Consultancy: Communication and Community Engagement (COVID-19), UNICEF EAPRO, Bangkok, Thailand

The Regional Communication section, UNICEF East Asia and Pacific Regional Office (EAPRO) is seeking an individual consultant to provide technical support on Communication and Community Engagement for the introduction of COVID 19 vaccine(s) in the East Asia and Pacific (EAP) Region.

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 fulfilling 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 better future

UNICEF works to ensure the rights of all children in the East Asia and Pacific Region.  This means the rights of every child living in this country, irrespective of their nationality, gender, religion or ethnicity, to:

• survival – to basic healthcare, peace and security;
• development – to a good education, a loving home and adequate nutrition;
• protection – from abuse, neglect, trafficking, child labour and other forms of exploitation; and
• participation – to express opinions, be listened to and take part in making any decisions that affect them

How can you make a difference?

The Regional Communication section, UNICEF East Asia and Pacific Regional Office (EAPRO) is seeking an individual consultant to provide technical support on Communication and Community Engagement for the introduction of COVID 19 vaccine(s) in the East Asia and Pacific (EAP) Region.

Background:

In January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the COVID-19 outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). The outbreak has infected millions of people across the world and caused significant loss of lives. To protect people from the disease, vaccines against COVID-19 have been developed by several manufacturers in a number of countries.  It is expected that there will be only limited number of vaccines produced in the early days, and gradually scaled up. Hence, countries will need to prioritize population who will receive the vaccine in the first round.

There is growing evidence of vaccine delays or refusals due to a lack of trust in the importance, safety, or effectiveness of vaccines, alongside persisting access issues.  Community trust is key to ensure vaccine uptake and buy-in. To build trust, it is important to understand how communities perceive the disease and what are their main questions, doubts, and fears around vaccines, generally, and towards COVID-19 vaccine, more specifically. Previous experience of pandemics and communities’ risk perception about the disease can also influence vaccine uptake. Lack of trust in service providers, past negative experience of vaccination and poor quality of services including negative attitude of service providers may also affect the decision to accept a new vaccine in certain contexts. Similarly, it will be important to understand the trusted source of vaccine, influencers, etc.

It will be important for countries to have a good advocacy communication and social mobilization (ACSM) plan in line with Government’s decision of prioritization of population. The ACCSM plan will have a strong community engagement component, include social listening and community feedback mechanism and evidence-based communication approaches.

Families and communities need to be provided with accurate and up to date information on COVID-19 vaccine, based on evidence generated from social listening and behavior and social data, which will include clarification about eligible population and importance of continuing associated behaviours to prevent infection and transmission-engaging communities throughout the process. Demand generation interventions will need to encourage eligible populations to be vaccinated and at the same time manage public expectations on vaccine availability.

[1] Alexandre de Figueiredo*, Clarissa Simas*, Emilie Karafillakis, Pauline Paterson, Heidi J Larson: Mapping global trends in vaccine confidence and investigating barriers to vaccine uptake: a large-scale retrospective temporal modelling study: Lancent 2020:

Work Assignment:

Under direct supervision of the Regional Communication and Communication for Development Specialist, support the regional and country offices to:

1. Develop evidence based Communication for Development (C4D) strategies for COVID 19 vaccine introduction.
2. Develop crisis communication plan and SOPs.
3. Adapt and develop communication material based on global guidance.
4. Adapt and develop training material for various stakeholders.
5. Facilitation of training using the training material.
6. Monitor and document the ACSM activities.
7. Develop systems for social media monitoring, rumor tracking and management, online listening, and support with digital/online content production and dissemination.

Work Activities:

1. Support county offices in developing communication and community engagement plans for COVID19 vaccine introduction.
2. In coordination with internal UNICEF sections (e.g.: C4D, external communication and T4D colleagues) support in establishing/activating the social listening and misinformation management mechanisms at the regional and/or county levels.
3. Support the regional and/or country offices in the collection and use of behavioral and social data (surveys, studies, etc.) to inform communication and programme response.
4. Oversee, coordinate with WHO and partners and provide technical assistance on development and pre-testing and finalization of evidence-based communication content, messages and material as guided by evidence from social listening and based on global guidelines.         
5. Support country offices in adapting and rolling out global and regional tools and guidelines and provide necessary capacity building support.
6. Support in identifying key stakeholders and partners who can support the vaccine roll out (e.g.: public health, nursing associations, organizations working with older adults, faith-based organizations, etc.) and in providing orientations to them.
7. Support monitoring (including community feedback, media and social media monitoring) and reporting of ongoing implementation of COVAX introduction and broader C4D/Risk communication activities.
8. Support documentation of ACSM activities including best practices and lessons learnt.
9. Develop and implement a regional social listening and engagement strategy and action plan with a focus on the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on immunization and provide support to country offices rollout their social listening initiatives.
10. Support the development and implementation of a system to track and manage COVID-19 and-immunization related rumors (misinformation and disinformation) and general public concerns.
11. Develop online monitoring and evaluation framework for digital engagement activities.
12. Create, edit and/or author communication content across major social accounts (with support from the communication team).
13. Produce monthly consultancy reports.

End Product:

1. Support provided to country offices for the development of communication and community engagement plans for COVID 19 vaccine introduction.
2. Support provided in establishment of social listening and misinformation management mechanisms
3. Documentation of ACSM activities carried out.
4. Monitoring and evaluation framework for digital engagements developed.
5. Monthly consultancy reports.

Estimated Duration of Contract:  11 months, starting ASAP.

Official Travel:  The consultant is expected to work at UNICEF EAPRO, Bangkok and travel to support missions to country offices could be required once travel related restrictions are eased out.

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

• Master’s degree in communications, social sciences, or related field.
  • A first university degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.
• Training in one of these areas - social media and/or data science technical competencies: Social media management, Digital monitoring, Business Analytics.
• A minimum of 5 years’ experience in C4D and emergencies, risk communication and community engagement.
• Excellent written and spoken English.
• Experience in working on immunization- preferably prior experience in new vaccine introduction.
• Experience in developing and implementing crisis communication plans and standard operating procedures.
• Proven experience in social media monitoring and analysis and/or digital listening.
• Previous experience with social media management, trend monitoring, and influencing.
• Experience in the design and implementation of interventions on rumor management/ misinformation.
• Experience in content creation for social media and websites.
• Experience of working in humanitarian contexts.

Interested candidates are requested to submit CV or P-11, full contact information of minimum 3 references, availability, and proposed monthly professional fee in USD by 18 March 2021.

 FORM P11.doc

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People, and Drive for Results.

View our competency framework at

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

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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 be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

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

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.

UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children.