National SBC Consultant – EPI Communication Strategic plan, Bissau, 6 Months

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, a champion 

Communication for Social & Behavior Change is undeniably one of the most important strategies in health programming as it plays a key role in preventing diseases by reducing risk factors through the promotion of healthy behaviors, demand generation for healthcare services, and the management of misinformation, hesitancy, rumors, and lack of understanding about health services, resulting in increased uptake of health services and consequently boosted coverage rates. For the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), it is an essential component that contributes to achieving target immunization coverage rates and effective epidemiological surveillance.

While disease prevention and acceleration of routine vaccination are a national priority and continue to play a crucial role in protecting public health., demand for vaccination services and actual vaccination rates remain low, posing a significant challenge to the immunization program, despite various past efforts.

The expired Guinea-Bissau EPI Strategic Communication Plan 2018-2022 outlined eight (8) strategies such as coordination, planning and monitoring, capacity building, advocacy, social mobilization and community participation, and communication on behavioral and social change. The plan relied on communication interventions that target specific behaviors. It aimed to raise awareness of populations on the importance of vaccines and immunization and ultimately trigger and stimulate people for adopting positive health behaviors. As the plan expired, UNICEF is now supporting the Country to elaborate an update of this strategic document covering 2024-2028 that will be in line with the new National Immunization Strategy (currently being updated), as well as with the new requirements of the Programme for Immunization by 2030 (AI30) and considering the post COVID-19 pandemic context.

For these reasons, the UNICEF Guinea-Bissau Country Office wishes to recruit a National SBC Consultant to work under the supervision of the SBC Officer and the International SBC consultant in the development and implementation of the Expanded Program on Immunization – EPI Communication Strategic plan 2024-28.  The consultant will also serve as liaison between the International Consultant, local authorities and implementing partners during the implementation and transfer for skills phases.  

How can you make a difference? 

The consultant will be assigned the following tasks:

• Conduct Desk review of existing literature and situation analysis of the communication landscape in the regions of assignment
• Undertake communication assessments and rapid social-behavioral research and evidence generation, especially in high-risk and hard-to-reach communities.
• Support the health facility officers in conducting educational talks with the children’s parents/caregivers.
• Assist capacity building activities: Train and coach health workers and   Communication Focal persons and key actors in interpersonal communication skills in health areas of the Regions of assignment.
• Support the tracing, documentation and recovery of children lost to follow-up.
• Support and provide supervision to CHWs in the search for and reporting of suspected cases of diseases under surveillance (AFP, measles, yellow fever)
• Provide technical support for the effective tracking, mapping, and managing of rumors and disinformation.
• To support the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of Integrated Regional Communication Plans and Operational Health Area Communication Plans in the regions of assignment.
• Provide SBC support to the regions of assignment in planning, implementing, and monitoring communication and social mobilization activities during immunization campaigns, acceleration campaigns and the introduction of new vaccines.
• Provide on-time deliverables for field missions and SBC activities in which he/she has been involved ·
• Compile final report at the end of the contract highlighting findings and recommendations.

Work Assignments Overview 1
1. Conduct Desk review of existing literature and situation analysis of the communication landscape in the regions of assignment
2. Undertake communication assessments and rapid social-behavioral research and evidence generation, especially in high-risk and hard-to-reach communities.
Deliverables/Outputs 15.09.2024
• A work plan developed based on findings of desk review including travel details and submission of monthly reports.
• Report of situation analysis of the communication landscape in the regions of assignment
• 4 rapid survey reports on the reasons for low vaccination coverage in priority in the regions of assignment

Work Assignments Overview 2
3. Support the health facility officers in conducting educational talks with the children’s parents/caregivers.
4. Assist capacity building activities: Train and coach health workers and Communication Focal persons and key actors in interpersonal communication skills in health areas of the Regions of assignment
Deliverables/Outputs 16.10.2024
• 1 Supervision report of educational talks held in health areas of the regions of assignment.
• Mapping report of Health workers, Communication Officers and key actors trained and coached on SBC, including gaps, and learning needs.

Work Assignments Overview 3
5. Support the tracing, documentation and recovery of children lost to follow-up.
6. Support and provide supervision to CHWs in the search for and reporting of suspected cases of diseases under surveillance (AFP, measles, yellow fever)
7. Provide technical support for the effective tracking, mapping, and managing of rumors and disinformation.
Deliverables/Outputs 17.12.2024
• Mapping of vaccination refusal areas, unvaccinated children and zero doses per region
• A report on strategies for recovering children lost to vaccination.
• Mapping the media landscape in the implementation regions

Work Assignments Overview 4
8. To support the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of Integrated Regional Communication Plans and Operational Health Area Communication Plans in the regions of assignment.
9. Provide SBC support to the regions of assignment in planning, implementing, and monitoring communication and social mobilization activities during immunization campaigns, acceleration campaigns and the introduction of new vaccines.
Deliverables/Outputs 31.01.2024
• 1 draft of an Integrated Regional Communication Plans in the regions of assignment.
• Drafts of Operational Health Area Communication Plans for all sectors of the regions of assignment.
• Communication plans for DRSP vaccination campaigns and social mobilization timetables for health areas of at least region (in the event of SIAs)

Work Assignments Overview 5
10. Provide on-time deliverables for field missions and SBC activities in which he/she has been involved.
11. Compile final report at the end of the contract highlighting findings and recommendations
Deliverables/Outputs 15.02.2025
• Field mission reports
• A final consultancy report

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

• A university degree (Bachelor or equivalent) in social and behavioral science, including public relations, sociology, anthropology, communication studies/communication for development, psychology, and/or a related field is required.
• At least three years of professional work experience at the national level in one or more of the following areas is required: social development programme planning, communication for development or social and behaviour change, public advocacy or another related or relevant area.
• Experience in supporting the development and/or implementation of communication and/or behavior change strategies, with specific, measurable, and time-bound objectives and performance indicators is an asset.
• Experience in executing, monitoring, and reporting on project implementation processes is an asset.
• Experience in working with civil society organizations or NGOs operating at the community level is an asset, as is experience working in the UN or other international development organizations.
• Experience in designing content for specific and/or large audiences and/or community moderation on traditional and digital platforms is an asset.
• Good oral and written communication skills; good technical report writing skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development.
• Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel.
• Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment.
• Self-motivated, diligent and has a strong drive for results and follows instructions regarding tight deadlines.
• Sound security awareness.
• Good knowledge of gender and power dynamics in communities of Guinea-Bissau is an asset.
• Strong analytical, quantitative, and qualitative research skills
• Language:  Fluency in Portuguese. Knowledge of English and French is an asset.

General Conditions

The contract will be for a six-month period with possibility of extension.  This assignment includes field visits in all regions of the country. The consultant will be based at the UNICEF Country Office with working days at the Communication department of the Immunization and Epidemiological Surveillance Services. The consultant is expected the use their own electronic devices to perform the assignment. However, they will be authorized to use facilities such as the Office copy machine and scanner during the contract period.

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.