Back International consultant to support on Multisectoral Communication for Development (C4D) Swaziland, Mbabane, Eswatini

International consultant to support Eswatini on Multisectoral Communication for Development (C4D)

Job no: 538784

Position type: Consultancy

Location: Swaziland Division/Equivalent: Nairobi Regn'l(ESARO)

School/Unit: Eswatini

Department/Office: Mbabane, Eswatini

Categories: Communication / External Relations, Consultancy

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, fair chance

How can you make a difference?

Background and justification

The Kingdom of Eswatini is a landlocked country in Southern Africa with a population of 1.133 million. The under-five population is estimated at 150,643 (13.3%) of the total population. The country has four administrative regions; Hhohho, Manzini, Lubombo and Shiselweni. While Eswatini is classified as a middle-income country, 63 per cent of the population live below the national poverty line. Approximately 70% of the population live in rural areas, with most of them dependent on small scale agriculture.

Eswatini suffers chronic food insecurity, slow growing economy and high unemployment rate. The country also has experienced in the past and current years several emergencies including drought, flooding and COVID-19 pandemic which have result in a number of negative health effects on children, including an increase in severe and acute malnutrition (SAM) and stunting; decreased access to clean and safe water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and a heightened vulnerability to violence.

Eswatini has made great strides in its fight against HIV, and witnessed reductions in incidence and HIV mortality. Yet adolescents and young people age 15-24 account for about 45% of all new HIV infections in Eswatini. The government has identified this age group as a new centre of the epidemic. Among young people, adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) bear the disproportionate risk, and therefore require targeted, tailored and integrated HIV and sexual and reproductive health (SRH) messages and services.

In October 2020, following a proposal by UNICEF Eswatini to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), funding was approved to support a package of multi-sector interventions to respond to the impact of climate shocks on women and children in Eswatini. UNICEF has engaged RISE, a local NGO, to work on three (3) specific outcome areas:

• Increased coverage and quality of nutrition services for the treatment of severe acute malnutrition;
• Increased safe access to water for drinking, hygiene, domestic and livelihood purposes;
• Increased coverage and access to quality GBV and violence against children (VAC) prevention and response services.

In the context of this initiative, a C4D plan needs to be designed and implemented in order to promoted demand for the Nutrition, WASH and Child Protection services offered through the project and to promote behavior change at community level to promote infant and young child feeding practices, hygiene and sanitation and promote pro-social norms to prevent violence.

In addition, UNICEF is the co-lead with MOH on Risk Communication and Community Engagement activities to support the roll out of C19 vaccines focusing on:

• Design a demand plan (includes advocacy, communications, social mobilization, risk and safety comms, community engagement and training) to generate confidence, acceptance and demand for C19 vaccines. Must include a crisis communications preparedness planning
• Establish data collection system, including 1) social media listening and rumor management, and 2) assessing behavioral and social data;
• Develop key messages and materials for public communication and advocacy, in alignment with demand plan.

UNICEF Eswatini is seeking assistance in the form of an individual consultant to support the design and implementation of the above mentioned C4D interventions.

Objective

The overall objective of this consultancy is to provide technical assistance to Eswatini UNICEF Country Office in planning, implementing and monitoring C4D priority interventions covering multisector thematic areas, including WASH, nutrition protection, demand for COVID vaccines.

Scope of work

Under the supervision of the Communication Specialist and in coordination with the MCAH chief and the LLLPD chief, and in consultation with UNICEF program staff, relevant Government ministries and project implementing partners, the consultant will provide technical and operational support to the program team by designing, implementing, monitoring and/or evaluating a variety of C4D initiatives and activities to promote community engagement and participation, and measurable behavioural and social change/mobilization, requiring the application of technical and theoretical skills and thorough knowledge of organizational goals, rules, regulations, policies and procedures to complete tasks.

The key tasks to be undertaken in carrying out and completing the assignment will include the following:

• Support the design and development of C4D multi-sector framework (FCDO)
• Support the implementation of C4D activities (FCDO and COVID19)
• Support the monitoring of C4D activities and changes
• Support the documentation of best practices and capacity building of partners on C4D.

