RCCE Specialist

UNICEF Cambodia is looking to hire a national consultant to work with Communications team, Health team, and across other relevant sections. The purpose of this consultancy is to: - support the Government-led RCCE COVID-19 response by providing strategic, capacity-building and technical support to all aspects of the RCCE national response in real-time. - support the roll-out of the UNICEF-led RCCE response through UNICEF platforms and networks, which aligns with, supports and complements the Government’s voice and interventions.

1- Background

UNICEF is leading efforts to procure and supply COVID-19 vaccines as part of the global vaccine plan of the COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access Facility (COVAX Facility) led by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.

In Cambodia, UNICEF is working closely with the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) to prepare the country for the roll-out of the eventual vaccines. One of the key areas of intervention is Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE).  As a member of the Working Group on Communication, Advocacy and Demand Generation (CADG) for the COVID-19 vaccine led by MoH, UNICEF is playing a key role in developing and implementing the related RCCE strategy and communication workplan. The main goal of this work is threefold: to raise awareness, knowledge, and confidence around COVID-19 immunisation services among key target groups so they know who, why, how, where and when they can receive COVID-19 vaccines; to build public trust and generate demand among key target groups; and to amplify community mobilization and engagement strategies in support of participatory interventions at community level.

UNICEF Cambodia is looking to hire a national consultant to help facilitate this work, working within the UNICEF Communications team, but also working closely with the Health team and across other relevant sections.

2- Purpose

The purpose of this consultancy is to:

• support the Government-led RCCE COVID-19 response by providing strategic, capacity-building and technical support to all aspects of the RCCE national response in real-time.
• support the roll-out of the UNICEF-led RCCE response through UNICEF platforms and networks, which aligns with, supports and complements the Government’s voice and interventions.

2- Work Assignments

The consultant is expected to provide technical support to the following activities:                 

• Support the implementation of the national RCCE strategy and communication plan. This will be based on global guidelines for the COVID-19 vaccine with specific activities to reach the priority population for the first phase of vaccination.
• Support community engagement strategy and plan integrated into National Deployment and Vaccination Plan. Support relevant community engagement assessments to inform ongoing strategies for COVID-19 vaccine scale-up.
• Support the capacity-building of national and sub-national authorities, health workers, CSOs and frontline workers with demand generation, linking it with the gains made in RCCE.
• Lead efforts on social listening, rumour management by identifying platforms to listen to and set criteria for that listening, while identifying mechanisms for reporting and addressing rumors. Work with technical leads to assess behavior and social data established (includes through social media). Work with local authorities to implement feedback mechanisms at community level in order to address misinformation and other issues around access to factual, real-time information.
• Assist the communication team with developing evidence-based communication messages and materials. Facilitate pre-testing of context-specific communication materials and messages for priority populations. Support updating an monitoring of the communication strategy, key assets and massages, social data and behavior indicators as needed.
• Support community engagement strategy and plan integrated into NDVP.
• Provide support to UNICEF programme teams, including the two UNICEF field offices in Siem Reap and Kratie, in the implementation of the RCCE strategy so they are able to mobilise partners and communities in the support of RCCE and develop relevant work plans and activities. This builds on UNICEF’s RCCE established mechanisms and lessons learnt. 
• Help engage key community stakeholders, influencers and religious leaders to raise awareness of COVID-19 immunisation services among key target groups and generate demand. Assist sub-national authorities in organising community engagement sessions through various established platforms.
• Identify and work with youth groups as allies in fighting fake news, raising awareness and creating demand for COVID-19 vaccines.
• Develop SOPs on crisis communication.
• Provide support to partners including civil society organisations, faith-based organisations and private sector partners in delivering their RCCE plans.
• Ensure approaches used are inclusive, equitable, consultative and participatory to carry along all stakeholders, while promoting C4D/SBCC/RCCE principles.
• Monitor and evaluate ongoing RCCE activities on the basis of applied targeted communication research and visits to field/project sites, as needed.

