Generic Vacancy Announcement: Roster of Social & Behavior Change Consultant for Nepal Country Office: Call for Expression of Interest (Open for Nepalese Nationals Only)

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Social and Behavior Change (SBC) is a key change strategy in the Nepal Country Programme Action Plan (2023–2027), driving cross-sectoral integration to support goals in Nutrition, Health, Education, Child Protection, WASH, and Social Protection. It blends social and behavioral sciences with community insights to empower individuals and communities to make informed decisions.

SBC brings together perspectives from multiple disciplines including sociology, psychology, anthropology, economics, communication, among others and blends social and behavioral sciences with community insights to enable people and the communities to which they belong to expand their control over the decisions they make.

Fundamentally, SBC change strategy is intended to create a supportive environment that enables positive behaviours and social phenomena while encouraging the abandonment of harmful practices and norms.  In emergencies, SBC focuses on understanding and addressing the factors that influence how children, including those with disabilities and their families, get prepared, protected, respond and build resilience.

Adopted in the SBC+ Vision 2024-2025  SBC+ comprises Social and Behavior Change, Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) and Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) with a cross-sectoral approach. SBC+ aims as facilitate the programme integration, building the effective bridge between knowledge, behaviours, and impacts (including cost of inaction) to effectively contribute to the structural and social transformation agenda in Nepal, impacting public policies and institutional services, community-led structures and individual behaviours.

The main goal of the UNICEF’s SBC+ strategy for emergencies is to contribute to a more resilient and effective emergency response system by creating a mutually reinforcing cycle where supportive environments enable positive and supportive behaviors that protect people in emergencies,  and positive behaviors, in turn, strengthen the system building resiliency among people. By influencing environments (public policies, institutional services, community-led structures) and individual behaviours, SBC+ contributes to system strengthening and building resiliency.

How can you make a difference? 

In 2026 SBC+ strategy will focus on system strengthening and delivering measurable outcomes mainly at the institutional level leveraging contextual opportunities and scalability. SBC NCO will build on three strategic pillars to support system strengthening:

• Data for Action: Support evidence generation at the federal, provincial and local levels through participatory approaches spanning the online and offline space of Nepal to contribute to well-informed, evidence-based sector’s Programme cycle.
• Capacity Building: Knowledge management and internal and external training on SBC+ approaches to support social norms shift, empowering communities and strengthening sectoral systems (crucial to keeping links with each program to avoid standalone approaches).
• *SBC+ technical assistance: Provide high-level technical guidance, oversight, quality assurance and advocacy to anchor SBC in government planning and finance innovative models (while contributing to UNICEF leadership on Behavioural Sciences.

To operationalize the SBC+ Vision 2026-2027, UNICEF seeks to develop a roaster of experts and specialists in the specific areas under Social & Behaviour Change to ensure appropriate and pre-qualified experienced professionals with relevant expertise, skills and academic background are rapidly deployed as individual consultants for emergency and development contexts within Nepal, according to the main responsibilities and tasks outlined below:

The purpose of establishing Consultant’s Roster of experts is to ensure that appropriate and pre-qualified experienced professionals with relevant technical expertise are rapidly deployed as individual consultants to meet programmatic requirements.

1. Senior Consultant (Expert), Social and Behavior Change

The Senior Consultant will provide strategic, technical and operational support to UNICEF’s Social and Behavior Change Section in the development, implementation and measurement of complex evidence-based, culturally sensitive and contextually appropriate multi-sectoral, and gender-responsive SBC frameworks, strategies and guidelines, and interventions.

Main responsibilities/tasks:

1. Strategy and Framework Development

• Develop and Refine SBC Strategies and Frameworks: Lead the design and finalization of national and provincial multi-sectoral, gender-responsive SBC strategies, plans, and guidelines, ensuring alignment with national priorities (like the Multi Sectorial Nutrition Plan) and UNICEF’s global SBC model and best practices.
• Contextualize Global Guidance: Adapt global and regional UNICEF SBC guidance (e.g., on Behavioural Science, Risk Communication and Community Engagement – RCCE, Accountability to Affected Populations – AAP) to the specific cultural, social, and political context of Nepal.

2. Research, Evidence, and Knowledge Management

• Lead Situational and Behavioural Analysis: Oversee the commissioning, management, and/or utilization of high-quality formative research, behavioural analysis, social listening, and rapid assessments to identify drivers, barriers, and social norms influencing priority behaviours (e.g., positive parenting, health-seeking behaviors, child protection practices).
• Knowledge Generation and Dissemination: Document, synthesize, and disseminate key SBC results, lessons learned, and best practices from the Nepal Country Office to inform both national programming and global/regional knowledge.

