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Communication for Development Specialist (Routine Immunization)

Freetown

  • Organization: UNICEF - United Nations Children’s Fund
  • Location: Freetown
  • Grade: Mid/Senior level - Mid/Senior - Internationally recruited position
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Public Health and Health Service
    • Communication for Development (C4D)
  • Closing Date: Closed

UNICEF Sierra Leome is seeking a suitably qualified individual for a 2 months consultancy assignment as Communication for Development Specialist (Routine Immunization).

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.

Purpose of the Assignment

As part of the Alliance partnership arrangement, UNICEF is leading the social mobilization and community engagement component and is expected to provide technical support for the community engagement and behaviour change interventions that will be conducted by various agencies and partners.

Given the global partnership accountability and significance, UNICEF Sierra Leone is seeking a C4D Specialist with relevant experience to provide high quality technical assistance and services to strengthen community based networks for increased demand and uptake for immunization services including new vaccine introductions/campaigns and other MCH services.

The tasks outlined in this Terms of Reference, will contribute to achieving commitments under the GAVI PEF and PRS for Sierra Leone. Under the supervision of the Chief of C4D, and in close collaboration with Immunization Specialist and the C4D Section, the consultant will provide technical support in developing, implementing, monitoring and reporting on the C4D strategy and work plan for routine immunization including new vaccine introductions/campaigns and other MCH services.

Specifically, the proposed consultancy will use existing evidence on high impact accelerator behaviours, which can be practiced at the family level, and provide necessary support to the partnership on development of plans that promote necessary behaviours and create an enabling environment through a range of behavior change communication, social mobilization, community engagement and advocacy strategies to strengthen routine immunization.

Assignment Tasks and Expected Deliverables

Planning and Coordination

  • Coordination with MoHS, WHO and other relevant partners of UNICEF on strengthening Routine EPI services.
  • Contribute and support in the update and finalization of the strategic communications plan for strengthening routine immunization and new vaccine introduction.
  • Support the Health Education Division (HED), MoHS to develop an operational plan with approx. budget and timeline.

Data reporting and evidence based programme planning:

  • Support the national C4D team of UNICEF in collecting, collating, and analyzing data from the districts and provide timely feedback for course correction in support to Routine EPI strengthening initiative. 
  • Rapid needs assessment on understanding the perceptions of the communities on EPI services (mini – KABP) leading to development of a national communication strategy on EPI.

Communication Training and Capacity building:

  • Support in the development of training module on social mobilization and community engagement for routine immunization and other interventions for stakeholders and partners at national, district and sub-district levels.

Messaging and Materials

  • Provide technical support on production of IEC materials (media and print) for routine immunization, and new vaccine introduction during the period.

Payment will be made on a monthly basis upon submission of report

Qualifications of Successful Candidate

Education

Master’s degree specializing in communication studies or mass communication in international development with a focus on behaviour change communication, community engagement or social mobilization. Specialization in health communication or in monitoring and evaluation of communication programmes is an asset.

 

Years of relevant experience

Experience: in providing support to communication implementation of UN, government or INGO driven large scale interventions/projects for maternal, new born and child health in developing country contexts in Africa.

Specialized training: quantitative or qualitative social sciences research or certificate in health promotion or gender studies, is an asset

Competencies of Successful Candidate

Core competencies

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

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

Please indicate your ability, availability and daily/monthly rate (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference above (including travel and daily subsistence allowance, if applicable).  Applications submitted without a daily/monthly rate will not be considered.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organization.

This vacancy is now closed.