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TA Communication for Development (C4D) Specialist for Routine immunization, (P-4), WCARO Dakar, Senegal # 105859

Dakar

  • Organization: UNICEF - United Nations Children’s Fund
  • Location: Dakar
  • Grade: Mid level - P-4, International Professional - Internationally recruited position
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Public Health and Health Service
    • Development Cooperation and Sustainable Development Goals
    • Communication and Public Information
    • Communication for Development (C4D)
  • Closing Date: Closed

The regional C4D section is among the cross-sectorial programs working in convergence and integration with all other UNICEF programmatic priorities and sectors. Despite vertical funding for specific C4D focus areas, all C4D staff are supervised by the Regional Advisor to assure harmonization across all program contributions, and assure linking vertical with horizontal interventions which are designed to contribute to all sectors.

 

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, hope

There is a renewed focus globally and locally on the need to enhance routine immunization systems, particularly as we move to introduce important new vaccines and tools which can be effective in reducing morbidity and mortality. For UNICEF, routine immunization remains a top priority and focus of our work. If we cannot deliver simple interventions such as routine immunization or polio vaccines, introducing more complicated interventions will remain a challenge. Communication and social mobilization are an essential enabling component of routine and supplementary immunization activities, and play a critical role in ensuring that community leaders and child caregivers continue to allow their children to be immunized. Within the Global Vaccination Action Plan (GVAP), UNICEF is leading the efforts to coordinate global evidence-based planning and positioning of community engagement, social mobilization and coalition building to reach the target population, particularly the under-served.  In this context, and given the increased expectations for results from donors and partners to ensure the global immunization targets are met and to support the introduction of new vaccines, there is a need to enhance the organization’s technical capacities and skills in C4D both at internal and national counterparts’ levels. To boost equitable coverage a special focus is needed on reinforcing quality planning, monitoring, evaluation data collection/analysis and documentation in C4D for immunization.

With increased vaccine preventable outbreaks in the WCA region, such as Yellow Fever, Polio, Meningitis, Measles, and now Ebola, a strong emphasis on expanding immunization coverage as well as improving preparedness and rapid response mechanisms is critical if UNICEF is to be effective in its C4D contribution to outbreak prevention and response, it is therefore crucial to invest in reinforcing capacities to  develop outbreak prevention, preparedness and response strategies and action plans with the local contexts in mind.

How can you make a difference?

The purpose of this position is to consider key shifts in the way we engage with families and communities, create and sustain demand for immunization, address barriers posed by social norms and build social accountability that challenges and works in tandem with the system. WCARO technical support to COs should also be intensified in order to strengthen country capacities to meet the new challenges, build partner networks and support community level implementing partners, develop innovative strategies engaging fathers, young parents and adolescents.

Because of the catalytic role of routine immunization in national public health systems, UNICEF considers C4D for immunization as a top focus area and upholds the regional lead in this critical area. As a result, the WCARO C4D section has seen its immunization responsibilities and accountabilities significantly grow in the past 2 years, requiring  additional human resources in order to maintain this strategic leadership. These additional responsibilities include imminent expectations to:

  • Develop regional initiatives of convergence with education, nutrition, birth registration and health.
  • Assist countries develop preparedness and response plans.
  • Conduct appropriate formative research on urbanization and drop-out rates.
  • Provide support to countries in assuring that C4D is better integrated in all planning strategies, proposals and reviews.
  • Provide input in the design and conducting of equity assessments.
  • Strengthen regional coordination with WHO, GAVI and global partners.
  • Initiate new partnerships in the region
  • Assure appropriate monitoring, evaluation and documentation is realized.

    The specific objectives of this technical assistance is to:

  1. Strengthen evidence-based C4D planning for immunization so it is better integrated and funded in key health events and strategic immunization documents at regional and country level.
  2. Assure that results are strengthened through convergence and collaboration with other UNICEF sectors including innovations and support to COs in implementation.
  3. Contribute to stronger preparedness for outbreaks and timely response.

    Major responsibilities:

  1. Participate and provide technical support to COs so C4D staff is optimally engaged in national EPI planning processes and strategies including the strengthening, positioning and budgeting of C4D for immunization in CMYP strategy, HSS proposals and EPI reviews. 

  2. Contribute and participate in the design of and position C4D in equity assessments. Develop a regional module to support COs to integrate C4D strategies and tools into equity assessments to be conducted in participating countries.

  3. Provide support to strengthen COs in the development of inter-sectoral C4D strategies for routine immunization and new vaccines introductions (HPV, Ebola, RV, PCV, MENA, MR, YF).

  4. Contribute to Health System Strengthening through; a) Development of an M&E framework for communications for immunization in the region;  b) Support initiatives to build capacities of front line workers through review of inter-personal communication modules and support to training programmes of health ministries. C) Support documentation and knowledge management of social accountability initiatives.

  5. Contribute to the regional emergency preparedness and response plan through stronger integration of the C4D component in preparation to epidemics/outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases.  This includes the development and management of rosters of institutional and individual consultants and support the recruitment plans and processes in COs. Provide support to COs in developing quality and timely preparedness and response plans for epidemics/outbreaks in high-risk countries.

CONDITIONS OF WORK

Position is based in WCARO Communication for development Section. When deployed in support of response in Country Offices, the incumbent will also report to the Country Representative or Head of Immunization/Health Section as appropriate.

To qualify as a champion for every child you will have…

  • Master’s degree in the social/behavioral sciences with emphasis on advocacy, behavior and social change communication, participatory communication and communication tools and material development

  • A minimum of eight (08) years of relevant work experience in social development /communication for development, including work experience in developing countries, with practical experience in the application of communication planning processes to specific programs.
  • Strong technical knowledge and previous experience in implementation of behavior and social change communication,  including participatory approaches
  • Proven skills in communication, data-driven communication planning, and monitoring of behavior and social change processes and results.

  • Fluency in French and English is required with strong communication and public speaking skills

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

The technical competencies required for this post are:

  • Leading and Supervising II
  • Formulating Strategies and Concepts
  • Analyzing II
  • Applying Technical Expertise II
  • Planning and Organizing III

View our competency framework at

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

This vacancy is now closed.
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