Expected deliverables and reporting requirements

Tasks/ milestones

Deliverables/ outputs

Timeline

- Design the framework and the plan (including M&E component) for each initiative

Report on multi-sector C4D framework and plan of action (including M&E component)

1st month

- Provide technical, administrative and logistical support to carry out the multi-sector C4D activities ensuring community engagement and participation (FCDO)

Support implementation and capacity building: second and third months

Monthly reports on the implementation of multi-sector C4D activities

2nd - 4rd months

- Build capacity of implementing partners on national/UNICEF/global/regional C4D strategies and guidelines to harmonize, link and/or coordinate messaging to enhance C4D outreach and contribution to programmatic outcomes (FCDO)

Monthly reports on the capacity building, including conduct at least 3 coordination meetings with at least 3 IPs each.

2nd- 5th months

- support the C19 RCCE TWG to implement and monitor the demand plan (social mobilization, risk and safety comms, community engagement and training components to generate confidence, acceptance and demand for C19 vaccines, crisis communication preparedness planning component)

Demand plan revised and endorsed

1st - 6th months

- Monitor development and implementation of C4D activities on MCH and HIV to ensure those are on track.

Monthly reports on monitoring of C4D activities

2nd - 5th months

- support assessment of behavioural and social data

(pre- and post- intervention)

Report on assessment pre- and post- behavioural and social intervention

1st and 6th months

- Support documentation of best practices and provide recommendation on the consultancy

Final report

6th month

Payment Schedule

Monthly payment upon reception of monthly reports (6 months).

Administrative issues

• The consultant will use own equipment including computer and reliable internet access to produce deliverables. Remote support will be required. The Consultant should include costs of communication within the consultancy proposal.
• Consultants are not entitled to payment of overtime. All remuneration must be within the contract agreement.
• No contract may commence unless the contract is signed by both UNICEF and the consultant or Contractor.
• Consultant will be required to complete online courses related to Ethics, Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and Security related trainings prior to taking up the assignment and/or travel.
• Consultant will be required to sign the Health Statement for consultants/individual contractor prior to taking up the assignment, and to share an appropriate proof of health insurance covering COVID-19.

Conditions

As per UNICEF DFAM policy, payment is made against approved deliverables. No advance payment is allowed unless in exceptional circumstances against bank guarantee, "subject to a maximum of 30% of the total contract value in cases where advance purchases, for example for supplies or travel, maybe necessary. The selected candidate will be governed by and subject to UNICEF's General Terms and Conditions for individual contracts.

Application procedures

The Terms of Reference will be sent to selected consultant from a pool of experts.

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

• • Advanced university degree from a recognized academic institution in one or more of the following areas is preferred: Mass Communication, Public health, Behavior Change Communication, Health Promotion; Social Studies, social and behavioral science, sociology, anthropology, psychology, education, communication, public relations or any other related discipline.
  • First university degree combined with relevant professional work experience (at least five years) and understanding of relevant functions may be considered in lieu of advanced university degree.

  WORK EXPERIENCE AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

  • Minimum five years progressively responsible professional work experience at national and/or international levels in social development programme planning, communication for development, public advocacy or another related area.
  • Experience in designing and implementing C4D interventions for WASH, Protection, Health, HIV and Nutrition is an advantage.
  • Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.
  • Strong writing skills.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to interact with multidisciplinary teams.
  • Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or local language of the duty station is considered as an asset.

How to Apply

Qualified candidates are requested to complete an application including profile to the respective advertisement online. Please indicate your ability, availability and financial proposal/quote to complete the terms of reference above.

Rates to be submitted in USD and must include all expenses related to the assignment (e.g. consultancy fee, in country travel/field trips).

Applications submitted without a fee/rate will not be considered.

If you have not been contacted within 2 months of the closing date please accept that your application was unsuccessful. Regret emails will be sent only to shortlisted/contacted candidates.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are...

[insert competencies]

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF's values and competencies.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

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:

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.

Advertised: Mar 11 2021 South Africa Standard Time Application close: Mar 19 2021 South Africa Standard Time

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