Organization: UNICEF – United Nations Children’s Fund
Location: Chisinau
Grade: Junior level – NO-B, National Professional Officer – Locally recruited position
Occupational Groups:
Education, Learning and Training
Sexual and reproductive health
Closing Date: 2024-11-17
UNICEF Moldova is hiring a SBC (VaGBaW) Officer, NO-B to be responsible for the design, management, monitoring and evaluation of evidence-based, inclusive and innovative SBC strategies in support of the child protection section with a focus on VAGBaW prevention and response programme.
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.
At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.
UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.
Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.
For every child, protection
The new UNICEF Child Protection Strategy, Strategic Plan, and Gender Action Plan highlight a fundamental change in UNICEF’s approach to violence. It clearly includes a paradigm shift towards coordinated and gender-transformative approaches to prevent violence against girls, boys, and women. This shift is characterized by a move away from fragmented Violence Against Children and Violence Against Women (VAGBaW) programming towards a prevention-based and intersectional violence against girls, boys, and women approach. Prevention of violence means tackling its social and behavioural determinants which means that social and behavioural change (SBC) is a key programming strategy in the Child Protection Strategy. UNICEF Moldova has been at the forefront of this paradigm shift and is an accelerator country for the implementation of the related programme.
How can you make a difference?
Under the general guidance of the Child Protection Specialist P-4, Head of Section, and in close coordination with Sectoral and Cross-Sectoral Specialists and Officers, the SBC (VaGBaW) Officer contributes to/responsible for the design, management, monitoring and evaluation of evidence-based, inclusive and innovative SBC strategies in support of the child protection section with a focus on VAGBaW prevention and response programme.
Summary of key functions/accountabilities:
Generate and utilize research, data, and evidence to inform the design, measurement, and monitoring of SBC activities and outcomes in child protection programs focused on prevention and response of violence against boys, girls and women.
Design, plan and implement SBC activities that are linked to the VAGBaW programs in both development and humanitarian context backed by strong engagement and participation of boys, girls and women
Support the operationalization of the strategic shift on the prevention of VAGBaW, and in establishing a portfolio of gender transformative prevention interventions that demonstrate programme excellence in terms of design, measurement and scalabilityPromote continuous learning andcapacity building for UNICEF staff and partners.
Promote continuous learning, strengthening and scaling up in SBC for both development and humanitarian contexts through capacity building for UNICEF staff, partners and implementers.
1. Generate and utilize research, data, and evidence to inform the design, measurement, and monitoring of SBC activities and outcomes in child protection programs focused on prevention and response of violence against boys, girls and women.
In collaboration with sectoral and cross-sectoral specialists, relevant government officers and other UN/NGO partners, design, implement, and/or participate in SBC situation analyses and formative research that identify social and behavioral drivers in the context of prevention of violence against boys, girls and women.
Initiate, commission, manage and/or utilize qualitative and quantitative research on social and behavioral drivers that include behavioural analysis, human centred design, social listening, behavioural insights, participatory research and/or RCT.
Support data collection, tracking, monitoring and reporting SBC results and prepare syntheses of results.
Contribute to terms of reference, research tools, frameworks and protocols for generating evidence to inform SBC initiatives and protection programs preventing violence against children and women and disseminate SBC results.
Conduct and/or participate in country programme monitoring and evaluation exercises and make recommendations on workplan revisions based on the results.
2. Design, plan and implement SBC activities that are linked to the VAGBaW programs in both development and humanitarian context backed by strong engagement and participation of boys, girls and women.
In collaboration/consultation with UNICEF Child Protection and Cross-sectoral Specialists, relevant government officers and other UN/NGO partners, provide technical and administrative support for the development, implementation and monitoring of evidence-based SBC strategies and activities addressing violence against boys, girls and women
Identify/propose actional evidence-based programme/strategy recommendations from current data, evidence and trends for priority social and behavioral issues and ensure the integration of latest innovative approaches and technology in SBC in child protection programme approaches and advocate for their adoption among internal and external stakeholders.
Apply the above skills of designing, planning, implementing and monitoring of community engagement and SBC interventions in both humanitarian and development contexts.
3. Support the operationalization of the strategic shift on the prevention of VAGBaW, and in establishing a portfolio of gender transformative prevention interventions that demonstrate programme excellence in terms of design, measurement and scalability
Collaborate with national, regional and/or global partners to link and coordinate SBC approaches in the field of prevention and response of violence against boys, girls and women and contribute to global and regional working groups deliverables on VaGBaW
Collaborate with technical leads on planning, development and measurement of core interventions that prevent and respond to VAGBaW.
Cultivate resource mobilization opportunities and contribute to proposals, reports and other materials to support resources mobilization.
Advocate for the inclusion of community engagement and social and behavioral approaches in child protection and GBV workplan based on active participation in sectoral programme planning and reviews and viable recommendations for the integration of SBC. Advocate internally and externally for integration of SBC in national systems, in the country programme, and in sectoral plans.
4. Promote continuous learning, strengthening and scaling up in SBC for both development and humanitarian contexts through capacity building for UNICEF staff, partners and implementers.
Identify, design, and/or organize SBC training materials and opportunities for child protection staff and partners, including on new approaches such as behavioural analysis, behavioural insights and human-centered design.
Use and adapt existing UNICEF learning resources, guidelines and training materials to build SBC capacity among staff, frontline workers (as social workers, health staffs, teachers) implementing partners and relevant government and non-government counterparts.
Contribute to the development and institutionalization of best practices, facilitate the exchange of experiences and provide technical assistance for the uptake of new SBC methods addressing violence against boys, girls and women and knowledge internally and externally.
Identify and mobilize resources to support capacity development internally and externally and provide SBC technical support and capacity building to government counterparts.
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have
Minimum requirements:
Education: A university degree (Bachelor’s or higher) in a social and behavioral science, including sociology, anthropology, communication studies/communication for development, psychology and/or related field is required.
Work Experience: A minimum of two years of professional experience in one or more of the following areas is required: social development programme planning, communication for development or social and behaviour change, public advocacy or another related area.
Language Requirements: Fluency in Romanian and working knowledge of English is required.
Desirables:
Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency.
Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered an asset.
Knowledge Russian or of another official UN 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
Builds and maintains partnerships (1)
Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (1)
Drive to achieve results for impact (1)
Innovates and embraces change (1)
Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)
Thinks and acts strategically (1)
Works collaboratively with others (1)
Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.
This position has been assessed as an elevated risk role for Child Safeguarding purposes as it is either a role with direct contact with children, a role that works directly with identifiable children’s data, a safeguarding response role, or an assessed risk role. Additional vetting and assessment for elevated risk roles in child safeguarding (potentially including additional criminal background checks) apply.
UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.
According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF.
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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.
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 candidates from targeted underrepresented groups 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.