Temporary Appointment: Communication for Development Specialist, P3, N'Djamena, Chad (364 days)

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you. For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.

In 2016, the Ministry of Public Health (MPH) developed a National Strategic Plan of Communication for the Promotion of immunization in Chad. Its implementation is expected to increase the immunization coverage rate of children aged 0 to 11 months and pregnant women. According to DHS 2014-2015, only 25 % of children were fully vaccinated before their first birthday and 19 % did not received any vaccine. Only 33 % received 3 doses of pentavalent vaccine and only 57 % were vaccinated against measles. The dropout rate is estimated at 43 %.

The survey that not all the parents of children aged 0 to 11 months brought their children regularly to vaccination services. Most of the reasons given for non-vaccination were related to the lack of information on the part of the parents and care givers of children on the importance of immunization services and calendar, fear of adverse side effects of immunization, and the poor treatment of parents and care givers by heath workers at health centers.

Consequently, an approach to promote vaccination at the community level (ACPV) was designed in 2016. This approach is being implemented in 10 of the health districts in Chad. As an implementing partner working together with the ministry of Public Health and other non-governmental organizations, UNICEF developed communication strategies, training kits and communication materials for the successful launching of the project. Though preliminary results of this approach show that demand for vaccination is steadily improving, the dropout rate for most vaccines and the number of children that have not received any vaccine still remain high.

To scale-up the promotion of vaccination at the community level in 28 targeted health districts of the country, UNICEF proposes the recruitment an international Communication for Development Specialist, P-3 on a temporary contract. He/She will work in support to the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) in the various functions described in this announcement.

Purpose 

The purpose of this temporary position is to strengthen the ownership of immunization interventions by the communities so as to bridge the gap between the supply and demand of services both for the routine immunization and during immunization campaigns.

Major duties and responsibilities

1. Support the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) in the implementation of the Community-based Approach for the Promotion of immunization and the “Reach Every District” strategy

2. Identify and analyse behavioural factors and sociocultural barriers which cause low demand or discontinuity of immunization services;

3. Promote vaccination demand through capacity building, micro-planning, support and social accountability of community actors;

4. Identify and analyse potential community networks that can promote vaccination;

5. Follow-up and document the key interventions in the field of immunization promotion.

Expected results

The candidate will be accountable for the following results:

• Community-based Approach for the Promotion of immunization is scaled up in 28 targeted health districts;
• The behavioural factors and the sociocultural barriers causing low demand or discontinuity of immunization services are identified and analysed;
• Models of micro plans on immunization focused on communities, including young people, are developed;
• Community-based networks involved in the promotion of vaccination and their strategies are identified and utilised;
• A documentation on best practices and lessons learnt from positive and negative experiences on the ownership of the vaccination by communities is available.

Qualifications of Successful Candidate

1. Education

• An Advanced University Degree in social and behavioural science, sociology, anthropology, psychology, education, communication, public relations or other related social science field is required

*First university degree with additional two-years of relevant work experience is acceptable in lieu of an advanced university degree.

2. Work Experience

• A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in areas of social development program planning, communications and development, public advocacy and/or related areas at the international and/or large organization some of which preferably were served in a developing country is required
• Relevant experience in related areas in a UN system agency or organization is an asset

3. Language

• Fluency in French and English is required. 
• Knowledge of Arabic is an asset

Competencies of Successful Candidate

1. Core Values

• Commitment
• Diversity and inclusion
• Integrity

2. Core Competencies

• Communication (III)
• Working with people (II)
• Drive for results (II)

3. Functional Competencies

• Leading and supervising (I)
• Formulating strategies/concepts (II)
• Relating and networking (II)
• Persuading and influencing (II)
• Applying technical expertise (II)
• Entrepreneurial thinking (II)

To view our competency framework, please click here.

Remarks

* The successful candidate for this emergency recruitment MUST be available to commence work within 31 days of receiving an offer.

* Please note that N'Djamena is a non-family duty station.

Employment is conditional upon receipt of medical clearance, any clearance required, the grant of a visa, and completion of any other pre-employment criteria that UNICEF may establish. Candidates may not be further considered or offers of employment may be withdrawn if these conditions are unlikely to be met before the date for commencement of service