Social & Behavior Change Specialist

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, Empowerment

www.unicef.org/somalia

How can you make a difference ?

1. Generate and utilize research, data, and evidence to inform the design, measurement, and monitoring of AAP interventions in both development and emergency contexts and to build the evidence base for AAP.

• ▪In collaboration with sectoral and cross-sectoral specialists, relevant government officers and other UN/NGO partners, design and conduct AAP-relevant situation analyses and formative research.
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• ▪Facilitate development and use of harmonized tools and standards for staff, partners, consultants, third-party monitoring and reporting of AAP activities.
• Establish community feedback mechanisms and use feedback to inform community engagement and SBC actions for development and emergency programming.
• Support closing the loop on individual cases of complaints and feedback by informing affected communities.
• Adaptation of Feedback Mechanisms based on the communication needs of the population with an age, gender, disability and diversity perspective.
• Ensuring timely and relevant feedback from IDP communities in camps, host communities and minority groups.
• Ensure feedback is systematically collected, analyzed, and acted upon in a timely manner.
• Develop and manage relationships with external partners, vendors and consultants for AAP support.

2. Design, plan and implement SBC activities in support of AAP that are backed by social and behavioural evidence and strong engagement and participation mechanisms in both development and humanitarian contexts.

• In collaboration/consultation with UNICEF sectoral and cross-sectoral specialists, relevant government officers and other UN/NGO partners, develop, implement and monitor evidence-based SBC strategies and activities supporting AAP, in line with global standards and UNICEF priorities and approaches.
• Facilitate the development and review of a Country Office strategy and annual plans of action for scaling up AAP that has clear deliverables, indicators and timeframes to enable timely marked improvement in AAP performance, with a focus on closing the loop
• Make viable recommendations on inclusion of AAP/community engagement and social and behavioural approaches in sectoral work plans and strategies. Advocate for the inclusion of community engagement AAP processes in sectoral workplans based on active participation in sectoral programme planning and reviews and viable recommendations for the integration of AAP.
• Support development and distribution of IEC materials to inform affected populations about their rights, entitlements, and available services.

3. Support operationalization of AAP by advocating for AAP, mobilizing resources, coordinating across stakeholders, sectors and teams, and partnership building.

• Collaborate with national, regional and/or global partners to link and coordinate AAP approaches.
• Cultivate resource mobilization opportunities and produce proposals, reports and other materials to support resources mobilization for AAP. Contribute to mobilizing human resources for AAP, including staff, consultants and external vendors.
• Identify, recruit and supervise consultants, vendors and other technical expertise to support delivery of AAP activities. Plan, use and track the use of resources and verify compliance with organizational guidelines and standards.
• Contribute to financial planning, budget planning and tracking and financial management for AAP.
• Identify, disseminate, and adopt best practices and innovative approaches and technology in AAP, integrate them in programme approaches and support SBC and sectoral teams in implementing them.
• Advocate internally and externally for integration of AAP in national systems, in the country programme, and in sectoral plans.
• Lead on reporting against and implementation of the Core Humanitarian Standard on Quality and Accountability (CHS)
• Collaborate with program teams to ensure accountability considerations are integrated into program implementation.
• Support the implementation of the UNICARE project in close collaboration with UNICEF technical staff.

4. Promote continuous learning, strengthening, and scaling up in AAP for both development and humanitarian contexts through capacity building for UNICEF staff and partners.

• Strengthening organizational capacities for the effective implementation of AAP.
• Building capacity to ensure feedback and complaints mechanisms are well integrated to all aspects of UNICEF-supported AAP work.
• Lead on enhancing AAP across the organization and develop appropriate tools and guidance to support program sections and field offices to incorporate AAP into their work.
• Identify, design, and organize AAP training materials and opportunities for staff and partners, including on new approaches and social accountability mechanisms.
• Develop and/or use and adapt existing UNICEF learning resources, guidelines and training materials to build AAP capacity among staff, implementing partners and relevant government and non-government counterparts.
• Identify and mobilize resources to support capacity development internally and externally and provide AAP technical support and capacity building to government counterparts.
• Conduct info sessions for staff and partners on community engagement and accountability principles.
• Provide technical support to program staff and partners on AAP standards and best practices.
• Promote a culture of accountability within the organization through awareness-raising and capacity-building initiatives.

5.Coordinate and promote AAP Collective approaches: Representing and coordinating collective AAP approaches and initiatives in the humanitarian response.

• Participate in different Inter Agency AAP efforts e.g., PSEA mechanisms and other feedback and complaints mechanisms.
• Support and strengthen the CEA TF for engagement with government and partners
• Support the CEA TF of AAP partners through regular meetings and provide guidance and support for the CEA TF
• Coordinate with clusters, stakeholders and partners for the implementation of community engagement/AAP in development and humanitarian actions.
• Liaise with other humanitarian actors to strengthen coordination and collaboration on accountability initiatives.
• Ensure the development of coordination and cooperation mechanisms among AAP stakeholders to ensure that AAP focal persons/sector leads at national and sub-national level have information as required.

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

Minimum requirements:

•  Education: An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: Communication, Behavioral Psychology, Social and Behavior Change, Social Sciences, Development Studies, International Relations, Political Science, or another relevant technical field.

•  Work Experience: A minimum of five years of professional experience in one or more of the following areas is required: social development programme planning, social and behavior change, communication for development, RCCE, Public advocacy or another related area. efhsQGB BhPZf8
•  Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.
•  Experience working in a humanitarian setting is considered as an asset.
•  Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

Desirables:

•  Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency.

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

This position has been assessed as an elevated risk role for Child Safeguarding purposes as it is either a role with direct contact with children, a role that works directly with identifiable children’s data, a safeguarding response role, or an assessed risk role. Additional vetting and assessment for elevated risk roles in child safeguarding (potentially including additional criminal background checks) apply.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable female candidates are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

Advertised: Nov 30 2024 E. Africa Standard Time

Application close: Dec 07 2024 E. Africa Standard Time