Current vacancies

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, opportunity,

The reduction of maternal and neonatal mortality by 2030 is a priority global health goal that is also mentioned in the Strategy on Healthcare of the Population of the Republic of Tajikistan for the period to 2030 (hereinafter SHP 2030). One of the directions of the Strategy on Healthcare of the Population of the Republic of Tajikistan for the period to 2030 is to increase access to and quality of services for mothers, children, and adolescents, as well as to minimize infant, child, and maternal mortality.
In 2023, UNICEF supported the Republican Centre for Immunoprophylaxis (RCIP) in training mid-level managers and representatives from allied government departments, including the Republican Healthy Lifestyle Center, the Republican Center of Family Medicine, and others, on the Human-Centered Design (HCD) approach. UNICEF’s global partners on HCD conducted these trainings with the support of UNICEF and the RCIP team. Feedback from the training has been highly positive, with some participants reporting that they have applied the methods and tools, leading to noticeable improvements. Building on this success, UNICEF now proposes to strengthen the capacity of civil society organizations (CSOs) in Tajikistan on HCD approaches to better identify zero-dose and under-immunized communities and increase immunization coverage across the country. Additionally, as Tajikistan introduces the new HPV vaccine, training health workers and faith-based organizations on the vaccine’s importance is crucial. The introduction of a new vaccine may be accompanied by misinformation and rumors, so addressing these issues promptly will help mitigate vaccine hesitancy. Given the influential role of religious leaders and CSOs in shaping public attitudes, they will receive training on Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE), social listening, and feedback mechanisms to ensure the smooth implementation of the HPV vaccine.
Bebbo, a mobile application developed by UNICEF globally, has already been adapted for use in 70 countries in their respective languages. It serves as a valuable resource, providing essential information on immunization and its importance for children's survival, growth, and overall health. Bebbo has been launched in Tajikistan, and further promotion is necessary to support parents and caregivers. To facilitate this, health workers should be trained on how to use the app and the type of information it contains so they can effectively promote it among mothers.
Meanwhile, SBC tools should be co-created and pretested with health workers to ensure their effectiveness. A workshop should be organized with health workers to refine these tools and enhance their implementation. Consultants with diverse expertise will be engaged to support the implementation of these initiatives, ensuring a com prehensive approach to capacity-building, community engagement, and immunization promotion. Each consultant will contribute based on their specific portfolio, covering areas such as Human-Centered Design (HCD), Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE), immunization strategies, social listening, and the development of SBC tools. Their collective efforts will help strengthen the capacity of civil society organizations, health workers, and faith-based leaders to enhance immunization coverage and address vaccine hesitancy in Tajikistan.

How can you make a difference? 

The purpose of this consultancy is to strengthen the capacity of key stakeholders, including civil society organizations (CSOs), health workers, and religious leaders, in applying Social and Behavior Change (SBC) and Human-Centered Design (HCD) approaches to improve immunization coverage in Tajikistan. The consultant will support the co-creation and pretesting of SBC tools with health workers, facilitate training on the newly introduced HPV vaccine, and enhance risk communication, social listening, and feedback mechanisms to address misinformation and vaccine hesitancy. Additionally, the consultancy will contribute to the promotion and effective utilization of the Bebbo mobile application among parents and caregivers by training health workers on its content and functionality. Through these efforts, the consultancy aims to ensure the smooth implementation of immunization initiatives and strengthen community engagement in vaccine uptake.

The consultant is required to work closely with the Republican Center of IP and UNICEF team during the assignment, through regular check-ins and by clearing all deliverables as planned in this Term of Reference (TOR).

The consultant will also play a key role in planning and facilitating multiple capacity-building trainings. This includes drafting agendas, preparing presentations in collaboration with other facilitators, and supporting the logistical arrangements such as printing materials and organizing venues. Specific trainings will include a five-day Human Centered Design (HCD) training for CSOs and academia, a two-day HPV vaccine training for health workers and faith-based organizations, a one-day training on immunization, social listening, and feedback mechanisms for faithbased organizations and the Committee on Religious Affairs, a two-day Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) training for CSOs, and a one-day training for health workers on the use and promotion of the
Bebbo mobile application. Additionally, the consultant will co-facilitate these training sessions and compile training reports, capturing lessons learned, recommendations, and analyses of pre- and post-tests as well as evaluation forms.
Furthermore, the consultant will organize and facilitate a workshop with health workers to finalize the content for key SBC tools, including videos, checklists, and decision-mapping tools for identifying and addressing vaccine hesitancy. Through these activities, the consultant will ensure that key stakeholders are equipped with the necessary knowledge, skills, and resources to enhance immunization coverage and community engagement efforts in Tajikistan. Specific tasks are as below:

1. Human-Centered Design Training for Civil society organizations to increase immunization demand in zero doze
and under immunized communities (5-Day Training):
• Prepare pre- and post-tests jointly with other facilitators.
• Co-facilitate during the training jointly with other facilitators.
• Contribute to the training report, including analysis of pre- and post-tests and evaluations, recommendations, and lessons learned, jointly with other facilitators.

