Urban Immunization Social & Behavior Change Officer

Details

Mission and objectives

Update UNICEF works in the world’s toughest places to reach the most disadvantaged children and adolescents – and to protect the rights of every child, everywhere. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we do whatever it takes to help children survive, thrive and fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.
The world’s largest provider of vaccines, we support child health and nutrition, safe water and sanitation, quality education and skill building, HIV prevention and treatment for mothers and babies, and the protection of children and adolescents from violence and exploitation.
Before, during and after humanitarian emergencies, UNICEF is on the ground, bringing lifesaving help and hope to children and families. Non-political and impartial, we are never neutral when it comes to defending children’s rights and safeguarding their lives and futures.
And we never give up.

Context

UNICEF, in collaboration with its partners, is supporting the Government of Guinea-Bissau to improve urban immunization rates among pregnant women and children. This is part of a national effort to reduce preventable infant and child deaths and epidemics of vaccine-preventable deaths in urban areas where the highest rates of zero-dose children are the highest.
Families whose children have not had any vaccinations have been impacted by challenges that reduce their access due to time and transport constraints that families face and the overload of misinformation in urban settings through both traditional and social media that discourages families from using immunization services. Children of vulnerable families and disadvantaged communities are the groups most at risk and they are also the ones most likely to suffer higher rates of death and disability.
Through the UNICEF Social Behaviour Change component and close monitoring of activities, the health programme will support NGOs working to boost the urban immunization rate. This will be done through area-specific and community-level analysis of the bottlenecks that prevent families from vaccinating their infants and young children and design need responsive community engagement initiatives.
In line with the UNICEF 2022-2025 Strategic Plan and the Office Country Programme Document 2022-2026, the UNICEF Guinea-Bissau Country Office is recruiting a National UN Youth Volunteer, to be a Social and Behavior Change Officer for Urban Immunization. This national UNV will contribute to the design, management, monitoring, and evaluation of evidence-based, inclusive, and innovative SBC strategies in support of urban immunization programme under the general guidance of the Immunization Specialist in close collaboration with the Head of the Health and Nutrition section and UNICEF SBC team.

Task description

Under the direct supervision of the Social Behaviour Change Officer (SBC) acting as Head of SBC and in close collaboration with Programme Officers, the National UN Youth Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:
Support the design, planning, implementation, and monitoring of SBC activities with the UNICEF Health and SBC teams with NGOs engaged to support urban immunization efforts.
• Supports the design and facilitate the implementation of Social & Behavioral change strategies and plans of action with a special focus on supporting on engagement of women, youth, families, and community leaders using evidence-based advocacy and community engagement strategies.
• Supports the implementation of proven SBC approaches to enhance community/social mobilization, and engagement, to improve access to and demand for immunization services.
• Supports the adaptation of the design, production, and distribution of social and behavioral change materials developed by the UNICEF-SBC team for the needs of Bissau, Quinhamel, Bafata, Gabu, Farim, Quebo, Buba, and Catio for awareness-raising for both routine immunization and campaigns.
• Supports the collection of data for SBC-related decision-making to increase the utilization of immunization services by families.