A. Expected deliverables 

1.  Timely support provided to CADG on the implementation of the national RCCE strategy and communication plan, ensuring these plans follow global guidelines on equity principles. Communication metrics (# of reached and engaged people) are set and met. Due date: 23 March 2021

2.  Support provided to CADG to develop training materials/guidelines on demand generation.  Training of national and sub-national authorities, health workers, CSOs, frontline workers conducted as planned. Due date: 22 April 2021

3.  Social listening and rumour management platforms and reporting mechanisms are identified and established. Due date: 24 May 2021

4.  Guidance on community feedback mechanisms addressing misinformation provided to local authorities. Due date: 23 June 2021

5.  Pre-tested, evidence-based communication messages and materials developed according to the RCCE Communication Plan. Due date: 23 July 2021

6.  UNICEF sections and field offices are supported to participate in the RCCE.  Mapping of community engagement activities, including disaggregated data on population reach developed and regularly maintained. Due date: 24 August 2021

7.  Mapping for community stakeholders (including religious leaders) and influencers developed, opportunities of engagement identified as per communication plan, support provided to sub-national authorities in organizing community engagement sessions. Due date: 23 September 2021

8.  RCCE youth engagement plan developed and implemented in collaboration with UNICEF’s social media team. UNICEF Youth Task Force to be consulted, briefed, and engaged to support. Engagement metrics to be set and met. Due date: 14 October 2021

9.  SOPs on crisis communication developed. Due date: 15 November 2021

10. Partners including civil society organisations, faith-based organisations and private sector partners are supported in their RCCE plans. Shared drive of key assets developed and shared regularly with partners. Due date:  06 December 2021

11. Monitor and evaluate reporting takes place regularly.  Data on population reach and engagement provided monthly, accompanied with short analyses to inform change strategy if needed. End campaign reporting and lesson learn developed. Due date: 31 January 2022

Total number of working days: 242 working days

B- Minimum Qualifications and Experience:

• Advanced university degree in Communication, Journalism, Public Relations Sociology, Public Health, Anthropology or other related field
• Three to five years of professional work experience in mass communications, risk and behavioural change communication and community engagement
• Experience working in the UN or other international development organization is an asset
• Excellent understanding of the national and subnational health systems 
• Experience developing engagement strategies and community feedback mechanisms
• Experience developing key messages for various audiences. Experience using social media platforms and tools to communicate and engage with a variety of audiences
• Experience in managing communications in emergency situations and on sensitive issues
• Experience in conducting RCCE training would be an asset
• Excellent research and analytical skills
• Fluency in spoken English and Khmer. Ability to present information to public audiences with confidence and authority
• Strong interpersonal and team working skills and capacity to work in a multicultural environment
• Ability to use own initiative and creatively consider solutions
• Highly organized and detail orientated
• Ability to work under pressure and to meet deadlines
• Commitment to child rights and UNICEF’s mission in Cambodia
• Strong drive for results, setting high standards for the quality of work.

C- Location

The consultant will work from the premises of UNICEF’s office in Phnom Penh

D- Duration

The duration of the assignment will be for two hundred and forty-two working days (242) from 22^nd February 2021 to 31 January 2022 including field mission in the provinces.

E- Schedule linked to satisfactory deliverables

Included above.

F- Administrative Issues

Consultant is expected to use his/her own computer and internet facilities and any other necessary equipment.

G- Contract supervisor

Consultant will report to the Chief of Communication.

H- Penalties for Underperformance

Payment of fees to the Contractor under this contractor, including each instalment or periodic payment (if any), is subject to the Contractor’s full and complete performance of his or her obligations under this contract with regard to such payment to UNICEF’s satisfaction, and UNICEF’s certification to that effect.

Performance indicators: Consultants’ performance will be evaluated against the following criteria: timeliness, quality, and relevance/feasibility of recommendations for UNICEF Cambodia.