Social & Behavior Change Specialist NO-3 at UNICEF

The holder incumbent will be expected to provide technical support to NPHCDA activities related to social mobilization, demand generation and related functions.

Strategic Direction & Coordination

• Support NERICC to determine strategic directions for communication for development (advocacy, social mobilization, community engagement and behaviour change technical working groups) team and ensure the strategies are in line with Nigeria Country Programme Document (CPD) as well as the Rolling Work Plan (RWP) to achieve an integrated COVID-19 and Routine Immunization coverage targets.

Demand Generation

• Ensure that NERICC and NPHCDA communication groups are supported to develop plans and activities to increase demand for COVID-19 and RI services
• Support the development/implementation of SBC strategy with approaches, plans and activities geared towards increasing demand for COVID-19 vaccination and RI services.
• The strategy should be founded on sound evidence based on studies with clear objectives, approaches, plans, activities, as well as monitoring and evaluation mechanisms.
• Ensure approaches used is all inclusive, consultative and participatory to carry along all stakeholders.
• To support COVID-19 Vaccination activities to improve demand through advocacy, social mobilization, and community engagement initiatives.

Promotion of Appropriate use of SBC principles and approaches

• Provide advice on appropriate use of SBC approaches, aimed at both individual behaviour change and collective action as well as policy advice. 
• Provide expert advice, coordination and technical support to government counterparts and other partners in the development and strategic use of communication for social development to ensure optimum leverage and impact of communication activities on programme, policy and advocacy activities.
• Collaborate with the Federal Government officials, NPHCDA, community leaders, other UN bodies, and bilateral agencies and NGOs in the organization of activities, operational research, advocacy and exchange of information and ideas supportive of NERICC’s and NPHCDA’s communication goals and strategies.
• Jointly with other UNICEF and government officers, designs and manages/facilitates the implementation of communication plans of action aiming at: (a) behaviour development/change at individual/household levels; (b) social mobilization of civil society organizations; (c) increased community participation in COVID-19 vaccination and RI ; and (d) policy issues that require advocacy to impact COVID-19 vaccination and RI a uptake.
• Monitors and evaluates activities based on applied targeted communication research and frequent visits to project sites.  Disseminates communication research findings, ensures exchanges of experience and new methods to government officials, programme staff, and other UNICEF partners.
• Collaborate with, advise and/or consult internal partners, to design of culturally relevant SBC strategies, including formulation, production and pre-testing materials and/or to organize SBC events and activities to ensure engagement and participation of key audiences, and maximum outreach and impact on behavioral and social change.
• Confirm/verify the technical quality, consistency and relevancy of communications strategies, including materials that are developed, produced and disseminated to target audience  and recommend appropriate multiple media formats. Oversee the production and implementation of multi-media initiatives for compliance with targets and plans that integrate the latest evidence.
• Carry out SBC advocacy activities with/for a wide range of constituents, stakeholders, partners, communities, such as religious groups, traditional leaders, teachers, artists and other organized groups at national, state, zonal, Local Government Areas (LGA) and community levels, as well as civil society organizations etc. to orient them on behavior and social mobilization models, strategies, approaches, COVID-19 vaccination, and routine immunization; and solicit their involvement in the implementation of the overall initiative; also to encourage/promote engagement and dialogue, inclusion, self-determination and participation in mobilizing social, political, behavioral and cultural change to achieve sustainable program results for COVID-19, improved routine immunization, and children and women’s rights, equity and well-being. Develop/select materials and other communication tools for SBC events.
• Identify, establish, and maintain active interaction/relations with media, academia and other strategic partners to communicate/advocate UNICEF’s competencies and achievements to ensure their engagement, interests and support in promoting social/political engagement for political action on COVID-19 and RI, and measurable changes in social and behavioral outcomes.
• Conduct and/or participate in M & E (Monitoring and Evaluation) and Evaluation exercises, including country program previews, meetings and mid-term/annual reviews to assess/report on efficacy/outcome of SBC on UNICEF and Nigeria Country Office (NCO) Strategic Plans/Goals. Recommend timely action to ensure the achievement of results as planned and allocated.  Integrate/disseminate lessons learned in development planning and improvements.
• Monitor and evaluate programme activities on the basis of applied qualitative behavioral research and frequent visits to project sites.
• Analyze and evaluate data to ensure compliance and achievement of objectives and recommend corrective action, when necessary, to meet programme/project objectives. Prepare monitoring and evaluation reports in accordance with the established guidelines, methods and procedures. Provide technical advice to programme staff, government officials and other counterparts, and coordinate and manage the evaluative elements of country programme milestone meetings, such as mid-term reviews, strategy meetings, previews and reviews and annual reviews.

Capacity Building for Sustainability

• Provide advice on capacity building of SBC teams, both within NPHCDA and among counterparts.
• Oversee and advise on the development of goals, strategy, approaches, plans as well as training materials and activities to build up capacity in participatory and behaviour change communication for personnel involved in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of SBC intervention, in support of COVID-19 vaccine and RI.

Resource Mobilization and Management

• Participate in the budget planning & review process and ensure the optimal resources from UNICEF and other partners towards SBC initiatives.
• Establish programme work plans, allocation of resources, and monitors progress and compliance. 
• Take appropriate actions to optimize use of programme funds and mobilize resources; improve programme efficiency, quality and delivery through a rigorous and transparent approach to programme planning, monitoring and evaluation. 
• Oversee the overall allocation and disbursement of programme funds, making sure that funds are properly and effectively coordinated, monitored and liquidated. 

Education:

• Advanced University degree in the social/behavioural sciences, (Sociology, Anthropology, Psychology, and Health Education) OR Bachelors with over 8 years  of work experience with emphasis on strategic communication planning for behaviour development, social mobilization, and participatory communication, and research, training/facilitation and impact evaluation of communication interventions.
• Training in SBC and implementation in SBC, social mobilization and behavioral change. Training in inter-disciplinary approach in programme communication.

Experience:

• Minimum 5 years (8 year for candidate with bachelors) relevant professional work experience in the planning and management of social development programmes, including 2 years in with practical experience in the adaptation and application of communication planning processes to specific programmes.