Job Summary:
Organization: UNICEF
Country: Zambia
City: Lusaka
Office: UNDCO Zambia in Lusaka
Closing date: Tuesday, 15 October 2024
Assignment country: Zambia
Expected start date: 10/24/2024
Sustainable Development Goal: 3. Good health and well-being
Volunteer category: National UN Volunteer Specialist
Host entity: UNICEF
Type: Onsite
Duration: 24 months (with possibility of extension)
Number of assignments: 1
Duty stations: Lusaka
Mission and objectives
UNICEF helps build a world where the rights of every child are fully realized. It is our conviction that nurturing and caring for children are the cornerstones of human progress. UNICEF was created in 1946 to work with others to overcome the obstacles that poverty, violence, disease and discrimination place in a child’s path. It has global authority to influence decision-makers, and a wide variety of partners at grassroots level to turn the most innovative ideas into reality.
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.
Context
UNICEF Zambia has over 100 employed staff that work in different programme sections. The programme sections include the Child Protection, Education, Health and HIV/AIDs, WASH, Nutrition and Programme Monitoring and Excellence (PME) sections. The other key sections include Operations (Finance, Supplies, Administration, Information Communication and Technology, and Human Resources), Communication, Advocacy, Partnerships and Engagement (CAPE) and Social Policy.
The Social and Behavior Change (SBC) Officer will report to the SBC Manager. The incumbent will provide technical and operational support to the SBC Unit by administering, implementing, and monitoring a variety of SBC initiatives and activities. The SBC Officer will work closely with different members of the SBC team in programme sections as well as UNICEF staff working in cross-cutting units such as CAPE, PME and Operations.
Task description
Under the direct supervision of Social and Behavior Change Manager, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks: Support ongoing evidence generation and social listening to inform strategy and messages:
- Conduct desk reviews of external and internal documents and studies as an input for ongoing SBC analysis;
- Collate insights for the development of regular community listening and feedback reports from various sources including social media, community mobilizers report, U-Report platforms and media monitoring for various emergency and development actions.
Support design of SBC strategies and implementation, monitoring, and documentation for humanitarian and development programmes:
- Provide technical, administrative, logistical support for rollout of SBC strategies and activities;
- Support assessment of appropriate materials, language and format of SBC materials verifying accuracy and quality for dissemination;
- Collect, assess, and organize information for budget planning for SBC initiatives. Compile information for standard costing of SBC activities;
- Follow up and monitor the production, pretesting and distribution of multi-media SBC materials.
Support partnership development and monitoring:
- Update mapping of national and international civil society organizations, community groups, leaders and other critical partners in the community and civil society relevant for SBC work;
- Facilitate review and learning sessions with key partners;
- Actively support development of SBC partnership, monitoring and follow up per UNICEF guidelines.
Support innovation, knowledge management:
- Support the SBC/Advocacy Taskforce in annual planning, mapping of existing and potential innovative platforms to enhance reach and engagement with various audiences, and review meetings;
- Support gathering and documentation of best practices;
- Support documentation from coordination meetings of SBC platforms such as National Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) pillar, National SBC Technical Working Group (TWG);
- Maintain and update repository of SBC resources and tailor for sharing for partners.
Eligibility criteria
Age: 18 – 80
Nationality
Candidate must be a national or legal resident of the country of assignment.
Requirements
Required experience
3 years of experience in Social and Behavior Change, Social Mobilization, Risk Communication and Community Engagement;
- Strong English Communication Skills (spoken and written).
Area(s) of expertise
Social work, Community development, Development programmes
Driving license
Languages
English, Level: Fluent, Desirable
Required education level
Bachelor degree or equivalent in Social and Behavioral Sciences, Sociology, Health Promotion, Community Health, Communication, Public Health or related fields.
Competencies and values
- Accountability
- Adaptability and Flexibility
- Commitment and Motivation
- Communication
- Creativity
- Ethics and Values
- Integrity
- Knowledge Sharing
- Planning and Organizing
- Professionalism
- Respect for Diversity
- Self-Management
- Working in Teams
Other information
Living conditions and remarks
Zambia is a land-linked country with a population estimated at 18 million. It is a resource-rich country with sparsely populated land in the centre of Southern Africa. It shares its border with eight countries (Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe) that serve as an expanded market for its goods. Lusaka became the capital city of Zambia in May 1935. Lusaka’s central position in Zambia and its pleasant climate were two of the main reasons for its selection as the capital. It is a metropo-lis, which provides a home to about two and half million (3.3 M) inhabitants of different na-tionalities. It has grown to become the seat of the Government of the Republic of Zambia and as such all diplomatic missions, international organizations, industrial and commercial enti-ties are based there. Its political, social, economic and cultural significance has also in-creased through the years.
Public transport is provided by private operators using minibuses and taxis. The bus routes are not mapped, and roads are often congested. Good modern housing for rent is available on the open market. The official language is English, which is widely spoken. The country is generally food secure, with sufficient local fresh fruits and vegetables available in the mar-kets, as well as various dairy, poultry and meat products. There are several international schools using the Cambridge GCSE or IGCSE syllabi, from key stage one through to A lev-els. Health conditions are generally good, although malaria is endemic. Zambia is generally a safe place to live in, although not free of crime. Some prudence is required. For more info, visit: http://www.zambiatourism.com.
Inclusivity statement
United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
Reasonable accommodation
UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for UN Volunteers with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the recruitment process and afterwards in your assignment.
Note on Covid-19 vaccination requirements
In addition to duty station-specific vaccine requirements, appointments are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the appointment. It does not apply to UN Volunteers who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their contracts.
