Social & Behavior Change Officer, NO-2, Kinshasa, DRC, #132627 [Temp Appointment]

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UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, for every child, the right, a future

The DRC has been certified free of wild poliovirus since 2015. However, the country has been facing outbreaks of circulating variant poliovirus (cVDPV1 and 2) since 2017. The highest number of cases was recorded in 2022, i.e. 531 cases (around 50% of African region cases) with co-circulation of type 1 and 2 poliovirus variants. To date, DRC is on track to stop polio virus transmission according to the significant reduction of number of cases in 2024(90%) and in 2025, Week, 27, 1 cVDPV2 case has recorded [DRC, Sitrep polio Eradication, Week 27]

Therefore, to maintain to maintain the progress made and interrupt the circulation of the virus, the Social and Behaviour Change play a crucial role in improving child immunization in general and for polio particularly, by fostering understanding of childhood diseases, creating demand for services and acceptance of the vaccines. UNICEF’s health section in the DRC has set up a Polio programme to carry out interventions in collaboration with other partners. Given the challenges to cover 5 provinces in Western part of DRC with the closing of field office of Kinshasa Ouest and the critical need for a decisive response in these provinces, particularly Kongo Central and Kinshasa provinces, it is imperative that our social behaviour change specialist (SBC Specialist) is supported with 1 national professional in social behaviour change  component to enhance operational effectiveness and ensure sustained, impactful engagement in this part of DRC with proof of poliovirus circulation in 2025 in Kongo Central province.

How can you make a difference? 

The SBC Officer (Polio) of Kinshasa will be responsible to provide support to national polio team to support the Ministry of Health of 5 provinces in Western part of DRC. S/he will ensure the strategic positioning of UNICEF in SBC component in the major decision-making institutions at provincial level and meetings in the context of the fight against polio in the DRC.

1. Use evidence to inform the design of social and behaviour change strategies for vaccination activities, and build a compelling evidence base for the SBC program
2. Design, plan and implement social and behaviour change activities for vaccination that are informed by social and behaviour evidence and strong engagement and participation mechanisms in humanitarian settings
3. Technical and operational support
4. Advocacy, networking resources mobilization and partnership building
5. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

2. The expected results and activities of the mission are:

• Use evidence to inform the design of social and behaviour change strategies for vaccination activities, and build a compelling evidence base for the SBC program
• Provide technical support and oversight to the provincial Division of the Ministry of Health: support UNICEF on the development of evidence-based SBC initiatives and plans aiming at sustainably increasing demand and uptake of essential health services, in particular those related to immunization for polio and other health outbreaks.
• Design, plan and implement social and behaviour change activities for vaccination that are informed by social and behavioural evidence and strong engagement and participation mechanisms in humanitarian settings Technical and operational support
• Generate and Use Evidence: support Unicef and his counterparts on the generation, analysis and utilization of SBC data to inform the design, testing, measurement, monitoring, and reporting of programmes, interventions and outcomes aiming at increasing the uptake of essential health services in both development and emergency contexts. This includes not only demand-related components, but also service-related aspects such as the improvement of quality of services and the adjustment of service delivery modalities to reach all.
• Confirm/verify the technical quality, consistency and relevancy of communications strategies for immunization, including materials that are developed, produced and disseminated to target audiences (e.g. individuals, communities, government officials, partners, media etc).

Technical and operational support

• Participate to the SBC sub-committee meeting
• Support the coordination, planning and provincial financial requests
• Support incentive payment activities of actors (Mobile payment)
• Contribute to the M&E and reporting of SBC strategies including design, field testing, compilation, dissemination etc of experiences, lessons learned.
• Carry out programmatic visit
• Ensure consultant report monitoring (Weekly, Monthly,)
• Ensure Follow up of DCT received by partners

Networking and partnership building

• collaboration with strategic partners, e.g. academia; social networks; celebrities, journalist, media, all sectors/levels of (socially aware) society and critical audience to reinforce cooperation and/or pursue opportunities for SBC advocacy to promote UNICEF mission and goals for child rights, social equity and inclusiveness

Innovation and capacity building

• Contribute to Institutionalize/share best practices and knowledge learned/products with local partners and stakeholders to build capacity of practitioners and disseminate these products to key audiences including donors and partners.
• Organize/implement capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients/stakeholders/partners (government and non-government) in SBC planning, implementation and evaluation in support of programmes/projects including in humanitarian settings.

Impact of results

The strategic and effective development and implementation of SBC capacity strengthening and innovation promotion activities and resources for immunization will contribute to UNICEF’s ability to promote social, political and economic action and changes in behaviours, social attitudes, beliefs, harmful social norms and actions by communities, individuals and society on children’s rights, survival and wellbeing. This in turn contributes to enhancing the ability of UNICEF to fulfil its mission to achieve sustainable, locally owned and concrete results in improving Key Results for Children, for the survival, development and wellbeing of children in the DRC.

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

Minimum requirements:

1. education:

• An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: social and behaviour science, sociology, anthropology, education, communication, public health

2. experience:

• A minimum of two years of professional experience in one or more of the following areas is required: social development and social and behaviour change programme planning, communication for development, community engagement, or another related area.

3. Language requirement:

• fluency in French and Proficiency of English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French).

Desirables:

• Relevant experience in a UN system agency or international organizations 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 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online Application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility tendersglobal.net UNICEF.

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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

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 and persons with disabilities 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.

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.

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