National Social Behaviour Change Consultant, 91 w/ds, Dushanbe, Tajikistan

UNICEF Tajikistan is looking for a national consultant to support the Republican Center for Imunoprofelaxia (RCIP) in the conception, development, pretesting, and use of SBC products to increase the uptake of vaccines in Tajikistan.

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, a change,

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

Background:
The Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) 2017 shows that almost all young children in Tajikistan have a vaccination card (97 per cent of children aged 12-23 months and 96 per cent of children aged 24-35 months).
The DHS 2017 field staff saw the records for 90 per cent of children aged 12-23 months and 88 per cent of children aged 24-35 months, either at home or at a health facility. Vaccination coverage is high in Tajikistan. Among children aged 24-35 months, DHS 2017 data shows that 82 per cent had received all basic vaccinations at the time of the survey, and only 3 per cent had received no vaccinations. Of the basic vaccinations, coverage is highest for the BCG vaccine (96 per cent), followed closely by DPT, HepB-Hib 1 and Polio 1 (92 per cent each). Coverage remains high for subsequent doses of the DPT-HepB-Hib and polio vaccines, with 87 per cent of children having received the third doses of each of these vaccines. Eighty-seven per cent of children aged 24-35 months have been vaccinated against measles and rubella. Vaccination coverage is generally lower among urban children than rural children. For example, 84 per cent of children aged 24-35 months in rural areas have received all basic vaccinations, compared with 76 per cent of children in urban areas.
Findings from recent surveys suggest that barriers to immunization are partly due to geographic isolation, compounded by socio-economic vulnerability, and special populations like migrants, under-vaccinated and highly mobile are lacking tailored communication and advocacy messages. There is also growing evidence of vaccine delays or refusals due to a lack of trust in the importance, safety, or effectiveness of vaccines, alongside persisting access issues. There are concerns about ‘vaccine hesitancy’ – a growing mistrust of
immunization among some parents, fuelled by myths and misinformation. Such hesitancy may stem from negative media stories linking a child’s death to immunization without the full facts. It may also be influenced by the country’s anti-vaccine movements, which spreads anti-immunization messages. Meanwhile, measures to counter vaccine hesitancy and build parental trust in immunization are hampered by lack of discussion with parents about its importance and the minimal risks. Community trust is key to ensure vaccine uptake
and buy-in. To build trust, it is important to understand how communities perceive the disease and what are their main questions, doubts, and fears around vaccines, generally, and towards COVID-19 vaccine, more specifically.
Social and Behaviour Change (SBC) aims to empower individuals and communities, and lower structural barriers that hinder people from adopting positive practices and societies from becoming more equitable, inclusive, cohesive, and peaceful. UNICEF has been supporting the Ministry of Health to ensure the systematic identification and reach of the least visible and most marginalized children, by considering, for instance, drivers to action (such as timely reminders to activate intentions) and barriers to action (such as social distance or poor perception of services) that can influence caregivers’ decisions relating to protect children’s health through the routine immunization. Insights from the behaviour change approach have deepened the programme’s understanding of individual decision-making and action taking regarding immunization. In this sense, beyond communication campaigns, the demand component has been seen with social and behaviour change lens.

How can you make a difference? 

The assignment is aimed at supporting the Republican Center for Immunoprophylaxis (RCIP) in conception, development, pretesting and use of SBC products for increasing uptake of vaccines in Tajikistan. The assignment includes identification of needs, co-creation of communication products, pretesting, prototyping and use for wider reach and engagement; in close collaboration with RCIP, communities, and CSOs. The assignment also involves capacity building of relevant stakeholders (media community, civil society organization and relevant government structures) on social and behavioral change communication, and their active participation and engagement in the development and use of the SBC communication products/material.

Description/scope of the assignment:

Within this context, and to achieve the purpose; the SBC individual consultancy will support the implementation of activities led by both SBC and Health units of UNICEF Tajikistan, in partnership with the Ministry of Health, focused on vaccine acceptance and uptake – demand for immunization. To complement the on ground interpersonal community engagement interventions, and lack of institutional capacities at RCIP; UNICEF has been supporting the conception, development, and use of social and behavior change communication tools, products, and material, including but not limited to job aids, audio visual products, and visibility material. Recently RCIP has established a communication cell to gradually uphold and institutionalize the communication and visibility aspect of immunization. The newly established ‘communication cell’ has human resources supported by RCIP but it needs strengthening in terms of technical and technological capacities to perform at full capacity. Thus, in the short term, this assignment is proposed to help the communication cells to prepare an annual communication plan, a capacity building plan, development and dissemination of SBC Communication products, measurement of the outreach and engagement and reporting learning, challenges, and success stories.

The assignment requires clear understanding of and close working with the communication cells within RCIP and the UNICEF’s Immunization and SBC Teams.

Work assignments:

Total: 91 w/ds

Travel info:

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

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in communication, journalism, or media sciences.

• 8 years of professional work experience in communication materials, including proven experience of delivering SBC campaigns and training in Tajikistan. Working with the government will be considered as added value.
• Previous work with UN and or INGOs is an asset.
• Proven record of development of SBC communications on immunization.

• Fluency in Russian and English languages. Knowledge of the Tajik language is an advantage.

• Strong interpersonal communications skills
• Cultural and political sensitivity
• Ability to work under pressure and with tight deadlines

Qualified candidates are requested to submit:

1. CV/Cover letter/copy of diploma(s)

2. Completed financial proposal in Tajik Somoni (all-inclusive (fee & travel cost); Annex to be completed:  Annex 3 Financial proposal.docx

3. Contact (email & tel. #) of three referees (recent direct supervisors)

Applications must be received in the system by 26 April 2024 on the UNICEF website.

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

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

 To view our competency framework, please visit  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.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment. 

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. 

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.