Social Mobilization & Devel. Specialist, NOC-TA (Only for Afghan nationals)

Under the general guidance of the supervisor, the incumbent will be responsible for supporting the planning and implementation of social mobilization strategies that will lead to a measurable increase in public knowledge on polio, aggressive community engagement in polio eradication, and demand for other immunization services within the country, with a focus on managing and assessing the impact of frontline workers including Female Social Mobilizers within the priority provinces and districts in close collaboration with key national and local polio partners; and creating synergies with other community-based health approaches to strengthen PEI/EPI convergence through the community based workforce.

Under the general guidance of the supervisor, the incumbent will be responsible for supporting the planning and implementation of social mobilization strategies that will lead to a measurable increase in public knowledge on polio, aggressive community engagement in polio eradication, and demand for other immunization services within the country, with a focus on managing and assessing the impact of frontline workers including Female Social Mobilizers within the priority provinces and districts in close collaboration with key national and local polio partners; and creating synergies with other community-based health approaches to strengthen PEI/EPI convergence through the community based workforce.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

• Plans and facilitates the implementation of PEI social mobilization strategies with a focus on management and engagement appropraite frontline workers including female social mobilizers' engagement based on the revised Afghanistan National Emergency Action Plan (2016 – 2017); develops feasible action plans adaptable to the Afghan social context to generate demand for polio and immunization services
• Liaise with UNICEF Country office sections staff notably, health, nutrition, water and sanitation sections to promote social mobilization strategies and activities focused on engegement community workers and female frontline workers that lead to positive health seeking behaviour, create demand and improve utilization of immunization services in the context of PEI/EPI convergence.
• In collaboration with national/MoPH focal persons and civil society partners, develops and enhances strong partnerships for engagement of community workers in social mobilization for promotion of participation in social and behavioural changes supportive of uptake of immunization and other child health services.
• In collaboration with M and E team, assess the social determinants that impact on polio transmission in priority and low performing provinces and districts where communities are underserved or left out, paying particular reference to aspects of social exclusion, accessibility that lead to vaccine refusal, missed children and other behaviour that contribute to low vaccine coverage
• Contribute to the design, development and use of communication materials and tools at the national level that promote positive caregivers, family and community responses to immunization by influential community and religious leaders.
• Monitor and evaluate outcome and impact of social mobilization strategies and activities on the basis of applied communication research, planned and regular field visits; Contribute to the preparation of section annual work plans, quarterly, bi-annual, annual and donor reports, and project proposals as needed especially, related to polio eradication and other immunization services.

Minimum Qualifications and Experience Required: 

1. Education:

Advanced University degree in Social Sciences, International Relations, Government, Public Administration, Public Policy, Social Policy, Social Development, Community Development, or other relevant disciplines.

1. Work Experience:

Five years professional work experience in social development, preferably in the areas of participatory communication, communication planning, social mobilization, and behaviour change and community empowerment, at either the national or international level. Experience working with CHWs and female frontline workers will be an added advantage.

1. Language Proficiency: Fluency in English and local working language of the duty station (Dari and / or Pashto)