Social & Behavior Change Specialist (RCCE & Strategic Alliances), P3, LACRO, Panama City, 364 days

Contract

This is a P-3 contract. This kind of contract is known as Professional and Director staff. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 5 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 108,838 USD and 142,515 USD.

Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

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.

UNICEF promotes the rights and welfare of all children and adolescents in everything we do. Together with our allies, we work in 190 countries and territories to transform this commitment into practical actions that benefit all children, especially focusing our efforts on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded, worldwide. The UNICEF Latin America and Caribbean Regional Office is based in in Panama, operating in 36 territories, including 24 country offices.

UNICEF works to put the rights and well-being of the most disadvantaged children at the heart of the social, political, and economic agenda, in line with our equity focus, working across our organization and with our partners in government, civil society and the private sector to support shifts in public policy, fuel social engagement, and increase investment for children. For more information about UNICEF and its work. (www.unicef.org/lac)..)

Social and Behavior Change in UNICEF is a cross-cutting programme strategy that addresses the cognitive, social, and structural determinants of social change in both development and humanitarian contexts. SBC uses the latest in social and behavioral sciences to understand people, their beliefs, values, and the sociocultural norms that shape their lives, to engage them and increase their influence in the design of solutions for sustainable behavior and social change.

SBC is at the core of UNICEF’s mandate, with corporate results across sectors revolving around social and behavioral practices like immunization, breastfeeding, hygiene, and positive discipline. UNICEF SBC employs a mix of approaches, including community engagement, strategic communication, applied behavioral science, service delivery improvement, systems strengthening and policy advocacy and social mobilization to advance child rights, survival, development, protection and participation.

The recent reform of SBC transitioning from C4D and the presence of a team in LACRO are supporting the COs to mainstream SBC is an inherent piece and essential to accelerate results in the 5 Goal Areas and support emergencies. In view of this, our 2023 AWP aims, in essence, the development of three fundamental areas: increase capacity in the COs, amplify synergies through strategic alliances (faithbased, private sector and academic institutions) and expand Knowledge Management as a principle for having systematized lessons learned and best practices.

In Latin America and the Caribbean Region, the SBC section prioritizes approaches related to community engagement, social movements and system strengthening. In that context, strategic alliances with Faith Actors, Academic Institutions and the Private Sector are crucial elements. The SBC / RCCE & Strategic Alliance Specialist will be under the direct supervision of the Head of the Regional SBC Section to bring technical support to Country Offices and advance an agenda of alliances through the design and implementation of cooperation agreements.

For every child, a Champion

The Specialist provides technical and operational support for developing a systematic, planned and evidence-based strategy and process for SBC as an integral part of programme development, planning and implementation and SBC cross-cutting and foundational areas influencing programme results in Immunization, PHC, Nutrition, Child Protection, Education and CEED, emphasizing the development and

maintenance of strategic alliances with Faith Actors, Academic Institutions and Private Sector.

The responsibilities include technical support and coordination of strategic alliances for capacity building, improving community engagement approaches and system strengthening.

Specifically, the SBC / RCCE & Strategic Alliances Specialist will provide a sustainable support in the:

• Faith Engagement Partnership
  • Support the development of a regional multi-faith partner coordination mechanism.
  • Support country-level coordination.
  • Enhance Capacity Development in RCCE.
• Academic Institutions Partnership
  • Develop and strengthen partnerships with academic institutions.
  • Support the co-creation of regional knowledge resources.
  • Strengthen the repositioning of SBC in LAC globally back to higher standards.
• Private Sector Partnership
  • Contribute to the inclusion of the SBC approach in the alliances with the private sector.
  • Support the design of specific SBC approaches and strategies to strengthen cooperation with the private sector.

How can you make a difference?

1. Faith Engagement Partnership

• Develop and maintain regional partnerships with faith-based organizations to strengthen community engagement and support system strengthening in the region.
• Provide technical support to COs to create innovative social and behavioral change initiatives that are evidence-based and strengthen community engagement.

• Coordinate the implementation of the FPCC Initiative in the region (Faith and Positive Change for Children, Families and Communities).

  • Support the creation and development of a regional coordination group with representatives of the most relevant faith-based organizations in the region.
• Support the systematization and knowledge management processes to strengthen alliances with Faith Actors.
• Coordinate the implementation of actions in the framework of the regional cooperation agreement with Joint Learning Initiative (JLI), Religions for Peace (RfP), and other faith-based organizations.
  • Strengthen alliances with faith-based organizations through the support of COs initiatives.
  • Provide technical support for implementing the Mind-Heart Dialogue Approach at the national and local levels.

2. Academic Institutions Partnership

• Develop and maintain regional partnerships with academic institutions to create innovative social and behavioral change initiatives that are evidence-based and strengthen community engagement.
• Design and support the implementation of Capacity Building activities for UNICEF Staff and partners at the country level.
• Provide technical support to COs to create innovative social and behavioral change initiatives that are evidence-based and strengthen community engagement.
• Support the creation of a regional network of academic institutions to strengthen the knowledge, adaptation and implementation of SBC approaches, strategies, and tools.
• Support the systematization and knowledge management processes to strengthen alliances with Academic Institutions.
• Coordinate the implementation of actions in the framework of the regional cooperation agreement with UNINORTE and other academic institutions.

3. Private Sector Partnership

• Support the creation of a regional approach for implementing the SBC approach and strategies in the framework of regional and national alliances with the private sector.
• Provide technical support to COs to strengthen the collaboration with the private sector for social and behavioral change.

4. UNICEF SBC/ Risk Communication and Community Engagement

• Support and strengthen learning and knowledge management practices by coordinating the SBC Think-Tank.
• Support the dissemination of technical resources for strengthening the RCCE practices by COs and partners.
• Support the capacity strengthening process on RCCE.

5. Monitoring and Evaluation

• Coordinate and provide technical support to the M&E process.

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in communication for development, public health, social science, or a related field.
• A minimum of 5 years of experience designing, implementing, and evaluating social and behavioral change programs required.
• Proved experience working in collaboration with academia and faith-based organizations.
• Strong understanding of social and behavioral change principles and experience working with diverse communities.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain partnerships, especially with academic institutions and faith-based organizations.
• Strong project management skills, including the ability to develop and implement project plans, timelines, and budgets.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues, partners, and stakeholders.
• Fluency in English and Spanish is required. Knowledge of French or Portugues will be considered an asset.

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

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships (2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (3) Drive to achieve results for impact (4) Innovates and embraces change (5) Manages ambiguity and complexity (6) Thinks and acts strategically (7) Works collaboratively with others.

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:

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. 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 a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

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