International Communication for Development Consultant at UNICEF

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.
• 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.
• 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.

Expected Deliverables

• A detailed work plan at the beginning and monthly work plans thereafter (1st 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:

• Master's 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.

Competencies of Successful Candidate:
To view our competency framework, please Click here in PDF file