International SBC Consultant –Social and Behaviour Change Monitoring and Evaluation Framework and tools development; Dhaka; Bangladesh

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. 

Background:

UNICEF and the Government of Bangladesh have jointly developed the Country Programme (CP) for 2022-2026, which contributes to the Eighth Five-Year Plan (8FYP) and the goals of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF). The Country Programme (CP) 2022-2026 employs a child-centred approach and seeks to integrate interventions across different programme sections focused on children at the household and community levels. CP aims to promote the realization of children’s rights in the areas of health, nutrition, child protection, education, WASH, and social protection. To achieve the results for children, Social and Behaviour Change (SBC) is positioned as a core change strategy to realization of the child rights and development goals by instilling positive and protective practices for children in each sector in the CP.  

Changing behaviour is a complex endeavor  and in many instances, without social change, individual behaviour change, is almost impossible. Social and Behaviour Change within the CP aims to impact on individual, community and societal levels to enhance various elements that help behaviour change and decrease those that hinder change at both the individual and societal level. Towards realizing this aim, SBC has identified 4 strategic focus areas as follows, namely:

1. Social behavioral evidence generation and use to inform strategic planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation across the different programme sectors.  
2. Development of SBC capacity of relevant stakeholders and UNICEF Implementing partners at national and subnational levels.
3. Planning and implementation of community engagement interventions that meets global minimum quality standards.
4. Development and dissemination of integrated/ sector specific strategic and innovative communication for social and behaviour change

Towards actualizing the strategic focus on evidence generation and use, UNICEF Bangladesh had commissioned a study to establish the current status of Knowledge, Attitude, Beliefs and Practices (KABP) around 23 key childcare practices (attachment 1) among other studies. The KABP study and other social and behaviour related studies are intended to provide a baseline against which trends and shifts in the 23 practices will be tracked/measured, and the development of SBC monitoring framework that will enable systematic and objective measurement of outcome, output, and input indicators. The focus of the M&E efforts is to enable comparison of the effects of collective and specific SBC interventions at different levels of implementation with the objectives and identify factors that helped or limited the programmme’s success and the key influencing factors such as barriers and enablers.

With the aim of informing programme scaling and advocacy, the M&E framework should consider implementation research methodologies that would facilitate process documentation and evaluation i.e. how an intervention was implemented, if the intervention was implemented according to plan, and under what conditions was implemented successful or otherwise. In addition, the framework should assess the Impact/outcome at the Individual level – knowledge attitudes/beliefs, self-efficacy behaviours/practices and at the community level – status or shifts in social norms -community cohesion/social capital, social accountability, and sustainability. Furthermore, the M&E framework should purposefully consider participatory approaches that would generate data on activities being carried out at the local community level to increase right holders/target audience commitment and ownership in the planning and implementation of community-based SBC interventions.

Social and Behavior Change (SBC) monitoring and evaluation (M&E) is a specialized skill that focuses on assessing the effectiveness of interventions designed to bring about positive changes in individuals’ behaviors and social norms. It involves systematic data collection, analysis, and interpretation to understand the impact of SBC programmes and to inform future decision-making. Therefore, UNICEF seeks to engage a P4 level Consultant having global experience in the field of M&E to provide technical support for conceptualizing, developing, testing, and finalizing a monitoring framework and tools for SBC interventions around 23 key childcare practices. The consultant will also facilitate a Training of the Trainers (TOT) session for the SBC section colleagues and its major partners on the application of the monitoring framework and its corresponding tools.

 Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

The purpose of the assignment is to develop an SBC monitoring and evaluation framework for SBC interventions around 23 key childcare practices and corresponding monitoring and reporting tools in close collaboration with UNICEF section programmes and implementing partners including government counterparts, and to build the capacity of UNICEF staff and implementing partners on the application/implementation of developed framework and tools.

The specific objective of this assignment will be to:

• Informed by the findings of the Knowledge, Attitude, Beliefs, and Practices study and other studies, conceptualize and develop both quantitative and qualitative SBC monitoring and evaluation framework,  monitoring, and reporting tools.
• Conduct field testing of the developed framework and tools with the involvement of relevant stakeholders
• Finalize the framework and tools based on the findings and feedback of the field testing.
• Build the capacity of the relevant UNICEF staff members and implementing partners on the implementation of the monitoring and evaluation framework and tools.

Scope of Work:

The assignment must be completed over a period of six (6) months, and will be coordinated and managed by SBC Section, UNICEF Bangladesh Country Office in close consultation and collaboration with UNICEF programme sections the relevant partners and stakeholders, including government counterparts. The consultant will work remotely with at least two visits to the country with a duration of at least 10 working days each.

