Categories: Social and Behavior Change

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, Survival

With support from UNICEF, new disaggregated data on child deprivation has contributed to the creation of national development agendas, social protection plans as well as the prioritization of more child-focused Sustainable Development Goals. With regards to communication for development, 71% of parents and caregivers surveyed said they had adopted at least three essential family practices. The participation of children in UNICEF programmes, particularly in immunization, birth registration and education, has helped to increase the rate of civil registration as well as the registration of vulnerable children in the first year of primary school.

How can you make a difference?

•  The Communication for Development and Social and Behavior Change Specialist reports to the Chief of Communication for Development, Social and Behavior Change (L5), for general guidance and supervision. The Specialist will be responsible to provide strategic, technical and operational support for developing systematic, planned and evidence-based strategies and process for Communication for Development and Social and Behavior Change as an integral part of programme development, planning and implementation, with a focus on routine and campaign immunization, including responses to preventable diseases such as polio, yellow fever, COVID-19, Ebola and any other outbreaks.
•  The L3 Specialist will provide technical assistance, on-demand guidance and capacity strengthening opportunities on communication and social and behavior change approaches. The Communication for Development, Social and Behavior Change Specialist will support the organization-wide effort to strengthen the capacity of government counterparts, civil society collaborators and implementing partners to use human-rights based approaches to Social and Behavior Change.
•  These approaches should build on Communication for Development, while going beyond communication. New approaches to be considered for promotion with technical partners include: Human Centered Design (HCD), Positive Deviance, and Behavioral Science/Behavioral Insights.

Responsibilities include:

•  Support to strategy design and development of C4D and SBC activities related to but not limited to immunization: - Prepare or provide quality assurance on materials and related documentations for S&BC strategies and plans (as a component of the CO and/or UNDAF Programmes) to ensure optimum impact, scale, and sustainability of achievements/results.
•  Implementation of C4D and SBC activities related to but not limited to Immunization: Carry out C4D & SBC 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, behavioral, and cultural change to achieve sustainable programme results on children and women’s rights, equity, and wellbeing. Develop/select materials and other communication tools for C4D & SBC events.
•  Technical and operational support: Participate in the country office strategic discussions to collaborate on policy and agenda setting for SBC advocacy and investments and related external relations and resource mobilization initiatives. Monitor/track the use of resources as planned and verify compliance with organizational guidelines, rules and regulations and standards of ethics and transparency.
•  Advocacy, networking, and partnership building: Identify, build, and maintain partnerships through networking and proactive collaboration with strategic partners, e.g., academia; social networks; celebrities, journalist, media, all sectors/levels of (socially aware) society and critical audience to reinforce cooperation and/or pursue opportunities for S&BC advocacy to promote UNICEF mission and goals for child rights, social equity, and inclusiveness.
•  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.

For further information a copy of the JD can be accessed here SBC Specialist P3 Kinshasa DRC.docx

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

•  Education: An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: social and behavioral science, sociology, anthropology, psychology, education, communication, public relations or another relevant technical field.
•  Experience: A minimum of five years of professional experience in one or more of the following areas is required: social development and social and behavior change programme planning, communication for development, public advocacy or another related area.
•  Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.
•  Experience working in a developing country is considered as an asset.
•  Language Requirements: Fluency in English and French is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or a local language is an asset.
•  Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA).

Core Competencies

•  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)

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

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:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

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 may also be 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.

Qualified female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

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

Advertised: Jun 07 2022 W. Central Africa Standard Time Application close: Jun 21 2022 W. Central Africa Standard Time