UNICEF WASH Communications for Development Consultant Kiribati

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Application deadline 3 years ago: Friday 25 Sep 2020 at 11:55 UTC

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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, deliver

UNICEF provides technical support and advises the Kiribati Government through the Ministries of the Health and Medical Services, Education and Infrastructure and Sustainable Energy. They lead ministries for UNICEF WASH programming, specifically for WASH in Schools (WinS), WASH in Health Care Facilities (WHCF) and WASH in Communities. With one of the highest rates of stunting, diarrhea and under 5 mortality in the Pacific, UNICEF has been supporting the Kiribati government in strengthening its WASH service delivery in the three above mentioned settings.

How can you make a difference?

Due to this recognition, UNICEF with support of the New Zealand Government, “the WASH from the Start initiative” aims to support 100 Early Childhood Care and Education Centers, 55 primary schools, 7 junior secondary schools (JSS) and 35 health facilities in the 16-outer island of Kiribati. The programme looks to bring together the three approaches to WASH, namely the 3-star approach to WASH in Schools, WASH in health care facilities, WASH Facility Improvement Tool (FIT) and the Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) in communities as a holistic approach in sustaining WASH in an island setting.

The 4-year programme will also look to strengthen enabling environment systems, looking at embedding WASH approaches and tools and influencing government decision making around budgeting and reporting to help sustain ongoing WASH interventions as part of everyday activity. Gender and inclusion are a large component with efforts targeted towards ensuring that designs, capacity building and communication materials include issues around MHM, disability friendly sanitation facilities, and protection issues, to name a few.

Additionally, UNICEF with funding from the European Union, will support the Kiribati Government in the building resilience through improved sanitation (BRIS) in the Line islands. The programme will support all schools, health care facilities and communities on the three islands of Kiritimati, Teraina and Tabuaeran. The activity will support the Ministry of Line and Phoenix Island Development in the management of waste through strengthened on-site management and off-site disposal, as well as supporting the implementation of subsidizing sanitation improvements at the facility and household level.

The WASH programme components, in schools (Ministry of Education), health facilities (ministry of Health and Medical Services) and communities (Ministry of Infrastructure and Sustainable Energy), apply resources to communicate with children, adolescents, teachers, medical assistants, nurses, parents, community and island leaders. To assess the contribution of ongoing communication efforts, UNICEF aims to provide technical support to the four above ministries to further improve the quality, scope and effectiveness of communication approaches and assets. Strategic communication approaches and resources will contribute promote hygiene practices and stimulate demand for appropriate water and sanitation services.

The current Terms of Reference for a WASH Communications for Development consultant, aim to provide technical support to assess, propose strategic shifts, design and guide the development of communication resources in support of the WASH Programme being implemented in Kiribati. A particular focus on WASH in Schools, WASH in Health Care Facilities, WASH Governance and CLTS in prioritized settings.

The WASH Communication for Development consultant will provide technical support to the UNICEF WASH Programme with the assessment, cataloging and strengthening of social and behavior change communication (SBCC) approaches and resources applied in schools, health facilities and communities as well as at the Island Council level, in close collaboration with the relevant Kiribati Government leads.

Scope of Work 1. Assessment and Consultations: • Assess WASH SBCC approaches and resources being implemented at (building on previous WASH and nutrition formative research) • school level, generating demand and ownership in close collaboration with children, community actors and partners; • at health care facilities, advocating for appropriate WASH behaviors to patients, staff and caregivers, and • at community level, enabling a sustained demand for safe sanitation in support of the principles of community led total sanitation (CLTS) with linkages to wasting and stunting in infants and children. • Engage in dialogue and consultation with prioritized population groups at schools, health facilities and community level accordingly and document relevant findings related to communication and existing community engagement (How to guide)/social mobilization. • Consult with stakeholders at sectoral level (WASH, Health, Education, Child Protection) on communication assets, capacities, challenges and opportunities. • Analyze and catalog the current contribution of existing SBCC resources and tools; and identify gaps for improvement and potential opportunities for new ones to be produced. • Propose technical recommendations for strengthening existing programmatic SBCC plans as required, in close consultation with stakeholders. • Liaise and work with other UNICEF programmes and corresponding government ministries in ensuring that relevant information and materials are included or complimented throughout the review, development and finalization of activities. • Identify potential human-interest stories and Case Studies based on information collected from Schools, health care facilities, communities and islands.

2. Strategic design and development of SBCC resources and implementation • Design an action plan to enhance SBCC approaches and resources for hygiene promotion a) at schools (curricular and extracurricular level); and b) to strengthen health facilities behavior change and social norms practice and c) to strengthen CLTS/sanitation initiatives. Building and strengthening local knowledge and capacity throughout. • Support the production of SBCC resources, materials or assets with technical C4D quality guidance, as per recommended and agreed with partners. • Validate (pre and post-test) the appropriateness of the key messages and communication resources with prioritized participant groups as required.

3. Training and finalization • Technical support and guidance for implementation of SBCC strategies including management of resources in coordination with partners at the national, island, school, health facility and community level on CLTS, WASH in Schools and WASH in HCF. • Liaise and work with relevant UNICEF programmes, including the C4D section, and Government partners in ensuring that relevant Knowledge Management platforms are updated with the revised developed resources, including relevant trainings and workshops with government partners.

CONSULTANCY DURATION: 11.5 months, the successful consultant will be based in country to carry out the assignment.

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

  • An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Behavior Change Communication and additional training in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene and Emergencies is considered an asset.
  • A minimum of Five years progressively responsible experience in social and behavior change communication, developing and implementing communication strategies, designing and implementing communication products and campaigns and influencing behavior change.
  • Experience in community mobilization, CLTS. WASH in Health Care Facilities and WASH in Schools is an asset.
  • Experience working in the WASH Communication Sector in Pacific region is an advantage.
  • Working knowledge of global BCC tools and strategies
  • Global WASH tools in either WinS, WHCF or CLTS
  • Communication practice, methodology and practical application. Knowledge of current theories and practices in communication research planning and strategy.
  • Fundamentals of working in various media formats – print, audio, video, web etc. including ability to research, analyze, evaluate and synthesize complex information.
  • Technical competence in producing content for various media formats – print, audio, video, web etc.
  • Drafting clear and concise ideas and concepts in written and oral form; specific skills in developing behaviour change strategies.
  • Relationship management, including media engagement, government officials and other UNICEF partners
  • Computer systems, including internet navigation, office applications, and specifically, interactive digital media.
  • United Nations or other international organization’s; good understanding of world affairs, current events and international development issues.
  • Global human rights issues, specifically relating to children and women, and current UNCEF position and approaches.
  • UNICEF communication goals, visions, positions, policies, guidelines and strategies.
  • UNICEF policies and strategy to address national and international issues, including emergencies.
  • UNICEF emergency communication policies, goals, strategies and approaches, including emergency preparedness.
  • Gender equality and diversity awareness
  • Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of the local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

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:

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

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.

Added 3 years ago - Updated 2 years ago - Source: unicef.org