International Consultancy - Social and Behavior Change (SBC), Polio at UNICEF

Background

• The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) is committed to ensuring that future generations of children are free from the threat of polio paralysis. Achieving this goal requires rapid and effective outbreak response, especially in polio-free countries.
• The Health and HIV section of the UNICEF Nigeria Country office provides oversight, quality assurance, technical assistance, and knowledge management in the field of Health and HIV with a focus on immunization (including polio), maternal newborn health and health systems strengthening.
• In collaboration with SBC and Communication and Advocacy sections, it supports communication for social and behavior change interventions for Polio, Immunization and health interventions.

How can you make a difference? 
Purpose of Assignment:

• Polio eradication is a corporate priority for UNICEF globally. Although there are only two remaining countries where polio is still endemic, unfortunately, the number and scale of polio outbreaks has continued to exceed expectations. Although Nigeria was certified Wild Polio Virus (WPV) free in 2020, the country is currently facing an unprecedented outbreak of Circulating Vaccine Derived Polio Virus Type 2 (cVDPV2). 
• In 2025, Nigeria continues to report cVDPV2 cases. To contain the outbreak, Nigeria has and will continue to implement an aggressive schedule of outbreak response activities in 2025, requiring substantive support by Government and partners.
• UNICEF is committed to continuing working on polio eradication until the goal is reached globally. UNICEF has been supporting the Government of Nigeria in its polio outbreak responses as the lead social and behavior change partner as well as in vaccine management support. 
• UNICEF Nigeria is managing more than 18,500 Volunteer Community Mobilisers (VCMs) across 12 polio high risk states to promote polio vaccination during outbreak response and improve routine immunization.
• UNICEF is a key member of the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC), assigning key staff to the NEOC’s Strategic and Communications Working Groups and the logistic working group, as well as being a permanent member of the strategy group.

Work Assignment Overview:

• Polio SBC Coordination -NEOC
• Deliverable/Output: Implementation reports
• Polio SBC coordination – UNICEF CO, FOs 
• Deliverable/Output: Mission report with recommendations
• Formative study on vaccine hesitancy 
• Deliverable/Output: Monthly progress reports + final report 
• Polio campaign budget and activity review and capacity building 
• Deliverable/Output: Developed budget 

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced University Degree in Social and Behavioral Change Communication, Public Health, or other social/behavioral sciences or community health area (Health promotion, Sociology, Anthropology, Psychology, Health Education, bio-medical sciences, public health) or related area
• A minimum of eight years progressively responsible work experience in public or community health and Social and Behavioral Change Communication, the planning and management of social communication programmes, including in immunization/polio. Background in public health and strong management skills would be highly considered.
• Skills: Knowledge of current developments in the fields of communication theory, motivational psychology, adult learning theory, indigenous media, digital communication, community organization and participation, strategic communication planning, behavior analysis, formative research and evaluation of communication interventions

For every Child, you demonstrate:

• UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, Sustainability (CRITAS), and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.
• UNICEF is also proud of a diverse workforce who are profoundly committed to supporting the full realization of children’s rights, and in uplifting a rights-based approach in all that we do.

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are:

• Builds and maintains partnerships
• Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
• Drive to achieve results for impact
• Innovates and embraces change
• Manages ambiguity and complexity
• Thinks and acts strategically
• Works collaboratively with others.