Social & Behavior Change Officer (Nutrition), NOB, Peshawar post # 00122863 and Lahore #00122864 Pakistan

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 toughest places, to reach the world most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfil 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, advocate!

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 mobilisers, communities and families, and of course the children and adolescents themselves.

In particular, UNICEF will work so that:

• Every child survives and thrives -- 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

Benazir Nashonuma Program (BNP) was launched in August 2020 and implemented in 15 districts including; Rajanpur, Khanewal, Khyber, Upper Dir, Kalat, Surab, Lasbela, Bagh, Harttian Bala/Jhelum Valley, Kharmang, Diamer, Astore, Badin, Dadu, and Islamabad with 50 facilitation centres to address under nutrition among pregnant and lactating women (PLW) and stunting in children less than 2 years of age through conditional cash transfers of PKR 1500 per quarter per PLW for boy child and PKR 2,000/- per quarter per girl child and linked with consumption of specialized nutritious Food, immunization and attendance of health awareness sessions. After successful completion of the pilot, expansion of the programme has been approved to the remaining 131 districts with inclusion of two more components; Social and Behavior Change (SBC) and treatment of Severely Acute Malnourished (SAM) children to be supported by UNICEF.

The SBC officer will support the existing Nashonuma program’s SBC component by:

• Strengthening of Social Behaviour Change (SBC) on nutrition to improve safe maternal, Infant, Young Child Feeding (MIYCF) and care practices.

• Raising awareness among mothers/ caregivers for the promotion of MIYCF practices focusing dietary diversity and healthy eating habits at the household level through lady health workers (LHW) and social mobilizers (M/F) by using Interpersonal communication (IPC) evidence-driven tools.

• Capacity building and skill development on counselling for the staff working in the facilitation centre to improve their technical knowledge and skills for counselling on MIYCF to attain the desired behavioural outcome

To make a difference you will be accountable for the following key duties & tasks:

1. Providing technical support for the reviewing/developing implementation plans and SBC tools.

2. Developing approaches for strengthening the SBC capacity of implementing partners, and nutrition team in project areas.

3. Supervising and facilitating the facility-based SBC activities for MIYCF counselling with demonstrations.

4. Supervising community outreach activities for SBCC and social mobilization efforts including community peer support groups for SBCC on MIYCF through the implementation of an effective community engagement strategy.

5. Managing partners who are engage in SBC activities with UNICEF

6. Managing the project’s SBC performance monitoring plan.

7. Support advocacy activities to engage health influencers, political, religious, and community leaders and other stakeholders

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

• Education: An Advanced University Degree in social and behavioural science, sociology, anthropology, psychology, education, communication, public relations, or another related technical field is required. 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
• Experience: A minimum of 2 years of professional experience in areas of social development program planning, communications for development and public advocacy, training in interpersonal communication and/or related areas at the international and/or large organization. Previous experience in managing cross sectoral SBC would be preferable. Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is an asset.

• Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN

  language or a local language is an asset.

• Availability to travel frequent to the field and actively engage with partners and stakeholders.

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

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 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 programme, 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 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:

• Verified educational certificates/ HEC Attested Degrees are a pre-requisite for employment at UNICEF. During the recruitment process candidates will be required to 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 towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable female candidates will be prioritized.
• These are 2 positions (one for KP-Peshawar, one for Lahore-Punjab). candidates has to indicate preferred location in application