United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (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.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Health Specialist (Social & Behavior Change – SBC)

Job No.: 558403
Location: Abuja
Level: P-4
Contract type: Temporary Appointment
Categories: Social and Behavior Change

For Every child, Hope

• Nigeria was certified as Wild Polio Virus (WPV) free country in 2020. But Nigeria is currently facing an unprecedented outbreak of Circulating Vaccine Derived Polio Virus Type 2 (cVDPV2). In 2021, there were 420 AFP cases reported.  A total of 136 new cVDPV2 (38 from AFP cases, 65 from environmental samples, three from healthy children and 30 from contacts) have been reported as of the end of October 2022.
• To contain the outbreak, Nigeria has conducted seven rounds of outbreak response using nOPV2 (Novelle Oral Polio Vaccine Type 2) in seven states, six rounds in 8 states, five rounds in five states and four rounds in 17 states. Nigeria has proposed another two rounds in nine states in the Southwest between November and December 2022 to respond to the new outbreaks.
• UNICEF has been supporting the Government of Nigeria in its polio outbreak response as the lead social and behaviour change () partner as well as vaccine management support.
• UNICEF Nigeria is managing more than 18,500 Volunteer Community Mobilisers (VCMs) across 12 polio high risk states to promote polio vaccination during outbreak response and improve routine immunisation. UNICEF is a key member of the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC), assigning three Internal Staff (IP) to the NEOC’s Strategic and Communications Working Groups, and two vaccine logistics consultants to the NEOC in its logistic working group, as well as permanent member of the strategy group.
• The SBC Specialist, Health reports to the Immunization Manager for general guidance and supervision with additional guidance provided by the Chief of SBC Section.
• The Specialist provides technical and operational support in the development of a systematic, planned and evidence-based strategy and process for Polio and routine Immunization (RI) as an integral part of program development, planning and implementation to promote measurable behavioral and social change/mobilization through communication, engagement, empowerment and participation of stakeholders, partners constituents, communities and civil society to achieve successful and sustainable concrete (program/project) results on children’s rights, survival and well-being in the country.
• Further, and in close coordination with the partners in Polio and immunization activities, the incumbent will drive progress in the National Polio Emergency Operation Centre (NEOC) as well as support integration with the  National Emergency Routine Immunization Coordination Centre (NERICC) activities in national office based in Abuja and in all field offices in Nigeria, to achieve successful social mobilization to coordinate polio outbreak response (OBR), create demand for RI and increase uptake of COVID-19 vaccine and social mobilization strategies for Non-Polio supplementary immunization activities NPSIA’s and support Advocacy, Communication and Social Mobilization Working Group at National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA).

Organizational Context and Purpose for the Job

• Purpose for the job: Under the general guidance of the Immunization Manager and  Chief of SBC, the incumbent is responsible for the coordination of Polio and RI  to accelerate demand generation approaches and strategies spearheaded by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) to promote awareness, understanding, support and social mobilization plans that support advocacy and community engagement as well as community empowerment and behaviour change as key components of the country programmes in Nigeria in line with the rolling work plan with the Federal Ministry of Health and NPHCDA.
• III. Key functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks (Please outline the key accountabilities for this position and underneath each accountability, the duties that describe how they are delivered. Please limit to four to seven accountabilities)

Summary of Key Functions / Accountabilities

• The  SBC Specialist will be expected to provide technical support to NPHCDA on social mobilization, demand generation and related functions.

Strategic Direction & Coordination:

• Support NEOC and NPHCDA to determine strategic directions for (advocacy, social mobilization, community engagement and behaviour change technical working groups) team and ensure the strategies are in line with Nigeria Country Programme Document (CPD) as well as the Rolling Work Plan (RWP) to achieve Polio eradication, improve RI coverage
• Coordinate with field offices, UNICEF consultants and facilitators, and Monitoring and Support Teams (MSTs) their support to the outbreak responses.
• Provide technical support to the implementing states through UNICEF’s field offices and ensure social mobilisation activities for outbreak response are of high-quality, well planned, implemented and monitored.
• Work with Health Section and the field offices to ensure that social mobilisation and logistic fund are received by the implementing states and LGAs in time for the outbreak response implementation.
• Work with Health Section and field offices to develop national and subnational budget for the outbreak response.
• Provide inputs to development of outbreak response guideline, tools and training module for states, LGAs, facilitators and VCM network.
• Participate in the planning and strategy development process of the NEOC including providing inputs to NEOC’s outbreak response strategy and workplan.
• Work with Communication, Advocacy and Partnership Section to plan and implement media engagement activities in the context of outbreak response.
• In case of crisis communication, support the implementation of the crisis communication plan including advising the government in handling the crisis.
• Work closely with data management specialist in implementing social listening and media monitoring, as well as analysing post-campaign social data.
• Represent UNICEF in the national polio EOC and other meetings as requested by Team Lead.

Support Strategy Design and Development of RI / Polio Activities:

• Conduct and/or participate in comprehensive situation analysis of social, cultural, economic and political issues in the country/region 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 strategy for RI and Polio.
• Participate in country programme 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 programme results and provide technical recommendations on approaches, strategies and plans of action for to promote behavioral and social change.
• Prepare or provide quality assurance on materials and related documentations for strategies and plans 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 activities with UNICEF global strategy and priorities, key partners and the government.

