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UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential. 

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone. 

And we never give up. 

For every child, change

In the 1970s UNICEF established presence in Yemen to respond to the urgent needs of children in the poorest country in the Middle East. In 1991, Yemen ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and it was enacted immediately.  Since then the country has been making steady progress for children until it plunged into a brutal conflict in 2015 but even before that, Yemen needed large amounts of humanitarian assistance.

In collaboration with local authorities, non-governmental organizations and community partners, UNICEF is working in all the governorates in Yemen to respond to the needs of children throughout the country with a continuum of services to help children survive and grow to their full potential through the following programmes: Health, Nutrition, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, Basic Education, and Child protection.

For more on our work in Yemen, please visit our website: https://www.unicef.org/yemen/

How can you make a difference? 

The SBC Polio Consultant (International, P3) will support the polio communication effort in Yemen based in the Aden Field Office during the response to the poliovirus outbreak, working under the supervision of the Chief of SBC in UNICEF Country Office and in close collaboration with the Chief of Field Office of Aden, SBC specialist in Aden, and the WHO communication team at national and Aden level, and Health Offices’ Extended Programme on Immunization and Health Education Centres.

The SBC Polio Consultant (International, P3) will be the key liaison between the global and regional team and the country team (including government partners) on Polio SBC strategies, plans and budgets, requiring prior international experience and exposure to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. The SBC Polio Consultant will ensure the response is:

1. Aligned with the global SBC Polio Eradication guidelines and standards, through direct liaison with MENARO Polio team and Global Polio Eradication team
2. Aligned with government’s Ministry of Health – the Health Education Centre (in the South) and governorate plans and strategies, and
3. Aligned with the latest outbreak response SOPs and SBC plans.

The International SBC Polio Specialist will accomplish the following specific tasks:

• Coordinate and provide assistance for the implementation of Polio Supplementary Immunization activities scheduled, tailored to the current Polio situation in the country in consideration of GPEI guidelines and standards.
• Facilitate the development of essential communication and social mobilization plans, including training plans, monitoring strategies, social mobilization microplanning, and crisis communication plans, to meet the necessary criteria for the forthcoming Polio campaign, and support the liaison with MENARO and GPEI for approvals and resource mobilization .
• Continue to offer comprehensive technical assistance aimed at enhancing polio vaccination rates within recently identified low-performing or priority districts (41 districts). This requires providing technical guidance to analyze pertinent data tools and offering direction on the development of robust social mobilization plans tailored to target these specific areas.
• Provide technical support to plan activities for the GAVI Equity Accelerator Fund activities aimed at addressing zero dose children in 40 prioritized districts in the country.
• Supporting in the formulation of a strategic plan to effectively address refusal issues identified in all targeted districts after the last Polio campaign, through active engagement of local influencers and religious leaders.
• Support the development/adaptation of the parenting package manuals and tools.
• Develop a comprehensive training modules based on the positive parening package tailored for specific community cadres aimed at raising awareness about Polio and Routine Immunization, as well as facilitating the organization of sensitization sessions within communities exhibiting vaccine refusal due to religious beliefs.
• Review and finalize the remaining components of the National Immunization Strategy and the following revisions.
• Support in reviving and maintaining social mobilization and/or communication working groups/taskforces and other coordination platforms as well as expansion of existing ones at sub-national levels.
• Based on national and global best practices in similar context, finalize community engagement and information dissemination strategies to promote polio and routine immunization in the country.
• Ensure that polio micro plans (at least in priority areas) include social data and information on social mobilizers and leaders are developed and regularly revised.
• Support the national and field offices to undertake in-depth reviews of potential areas and cases of refusals of vaccines or issues of mistrust to be addressed.
• Provide technical direction for regular analysis of independent monitoring data and other available resources to  identify priority areas and devise social mobilization micro-plans targeting those areas.

To view the specific tasks and the required deliverables, scope of the work and full details of the job profile, hold CTRL & double-click on the following link:  Terms of Reference SBC Polio International .pdf

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have… 

Education:

Master’s degree with 5 years of relevant experience or a University degree with 8 years of relevant experience in the social/behavioural communication sciences. Knowledge about communication interventions for outbreaks, and routine & supplementary immunization. Experience in polio outbreak responses internationally is essential.

Experience & Knowledge:

• Proven successful experience of 5 – 8 years of dealing with Polio outbreaks in similar context as well as in strategic communication processes for behavior change and development and working in emergency settings.
• Demonstrated understanding of current developments in the field of communication for development theory and research, behavioural and social sciences, participatory planning and processes, media, strategic communication planning, behavior analysis, formative research and evaluation of communication interventions.
• Technical knowledge of quantitative, qualitative and participatory research methodologies and analysis desirable.
• Experience in inter-disciplinary approaches in strategic communication with knowledge of UN and/or UNICEF’s work in health and polio eradication.

Language:

Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of Arabic will be an added advantage.

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS). 

To view our competency framework, please visit  here. 

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

Remarks:  

• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. 
• Individuals engaged under a consultancy contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures; and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants. Consultants are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws. 
• The selected candidate is solely responsible for ensuring that the health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates 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 assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programmme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts. 
• Candidates are required to provide an all-inclusive fee proposal (in U.S.D) as part of their application. It is better to attach a table which shall include fees for the deliverables, living allowance, accommodation, and travel cost.
• Candidates are required to provide a technical proposal as part of their application. The technical proposal might include highlights on the below points:
• Background information that includes an interpretation and understanding of the terms of reference.
• Methodology and approach outlining a clear conceptual and analytical framework for the work to be undertaken.
• Proposed work plan outlining clear timeframe and logical steps in conducting the assignment.
• Name and brief background of the vendor/consultant, including existing experience and expertise that will be of benefit to the proposed assignment.
• Names and contact information of referees for the 3 most recent and relevant projects