Temporary Appointment: Communication for Development Specialist (Humanitarian Preparedness & Response) P4, WCARO, Dakar-Senegal #111275

Support the regional C4D team to reinforce the C4D emergency preparedness and response in the region, by: 1. Providing technical support to WCAR UNICEF Country Offices in the design and implementation of Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) evidence-based, quality preparedness and response plans and strategies. 2. Providing technical guidance and coordinating the development of feedback mechanisms and Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) mechanisms in the countries most affected by humanitarian crisis. 3. Coordinating monitoring, evaluation, documentation and knowledge management for the RCCE and AAP activities.

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, a Hope,

1. BACKGROUND

UNICEF West and Central Africa Region (WCAR) includes 24 countries, many of which are periodically or chronically affected by a variety of emergencies, including disease outbreaks and recurrent complex emergencies, which present major challenges to populations. WCAR has the highest proportion of fragile states and other acute vulnerabilities, the highest population growth in the world, with the lowest per capita economic growth.

In 2019, UNICEF's West and Central Africa Regional Office continues to support humanitarian action for crisis-affected children and women. This includes supporting country-level preparedness actions, response to humanitarian situations and strengthening early recovery in humanitarian response. The main efforts are oriented towards supporting: 

Response to the continuous Ebola outbreak in North Kivu and Ituri provinces of DRC, including in the areas of insecurity, which has proved especially complex and requiring rethinking of communication strategies, with greater focus on Community Engagement and putting in place Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP).

• The scale-up of the emergency response to the unprecedented humanitarian emergency in the Central Sahel (Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger), where complex conflict situations displace large numbers of populations and limited access to basic social services for hundreds of thousands of people. This requires, among other efforts, building resilience of communities and putting in place effective AAP mechanisms. Preparedness efforts must be strengthened in the northern regions of Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana and Togo.
• Support and oversight for preparedness and response across major regional emergencies in the Lake Chad Basin, including Nigeria and neighbouring countries of Chad, Cameroon and Niger, as well as in DR Congo and the ongoing emergency in the Central African Republic.
• Communication support to an integrated nutrition response, focusing on the nutrition crisis in Sahel, through support to the integrated management of acute malnutrition, focusing on life-saving SAM treatment, prevention of malnutrition through support for infant and young child feeding and the promotion of essential family practices for improved infant, young child and maternal nutrition.
• Support to the Regional Cholera Platform and implementing cholera prevention activities in high-risk areas.

In the context of cross-border and sub-regional emergency responses, WCARO is addressing the issues of children associated with armed groups and forces, children in detention and/or children who are unaccompanied and separated from their families. In addition, the Regional Office supports the implementation of the Safe Schools Strategy, providing technical guidance on protective learning environments.

In these conditions, WCARO is looking for a social and behaviour change (SBC) / C4D Specialist with experience in humanitarian context, to support the reinforcement of the C4D in Humanitarian Preparedness and Response in the region.

How can you make a difference?

PURPOSE OF THE TEMPORARY APPOINTMENT (TA)

Under the general guidance of the C4D Regional Adviser and in close coordination with the emergency team, support the strengthening of Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) preparedness and response in humanitarian situations, as well as during the recovery efforts.

Support the regional C4D team to reinforce the C4D emergency preparedness and response in the region, by:

1. Providing technical support to WCAR UNICEF Country Offices in the design and implementation of Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) evidence-based, quality preparedness and response plans and strategies.
2. Providing technical guidance and coordinating the development of feedback mechanisms and Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) mechanisms in the countries most affected by humanitarian crisis.
3. Coordinating monitoring, evaluation, documentation and knowledge management for the RCCE and AAP activities.

SUMMARY OF KEY FUNCTIONS/ACCOUNTABILITIES

1.Provide technical support to WCAR UNICEF Country Offices in the design and implementation of evidence-based Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) plans and strategies, aiming at:

• provision of information to affected and at-risk people, including the most marginalized groups, on life enhancing/saving actions and influence behaviour and social change at individual / household and community levels for the adoption of key protective practices within humanitarian contexts;
• increased awareness on key lifesaving interventions in humanitarian setting, their entitlements, the services available and how to access them; 
• putting in place approaches to support participation and community engagement across the humanitarian programme cycle (assessment, service design, implementation and M&E), in line with the global minimum standards for community engagement;
• creation of accountability to affected populations and systematic feedback and complaint mechanisms which are designed in a way that reaches the most marginalized and vulnerable groups and inform decisions about programme design and course correction.

2.Provide technical guidance and support to the development of feedback mechanisms and Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) mechanisms in humanitarian settings:

• Coordinate a mapping of existing AAP initiatives;
• Formulate recommendations and provide support to COs responding to humanitarian situations to put in place effective AAP mechanisms, linked to all pillars of the humanitarian response;
• Organize the capacity building and knowledge exchange in the area of AAP.

3.Support RO C4D team in coordination with RCCE partners regionally and globally for joint analysis, development of joint approaches and coordinated action. Ensure regular communication and reporting with Headquarters, Geneva RCCE team, OCHA and other partners to assure alignment and sharing facts and trends.

4.Coordinate the documentation and capitalization of the RCCE lessons learned, strategies and tools to prevent and mitigate the impact of emergencies. Create and facilitate mechanisms for systematic RCCE knowledge generation, acquisition and dissemination.

5.Support RO reporting on C4D in Emergency and AAP and ensure quality control for country offices' C4D in emergency/AAP reports and key documents.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Education:

Master’s degree in social/behavioural sciences with emphasis on behaviour and social change communication, participatory communication, social research, communication in humanitarian situations. 

 Experience

• Minimum of 8 years of progressively responsible professional work experience in social development /social and behaviour change (SBC) communication, including work experience in developing countries or in humanitarian situations.
• Prior experience in West and Central Africa will be an added advantage.
• Strong technical knowledge and previous experience in development and implementation of behaviour and social change communication, RCCE, AAP or CE approaches.
• Proven skills in communication, data-driven communication planning and monitoring of behaviour and social change processes and results.
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.

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.

Competencies

• Fluent in French and English, with strong communication and public speaking skills.
• Formulating strategies and concepts
• Relating & Networking: Excellent team player, able to work on own initiative and as part of a team
• Persuading & Influencing: Ability to facilitate mutual understanding among partners
• Applying Technical Expertise in the area of communication
• Promoting, practicing and helping others value and respect diversity of gender, culture, opinions, values, perspectives, ideas, skills, expertise, knowledge and experiences.
• Capable of working effectively under stress, on multiple assignments simultaneously and adapting to changing demands.

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.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

Remarks:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

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

Female candidates are encouraged to apply.