Social Behavior Change Manager (Youth engagement, gender and adolescent) # 130117 – Grade P4 – Conakry Guinea WCAR

Guinea is a lower-middle-income country facing significant challenges in child development and deprivation. According to the latest Human Development Index (HDI) report, Guinea has an HDI of 0.480, ranking 178th out of 191 countries in 2023, reflecting its ongoing struggle with poverty and social development challenges. Since 1984, UNICEF has worked with the government and various partners, including UN agencies, NGOs, and community-based organizations, to improve conditions for children.
The population of Guinea is estimated to be around 14.3 million in 2024, with 63.4% living in rural areas and women comprising approximately 50.3% of the population. The annual growth rate stands at about 2.8%. Children under the age of 18 make up roughly 51% of the population, highlighting the critical need for child-focused interventions (World Population Review)

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories, tirelessly working to save children’s lives, uphold their rights, and unlock their potential from early childhood through adolescence.

Our mission goes beyond a job—it is a deep calling that drives our passionate and committed team every day. At UNICEF, we are proud of the impact we make in the lives of children worldwide.

We offer a dynamic environment where careers flourish. With diverse opportunities for personal and professional growth, our staff are empowered to build fulfilling careers while contributing to a purpose that truly matters. Our supportive culture, alongside a competitive compensation and benefits package, ensures that every team member thrives as they help create a better future for every child.

Visit UNICEF Guinea to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, a champion

Guinea is a lower-middle-income country facing significant challenges in child development and deprivation. According to the latest Human Development Index (HDI) report, Guinea has an HDI of 0.480, ranking 178th out of 191 countries in 2023, reflecting its ongoing struggle with poverty and social development challenges. Since 1984, UNICEF has worked with the government and various partners, including UN agencies, NGOs, and community-based organizations, to improve conditions for children.

The population of Guinea is estimated to be around 14.3 million in 2024, with 63.4% living in rural areas and women comprising approximately 50.3% of the population. The annual growth rate stands at about 2.8%. Children under the age of 18 make up roughly 51% of the population, highlighting the critical need for child-focused interventions ​(World Population Review)

The vision of the 2024-2028 country programme is: “A Guinea where children, especially adolescent girls and children from the most vulnerable families in the most disadvantaged geographical areas, have equitable opportunities for sustainable access to essential social services and quality social protection, and can reach their full potential, including in a context of climate-related vulnerabilities and emergencies”.

Currently, Guinea faces several humanitarian and emergency situations with multiple health crises, including outbreaks of diseases such as poliovirus, diphtheria, yellow fever, and Lassa fever. The country is particularly vulnerable to health shocks due to weak healthcare infrastructure. In addition, the country faces regularly natural disasters, such as flooding, which displace populations, damage infrastructure, and exacerbate the already challenging humanitarian conditions. These ongoing challenges necessitate continued support and local resilience-building measures to mitigate their impacts on the population.

The UNICEF Guinea office is looking for passionate, innovative, and results-driven professionals ready to make a lasting impact on the lives of Guinea’s children. Join us in creating a brighter future!

The Social and Behavior Change Manager (Youth Engagement, Gender and Adolescent) reports to the Deputy Representative Programme for general guidance and direction. The Social and Behavior Change Manager is responsible for developing a systematic, planned and evidence-based strategy and process for SBC as an integral part of programme development, planning and implementation. By appropriate social and behavioural science, as well as the empowerment and participation of stakeholders, communities, children, civil society partners and government counterparts, s/he promotes measurable behavioral and social change/mobilization.

S/he also performs the role of Gender Focal Point for the Office. As such, the SBC manager provides authoritative technical guidance/operational support throughout all stages of programming to facilitate the management and delivery of results contributing to gender equality in alignment with the UNICEF Gender Action Plan (2022-2025). S/he supports the development, implementation, and monitoring of high-quality gender programming/projects across sectors in alignment with the Gender Action Plan. This subsequently contributes to the achievement of sustainable and concrete results on improving children’s rights, survival and well-being in the country.

The Social and Behavior Change Manager (Youth Engagement, Gender and Adolescent)leads the social Behavior change, Youth engagement, Gender and Adolescent Programme of a highly complex nature, under the direct supervision of the Deputy Representative Programme (P4 level) and overall guidance of the Representative (D1 level).

How can you make a difference? 

She/ he will be responsible of

1. Generate & Use Evidence: Generate and utilize research, data, and evidence to inform the design, measurement, and monitoring of Social Behaviour Change, Youth Engagement, Gender and Adolescent transformative programs and outcomes in both development and emergency contexts and to build the evidence base for SBC
2. Design, plan and implement: Design, plan and implement Social Behaviour Change, Youth Engagement, Gender and Adolescent transformative activities that are backed by social and behavioural evidence and strong engagement and participation mechanisms in both development and humanitarian contexts
3. Advocate & Build Partnerships: Support operationalization of Social Behaviour Change, Youth Engagement, Gender and Adolescent transformative programs by advocating for SBC, mobilizing resources, coordinating across stakeholders, sectors and teams, and partnership building
4. Build Capacities: Promote continuous learning, strengthening and scaling up in Social Behaviour Change, Youth Engagement, Gender and Adolescent transformative programs for both development and humanitarian contexts through capacity building for UNICEF staff and partners.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  JD SBC manager 130117 P4.pdf

Avocate for every child you will have…

Minimum requirements:

• Education:

An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in one of the following fields is required: social and behavioral science, sociology, anthropology, psychology, communication, international development, gender and/or another relevant technical field.

• Work Experience:

• A minimum of eight (8) years of relevant professional experience at the national or international levels in developing, implementing, evaluating, and managing social and behavioral change strategies, in social and policy program development planning and management, operational support and humanitarian settings is required.
• Demonstrated expertise in the application of social and behavior change science, theories, research, and analysis, to all stages of the programmes cycle.
• Demonstrated ability to stay updated with new developments in the Social Behaviour Change, Youth Engagement, Gender  and Adolescent fields is required.
• Demonstrated experience in the execution of complex priorities, processes and projects in office work-plans.

• Language Requirements: Fluency in French And Working knowledge of English required.

Desirables:

• Relevant experience in youth engagement, gender and adolsecent program/project development and management in related areas in a UN system agency or organization is highly desirable.
• Proven ability to manage social research, including quantitative, qualitative, and participatory methods for formative assessments, identifying behavioural drivers, and tracking, measurement and evaluation of social change is desirable.

• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency.
• At least one instance of exposure to emergency programming, including preparedness planning. Active involvement in a humanitarian crisis response programme preferred.

• Familiarity with new and emerging approaches such as behavioural insights, human cantered design, social listening, among others is a plus.
• Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.
• Experience working in a developing country is considered as 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…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others 

(8) Nurtures, leads and manages people) for a supervisory role

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

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.

We offer a wide range of measures to include a more diverse workforce, such as paid parental leave, time off for breastfeeding purposes, 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 female or young or people living with disabilities candidates are encouraged to apply.

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. 

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.

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

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.