Communication for Development (C4D) consultants, (Polio outbreak response) - Somalia (Mogadishu, Hargeisa, Garowe, Kismayo, Dhusamareb, Jowhar and Banadir) - Seven (7) positions - (open to Somali nationals only)

The C4D consultants will respond to the resumption of Polio Outbreak in Somalia based in seven (7) states. The consultants will be required to communicate to families and communities about the importance of vaccinations including polio vaccine to prevent diseases using the Communication for Development principles and strategies.

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 vaccine

www.unicef.org/somalia

How can you make a difference?

Justification/purpose of assignment:

As a key partner in the effort to eradicate Polio, UNICEF has the lead role in communicating to families and communities about the importance of vaccinations including polio vaccine to prevent diseases using the Communication for Development principles and strategies.

Communication for Development (C4D) plays a crucial role in improving child immunization, by fostering understanding of childhood diseases, creating demand for services and acceptance of the vaccines. In recognition of this important role, UNICEF supports Somalia in having an effective and robust C4D program that strengthens national immunization programme and also vaccine preventable disease outbreak responses and immunization catch up activities. For the introduction nOPV2 to replace mOPV2 to respond to cVDPV2 outbreaks, two rounds of synchronized nOPV2 SIAs are planned for Jan-Dec 2021. The synchronized campaigns involve five countries in the Horn of Africa. This large-scale campaign will require strong cross border, hard-to-reach and nomadic communities social mobilization, education and advocacy. This calls for urgent need for C4D national consultants to be based in the States of Somalia which has been globally agreed and funded.

Specific Tasks/objectives:

• Situation analysis conducted to identify key social mobilization challenges to successful polio vaccination in all the states of Somalia.
• Selected strategies are translated into operational action plans successfully reaching more families, improving awareness, and contributing to address reasons for missed children in nomads, resistant and if possible, inaccessible polio compromised areas.
• A monitoring framework is developed, for pre, intra and post campaign social mobilization performance progress monitoring and timely corrective actions {in collaboration with the C4D specialist and Polio coordination team).
• In collaboration with the national C4D team/Zonal Social Mobilization Committees/taskforces, ensure timeliness and quality of daily reporting and data sharing on social mobilization activities during SIAs, including daily synthesis on resistance to vaccination as per the format developed to contribute to updating the communication risk analysis after each polio campaign.
• Identify key influencers, initiate/maintain a high level of engagement of community leaders and influencers through training and active participation for each polio campaign:
• Update the list of Nomadic elders engaged in polio eradication and leverage all opportunities to have a clear understanding of the seasonal location of nomadic communities, and accordingly develop a specific plan.
• Maintain NIAG {national Islamic advisory group) members active involvement in polio eradication activities.
• Insure development of integrated (with vaccination teams) evidence-based communication micro plans.
• Contribute to capacity building of Regional and District Social Mobilization Coordinators (R/DSMCs), to ensure quality cascaded training and regular update of community mobilizers list per districts and settlements.
• Provide guidance to Regional and District EPI teams in capacity development / demand creation and defaulter tracking
• Detect non-immunized and under immunized <5 children through the community mobilizers pre-campaign activities and plan for in between rounds communication activities aiming at increasing demand for routine polio vaccination through defaulter tracing and follow up.
• Contribute to strengthen liaison of RSMC and DSMCs – SOMNET - with local WHO colleagues for timely exchange of data {tally sheets, internal and independent Monitoring, LQAS) as necessary.
• Participate in joint WHO/UNICEF detailed case investigations of positive AFP cases and ensure capacity building of national counterpart on the subject.
• Follow and manage rumors, misinformation and disinformation through tracking tools – both digital and others - to better and more timely inform programme staff and activities.

Methodology and technical approach:

Consultant will use both qualitative and quantitative research methods (surveys and focus group discussions) to inform the program as well as social, electronic and print media monitoring to assess community level knowledge, attitudes and practices.

Expected Deliverables and Timeline:

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

• A first level university degree in Social & Behavioral Sciences, C4D, Journalism & Mass Communication, Public Health and Health Education with emphasis on participatory communication, communication planning, social mobilization, participatory research, training and impact evaluation of communication interventions.
• Two years of progressively responsible and relevant professional work experience in the planning and management of social mobilization and communication initiatives, with practical experience in working in the Somalia context.
• Fluency in Somali and English is required.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are...

• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1)
• Works Collaboratively with others (1)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (1)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (1)
• Drive to achieve impactful results (1)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

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:

Kindly indicate your preferred duty station in your cover letter.

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.