Social and Behaviour Change (SBC) Specialist (Health and Nutrition)

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programmes, 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 favouritism. 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 fulfil their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries.
Therefore, 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.

With over 850 indigenous languages, and one of the most ethnically diverse populations, widespread poverty and gender inequality make it hard for many children to realize their rights. In Papua New Guinea (PNG), UNICEF’s works effectively both ‘upstream’ (with governments) and ‘downstream’ (at the grassroots level) to carry out its mission through a programme of cooperation jointly developed with the government guides our work in the country.

Papua New Guinea (PNG) has an estimated population of about 11.8million people of which 86.8% live in rural areas and more than 470,000 newborn delivered annually. PNG faces unique health care challenges due to its diverse geography and cultural landscape. Strengthening the capacity of communities to address primary health care needs is essential for improving health outcomes and achieving universal health coverage towards fast tracking the achievement of SDG3.

While there has been significant improvement in the health indices in the last 3 decades, MMR, U5MR and NMR have remained highest in the region. Demand for services at the community level remains very low with resultant poor utilization of primary health care services such as immunization, delivery in health facilities and nutrition. In PNG, the number of zero-dose children is very high, 50% of children are malnourished, many pregnant women do not attend ANC and only about 40% deliver in a health facility

Additionally, Climate Change poses significant risks to the health and well-being of the population in Papua New Guinea. PNG is experiencing a variety of impacts due to climate change, including temperature increases, change in rainfall patterns, rising sea levels and extreme weather events all of which will have impact on health.

The Social and Behaviour Change 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. Through communication and engagement, as well as the empowerment and participation of stakeholders, communities, children, civil society partners, and government counterparts, s/he promotes measurable behavioral and social change/mobilization. This subsequently contributes to the achievement of sustainable and concrete results in improving children’s rights, survival and wellbeing in the country.

The Health and Nutrition SBC team is leading the implementation of various SBC initiatives and partnerships to generate and promote demand for essential services, including routine immunization, Supplementary Immunization Activities (SIAs), Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (MNCH), and nutrition across UNICEF priority provinces.

Additionally, the team supports the country office in several cross-sectoral SBC interventions, including:

Providing technical SBC support to other programme sections (WASH, Education, and Child Protection).

Developing the SBC framework for the country office.

Conducting a feasibility study on community radios.

Strengthening partnerships with the PNG Council of Churches to promote key integrated behaviors nationwide.

The objective of this assignment is to provide technical and operational support and provide assistance to SBC team in planning, implementing, and monitoring sectoral (health and nutrition) and cross-sectoral SBC initiatives. These efforts aim to promote community engagement, participation, and measurable behavioral and social change.

Summary Of Key Functions/accountabilities:

Generate & Use Evidence: Generate and utilize research, data, and evidence to inform the design, measurement, and monitoring of SBC programs and outcomes in both development and emergency contexts and to build the evidence base for SBC.

Design, plan and implement: Design, plan and implement SBC activities that are backed by social and behavioural evidence and strong engagement and participation mechanisms in both development and humanitarian contexts.

Advocate & Build Partnerships: Support operationalization of SBC by advocating for SBC, mobilizing resources, coordinating across stakeholders, sectors and teams, and partnership building.

Build Capacities: Promote continuous learning, strengthening, and scaling up in SBC for both development and humanitarian contexts through capacity building for UNICEF staff and partners.

Key Tasks description:

a. Human Centred Design in Zero Dose and other priority provinces for routine immunization

Work with the HCD and health partners, Health Programme Promotion officers (HPPOs) and Provincial Health Authorities (PHAs) for planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting of integrated demand promotion and community engagement interventions related to routine immunization.

Attend monthly review meetings with HCD partners

Contribute to introduction of HPV vaccine in country, development of tools and strategy for HPV introduction in country

Conduct programmatic visits, report and document key progress update and findings.

b. Capacity Building of HPPOs and Partners

Support the capacity building of HPPOs and partners on SBC, interpersonal communication skills, community engagement, MNCH, nutrition, cold chain management and stock reporting.

c. Support Supplementary Immunization Activities (SIAs)

Support the ACSM interventions for Supplementary Immunization Activities (SIAs) including Maternal and Neonatal Elimination (MNTE) Campaign.

Support the capacity building, monitoring and reporting of SIAs.

d. Internal and External Coordination

Participate and support coordination meetings with NDoH, ACSM working group and Immunization Demand Coordination Group.

Participate and contribute to Health and Nutrition Section meetings.

Ensure close coordination within the section (MNCH, Immunization) and other programme sections for SBC interventions and support.

e. Support Cross Sectoral SBC Interventions

Provide technical support to SBC interventions by programme sections (WASH, Education, Child Protection)

Support the development of cross sectoral SBC framework

Support the feasibility study and establishment of community radios.

Support the office advocacy priorities (Partnership with PNG Council of Churches, Celebration of National Family Week etc.)

f. Monitoring and Reporting

Support monitoring of HPPOs, HCD partners and SBC interventions.

Ensure monthly reporting by HPPOs are collected, reviewed and documented.

Support the review and finalization of quarterly reporting by HCD partners.

Contribute to donor reporting.

g. Support emergency preparedness and response activities