Goals
Under the general supervision of the Head of the Social and Behavioral Change (CSC) section, in programmatic liaison with the SBC and Immunization specialists in Niamey and, under the direct supervision of the SBC Area Office Officers, the consultants will assist the GPEI (Global Polio Eradication Initiative) in the identification, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of SBC interventions in favor of community engagement for the benefit of vaccination in general and GPEI in particular.
Specifically, this consultation aims to:
• Support health teams in the identification, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of CHC interventions with a view to generating demand for vaccination with a focus on high-risk populations;
• Maintain or increase to at least 90% the level of parents informed before vaccination teams visit during additional polio vaccination activities;
• Assist health teams to maintain the proportion of unvaccinated children to less than 5% during supplementary polio vaccination activities;
• Support initiatives to boost interdisciplinary and multisectoral partnerships to encourage collective change favorable to immunizations;
• Support the implementation of innovative strategies to engage communities to vaccinate their children against Polio and adhere to routine EPIs including vaccination against COVID-19, diphtheria, malaria;
• Support the development, pre-testing and testing of messages intended for the production and broadcast of radio and audio-visual elements promoting immunizations;
• Support the review and development of training modules for communication actors as well as communication supports;
• Strengthen the capacities of SBC actors (health providers, community relays, traditional and customary leaders, religious leaders, media, technical services, NGOs, etc.);
• Document in figures and images all SBC Immunization interventions;
Axis/Activities
The main areas that will be covered are described below:
1. Conceptualization and implementation of SBC vaccination activities;
2. Technical and operational support to achieve results in line with the resources mobilized by the office
3. Advocacy, networking and building partnerships to support and strengthen behavioral and social change
4. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building in particular with the resources mobilized by the office;
5. Communication with sections and the UNICEF regional office to ensure alignment and coherence with organizational priorities.
General activities
1. Develop and implement a community-based surveillance plan, with emphasis on the popularization of community definitions, recognition and notification of suspected AFP cases by the population.
2. Develop initiatives to lead to the progressive appropriation by local communities of vaccination activities in general and their support for the elimination of polio. of vaccination activities in general and the eradication of polio by local communities.
3. Implement innovative strategies to engage communities to vaccinate their children against polio and adhere to routine EPI interventions including vaccination against COVID-19, diphtheria, malaria;
In detail, the consultants will have the following tasks:
Before the response
1. Develop a work plan taking into account support for the response, supplementary polio vaccination activities and community surveillance of AFP;
2. Develop communication needs, map existing capacities and conduct social surveys on polio and other vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks
3. Support youth community engagement initiatives to increase the reach of CBS in underserved communities, so that every child has the chance to be protected against vaccine-preventable diseases.
4. Organize and facilitate training sessions for stakeholders at the regional and local level on the axes of the communication plan, the tools so that they are able to plan and implement interventions in favor of the demand for vaccination services.
5. Contribute to the development and adaptation of vaccination communication tools and materials for various target populations/audiences, based on a careful assessment of community practices and behaviors.
6. Participate in the development of communication plans based on evidence and integrating routine, additional and surveillance activities for vaccine-preventable diseases;
7. Contribute to updating the mapping of resistances and special populations and ensure the transmission of the compilation to the central level;
8. Support regions and health districts in the development and implementation of micro plans with community participation;
9. Contribute to advocacy and awareness raising in favor of the EPI, advocacy with refractory groups
During the response
10. Organize the supervision of the campaign, as a priority in problem regions and health districts, with emphasis on DS with refractory, special and difficult-to-access populations;
11. Encourage the participation of communication stakeholders in coordination committee meetings at all levels; community leaders to mobilize the population in favor of the campaign;
12. Participate in daily meetings to monitor the implementation of the campaign at the regional level and in the health districts;
13. Provide information and transmit daily to the central level the tool for monitoring the implementation of the campaign;
14. Support advocacy and awareness raising for routine vaccination and surveillance of diseases targeted by vaccination.
After the response
15. Support the evaluation of campaign activities at the regional and health district level by collecting available socio-behavioral and communication data (both qualitative and quantitative);
16. Support advocacy and awareness raising for routine vaccination and surveillance of diseases targeted by vaccination;
17. Consolidate the mapping of refusals and special populations and transmit to the central level;
18. Document communication experiences, good practices and lessons learned in the fight against polio;
19. Write monthly reports and a final activity report including quantified data, original experiences of social mobilization and lessons learned, management of resistance, rumors and funds mobilized locally
Methodology
• Participation in the planning, implementation and monitoring of activities within the District Executive Team – ECD
• Participation in meetings with administrative and traditional authorities
• Participation in the mobilization of civil society organizations
• Participation in coordination meetings
• Local contribution to the development and/or revision of communications messages and materials
• Field supervision of social and behavioral change activities in terms of Immunization
• Participation in carrying out a community diagnosis (qualitative +++ and quantitative survey)
• Documentation of activities.