2. Training on immunization, social listening and feedback mechanism for faith-based organization/Committee on
Religious Affairs (one- day training)
• Support in preparing the presentations jointly with other facilitators.
• Prepare pre- and post-tests jointly with other facilitators.
• Co-facilitate during the training jointly with other facilitators
• Contribute to the training report, including analysis of pre- and post-tests and evaluations, recommendations, and lessons learned, jointly with other facilitators.

3. Training on RCCE, social listening and feedback mechanism for CSOs (2 days)
• Support in preparing the presentations jointly with other facilitators.
• Contribute to development pre- and post-tests jointly with other facilitators.
• Co-facilitate during the training jointly with other facilitators
• Prepare the overall evaluation form jointly with other facilitators.
• Contribute to the training report, including analysis of pre- and post-tests and evaluations, recommendations, and lessons learned, jointly with other facilitators.

4. Training on HPV for health workers and faith-based organizations (2 days for health worker and two days for faith-based organizations)
• Support in preparing the presentations jointly with other facilitators.
• Contribute to development Prepare pre- and post-tests jointly with other facilitators Co-facilitate during the training jointly with other facilitators.
• Prepare the overall evaluation form jointly with other facilitators
• Contribute to the training report, including analysis of pre- and post-tests and evaluations, recommendations, and lessons learned, jointly with other facilitators.

5. Training of health workers on use and promotion of mobile application Bebbo (one day)
• Support in preparing the presentations jointly with other facilitators.
• Prepare pre- and post-tests jointly with other facilitators.
• Co-facilitate during the training jointly with other facilitators
• Prepare the overall evaluation form jointly with other facilitators.
• Contribute to the training report, including analysis of pre- and post-tests and evaluations, recommendations, and lessons learned, jointly with other facilitators.

6. Workshop with health workers to agree on contents for Video, Checklist, Decision Mapping Tool for identification
and addressal of vaccine hesitancy
• Identify key health workers and stakeholders to participate.
• Develop and send out invitations and pre-workshop materials.
• Draft the workshop agenda jointly with facilitators.
• Prepare an initial outline of video content, checklist, and decision-mapping tool for discussion.
• Present the initial concepts for the video, checklist, and decision-mapping tool.
• Facilitate discussions to gather feedback and insights from health workers.
• Document key discussion points and consensus on content.
• Integrate feedback from health workers into the materials.
• Finalize the structure and key messages for the video.
• Develop and validate the checklist for vaccine hesitancy identification and response.
• Finalize the decision-mapping tool with clear action steps.
• Compile a summary report with key workshop outcomes and recommendations.
• Share the revised materials with participants for final input.
• Coordinate next steps for content production and implementation

Work assignment:

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

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in relevant area of study, in communication, social work, social welfare, social research or related field

Work experience:

• 5-8 years of professional work experience in communication materials, including proven experience of delivering SBC campaigns and training in Tajikistan.
• Working with the government structures will be considered as added value. Previous work with UN and or INGOs is an asset.
  
  

Technical Expertise:

• Proven record of development of SBC communication materials on immunization.
  Strong facilitation skills during the trainings.

Skills:

• Strong interpersonal communications skills.
• Cultural and political sensitivity.
• Ability to work under pressure and with tight deadlines.
• Ability to write reports, newsletters, social media posts.

Language:

• Fluency in Tajik/ Russian and English languages.

Qualified candidates are requested to submit:

• Financial proposal in TJS (including travel cost) to be submitted (Annex 3 below to be completed) link 
• Two previous similar works (reports, newsletters, social media posts)
• List of 3 references (recent direct supervisors)
• Applications without financial proposal and the work sample will not be considered.

Applications must be received in the system by 10 May 2025 on UNICEF website.

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

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

 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 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.

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. 

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. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.