UNICEF, guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, works together with partners in 190 countries and territories to promote and advocate for the protection of the rights of every child.
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.
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For every child, a future
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How can you make a difference?
Purpose for the job:
The SBC Specialist (Polio) reports to the Field Office Lead with a technical reporting line to the SBC Manager (Polio). The Specialist provides operational and technical support for the planning, implementation, and monitoring of polio eradication and immunization interventions, with a strong focus on community engagement, social behaviour change (SBC), and integrated service delivery (ISD) at the field level.
Through close collaboration with community structures, local authorities, GPEI partners, and civil society actors, the Specialist supports the design and delivery of context-specific SBC strategies to increase vaccine acceptance and reduce missed children, especially in polio high risk areas. S/he also contributes to ensuring vaccine and cold chain readiness and facilitates the delivery of immunization services through integrated outreach.
This role contributes to achieving sustainable and equitable immunization outcomes, accelerating progress toward polio eradication and improved child survival and wellbeing in one of the highest-risk provinces in Afghanistan.
Summary of key functions/accountabilities:
1. Support the Implementation of Community Engagement and SBC Strategies for Polio to increase demand and uptake of vaccination services through locally adapted community engagement strategies.
2. Support the Planning and Monitoring of Supplementary Immunization Activities (SIAs) to ensure high quality polio campaigns are planned and delivered with reduced missed children.
3. Support the Integrated Service Delivery (ISD) Coordination at Field Level to strengthen delivery of combined health (including EPI), nutrition and WASH services in high-risk polio areas and underserved areas
4. Coordinate Vaccine Logistics and Cold Chain Monitoring to ensure that cold chain equipment is available, functional and effectively managed.
5. Strengthen Field-Level Coordination and Stakeholder Engagement to improve collaboration and joint planning among UNICEF, DFA and partners
6. Support Programme Monitoring, Data Use, and Adaptive Planning to ensure that programme decisions are informed by timely and accurate data.
If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: JD - Social & Behavior Change Specialist (Polio), NOC
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Minimum requirements:
Education:
- A master's degree or higher in social and behavioral science, sociology, anthropology, psychology, education, communication, public relations, or a related field is typically required.
Work Experience:
- A minimum of 5 experience in polio program in planning, social & behavior change, community engagement, advocacy, or related areas.
- Experience in polio eradication efforts especially in SBC is required.
- Experience in community engagement and mobilization and participatory approaches to behavior change.
- Experience working in a developing country 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:
- Previous experience of working in emergency context is a significant asset particularly in PEI/EPI
- Experience in developing and implementing data driven and results based effective SBC strategies and plans for polio eradication.
- Understanding of demand creation in routine immunization, is desirable.
If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about children’s rights and making a lasting difference on children’s lives, one of the global leading entities on children’s rights would like to hear from you.
For every Child, you demonstrate...
UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, Sustainability (CRITAS), and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.
UNICEF is also proud of a diverse workforce who are profoundly committed to supporting the full realization of children’s rights, and in uplifting a rights-based approach in all that we do.
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.
Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.
UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.
We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.
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 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:
This appointment will be under the same terms and conditions as a regular Fixed-Term contract (salary, benefits, entitlements). However, this post is time-bound, and there will be no extension beyond the specified end date.
Vacancy announcement is open to internal staff and other UNICEF personnel, including TAs, UNVs, and other personnel; however, priority will be given to staff in abolished posts and internal staff members.
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.
Visa residence requirements: UNICEF shall not facilitate the issuance of a visa and working authorization for candidates under consideration for positions at the national officer and general service category.
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.