3. Technical Support and Capacity Building

• Technical Assistance and Advisory: Provide expert technical support to the Social and Behaviour Change Section Chief, UNICEF sectoral teams, government counterparts, and partners at federal, provincial, and local levels on the design, implementation, and quality assurance of SBC activities.
• Capacity Development: Lead the adaptation and rollout of SBC capacity-building programmes (like the UNICEF SBC+ curriculum) for UNICEF staff, government officials, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), and media partners to strengthen their technical skills in applying SBC science.

4. Partnerships and Advocacy

• Multi-Stakeholder Coordination: Facilitate and coordinate multi-stakeholder and inter-ministerial consultations, workshops, and high-level discussions to build consensus, gather feedback, and ensure participatory development of SBC strategies.
• Resource Mobilization: Contribute to developing business cases, concept notes, and fund-raising proposals to mobilize resources for the positioning, sustainability, and expansion of SBC initiatives.

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

Minimum requirements:

Education:

An advanced university degree (master’s or higher) in a social and behavioral science, including sociology, anthropology, communication studies/communication for development, psychology and/or related field is required.

Work Experience:

• A minimum of 8 to 10+ years of relevant progressively responsible professional experience in developing, implementing, evaluating, and managing social and behavioral change strategies and content is required.
• Prior experience working with the UN system, Government institutions, or international/national NGOs in Nepal is a significant asset.
• International experience is considered as an asset.

Special Skills/Knowledge Required:

• Demonstrated expertise in the application of social and behavior change science, theories, research, and analysis.
• Proven ability to manage social research, including quantitative, qualitative, and participatory methods for formative assessments, identifying behavioral drivers, and tracking, measurement and evaluation of social change is desirable.
• Proven ability to work with internal and external stakeholders at multiple levels, including providing technical support and capacity building and supporting establishing/managing external partnerships.
• Demonstrated ability to stay current with new developments in the SBC field is required.
• Familiarity with new and emerging approaches such as behavioral insights, human centered design, social listening, among others is a plus.

Language Requirements: Excellent Nepali and English writing and speaking skills. Knowledge of other local languages is an asset.

2. Mid-Level Consultant (Specialist), Social and Behavior Change

The Consultant will provide technical and operational support to UNICEF’s Social and Behavior Change Section in the development, implementation and measurement of evidence-based, culturally sensitive and contextually appropriate multi-sectoral, and gender-responsive SBC frameworks, strategies and guidelines, and interventions. 

Main responsibilities/tasks:

1. Strategy, Design, and Evidence Generation:

• Evidence Synthesis: Conduct and synthesize findings from formative research, behavioral analyses, social listening, and monitoring data to understand social norms and behavioral drivers in priority areas (e.g., health, nutrition, gender).
• Strategy Drafting: Provide technical input to draft and finalize evidence-based, multi-sectoral, and gender-responsive SBC frameworks, strategies, and guidelines for national adoption and sub-national implementation.

2. Implementation and On-the-Ground Action

• Community Interventions: Lead the design, planning, and hands-on facilitation of community engagement and social mobilization activities, including focused dialogues, campaigns, and events at the sub-national level.
• Partner Support: Provide continuous technical assistance and guidance to government counterparts, local authorities, and implementing partners for the operationalization and effective execution of SBC action plans.

3. Capacity Building and Knowledge Management

• Capacity Development: Design, organize, and deliver training and workshops for UNICEF staff and key partners on modern SBC approaches, including Human-Centered Design (HCD), Behavioural Insights (BI), and Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE).
• Monitoring and Reporting: Support the SBC team in establishing and implementing M&E frameworks to track SBC results, and contribute to the timely preparation of progress reports, donor updates, and success stories.

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: Economics, Public Policy, Social Sciences, International Relations, Political Science, Communication Studies/Communication for Development or another relevant technical field.

Work Experience:

• A minimum of 5 to 8 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, public advocacy or another related area.
• Prior experience working with the UN system, Government institutions, or international/national NGOs in Nepal is a significant asset.

Special Skills/Knowledge Required:

• Demonstrated expertise in the application of social and behavior change science, theories, research, and analysis.
• Proven ability to support social research, including quantitative, qualitative, and participatory methods for formative assessments, identifying behavioral drivers, and tracking, measurement and evaluation of social change is desirable.
• Demonstrated experience in designing, implementing, and monitoring SBC interventions, including direct work on community engagement and social mobilization.
• Specific experience in developing training materials and delivering capacity-building programs for local government officials or partners is highly valued for capacity development emphasis.
• Familiarity with new and emerging approaches such as behavioral insights, human centered design, social listening, among others is a plus.

Language Requirements: Excellent Nepali and English writing and speaking skills. Knowledge of other local languages is an asset.

Note:

 Applicants must indicate in their applications, their preferred area of technical expertise.

Candidates should include their proposed professional fees in Nepalese currency

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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Remarks:  

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