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UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, the right to wellbeing! 

Niger’s population was estimated in 2023 at 25,369,420 inhabitants, predominantly young (40% of the population is under 12 years of age and 52% under 17). To contribute to reducing morbidity and mortality from vaccine-preventable diseases, Niger launched the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) in October 1987, targeting children under one year of age and women of childbearing age, with particular emphasis on pregnant women. Since its inception, significant progress has been achieved, including: the elimination of neonatal tetanus since 2016; the interruption of wild poliovirus circulation since 2012; certification of the interruption of wild poliovirus circulation in April 2016; and the expansion of the immunization schedule from six antigens to fourteen, with a fifteenth in prospect (the malaria vaccine).

In terms of demand generation for vaccination, the 2020 Immunization KAP survey in Niger showed: good knowledge of the purpose of vaccination; good knowledge of vaccine-preventable diseases; good understanding of the importance of vaccination in protecting children against diseases; willingness to have children vaccinated, motivated in most cases by one of the parents within the household; parents’ recognition of fever as the main side effect of childhood vaccination; and a good proportion of parents satisfied with the vaccination services received in their communities.
Even though 93% of health facilities provide routine immunization services, several challenges remain, including: population growth and urbanization; the resurgence of epidemics and natural disasters; migration; climate change; insecurity; and social and gender norms.

As a result of these challenges, a significant number of children miss vaccination. Indeed, the number of zero-dose children was 30,625 in 2020, 23,313 in 2021, and 14,077 in 2022. The number of under-vaccinated children was 58,113 in 2020, 58,631 in 2021, and 51,805 in 2022. At the same time, there is insufficient access to media information sources, limited awareness of the immunization schedule, with no respondent able to correctly state the number of doses required for the 12 EPI target diseases, and overall low knowledge of the vaccination schedule.

How can you make a difference? 

1. Generate and utilize research, data, and evidence to inform the design, measurement, and monitoring of SBC programs and outcomes in both development and emergency contexts and to build the evidence base for SBC.

- In collaboration with sectoral and cross-sectoral specialists, relevant government officers and other UN/NGO partners, design and conduct SBC situation analyses and formative research that identify social and behavioral drivers; initiate, commission, manage and/or utilize qualitative and quantitative research on social and behavioral drivers of immunization that include behavioral analysis, human centered design, social listening, behavioral insights, participatory research and/or RCT. 
- Establish community feedback mechanisms and use feedback to inform community engagement and SBC actions for disaster preparedness, response, recovery and resilience. Generate and use SBC evidence, data, and assessments for disaster preparedness, response, recovery and resilience. 
- Develop terms of reference, research tools, frameworks and protocols for generating evidence to inform SBC initiatives and apply tools, methodologies and frameworks for data collection, tracking, monitoring and reporting and disseminating SBC results for Immunization.
- Conduct and/or participate in country programme monitoring and evaluation exercises and make recommendations on workplan revisions based on the results.
- Develop and manage relationships with external partners, vendors and consultants for research and evidence generation and support of SBC for Immunization.

2. Design, plan and implement SBC activities that are backed by social and behavioural evidence and strong engagement and participation mechanisms in both development and humanitarian contexts.

- In collaboration/consultation with UNICEF sectoral and cross-sectoral specialists, relevant government officers and other UN/NGO partners, develop, implement and monitor evidence-based SBC strategies and activities, in line with global standards and UNICEF priorities and approaches.
- In collaboration/consultation with UNICEF sectoral and cross-sectoral colleagues and implementing partners, select appropriate SBC activities and platforms for engagement, ensuring quality and integration of the latest evidence and science-backed approaches. In this process, oversee coordination with SBC stakeholders and partners to align plans and activities.
- Identify, propose and implement evidence-based programme/strategy recommendations from current data, evidence and trends for priority social and behavioral issues and ensure the integration of latest innovative approaches and technology in SBC in programme approaches and advocate for their adoption among internal and external stakeholders.
- Apply the above skills of designing, planning, implementing and monitoring of community engagement and SBC interventions for Immunization in the context of humanitarian emergencies.
- Make viable recommendations on inclusion of community engagement and social and behavioural approaches in sectoral work plans and strategies. Advocate for the inclusion of community engagement and social and behavioral approaches for Immunization in sectoral workplans based on active participation in sectoral programme planning and reviews and viable recommendations for the integration of SBC.

3. Support operationalization of SBC by advocating for SBC, mobilizing resources, coordinating across stakeholders, sectors and teams, and partnership building.

- Represent UNICEF’s interests in partnerships and manage development of and progress against joint project agreements with relevant partners; represent the UNICEF CO and SBC Section in national and international level fora and among partners as relevant and necessary.
- Collaborate with national, regional and/or global partners to link and coordinate SBC approaches for Immunization.
- Cultivate resource mobilization opportunities and produce proposals, reports and other materials to support resources mobilization for SBC for Immunization. Contribute to mobilizing human resources for SBC, including staff, consultants and external vendors. 
- Identify, recruit and supervise consultants, vendors and other technical expertise to support delivery of SBC activities. Plan, use and track the use of resources and verify compliance with organizational guidelines and standards.
- Contribute to financial planning, budget planning and tracking and financial management for SBC. 
- Identify, disseminate, and adopt best practices and innovative approaches and technology in SBC, integrate them in programme approaches and support SBC and sectoral teams in implementing them.
- Advocate internally and externally for integration of SBC in national health systems, in the country programme, and in sectoral plans.
- Coordinate with stakeholders and partners for the implementation of community engagement and SBC in humanitarian actions.

4. Promote continuous learning, strengthening, and scaling up in SBC for both development and humanitarian contexts through capacity building for UNICEF staff and partners.

- Identify, design, and organize SBC training materials and opportunities for staff and partners, including on new approaches such as behavioural analysis, behavioural insights, human-centered design, social listening, and social accountability mechanisms. Develop and/or use and adapt existing UNICEF learning resources, guidelines and training materials to build SBC capacity among staff, implementing partners and relevant government and non-government counterparts.
- Develop and institutionalize best practices, facilitate the exchange of experiences and provide technical assistance for the uptake of new SBC approaches for Immunization and knowledge internally and externally.
- Plan and implement SBC capacity assessments within the CO. 
- Identify and mobilize resources to support capacity development internally and externally and provide SBC technical support and capacity building to government counterparts. 
- Initiate and manage partnerships with academia and learning institutions for the delivery of SBC capacity development activities. 
- Identify and develop mechanisms to strengthen systems for community engagement in humanitarian contexts. 
- Develop and/or adapt capacity development tools and activities for humanitarian programming with a focus on preparedness, response and recovery.

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education: An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: Economics, Public Policy, Social Sciences, International Relations, Political Science, or another relevant technical field.
  
  Work Experience: A minimum of five years of professional experience in one or more of the following areas is required: social development programme planning, social and behavior change, communication for development, public advocacy or another related area. Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset. 
  experience working in a developing country is considered as an asset.
•  
• Language Requirements: Fluency in French is required. Knowledge of English and another local language is an asset. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish) is an asset.[Include the level of education required] in [include the areas and indicate if they are preferred areas or required areas of work]

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

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.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable [qualified female candidates] are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF’s Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.