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For every child, a voice
In Nigeria, UNICEF works in a complex humanitarian and development setting to fulfill and protect children's rights in partnership with the government, civil society, children, and families. UNICEF Nigeria is one of the largest UNICEF Country Offices globally - click the link to learn more about UNICEF in Nigeria: https://www.unicef.org/nigeria/
Background:
Nigeria is implementing a national Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccination campaign targeting a projected 102,539,762 children aged 9 months to 14 years. This will be followed by the introduction of the Measles Rubella vaccine into the routine immunization schedule to be administered at 9 months and 15 months of age. Nigeria has also introduced the Human Papillomavirus vaccine into its routine immunization schedule in 2023-24 for girls aged 9 years. However, the uptake is still suboptimal for measles and HPV vaccines in the routine programme. Lessons from past campaigns, including the introduction of the HPV vaccine in 2023/2024, evidenced parental concerns, adolescent disengagement, inadequate school engagement, and poor community acceptance in some states due to lack of knowledge, rumours, and misinformation played a key role in suboptimal performance. Therefore, it is paramount to integrate the HPV vaccine intensification with the upcoming MR introduction campaign as well as there is a need for strong community engagement to address possible barriers, minimize refusals of the MR and HPV vaccines, to improve uptake of measles rubella and HPV vaccines in target states.
How can you make a difference?
Purpose Of Assignment:
A Measles Rubella Vaccine Knowledge, Attitude, Behaviour and Practice (KABP) study conducted in June 2025 revealed that despite 69% of the respondents having no information on Rubella disease, 89% of the respondents were willing to avail eligible children to the vaccination posts if the government availed the vaccine at no cost. Additionally, Health workers, religious leaders, Community leaders, and the radio were the most preferred sources of information. There is a need, therefore, to be strategic in the provision of relevant information needed to the communities, using the preferred structures that the communities can relate to. The planned 2025/2026 MR catch-up campaign targets to vaccinate over 100 million children aged 9 months to 14 years nationwide, with potent MR vaccines, irrespective of their immunization status, using over 56,000 vaccination teams.
Objective:
To increase demand for vaccines for the integrated MR campaign and its subsequent routinization in 36 states and the FCT. Specifically, the assignment will:
- Engage government and private sectors at national, state and LGA levels
- Engage CSOs and CBOs at community levels Intensify schools and community platforms for awareness and engagement to promote the MR and other RI vaccines
- Streamline demand promotion at the State, LGA and ward level
- Utilize existing community structures to reach the underserved populations
- Increase trust and ownership among communities for MR and other RI Vaccines
- Reduce mis and dis information on MR, HPV and other RI Vaccines vaccines
Scope of Work:
Under the joint supervision of UNICEF Health Manager (Immunization) and SBC Specialist (Immunization), and working in association with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency and ACSM working group for MR campaign, the focus of the assignment will include:
1.To provide support to the States through the UNICEF Field Office and the state MR SBC consultants to SBC and demand generation initiatives for the integrated Measles & Rubella vaccination campaign and subsequent introduction.
2. Support the National and state communication and social mobilization teams to produce and implement an evidence-based, integrated demand generation and social mobilization plan and its operationalization for the MR campaign and routinization.
3. Oversee and support implementation of media engagement/campaigns initiated by UNICEF, NPHCDA, and state government teams as directed by the SBC Specialists and SBC Team Lead.
4.Provide technical guidance in the design, review, and dissemination of messages and materials and ensure they are culturally acceptable.
5. Oversee the CSO partnerships with UNICEF and monitor day-to-day progresses of community engagement for MR and HPV through the CSOs.
6. Facilitate the documentation and learning of MR and HPV campaign and facilitate developing human interest stories and video documentation
Work Assignments Overview
1. With the state health agencies’ teams and SBC Consultants, conduct capacity building sessions for State and LGA health educators to plan, monitor and implement Demand Promotion interventions
2. With the NPSIA M&E team, integrate ACSM indicators in pre-campaign and intra campaign reporting tools
3. Orientation of engaged CSO on SBC and demand promotion for MR, HPV and other RI vaccines implementation and monitoring
4. Unpack Crisis Communication plan component, Conduct capacity building for National and subnational spokespersons from 36 states + FCT
5. Inputs to the press briefings, holding statements, key messages as part of Pre-crisis planning
6. Compile state SBC consultants’ technical activities summary
Deliverables/Outputs
SHEO and LGA HE SBC orientation modules and training reports
SBC/ ACSM reporting tools and orientation report
Compiled Monthly SBC/ ACSM report for Phase 1 states
Phase 1 Press Briefing, Holding statement and prepositioned Messages at national and subnational level
Crisis Communication spokesperson training modules and reports
Work Assignments Overview
1. Orientation of National, Phase 1 States and LGA teams on reporting Demand Promotion activities (Pre and intra campaign)
2. Follow up on weekly regular feedback sessions with CSO’s engagement, summarizing progress, challenges and recommendations for MR and HPV Vaccines
3. Weekly analysis of State Demand Promotion activities from Health boards (National, State and LGA levels), UNICEF FOs and CSOs
4. Support supervisions of State, LGA, Ward and community level interventions
5. Support National and sub national teams in responding to any crisis that might arise, as part of UNICEF support to Crisis Communication team
6. Compile state SBC consultants’ technical activities summary
Deliverables/Outputs
Weekly Summary from Phase 1 FO and CSO on SBC/ACSM progress, challenges, recommendations
Phase 1 Crisis Communication report
Approved scripts for use by the videographer for Round 1 documentary
Detailed support Phase 1 support supervision report
If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: 
Terms of Reference_International MR SBC Consultancy .pdf
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Minimum requirements:
Advanced University (preferably advanced) degree is required in Sociology, Anthropology, Psychology, and Health Education) with emphasis on strategic communication planning for behaviour development, social mobilization, and participatory communication, and research, training/facilitation and impact evaluation of communication interventions.
Training experience in Social & Behavioral Communication and communication for development. Training in the interdisciplinary approach in programme communication.
Minimum 5 years relevant professional work experience in the planning and management of social development programmes, including 2 years in with practical experience in the adaptation and application of communication planning processes to specific programmes. Experience in immunization and CSO partnership management will be an added advantage
Proven ability to conceptualize, innovate, plan and execute ideas. Experience conducting similar study in low and middle-income countries is an advantage.
Good writing and communication skills.
Computer skills, including strong quantitative analysis and reporting tools.
Ability to work in a multi-cultural, inclusive and diverse environment.
Fluency in English is required
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.
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.
