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.

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

For every child, Health

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 the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and help children realize their rights under the Convention on the Rights of Children. This will be made through, among other things, strong partnerships with provincial authorities, teachers and health professionals, frontline workers and social mobilisers, 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.

Job organizational context:

The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) is in its third year of implementation of Polio Eradication Strategy 2022-2026: Delivering on a Promise which remains focused on the dual emergency of interrupting wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) in Pakistan and Afghanistan and stopping polio outbreaks. Pakistan is one of the two remaining polio endemic countries globally. There is cautious optimism about the progress made toward stopping polio in both countries, with cases at their lowest levels in history. Epidemiology confirms the impact of polio eradication efforts. The proportion of children missed during immunization campaigns is decreasing, and overall population immunity is improving.

Working under the leadership of the Government, and through the One Team under One Roof approach,  UNICEF has been supporting the National Emergency Action Plan (NEAP) for Polio Eradication by  ensuring uninterrupted vaccine supply; increasing the number of children receiving polio vaccines in the most hard to reach districts through a communication Network (COMNet) which supports and prompts  evidence-based communication strategy that builds trust and increases demand of the communities to vaccination to reduce refusals. UNICEF polio team is also working closely with Nutrition, Health, WASH and SBC sections to deliver integrated essential services to the polio high risk areas to address community demand and need beyond polio vaccination.reduce refusals.

The Pakistan Polio communication network, or COMNet, has been established in Pakistan. It provides the framework at provincial, district, union council and community levels through which communication efforts to eradicate polio will be channeled. The main task of the COMNet is to mobilize communities, particularly parents and childcare providers, to ensure all children in the areas of the deployed communication staff are vaccinated against polio in every vaccination round. COMNet communication staff is responsible particularly for identifying and working with high-risk groups and involving influencers and governmental and non-governmental partners in polio advocacy activities, particularly those persons involved with high-risk groups, at their respective levels.

Purpose for the job:

The purpose of this assignment is to provide technical oversight, guidance, and quality assurance to the multiple training activities and events sponsored and supported by the Polio Eradication Unit with particular focus to support ongoing eradication efforts in South KP. Responsibilities include the development of appropriate training curriculum and methodology, pre-testing and evaluating training, materials, tools, and events as to the appropriateness and effectiveness. Through regular review, evaluation, and analysis the position will provide quality assurance of contracted, third party training services including philosophy, methodology, and the appropriateness and competence of staffing structures.

The Training Officer works at the Federal and Provincial levels with particular focus on South KP. The staff member works under the daily supervision of the Social and Behavior Change Specialist, NOD, Polio Eradication Unit, and with sector specific guidance and collaboration from and with the national and provincial teams and emergency coordination center coordinators.

Social and Behavior Change Specialist, NOD in collaboration with the national and provincial teams and emergency center coordinators, provides guidance on the design and development of the programme. They also provide guidance on the management, monitoring and evaluation of the programme. The incumbent works independently on the implementation of the programme/project and provides regular reports to the supervisor.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Support the development of an appropriate capacity development strategy with particular focus on South KP and in collaboration with GOP and WHO for frontline workers conducting social mobilization and interpersonal communication for community engagement, including developing appropriate content, modules and methodologies for a communication, social mobilization, advocacy and media skills, and other areas according to the needs of the programme, including vaccine management. Support the systematic implementation and roll-out of training activities identified in the capacity development strategy
• In collaboration with Social and Behavior Change team and the COMNet Coordinator, support carrying out a training needs assessment which will form the basis for designing and implementing innovative training and capacity building activities for COMNet communication staff, namely District Health Communication Officers (DHCSOs), Union Council Communication Support Officers (UCOs), and Social Mobilizers (SMs) for implementation by the contracted training services and/or provincial Polio teams
• Provide support to the COMNet Coordinator in monitoring and assessing the training sessions and how the training impacts the performance of COMNet in implementation of communication and social mobilization activities
• Provide technical support to partners and government counterparts in the development of appropriate training methodologies and training modules aimed at all frontline workers in polio eradication, vaccine management and routine immunization programmes.
• Assist in modifying, revising, and updating the content of existing training programme by taking stock of existing pool of trainers, carrying out TNA, developing training strategy and action plan in consultation with provincial polio teams for COMNet. Collaborates with functional experts to develop programmes that achieve the defined learning and business objectives
• Support in development of a TOR and hiring a training vendor on long term agreement for conducting COMNet training
• Develop a monitoring and evaluation plan for the training workshop to be conducted and ensure its effective implementation either through polio provincial teams or through third party
• Required to interpret and apply guidelines; expected to make recommendations when deviation from the guidelines is necessary;
• Makes decision on programme/project implementation, programme delivery targeted goals and objectives;
• Makes recommendations on technical and policy advice national and provincial teams;
• Makes recommendations on development and formulation of training planning, projects, and events and/or their components and appropriate adjustments and changes in implementation to improve efficiency and effectiveness of programme delivery

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

• A university degree (Bachelor's) in the Social /behavioral sciences (Social Work, Sociology, Anthropology, Psychology, Health Education) with practical training components.
• A minimum of a two years’ experience in development, social mobilization, and/or partnership and social network development; strategic communication planning for behavior development / social mobilization / advocacy / participatory communication / development and production of creative materials / research, training or facilitation of communication / impact evaluation of communication interventions.
• Fluency in English is required.

Desirables:

• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency.
• Experiences in polio eradication programme and health communication is an asset
• Certificate as Master Trainer, media and communication is an asset
• Knowledge of other local language is an asset.

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 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.

We offer a wide range of measures to include a more diverse workforce, such as paid parental leave, time off for breastfeeding purposes, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

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. UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will 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.

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’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable females 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.

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.