Planning and Implementation of Activities:

• Collaborate with, advise and/or consult internal partners and external partners to design strategies, including formulation, production and testing materials to organize 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 strategies, including materials that are developed, produced and disseminated to target audiences. Recommend appropriate content, messaging, platforms and channels for interventions. Oversee the production and implementation of initiatives for compliance with targets and plans that integrate the latest evidence.
• Carry out 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, political, behavioural and cultural change to achieve sustainable programme results on children and women’s rights, equity and wellbeing.
• 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 child rights, and measurable changes in social and behavioral outcomes.
• Conduct and/or participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises. Recommend timely action to ensure the achievement of results as planned and allocated. Integrate/disseminate lessons learned in development planning and improvements.

Innovation, Knowledge Management and Capacity building:

• Institutionalize/share best practices and knowledge learned/products with global/local partners and stakeholders to build 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 planning, implementation and evaluation in support of programmes/projects including in humanitarian settings.

Promotion of Appropriate use of Communication for Social Development:

• Provide advice on appropriate use of communication and approach for social and behaviour change, aimed at both individual behaviour change and collective action as well as policy advice.
• Provide expert advice, coordination and technical support to government counterparts and other partners in the development and strategic use of communication for social development to ensure optimum leverage and impact of communication activities on programme, policy and advocacy activities.
• Collaborate with the Federal Government officials, NPHCDA, community leaders, other UN bodies, and bilateral agencies and NGOs in the organization of activities, operational research, advocacy and exchange of information and ideas supportive of NPHCDA’s communication goals and strategies.
• Jointly with other UNICEF and partners, designs and manages/facilitates the implementation of communication plans of action aiming at: (a) behaviour development/change at individual/household levels; (b) social mobilization of civil society organizations; (c) increased community participation in RI and PHC; and (d) policy issues that require advocacy to impact RI uptake.
• Support state teams to design and implement strategies for hard to reach, nomadic and minority groups at the LGA and ward levels, informed by the equity analysis and aligned with coverage and equity plans.
• Monitors and evaluates activities on the basis of applied targeted communication research and frequent visits to project sites.  Disseminates communication research findings, ensures exchanges of experience and new methods to government officials, programme staff, and other UNICEF partners.
• Collaborate with, advise and/or consult internal partners, to design of culturally relevant C4D strategies, including formulation, production and pre-testing materials and/or to organize C4D events and activities to ensure engagement and participation of key audiences, and maximum outreach and impact on behavioral and social change.
• Confirm/verify the technical quality, consistency and relevancy of communications strategies, including materials that are developed, produced and disseminated to target audience and recommend appropriate multiple media formats. Oversee the production and implementation of multi-media initiatives for compliance with targets and plans that integrate the latest evidence.
• Carry out C4D advocacy activities with/for a wide range of constituents, stakeholders, partners, communities, such as religious groups, traditional leaders, teachers, artists and other organized groups at national, state, zonal, Local Government Areas (LGA) and community levels, as well as civil society organizations etc. to orient them on behavior and social mobilization models, strategies, approaches, routine immunization as well as MNCH+N; and solicit their involvement in the implementation of the overall initiative; also to encourage/promote engagement and dialogue, inclusion, self-determination and participation in mobilizing social, political, behavioral and cultural change to achieve sustainable program results for polio eradication, improved routine immunization, and children and women’s rights, equity and well-being. Develop/select materials and other communication tools for C4D 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 polio eradication, and measurable changes in social and behavioral outcomes.
• Conduct and/or participate in M & E (Monitoring and Evaluation) and Evaluation exercises, including country program previews, meetings and mid-term/annual reviews to assess/report on efficacy/outcome of C4D on UNICEF and Nigeria Country Office (NCO) 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.
• Monitor and evaluate programme activities on the basis of applied qualitative behavioral research and frequent visits to project sites.
• Analyze and evaluate data to ensure compliance and achievement of objectives and recommend corrective action, when necessary, to meet programme/project objectives. Prepare monitoring and evaluation reports in accordance with the established guidelines, methods and procedures. Provide technical advice to programme staff, government officials and other counterparts, and coordinate and manage the evaluative elements of country programme milestone meetings, such as mid-term reviews, strategy meetings, previews and reviews and annual reviews.

Education

• Advanced University Degree in the Social / Behavioural Sciences, (Sociology, Anthropology, Psychology, and Health Education) 5 years of work experience with emphasis on strategic communication planning for behaviour development, social mobilization, and participatory communication, and research, training / facilitation and impact evaluation of communication interventions.
• Training in Social and Behaviour Change and implementation in Social and Behaviour Change, social mobilization and behavioural change. Training in inter-disciplinary approach in programme communication.

Experience:

• Minimum 5 years relevant professional work experience in the planning and management of social development programmes, including 2 years in with practical experience in the adaptation and application of communication planning processes to specific programmes.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English and another UN language. Local working language of the duty station an asset

Application Closing Date
18th January, 2023 W. Central Africa Standard Time