Social & Behavior Change Specialist, P3 at United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)

How can you make a difference?

• The Social & Behavior Change Specialist reports to the Deputy Representative for general guidance and supervision.
• The Specialist provides technical and operational support for developing a systematic, planned, and evidence-based strategy and process for S&BC as an integral part of programme development, planning and implementation.
• Through communication and engagement, as well as the empowerment and participation of stakeholders, communities, children, civil society partners, and government counterparts, s/he promotes measurable behavioral and social change/mobilization.
• This subsequently contributes to the achievement of sustainable and concrete results in improving children’s rights, survival, and wellbeing in the country.

Key Functions/accountabilities

• Support to strategy design and development of S&BC activities
• Conduct and/or participate in comprehensive S&BC situation analysis of social, cultural, economic and political issues in the country/region, including through national/subnational working groups or committees.
• Assess/synthesize qualitative and quantitative information, data and evidence to support the establishment of comprehensive and evidence-based information for developing and planning the S&BC component of the Country Programme of Cooperation (and UNDAF).
• Participate in country programme planning and reviews to contribute to discussions on the underlying and contextual issues to be addressed (e.g. policies, gender/children inequality, cultural/social behavior etc) to ensure the successful and sustainable delivery of programme results and provide technical recommendations on approaches, strategies and plans of action for S&BC to promote behavioral and social change.
• Prepare or provide quality assurance on materials and related documentations for S&BC strategies and plans (as a component of the CO and/or UNDAF Programmes) to ensure optimum impact, scale and sustainability of achievements/results.
• Collaborate/consult with a wide range of partners and stakeholders to ensure synergy, integration, coherence, and harmonization of S&BC activities with UNICEF MTSP, CO global communications and advocacy activities and UN System development activities and initiatives at the CO level, including in humanitarian response.

Implementation of S&BC activities

• Collaborate with, advise and/or consult internal partners and external partners to design S&BC strategies, including formulation, production and testing materials to organize S&BC events and activities to ensure engagement and participation of key audiences, and maximum outreach and impact on behavioral and social change, including in humanitarian response.
• Confirm/verify the technical quality, consistency and relevancy of communications strategies, including materials that are developed, produced and disseminated to target audiences (e.g. individuals, communities, government officials, partners, media etc).
• Recommend appropriate multiple media formats (e.g. print, digital/social media, TV/Radio, Web, community networks, etc.). Oversee the production and implementation of multi-media initiatives for compliance with targets and plans that integrate the latest evidence.
• Carry out S&BC advocacy activities with/for a wide range of constituents, stakeholders, partners, communities, etc. to encourage/promote engagement and dialogue, inclusion, self determination and participation in mobilizing social, political, behavioral and cultural change to achieve sustainable programme results on children and women’s rights, equity and wellbeing.
• Develop/select materials and other communication tools for S&BC 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 children’s rights, and measurable changes in social and behavioral outcomes.
• Conduct and/or participate in M & E and Evaluation exercises, including country programme previews, meetings and mid-term/annual reviews to assess/report on efficacy/outcome of S&BC on UNICEF and CO 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.

Technical and operational support

• Collaborate with internal CO, RO and/or RO colleagues to contribute to the development of strategies, approaches, policies and the planning of S&BC social and resource mobilization initiatives in support of programmes/projects implementation and delivery of results, including humanitarian response.
• Participate in CO strategic discussions to collaborate on policy and agenda setting for S&BC advocacy and investments and related external relations and resource mobilization initiatives.
• Participate in budget planning and management of programme funds and prepare financial plan for S&BC initiatives. Monitor/track the use of resources as planned and verify compliance with organizational guidelines, rules and regulations and standards of ethics and transparency.

Advocacy, networking and partnership building

• Identify, build and maintain partnerships through networking and proactive collaboration with strategic partners, e.g. academia; social networks; celebrities, journalist, media, all sectors/levels of (socially aware) society and critical audience to reinforce cooperation and/or pursue opportunities for S&BC advocacy to promote UNICEF mission and goals for child rights, social equity and inclusiveness.
• Collaborate with internal global/regional communication partners to harmonize, link and/or coordinate messaging and use of multiple media and communication platforms to enhance S&BC outreach including in humanitarian contexts.
• Participate in organizational and/or inter-agency (UNCT; National UN Social & Behavior Change Roundtable) discussions and planning to collaborate with inter-agency partners/colleagues in the UNDAF planning and preparation of S&BC advocacy and resource mobilization initiatives including emergencies.
• Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building
• Implement innovative practices, approaches and latest technology on multiple media and social/digital platforms and networks for S&BC that are appropriate/available for the CO context and audience.
• Institutionalize/share best practices and knowledge learned/products with global/local partners and stakeholders to build capacity of practitioners, and disseminate these products to key audiences including donors and partners.
• Organize/implement capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients/stakeholders/partners (government and non-government) in S&BC planning, implementation and evaluation in support of programmes/projects including in humanitarian settings.

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

• An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: social and behavioral science, sociology, anthropology, psychology, education, communication, public relations or another relevant technical field.
• A minimum of five (5) years of relevant professional experience is required in social development programme planning, Social & Behavior Change, public advocacy or another related area.
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish)