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National Consultant: Social and Behavioral Change Consultant MNCH

Apply now Job no: 575359
Contract type: Consultant
Duty Station: Islamabad
Level: Consultancy
Location: Pakistan
Categories: Social and Behavior Change

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, Commitment! 

Pakistan was the sixth country in the world to sign and ratify the Convention on the Rights of the Child, less than one year after it was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1989. However, children and adolescents living in Pakistan still face acute challenges. 

UNICEF supports the Government of Pakistan to accelerate progress for children, work to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and help children realize their rights under the Convention on the Rights of Children. This will be made through, among others things, strong partnerships with provincial authorities, teachers and health professionals, frontline workers and social mobilizers, communities and families, and of course, the children and adolescents themselves. 

In particular, UNICEF will work so that:

  • Every child survives and thrives -- being in good health, immunized, protected from polio, and accessing nutritious food.
  • Every child learns.
  • Every child is protected from violence and exploitation and registered at birth.
  • Every child lives in a safe and clean environment, with access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation. 

To learn more about UNICEF work in Pakistan, please visit the country website, www.unicef.org/pakistan, and videos on YouTube and Vimeo.

Scope of Work:

Pakistan is committed to the sustainable agenda of 2030 and in health sector 'Universal Health Coverage' (UHC) is the key outcome to ensure progress on health-related goal of Good Health. Ensuring health services access without facing financial hardship is key to improving the well-being of a country's population. The UHC index is a single indicator that is computed based on 4 proxy areas and 16 tracer indicators to monitor coverage of essential health services. Improved health outcome in Pakistan is measured through progress on achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) index which is unfortunately among the lowest. A progressive approach towards UHC requires improved availability and coverage of essential health services both through the public and private health sectors. UHC envisages providing high quality services in an equitable and cost-effective manner. Investing in Universal Health Coverage will build more inclusive and resilient societies that will ensure protection and promotion of physical and mental well-being for all. Moreover, UHC will serve as a catalyst of change in provision of equity-based cost effective health services and create the demand for more investments in health sector.

In Pakistan, Ministry of National Health Services Regulation & Coordination with the support of the provincial/area Departments of Health has achieved an important milestone of developing Universal Health Coverage – Benefit Package of Pakistan/ Essential Package of Health Services. The National Health Vision 2016-2025 of Pakistan recognizes universal health coverage (UHC) as top priority among Pakistan's health objectives and is aligned with national programs and policies such as the Poverty Reduction Strategy and pro-poor social protection initiatives.

UNICEF Pakistan works with the health sector on improving child survival through contribution towards, strengthening resilient health system, ensuring quality reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health services, universal immunization, and polio eradication.

A National Behaviour Change Communication Framework for PHC and UHC was developed by MoNHSRC in collaboration with UNICEF. Priority behaviors and activities were highlighted in the framework. Health and SBC sections are collaborating to support the implementation of this framework. In this regard, a dedicated full-time MNCH SBC consultant is required until February 2025 to perform based on the following scope of work,

• Designing and implementing an Integrated Social and Behaviour Change Communication campaign on maternal and neonatal health using mass media and UNICEF's social media platform including a national advocacy event.

• Establishment/strengthen existing and/or new feedback mechanism as part of the SBCC campaign and support its integration into regular health programme.

• Development of the budget for the SBCC campaign for priority behaviors in line with the BCC framework.

• Provide technical and creative supervision for the development of social and behaviour change content related to the campaign.

• Design and support commemoration of World AIDS Day (First December) and World Prematurity Day (17th November) celebrations and activities at national and provincial levels.

• Provide technical supervision in development of PC-1 for Health Education Cell at MoNHSRC

• Coordinate with and support provincial offices to adapt and contextualize the SBCC campaign and international days celebrations.

• Develop MNCH BCC campaign report highlighting key campaign metrics (reach, engagement, impressions, concerns/feedback etc.) and lessons learned and recommendation for future campaigns

How can you make a difference? 

The deliverables expected from the consultant include:

  • Coordinate with MoNHSRC to notify a working group for the design and implementation of SBCC campaign for MNCH priority behaviours
  • Develop costed SBCC campaign plan.
  • Provide technical and creative supervision for the development of social and behaviour change content related to the campaign.
  • Design and support commemoration of World Prematurity Day (17th November) celebrations and activities at national and provincial levels.
  • Launch of MNCH SBCC campaign (Phase 1)
  • Design and support commemoration of World AIDS Day (First December) celebrations and activities at national and provincial levels.
  • Launch of MNCH SBCC campaign (Phase 2)
  • Provide technical supervision in development of PC-1 for Health Education Cell at MoNHSRC
  • Develop MNCH BCC campaign report (both phases) highlighting key campaign metrics (reach, engagement, impressions, concerns/feedback etc) and lessons learned and recommendation for future campaigns.

Deliverables to be achieved in the specific timelines.

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

  • An advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in Social and behavioral science, including sociology, anthropology, communication studies development communication, health communication, community development, development studies, psychology and/or related social sciences is required.
  • A minimum of five years of professional experience in one or more of the following areas is required: social development programme planning, social and behaviour change, public advocacy, or another related area.
  • Relevant experience in UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.
  • Experience in developing social and behavior change strategies and/or campaigns will be a mandatory requirement.
  • Building strong partnership skills
  • Good communication skills, fluency in English

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 here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors 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 selection process and afterwards in your assignment. 

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. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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. 

Remarks:  

  • Estimated Duration: 4 months
  • Applicants must submit a financial quotation indicating a monthly fee as part of the application against each deliverable.
  • At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage.
  • Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual 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 and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors 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 to ensure that the visa (applicable) and 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, programme 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. 

 

Advertised: Pakistan Standard Time
Deadline: Pakistan Standard Time

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