SBC Specialist

The purpose of this assignment is to recruit a Social and Behavior Change Strategist as a consultant to support UNICEF Pakistan’s efforts to eradicate polio. The consultant will work closely with the SBCC country team to further enhance, refine and rollout the existing national SBC strategy for polio eradication. Additionally, the consultant will support the development and rollout of an SBC strategy for the Integrated Services Delivery (ISD) initiative.

The Specialist provides technical and operational support for developing a systematic, planned and evidence-based strategy and process for SBC 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 well being in the country. 

Specific Objectives

These objectives aim to provide clarity, direction, and alignment to the broader vision of integrating SBC strategies into UNICEF Pakistan’s polio program.

1. Enhance and refine the national SBC strategy for polio eradication in Pakistan through formative research, behavioral analysis, and collaboration with technical partners and stakeholders.
2. Develop and finalize an SBC strategy and work plan for the ISD initiative, fostering community trust and increasing vaccination acceptance in underserved areas.
3. Support the rollout of the national SBC strategy for polio eradication and the SBC strategy for ISD across provincial offices.
4. Support to the polio program implementation on roving basis when required

 Key Responsibilities 

1. Generate & Use Evidence:Generate and utilize research, data, and evidence to inform the design, measurement, and monitoring of SBC polio strategy and outcomes in both development and emergency contexts and to build the evidence base for SBC.  
2. Design, plan and implement:Design, plan and implement SBC activities that are backed by social and behavioural evidence and strong engagement and participation mechanisms in both development and humanitarian contexts especially ensuring the roll out and effective implementation at province and community level.
3. Advocate & Build Partnerships:Support operationalization of SBC by advocating for SBC, mobilizing resources, coordinating across stakeholders, sectors and teams, and partnership building.  
4. Build Capacities:Promote continuous learning, strengthening, and scaling up in SBC for both development and humanitarian contexts through capacity building for UNICEF staff and partners. 

Generate and utilize research, data, and evidence to inform the design, measurement, and monitoring of SBC and polio program campaign outcomes in both development and emergency contexts, build the evidence base interventions and identify key insights, trends for SBC interventions.

• In collaboration with sectoral and cross-sectoral specialists, relevant government officers and other UN/NGO partners, design and conduct SBC situation analyses and formative research that identify social and behavioral drivers; 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.  
• Establish community feedback mechanisms and use feedback to inform community engagement and SBC actions for campaign and intra campaign preparedness, response, recovery and resilience. Generate and use SBC evidence, data, and assessments for disaster preparedness, response, recovery and resilience.  
• Develop terms of reference, research tools, frameworks, and protocols for generating evidence to inform SBC initiatives and apply tools, methodologies and frameworks for data collection, tracking, monitoring and reporting and disseminating SBC results. 
• Conduct and/or participate in country programme monitoring and evaluation exercises and make recommendations on workplan revisions based on the results. 
• Develop and manage relationships with external partners, vendors and consultants for research and evidence generation and support of SBC. 

Design, plan and implement SBC activities that are backed by social and behavioural evidence and strong engagement and participation mechanisms for the polio program for both pre and intra campaign interventions. 

• In collaboration/consultation with GPEI partners and cross-sectoral specialists, relevant government officers and other UN/NGO partners, develop, implement and monitor evidence-based SBC strategies and activities, in line with global standards and UNICEF priorities and approaches. 
• In collaboration/consultation with sectoral and cross-sectoral colleagues and implementing partners, select appropriate SBC activities and platforms for engagement, ensuring quality and integration of the latest evidence and science-backed approaches. In this process, oversee coordination with SBC stakeholders and partners to align plans and activities. 
• Identify, propose and implement 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 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 the context of humanitarian emergencies. 
• Make viable recommendations on inclusion of community engagement and social and behavioural approaches in sectoral work plans and strategies. Advocate for the inclusion of community engagement and social and behavioral approaches in sectoral workplans based on active participation in sectoral programme planning and reviews and viable recommendations for the integration of SBC.  

