Job at UNICEF Nigeria for an International Communication for Development Consultant
If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate
about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading
children's rights organization would like to hear from you.
For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries
and territories to promote children's survival, protection and
development. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing
countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and
sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the
protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is
funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals,
businesses, foundations and governments.
Job Title: International Communication for Development Consultant
Purpose of the Assignment
Nigeria is Polio free for nearly two years; with the great strides
made by Nigeria in the polio eradication drive, the Government of
Nigeria is intensifying its efforts to ensure that the gains are
sustained and it ultimately receives its much anticipated certification
as a polio-free nation. As a key partner in the effort to achieve this,
UNICEF has the lead role in communicating to families and communities in
the endemic and other areas about the importance of taking the oral
polio vaccine to prevent polio until global certification achieved.
Beyond this, there is a push for integrating other child survival issues
and messages in the basket of behaviours being promoted by the enlarged
partnership working on the Polio Endgame. Key additional areas of
engagement include full immunization for the child, promoting Ante-natal
care as an entry point to proper health-seeking among pregnant women,
Hand washing at critical times, management of basis childhood illnesses
and delivery by skilled birth attendants. UNICEF is currently
consolidating its human resource capacity in 8 of the high risk states
of the country where polio were endemic and risk of importation is there
and high probability of vaccine derived polio virus. Over 16000
volunteer community mobilizers, volunteer ward supervisors, Polio
Survivors, LGA social mobilization supervisors and state social
mobilization supervisors have recently been hired to support intensified
communications activities in the field.
The programme has an urgent need to have intensified and sustained
social communication technical support with particular focus on ensuring
improved coordination and partnership with key community leaders of
underserved populations in the very high risk States. One of the key
approaches in community mobilization is the identification,
sensitization and engagement of prominent influencers in the underserved
and mobile communities. Intensified engagement with the religious
institution in Nigeria is critical to addressing the current
communication challenges that the programme is facing. There are still
lingering challenges with small religious groups (sects) predominantly
in Northern Nigeria; these groups culminate into non-compliance with an
attendant high number of children being missed.
UNICEF hires international consultant; the consultant will mainly be
located at State level with frequent trips to all the LGAs with high
numbers of missed children in some key wards, high noncompliance due to
high mobile population and underserved communities
Assignment Tasks
- Coordinate with State team on planning, implementation, monitoring
and evaluation of supplemental immunization activities, especially the
advocacy and social communication component; and support targeted social
mobilization activities while providing direct oversight for Third
Party State Social Mobilization contractors recruited and deployed by
UNICEF and the STOP team members deployed at state level. The incumbent
will ensure intensified actions at State, LGA and community levels with a
special emphasis on overcoming refusal of vaccination by building
public trust in the safety and need for OPV and other antigens and
improving their acceptance. Identify constraints, challenges and
opportunities for program delivery with State Team and State Social
Mobilization Working Group.
- Adapt and use appropriate communication models at community level in
all high risk LGAs in State. Monitor all UNICEF funded activities
related to advocacy, social mobilization, logistics of polio eradication
and supplemental immunization. Establish and maintain coordination with
the work of other partners in the assigned State.
- Monitor and evaluate implementation activities by regularly
analyzing and using social mobilization data, undertaking field visits
and other existing study/surveys. On the basis of these to identify
problems and propose remedial action, identifying alternative courses of
action to accelerate/improve service delivery.
- Contribute implementing national Communication for Development strategic Framework and Polio legacy in action priorities.
- Participate in the preparation of all programme reports required by
the State. Share information regularly with the Chief & other
members of the Communication for Development section and Field Office.
- Undertake other tasks related to communication that might be required by the Chief, Communication for Development Section.
- Provide technical guidance in the design, preparation and use of
targeted communication materials in appropriate languages for Government
frontline health workers/media networks, traditional and religious
opinion leaders, village development/community groups and households.
- Strengthen house to house strategy of IPDs, other related campaigns,
and the Intensified Ward Communication Strategy with massive media
campaign and targeted application of social marketing strategies.
- Support assigned State to develop community communication packages
for polio eradication and other supplemental immunization activities and
inter-sectorial programmes for use at State level.
- Support State Governments and State teams to prepare micro plans and
make other arrangements to ensure good quality SIAs and other
interventions
- Mobilize support for PEI through advocacy, training and awareness
building programmes targeting a variety of groups to include State
Governments, media, public relations networks, and traditional,
religious and other s and community networks. Facilitate State & LGA
Social Mobilization Working Group and Committees and ensure holding of
the committee meetings before each IPD by using social data for
planning.
- Provide leadership and direction in the application and use of
social data for developing strategies for IPD and for in between rounds
activities.
Expected Deliverables
A detailed work plan at the beginning and monthly work plans thereafter (1
st week of each month)
- Monthly report of activities, outcomes, mission reports and Notes for the Record (NFR) on meetings etc. (monthly)
- One report after each IPD by using a supplied template on intervention and other social mobilization indicators
- One end of contract, PowerPoint presentation to be used in
debriefing Chief of Field Office, Communication for Development Team and
other relevant staff members.
- One end of contract Report
Qualifications of Successful Candidate
Education
Masters Degree in Social Sciences/Public
Health/Communication/Statistics or related technical field preferably in
Communications and social mobilization. Working experience in Polio and
data management or research will be an added advantage.
Years of relevant experience
- At least five (5) years progressively responsible professional work
experience at national and particularly international levels in
programme planning, management, monitoring and evaluation in
Immunization Programmes.
- Fluency in English, knowledge of another UN working language is
desirable. Knowledge of local working language of the duty station an
asset.
- Experience polio eradication will be an added advantage.
UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce,
and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national,
religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with
disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organisation.
How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should
Click Here to Apply
Application Deadline: 14th July, 2016