VI. Deliverables and performance indicators:
At the end of the consultancy, the following deliverables and indicators are expected:
| DELIVERABLES |
PERFORMANCE INDICATORS |
TIME LIMIT |
| Deliverable 1: Technical guidance is provided for the design and planning of the CBS component of the polio response and routine immunization |
An integrated communication plan (ICP) based on epidemiological and socio-anthropological data collected during community diagnostic sessions and behavioral analyzes accompanied by a monitoring-evaluation plan for the implementation (for the quality, quantity and results of interventions); |
April – May 2024 |
| An updated map of refractory groups and special populations in its area of intervention |
April 2024 |
| Deliverable 2: Technical support is provided for the implementation of interventions relating to demand generation for vaccination. |
The facilitation of training/briefing sessions for stakeholders on the areas of the communication plan and on SBC data management tools is ensured at the regional, DS and CSI level so that they are able to implement interventions in favor of demand for vaccination services. |
April -December 2024 |
| A report on reducing the number of refractory groups in its area of intervention |
June -July 2024 |
| At least 100 local civil society leaders are engaged in vaccination promotion to support community engagement interventions in targeted regions. |
April -December 2024 |
| At least 7 approaches and innovative cutting-edge technologies are used to disseminate vaccination messages through appropriate multimedia platforms and SBC networks to reach populations |
April -December 2024 |
| Updating and adapting vaccination communication tools and materials for various target populations/audiences |
April -December 2024 |
| Deliverable 3: Technical support is provided for the supervision, monitoring and evaluation of interventions relating to demand generation for immunization and the realization of children’s rights. |
At least 02 health districts are visited per month for the supervision of SBC actors in priority regions |
April -December 2024 |
| An SBC data collection system is put in place to measure behavioral and social changes, and perceptions, strengthen social listening and community feedback mechanisms in order to inform and regularly update the generation strategy demand for vaccination |
| Participation is ensured in campaign monitoring and evaluation meetings at the regional and health district levels. |
| Deliverable 4: Support for documenting best practices, knowledge and lessons learned with partners and stakeholders |
Best practices, knowledge and lessons learned with partners and stakeholders are documented and disseminated (At least two human interest stories, a daily coverage of the campaign are broadcast on traditional and social media) |
April -December 2024
November-December 2024 |
| Interim reports on the progress of supported activities (every two weeks); The monthly report produced and shared with the SBC coordination
A final report of activities with a detailed analysis of strengths, challenges and opportunities as well as a rigorous and quantified analysis of the evolution of monitoring-evaluation indicators in the field of communication and social mobilization; |
|
|
total
|
09 months |
VII. Technical (1) and financial (2) evaluation criteria:
1) Specific professional experience; Specific skills ; Specific expertise; Specific knowledge; Other, if applicable; Interview. The technical offer will be graded out of 70 with a passing threshold of 50.
The lowest financial proposal obtains the maximum financial score. Other offers that have passed the required technical threshold will receive scores inversely proportional to the lowest offer.
Offer file
At the time of application, the consultant must submit a technical offer including the following documents:
• A certified sincere CV + the P11 duly completed
• A copy of the diplomas mentioned in the CV
• A cover letter
• A technical and financial offer
Specifically:
• The technical proposal should not exceed 5 pages describing the understanding of the mission, the work methodology and a detailed work plan;
• The financial proposal must include daily fees and any other expenses required to complete the mission. Local travel costs are covered by UNICEF.
For each child, you will need to have
Education :
• Have at least a university degree (Bachelor’s degree) in Social Communication, social sciences, public health or a related field
Experience :
• Have at least two years of professional experience in planning and implementing communication activities for social and behavioral change;
• Proven skills in digital communication, negotiation, networking and advocacy are necessary;
• Knowledge of monitoring and evaluation mechanisms and data management, particularly communication programs;
• Demonstrate good knowledge of the health system in Niger and community structures; experience in the fight against polio would be a major asset;
• Able to work in a multicultural environment;
• Ability to work independently and in a team;
• Mastery of processing software under Windows (Word, Excel, PowerPoint or Publisher);
Languages required:
Good command of French and have a very good knowledge of at least 2 local languages (Haussa, Djerma, Fulfulde, Kanuri or Tamashek) of the region of intervention.
For each child, you demonstrate…
UNICEF values: Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Responsibility and Sustainability
UNICEF is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion among its staff and encourages all applicants, regardless of gender, nationality, religion and ethnicity, including people living with disabilities, to apply to be part of the organization.
UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy for behavior inconsistent with the goals and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. . UNICEF also adheres to strict child protection principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore be subject to rigorous verification of their references and background, academic qualifications and professional history. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and progressed to the next stage of the selection process.
Remarks :
Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” within the meaning of the United Nations Staff Regulations and Rules and UNICEF policies and procedures. , and will not be entitled to the benefits provided therein (such as leave rights and medical insurance coverage). Their terms of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Service Contracts for Consultants and Individual Contractors. Individual consultants and contractors are responsible for determining their tax obligations and paying any taxes and/or charges, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.
The selected candidate is solely responsible for the health insurance necessary to carry out the tasks provided for in the contract, for the entire duration of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of full vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a vaccine approved by the World Health Organization (WHO), which must be satisfied prior to entry into function. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work or visit UNICEF premises, program implementation locations or interact directly with the communities UNICEF works with, nor travel to perform functions for UNICEF during the duration of their consultant contract.