Key activities against the specific objectives are mentioned below:

 Review relevant documents including existing SBC-related monitoring, reporting tools in use by UNICEF SBC and programme sectors, and Implementing partners, the KABP study on 23 childcare practices, SBC capacity gap assessment and other reports and outline the concept and scope of the required SBC monitoring and evaluation framework in support of the Bangladesh Country Programme.

1. Conceptualize and develop a draft SBC monitoring and evaluation framework and tools, in consultation with relevant UNICEF SBC and sections programme staff, implementing partners and government counterparts.
2. Provide technical support to develop a field testing plan and facilitate the field testing of the quantitative and qualitative SBC monitoring and evaluation framework and tools.
3. Conduct a validation workshop to finalize the framework and the monitoring, and reporting tools with relevant stakeholders jointly defined by the SBC and programme sectors.
4. Revise/finalise the monitoring and evaluation framework and tools based on the field test findings and stakeholders’ consensus.
5. Conduct a Training of Trainers for relevant UNICEF staff and key stakeholders on the implementation of the monitoring and evaluation framework tools.

How can you make a difference? 

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

The purpose of the assignment is to develop an SBC monitoring and evaluation framework for SBC interventions around 23 key childcare practices and corresponding monitoring and reporting tools in close collaboration with UNICEF section programmes and implementing partners including government counterparts, and to build the capacity of UNICEF staff and implementing partners on the application/implementation of developed framework and tools.

The specific objective of this assignment will be to:

• Informed by the findings of the Knowledge, Attitude, Beliefs and Practices study and other studies, conceptualize and develop both quantitative and qualitative SBC monitoring and evaluation framework,  monitoring, and reporting tools.
• Conduct field testing of the developed framework and tools with the involvement of relevant stakeholders
• Finalize the framework and tools based on the findings and feedback of the field testing.
• Build the capacity of the relevant UNICEF staff members and implementing partners on the implementation of the monitoring and evaluation framework and tools.

Scope of Work:

The assignment must be completed over a period of six (6) months, and will be coordinated and managed by the SBC Section, UNICEF Bangladesh Country Office in close consultation and collaboration with UNICEF programme sections the relevant partners, and stakeholders, including government counterparts. The consultant will work remotely with at least two visits to the country with a duration of at least 10 working days each.

Key activities against the specific objectives are mentioned below:

1. Review relevant documents including existing SBC-related monitoring, reporting tools in use by UNICEF SBC and programme sectors, and Implementing partners, the KABP study on 23 childcare practices, SBC capacity gap assessment, and other reports and outline the concept and scope of the required SBC monitoring and evaluation framework in support of the Bangladesh Country Programme.
2. Conceptualize and develop a draft SBC monitoring and evaluation framework and tools, in consultation with relevant UNICEF SBC and sections programme staff, implementing partners and government counterparts.
3. Provide technical support to develop a field testing plan and facilitate the field testing of the quantitative and qualitative SBC monitoring and evaluation framework and tools.
4. Conduct a validation workshop to finalize the framework and the monitoring, and reporting tools with relevant stakeholders jointly defined by the SBC and programme sectors.
5. Revise/finalise the monitoring and evaluation framework and tools based on the field test findings and stakeholders’ consensus.
6. Conduct a Training of Trainers for relevant UNICEF staff and key stakeholders on the implementation of the monitoring and evaluation framework tools.

Please see the TOR for more details:

 ToR-SBC Consultant.pdf

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in social and behavioral science, sociology, anthropology, psychology, education, communication, development studies or other related field.
• A minimum of [8 years] of relevant professional experience in the field of social development programme planning, social and behaviour change programme.
• • Sound knowledge on different social issues preferably Social and Behaviour Change issues, relevant social ecological issues and strategic communication with communities.
  • Global experience and expertise on behavioural research, especially on behaviour monitoring and evaluation.
  • Knowledge and experience of in facilitating and managing consultative sessions with senior-level professionals.
  • Skills in conducting capacity-building sessions involving mid to senior level professionals.
  • Relevant experience in related areas in a UN system agency or organization and experience in managing multi-stakeholder partnerships.
  • Experience working in any other countries and multi-cultural setting
  • Excellent organizational skills and ability to handle and complete multiple assignments with competing deadlines

  Language Requirements:

  Fluency in written and verbal English

  Other requirements:

  • High level of Integrity and commitment to responsibilities.
  • Conceptual ability, negotiating, communication and advocacy skills.
  • Familiarity with UNICEF systems is an asset

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 here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment. 

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 also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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. 

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.