Social and Behaviour Change Consultant for Europe and Central Asia Regional Office. Home based.[...]

Social and Behaviour Change Consultant for Europe and Central Asia Regional Office

Home based. 80 working days within 7 months (March-September)

Job no: 580355
Contract type: Consultant
Duty Station: Geneva
Level: Consultancy
Location: Switzerland
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.

The overall objective of this consultancy is to provide SBC-related support to the Health section at UNICEF ECARO, particularly the nutrition and immunization teams, to identify psychological, social, and environmental factors influencing breastfeeding and vaccine promotion behaviours among health workers in maternity wards and breastfeeding counsellors.

Childhood vaccination remains a challenge across Europe and Central Asia (ECA), with over 200,000 children still not fully vaccinated, and measles coverage being particularly below the target of 95%. At the same time, breastfeeding rates in the region are the lowest globally.

Anecdotal evidence suggests that health workers at maternity wards and breastfeeding counsellors are sceptical to discuss about vaccination and often are not involved in vaccine promotion. There is also significant evidence of how infant formula companies influence health providers in maternity wards to promote commercial formula feeding over breastfeeding.

How can you make a difference?

Inception Phase

To better understand the drivers of breastfeeding and vaccine promotion behaviours among health providers in maternity wards and breastfeeding counsellors in the ECA region, UNICEF seeks the services of a consultant to conduct an assessment in three priority countries, consisting of the following phases:

• Carry out consultations with representatives from 3 COs and desk review (e.g., documented evidence, BI research reports, communication/demand promotion plans, etc.) to gain insights on barriers and enablers to breastfeeding and vaccine promotion behaviour.
• Prepare an inception report with desk review and consultation findings, including knowledge gaps that should be further investigated, methods and approaches to carry out the assessment phase.

Assessment Phase

• Based on the findings from the inception phase, develop a research protocol, questionnaires, interview/FGD guides.
• Support the development of the sampling strategy for each country, considering the need for representativeness and compliance with the research objectives.
• Provide capacity building sessions and guidance to in-country NGOs/contractors carrying out the data collection and analysis.
• Provide guidance to the piloting and finalization of the research tools prior to their implementation.
• Support in-country partners/contractors to develop brief country reports with the findings from the assessment.

Final report write-up phase and presentation of findings and recommendations

• Develop a final report with a summary of the identified barriers and enablers and recommendations for increasing breastfeeding and vaccine promotion in each of the relevant countries.
• Develop and deliver a PowerPoint presentation with the findings and recommendations.
• Support the organization and delivery of a regional webinar presenting the main findings and recommendations.

Throughout the assignment, the consultant will have weekly meetings with UNICEF ECARO to provide updates on the work in progress.

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

Required Knowledge/Expertise/Skills

• Masters Degree in Social and behavioural science, sociology, anthropology, psychology, education, communication or another relevant technical field.
• A minimum of 7 years working experience in designing tools for mixed-methods data collection, preferably for identifying barriers to vaccine uptake and/or breastfeeding.
• Proven experience in writing reports with research findings and actionable recommendations.
• Strong written and spoken English ability.

Desirable Knowledge/Expertise/Skills

• Proven familiarity and experience working with the UN (ideally with UNICEF).
• Fluency in Russian.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce and encourages all candidates to apply. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

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