Social and Behaviour Change Specialist

UNICEF Bhutan is a small to medium size Country Office (CO), supporting the Royal Government of Bhutan in advancing the wellbeing of children particularly in health, education, health, water, sanitation and hygiene, child protection, social protection, adolescent development and participation. Social and Behavior Change (SBC) is one of the key strategies used by UNICEF to put children at the forefront of the public agenda and to foster an open dialogue on child rights among decision makers, partners, children, adolescents, and communities. UNICEF uses social & behavior change communication to accelerate programme results, by raise awareness on children’s rights and promote adoption of positive behaviors and address negative social norms to bring about transformative changes so children can survive, thrive, learn, and develop their full potential.

In Bhutan, SBC is a cross sectoral programme responsible for supporting SBC interventions across all sections. This includes but not limited to (a) providing technical support to sections in generating behavioral evidence to better understand the underlying factors and nuances around the priority issues and develop realistic strategic action plans; (b) Strengthen SBC alliance with traditional and non-traditional implementing partners; build capacity for harmonized multisectoral programming approaches and meaningful community engagement.; (c) Support development of user-friendly tool kits and materials; and improved M&E systems and documentation of best practices. These contribute to achieving sectoral results in improving children’s wellbeing – health, nutrition, hygiene and sanitation, learning, safety, and protection). SBC focus area of UNICEF’s Country Programme of Cooperation 2024-2028 include:

• Support strengthening primary health care system for improved maternal and child health services.
• Support addressing negative social norms and promote mental health and psychosocial support.
• Address negative social norms and raise awareness to address violence against children and gender-based violence.
• Support implementation of pilot integrated child friendly interventions in targeted districts and monastic schools.

Under the Direct Supervision of the SBC Specialist, the SBC Specialist UNV will undertake activities in the following areas:

• Liaise with the Health, Nutrition & WASH section, and coordinate in implementing and monitoring SBC activities planned with MoH.
• Liaise with the Health Nutrition & WASH section and coordinate in implementing and monitoring MHPSS promotion activities planned with The PEMA Secretariat.
• Liaise with the Child Protection section and coordinate in implementing and monitoring the social norm study and awareness raising activities planned with National Commission for Women and Children (NCWC) and other stakeholders.
• Liaise with the Education section and wellbeing division, Ministry of Education and Skill Development (MoESD); Health Promotion and Risk Com Division (HPRCD), Ministry of Health (MoH); NCWC and coordinate in development of integrated childcare practice (parenting advisory) advisory package.
• Liaise with the Social Policy section; and coordinate in implementing the integrated child friendly joint programme in targeted districts.
• Support implementation of the integrated child friendly interventions in monastic schools and nunneries.
• Support monitoring and updating SBC results for annual reporting.
• Participate in relevant meetings, workshops, and events as required.
• Provide regular updates and reports to UNICEF SBC programme management.
• Perform any other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

UN Volunteer is encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within his/her assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities:

• Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day).
• Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country.
• Provide annual and end of assignment self- reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities.
• Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.;
• Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers;
• Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

Required experience:

• 3 years of experience in the national and/or international levels in programme/project development, planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation or administration.

Area of expertise requirement:

• Development and management of Social and Behaviour change programme and project
• Experience in designing and coordinating training workshops.
• Good interpersonal, networking and communication skills
• Fluency in spoken and written English language.
• Previous experience as a volunteer and/or experience of another culture, (i.e. studies, volunteer work, internship) would be an asset.
• Computer skills (e.g. Word, Excel, PowerPoint, social media, and others)

Source: https://app.unv.org/opportunities/1770482039643392