/regional communication partners to harmonize, link, and/or coordinate messaging and use of multiple media and communication platforms to enhance S&BC outreach, including in humanitarian contexts.
• Participate in organizational and/or inter-agency (UNCT; National UN Social & Behavior Change Roundtable) discussions and planning to collaborate with inter-agency partners/colleagues in the UNDAF planning and preparation of S&BC advocacy and resource mobilization initiatives, including emergencies.
• Support advocacy activities to engage health influencers, political, religious, and community leaders, and other stakeholders.

5. Innovation, knowledge management, and capacity building:

• Implement innovative practices, approaches, and the latest technology on multiple media and social/digital platforms and networks for S&BC 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 the 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 S&BC planning, implementation, and evaluation in support of programs/projects, including in humanitarian settings.

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s) in social and behavioral science, sociology, anthropology, psychology, education, communication, public relations, or another relevant technical field.
• *A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.
• A minimum of five years of professional experience in one or more of the following areas is required: social development program planning, social & behavioral change, public advocacy, or another related area.
• Experience working in a UN system agency or organization is considered an asset.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

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

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)

View our competency framework at Competency Framework Brochure.pdf

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

Life at UNICEF:

Working at UNICEF is highly rewarding. With an attractive remuneration package encompassing competitive pay and benefits, a culture that helps staff thrive, and diverse opportunities for personal and professional development, we aim to help you maintain a fulfilling life both at and outside the office.

We make sure you and your loved ones receive the resources and care that you need to thrive. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. Our contracts, wellbeing policies, and initiatives ensure that you are well equipped to effectively deliver for children such as;

• Tax exemption, family allowances, hardship benefits, 10 UN holidays and annual leave allowance, maternity, paternity, adoption leave, medical and dental insurance, pension, etc.
• Career support, staff wellbeing program, breastfeeding policy, flexible work arrangements, childcare room, family support, policies & initiatives, security, etc.
• UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

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 regulations 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:

• The VA is open to all (internal and external candidates).
• Verified educational certificates/HEC Attested Degrees are a pre-requisite for employment at UNICEF. During the recruitment process, candidates must present HEC-attested degrees/certificates.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
• UNICEF's active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to delivering the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable female candidates will be prioritized.
• UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Appointments are also subject to immunization (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees considered for employment with UNICEF are usually required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if medical clearance is not obtained or necessary inoculation requirements are not met within a reasonable period for any reason.