Support operationalization of SBC by advocating for SBC, mobilizing resources, coordinating across GPEI, Government stakeholders and partnership building.

• Represent polio program interests in partnerships and manage development of and progress against joint project agreements with relevant partners; represent the and SBC component in national and international level fora and among partners as relevant and necessary. 
• Collaborate with national, regional and/or global partners to link and coordinate SBC approaches. 
• Cultivate resource mobilization opportunities and produce proposals, reports and other materials to support resources mobilization. Contribute to mobilizing human resources for SBC, including staff, consultants and external vendors.  
• Identify, recruit and supervise consultants, vendors and other technical expertise to support delivery of SBC activities. Plan, use and track the use of resources and verify compliance with organizational guidelines and standards. 
• Contribute to financial planning, budget planning and tracking and financial management for SBC.  
• Identify, disseminate, and adopt best practices and innovative approaches and technology in SBC, integrate them in programme approaches and support SBC and sectoral teams in implementing them. 
• Advocate internally and externally for integration of SBC in national systems, in the country programme, and in sectoral plans. 
• Coordinate with stakeholders and partners for the implementation of community engagement and SBC across the polio program based on the risk categorisation. 

Promote continuous learning, strengthening, and scaling up in SBC for both polio and Integrated Service Delivery (ISD) through capacity building for staff and partners.

• Identify, design, and organize SBC training materials and opportunities for staff and partners, including on new approaches such as behavioural analysis, behavioural insights, human-centered design, social listening, and social accountability mechanisms. Develop and/or use and adapt existing SBC learning resources, guidelines and training materials to build SBC capacity among staff, implementing partners and relevant government and non-government counterparts. 
• Develop and institutionalize best practices, facilitate the exchange of experiences, and provide technical assistance for the uptake of new SBC methods and knowledge internally and externally. 
• Plan and implement SBC capacity assessments within the CO.  
• Identify and mobilize resources to support capacity development internally and externally and provide SBC technical support and capacity building to government counterparts.  
• Initiate and manage partnerships with academia and learning institutions for the delivery of SBC capacity development activities.  
• Identify and develop mechanisms to strengthen systems for community engagement in humanitarian contexts.  
• Develop and/or adapt capacity development tools and activities for humanitarian programming with a focus on preparedness, response and recovery. 

Required Qualification

• An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: Economics, Public Policy, Social Sciences, International Relations, Political Science, or another relevant technical field.  

Required Experience

• A minimum of five years of professional experience in one or more of the following areas is required: social development programme planning, social and behavior change, communication for development, public advocacy or another related area.  
• Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.  
• Experience working in emergency polio programme is considered as an asset. 

Language Proficiency 

• Fluency in English and Urdu is required. 
• Knowledge of other local language is an asset.

DISCLAIMER 

• MicroMerger reserves the right to reject any or all applications or change the number of positions at any stage without assigning any reason or as per requirements.
• Any Candidate/Applicant who attempts to or influences the recruitment process or the Selection Panel by any means shall be disqualified immediately.
• MicroMerger will not consider applicants not fulfilling the requirements/criteria mentioned above.
• Incomplete applications will not be entertained.
• MicroMerger reserves the right to cancel the whole hiring process at any stage without mentioning any reason.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be invited for tests and/or interviews via call or Email.
• MicroMerger provides equal opportunity to all qualified Males & Females candidates. Females are encouraged to apply.
• All jobs are of visual nature. Visually impaired applicants cannot be entertained.
• Recruitment will be made on a contract basis, extendable based on arising needs
• By applying to this position, you agree to the use of your CV for MicroMerger's internal Application Tracking System.
• Shortlisted candidates will have to bring their CVs, attested copies of CNIC, certificates, experience certificates and educational qualifications at the time of the interview
• No TA/DA or any expense would be admissible during the whole hiring process including interviews, tests etc.