Full-time consultancy, home-based with travels: Social and Behaviour Change Specialist to support UNICEF ECARO with evidence generation and data analysis, design, implementation and assessment of COVID-19 related interventions

UNICEF Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia is looking for an expert on social and behaviour change (SBC), to support with evidence generation on factors influencing compliance with recommended protective measures, uptake of COVID-19 vaccines, design, implementation and assessment of COVID-19 related SBC interventions.

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, results

UNICEF Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia is looking for an expert on social and behaviour change (SBC), to support with evidence generation on factors influencing compliance with recommended protective measures, uptake of COVID-19 vaccines, design, implementation and assessment of COVID-19 related SBC interventions.

How can you make a difference?

The SBC contractors will:
• Support evidence generation on factors influencing compliance with recommended protective measures, uptake of COVID-19 vaccines.
• Create country profiles and keep them up to date with data on vaccines uptake in the general population, health professionals and other target groups. Reflect factors affecting vaccines uptake by country.
• Support the development and maintenance of a data visualization platform on COVID-19 vaccine confidence and uptake, and other topics.
• Support to update the Resource Package on misinformation management.
• Develop a practical tool for health workers with technical advice and tips on how to engage with and answer specific questions and concerns emerging from different target audiences (older adults, people with chronic diseases, pregnant women, caregivers of young children, adolescents, hesitant adults)
• Support Country Offices in designing and implementing evidence generation activities. Support with data analysis and formulation of actionable recommendations.
• Support pre-testing of (social media) messages and assets on COVID-19, immunization etc. and formulate recommendations for their use.
• Support countries to plan, rollout and assess community engagement activities.
• Support with social listening on COVID-19, immunization and other topics.
• Conduct literature review and identify lessons learned, god practices and recommendations on addressing vaccine hesitancy and strengthening confidence in vaccines and their uptake.
• Support country offices to assess the impact of misinformation on COVID-19 vaccine confidence and uptake and define actionable recommendations related to misinformation management
• Support development of tools, guidance and other resource materials – job aids, communication and information assets.
• Support ECARO and country offices in assessing the effectiveness of SBC interventions. Document good practices.
• Support development of articles/stories showcasing the work in the region.
• Support capacity building on country offices and national stakeholders.
• Develop and submit monthly reports with description of key activities, achieved results, challenges and recommendations for action.
• Support with other tasks, as required.

The SBC consultant will work closely with SBC ECARO team, country offices, other consultants.

Performance indicators for evaluation of results:
The performance of work will be evaluated based on the following indicators:
• Completion of tasks specified in ToR.
• Compliance with the established deadlines for submission of deliverables.
• Quality of deliverables.
• Demonstration of high standards of work.

Contractual modalities:
• Location: The consultant will be home-based. Travel to specific countries in Europe and Central Asia region may be required

• Duration: 11.5 Months

• Payment: UNICEF will issue a contract in USD. The payment will be made in USD by bank transfer on a monthly basis, based on a short narrative report and invoice. The consultant will send invoice and payment will be made upon satisfactory completion of deliverables. If the reports and documents are not submitted per the deliverables and timeframe stated in this TOR, the payments will be withheld. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if work/outputs is incomplete, not delivered or for failure to meet deadlines. All materials developed will remain the copyright of UNICEF and UNICEF will be free to adapt and modify them in the future.
• Reporting: The consultants will be supervised by and will report to the Regional SBC Specialist. Regular emails and calls will be used for planning and to update the supervisor.

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

• A post-graduate degree in social sciences, preferably on social and behaviour change, communication for development, social psychology
• At least 5 years of experience in planning, designing and assessing SBC interventions and strategies, preferably related to COVID-19.
• Experience with SBC data collection and analysis.
• Experience in analyzing and synthesizing socio-behavioural or public health research for policy and programme recommendations.
• Strong written and spoken English ability
• Previous work with UNICEF or other UN agencies is an asset.
• Previous experience in designing C4D/C4BC strategies and programs in Europe and Central Asia.
• Knowledge of Russian and other languages spoken in the region is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA).

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

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.

How to apply: Interested applicants should apply online, duly complete the online profile and application, upload required within application documents including a Personal history form (downloadable from http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/P11.doc) or CV (P11 prevails)  Candidates should indicate their fees in USD dollars in the application form (without travel). Applications without a fee will not be considered.

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.

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.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. The candidate may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid).