Under the guidance and supervision of the Regional Adviser, Social Behaviour in close collaboration with the Regional Advisor for Health, the SBC Specialist (Community Engagement and Systems strengthening) will lead the strategic and technical work on Community System Strengthening to achieve results for children, adolescents and caregivers in line with UNICEF 2022-2025 Strategic Plan as a key component for the institutionalization of community health and nutrition in South Asia.
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ROSA Culture Book, Second Edition, 2023.pdf
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Under the overall guidance and direction of the Regional Advisor Social and Behaviour Change in collaboration with the Regional Advisor for Health, the Social and Behaviour Change Specialist is responsible for managing and coordinating efforts on community systems strengthening programmes (with a focus on community health), projects and initiatives on community health including Zero-Dose, NCDs, MNCH, immunization, and nutrition. This includes joint efforts with Health and Nutrition sections, from advocacy, leveraging and coordination of partners, policy formulation, strategic planning and formulation to actual delivery of results. This includes developing, implementing and monitoring plans of action to achieve tangible results for children, allocation of necessary resources, result-based management (RBM), standards of performance and accountability framework. She/He provides strong leadership in coordinating efforts in leveraging and sustaining global, regional and national partnerships in the area of Community Health/Community engagement and systems strengthening in advancing the institutionalization of community health and nutrition in South Asia towards the Sustainable Development Goals.
Summary of key functions/accountabilities:
Strategic representation, advocacy, coordination, networking and partnership building
- Represent UNICEF ROSA in relevant meetings, events and for a at global, regional and country levels to ensure UNICEF priorities and perspectives are adequately represented in relevant policies, strategies, frameworks and other relevant documents related to community engagement and systems strengthening.
- Support initiatives to establish, strengthen and maintain high level contacts and active collaboration with globally and regionally active partners, including UN agencies, non-UN development partners, foundations, NGOS, Institutions to coordinate activities to leverage technical and financial resources for child and community engagement and systems strengthening.
- As part of the regional team, lead the SBC section’s efforts to promoting synergies, programmatic linkages and broader convergence of Child and Community Health with maternal, neonatal and adolescent health, nutrition, Immunization, SBC, , WASH, child protection, ECD, Youth Engagement, Social policy, gender and other relevant programme areas through relevant coordination platforms and mechanisms, exchange of information, meetings, documentation and dissemination of best practices.
- Support initiatives to build/strengthen strategic regional partnerships and alliances with key stakeholders including UN agencies, multi-lateral/bilateral organizations, regional economic and political communities, donors, governments, implementing partners, academia and civil society organizations, through active networking, advocacy and effective communication to build political will, enhance capacity, exchange knowledge/expertise and/or promote cooperation and alliances to strengthen community systems as key component of Community Health and Nutrition.
- Prepare communication and information materials to highlight programme goals, achievements and/or needs to promote awareness, establish partnership/alliances and support fund raising for community engagement and systems strengthening.
Country support
- Lead and coordinate the provision of strategic, policy and programming guidance andsupport to UNICEF Country Offices in their engagement with governments and other collaborating partners in defining priorities, formulating policies, strategies, methodologies, and identification of new approaches for advancing the community systems strengthening agenda, with a focus on institutionalizing national child and community health programmes, in the context of the SDGs, including in humanitarian context.
- Coordinate support to countries to leverage funding and programmatic opportunities to accelerate the community health and nutrition agenda, with a focus on for the development and implementation of Integrated Service Delivery (promotion and prevention pillars), strategies for reaching adolescents, particularly out of school adolescents with HPV vaccination, Zero-Dose and missed communities, through innovations and context adapted SBC interventions.
- Support governments, through UNICEF Country Offices, in building capacities of governments and other stakeholders in evidenced-based approaches to institutionalizing of community engagement and accountability mechanisms as key components of community systems strengthening programmes, prioritizing integrated service delivery bringing together health, nutrition, child protection, WASH programmes, gender etc.
- Coordinate support to countries for the development and implementation of strong monitoring and evaluation components for high-impact health, nutrition, WASH, Child Protection and SBC interventions through community platforms and structures. This includes guidance and technical support for capacity development and establishment of community information systems including digital solutions (e.g Real-Time Monitoring (RTM)
- Lead/coordinate the provision of guidance and technical support to enable UNICEF country offices to prepare suitable Community Engagement and Systems Strengthening (with a focus on Community Health) related funding proposals that are of high technical quality and provide inputs to regional and global resource leveraging efforts as required.
- Work closely with the Country SBC teams to develop and scale up sustainable social accountability approaches and mechanisms to enhance quality of service delivery building upon evidence and existing country level investments.
Regional strategy/policy development, knowledge management and capacity building
- Work in close collaboration with sectoral units, particularly Health, Nutrition, WASH, Child Protection and in tandem with external partners in research design and analysis relating to Community Engagement and Systems Strengthening, and contribute to overall knowledge management, and monitoring and evaluation of community systems related projects and initiatives. Support implementation research for improving efficiency and effectiveness of community and child survival and development programmes, institutionalize and share best practices and lessons learned.
- Support the capacity building including through development of training materials and enhancing knowledge exchange on evidence-based approaches to strengthening, scaling and institutionalizing integrated community-based service delivery, including community engagement and social accountability, referral, quality of care and linkages between facility and community-level treatment.
- Support the SBC, Health, Nutrition and sectoral units (Gender, APSE, Social Policy,, Child Protection, WASH, etc..) in the use and promotion of various platforms for community engagement, as accountability and feedback tools around health and wellbeing.
- Work in close collaboration with the Health, Nutrition, WASH, Child Protection, Evaluation and Planning teams on the assessment of end user experience of community-based health, nutrition, Child Protection and WASH services including through the use of community outreach platforms to provide opportunities and feedback mechanisms for sharing information and experience exchange (e.g U-Report/Rapidpro)
- Support and guide country offices teams and partners in using innovations (U-Report/Rapid pro and other digital solutions) for social transformation, to optimize community-based service delivery and resolve community health system bottlenecks; scaling them and collecting data to influence positive change, adjust programme implementation, assess service supply and increase demand, especially in the context of community based PHC.
- Work with the Health and APSE sections on adolescents’ participation and engagement initiatives for Community Health Systems Strengthening linked to governance and social accountability. This would include innovative community engagement approaches to addressing issues around introduction of HPV vaccination, environmental health, adolescent mental health and other NCDs.
- Facilitate the use of sustainable digital innovations to strengthen community health information systems and the linkages between the Health Systems and CWs, including for training, supervision and information sharing with community health workers.
Program management, monitoring and delivery of results
- Coordinate, plan and/or collaborate with internal and external partners to establish monitoring benchmarks, performance indicators and other UNICEF/UN system indicators and measurement to assess/strengthen performance accountability, coherence and delivery of concrete and sustainable results in community-based programmes, with a focus on community systems.
- Participate in the development of monitoring and evaluation reports to identify gaps, strengths/weaknesses in community-based health, nutrition, child protection programming and management, identify lessons learned and use knowledge gained for development planning and timely intervention to achieve goals.
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
The following minimum requirements:
• Education:
A first university degree (equivalent to a Bachelor’s) / an advanced university degree (equivalent to a Master’s) from an accredited institution is required in social and behavioral science, including social sciences, sociology, anthropology, communication studies/ communication for development, psychology and/or other related field is required.
*A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.
•Work Experience:
A minimum of eight (8) years of relevant progressively responsible professional experience at national and international levels in developing, implementing, evaluating, and managing community engagement and social and behaviour change strategies is required.
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.
Previous experience in the assessment of end user experience of health and social services including through the use of community outreach platforms to provide opportunities and feedback mechanisms for sharing information and experience exchange is desirable.
Relevant experience with cross-sectoral collaboration including with health/nutrition program/project development organization is an asset.
Experience working in a UN system agency or organization is considered an asset.
• Language Requirements:
Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.
For every Child, you demonstrate…
UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values
The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…
- Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1)
- Works Collaboratively with others (1)
- Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1)
- Innovates and Embraces Change (1)
- Thinks and Acts Strategically (1)
- Drive to achieve impactful results (1)
- Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)
Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.
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 does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will 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.
UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.
Remarks:
As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.
UNICEF’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable candidates are encouraged to apply.
Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.
Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.
[CO/ HQ specific: visa residence requirements: i.e.: UNICEF shall not facilitate the issuance of a visa and working authorization for candidates under consideration for positions at the national officer and general service category.]
UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.
All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.
Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.