Social & Behavior Change Officer (Immunization), NOB, Khartoum, Sudan (Temporary Appointment up to 31 Dec 2023 open to the nationals of Sudan only)

Contract

This is a NO-2 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-2 contracts.

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

Sudan, surrounded by the Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Libya and South Sudan, positioned next to East, West, South and North Africa, is surrounded by complex conflicts in an unpredictable, volatile and rapidly evolving region.

Sudan is by size the third biggest country in Africa, with a diverse population of around 42 million people. Sudan's children make up half of the total population, and the past two decades have seen their lives significantly improve: fewer girls and boys are dying before their fifth birthday, primary school attendance is increasing, immunization coverage is high and the country remains polio free.

Still, millions of children continue to suffer from protracted conflict in Darfur, the Kordofan's, and Blue Nile, from seasonal natural disasters, malnutrition and disease outbreaks, and from under-investment in basic social services. More than three million of Sudan's school aged children are not in the classroom. UNICEF has been in Sudan since 1952 and continues with a presence in 12 of Sudan's 18 states.

How can you make a difference?

The Social & Behavior Change Officer (Immunization) will be responsible for the following tasks and approaches:

1. Applied behavioural science: Generate and utilize research, data, and evidence to inform the design, measurement, and monitoring of SBC programs and outcomes in both development and emergency contexts and to build the evidence base for SBC. Support building a mechanism of regular data collection and sharing of socio-behavioural data on indicators and factors relevant to immunization including as relevant formative, baseline, mid-point, end-line and impact evaluations, by using the appropriate mix of qualitative and quantitative tools at the right level. And support the country Health Promotion, EPI, and other relevant teams to monitor and report on the SBC component of key immunization strategies and programmes, by conducting capacity building activities.

2. Community engagement: Partner with and empower communities to explore, plan and act together on their priority issues, including by strengthening the link between people and the systems, structures and services designed to meet their needs i.e. strengthening governance, quality of service delivery and systems, and improving accountability mechanisms. Support coordination and implementation of high quality and innovative community and public engagement and participation through integrated SBC approaches aimed at mobilizing and garnering household, community and public support, acceptance of key life-saving vaccines and adoption of other critical lifesaving, care and protective practices.

3. Social and Behaviour Change Communication: Design holistic and data-driven communications to enable change, including by applying tactics from marketing, social and community mobilization, mass media, entertainment, advocacy, interpersonal communication, social media and other communication approaches. Support the development, testing, production, distribution and dissemination of appropriate immunization-related SBCC materials for tailored and focused audience reach and behavioral impact, in consultation and collaboration with internal and external partners.

4.Coordination: Support operationalization of SBC by advocating for SBC, coordinating across stakeholders, sectors and teams, monitoring and evaluation, and partnership building. Guide and coordinate with Field Office SBC experts in rollout and implementation of immunization-related SBC activities, reporting, and capacity building.

5.Knowledge management: Promote continuous learning, strengthening and scaling up SBC through documenting and disseminating emerging best practices and lessons learned.

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

• A university degree in one of the following fields is required: social and behavioral science, sociology, anthropology, psychology, education or another relevant technical field
• A minimum of two years of professional experience in one or more of the following areas is required: social and behaviour change, communication for development, risk communication and community engagement, accountability to affected populations, or another related area.
• Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered an asset.
• Experience with SBC for immunization is considered an asset
• Fluency in English and Arabic is required.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

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)

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.

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.

We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

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 is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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:

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

Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Eligible UNICEF National Officer (NO) and General Service (GS) Staff Members on fixed-term, continuing or permanent contracts applying to this TA, may be able to retain a lien on their existing post for the duration of this TA.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally 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.