Country: Senegal
Closing date: 08 Sep 2019
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For every child, a future
Background
C4D plays a crucial role in improving child immunization through promotion of routine immunization, support to vaccination campaigns and any other outbreak response measures, by fostering understanding of childhood diseases, creating demand for services and acceptance of the vaccines and other public health measures. In recognition of this important role, UNICEF assists several countries to have effective C4D to support disease outbreak response planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, and national immunization programs.
Despite the encouraging progress made in West and Central Africa towards polio eradication, with no wild poliovirus reported since August 2016, the region continues to be affected with a circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) with a 1 confirmed case in 2016, 22 in 2017, 64 in 2018 and already 35 in 2019. The outbreak that was initially concentrated in two countries (Nigeria and DRC) has now spread to 6 countries in the West and Central African Region (Niger, Cameroon, Chad, Central Africa republic, Benin and Ghana). Other countries in the region have been considered at risk of re-emergence or importation of the polioviruses due to the existence of pockets of unimmunized/under-immunized children. The region also notified some others vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles in twelve countries; as well as Yellow Fever in three countries in 2018, and an ongoing Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) epidemic in DRC. Many of these outbreaks are affecting the high-risk groups i.e. nomadic, minority populations, peri-urban populations and populations living in slum areas, displaced and migrant populations, etc, as well as populations in insecure areas.
One of the underlying causes is often the lack of evidence-based communication interventions to address the demand-side barriers in high-risk populations.
As a key partner of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), UNICEF has the mandate of providing technical assistance to the countries to ensure a fast and effective C4D response whenever a disease outbreak is confirmed. The organization relies on highly trained and experienced personnel of staff and consultants to meet this obligation.
How can you make a difference?
Objectives
Under the supervision of the regional C4D Polio Specialist, and in close coordination with the Polio Team leader and Immunization section, the C4D consultant will be responsible for providing the technical guidance, supporting the development and implementation of targeted and data driven Communication strategies, to strengthen the COs capacity for timely and effective planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of Polio SIA and any Vaccine-Preventable Disease (VPD) outbreak response, and the preparedness and response to any Public Health Emergency situation, with focus on diseases outbreaks.
The C4D consultant will collaborate closely with national counterparts in the Ministry of Health, as well as the partners of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), including WHO, CDC, Gates Foundation, and any potential partners to coordinate communication and social mobilization efforts during outbreaks response.
Scope of work
As part of the regional C4D team, the consultant will be deployed in support of UNICEF COs in the region. Based on the local context of each country, the incumbent will be required to deliver the following results. These results would be adjusted on a case-by-case basis to fit the country needs.
The consultant may be required to work on other C4D-related topics
Deliverables and Schedules
Deliverable
deadline
Detailed work plan;
C4D assessment of high-risk populations and strategic & social data gaps that needs to be addressed, including capacity mapping in outbreak countries. Suggest specific strategies, areas and activities to be prepositioned should a polio outbreak happens
October31st, 2019
Updated communication for immunization / polio eradication strategies and plans in 7 outbreak countries (Niger, Cameroon, Chad, CAR, Ghana and Benin)
November30th,2019
Tailored health communication tools and materials for various target populations/audiences, based on careful assessment of community knowledge, practices and behaviours.
December31st, 2019
Documented lessons learned and best practices in child immunization interventions and polio campaigns
Final consultancy report
January30th, 2020
Timing
The C4D consultant will be contracted for a period of 4 months, starting October 1st.
Reporting Requirements
The C4D consultant will be report on bi-weekly basis on the progress of supported activities to his supervisor - the WCARO C4D Polio Specialist, and the Polio Team Lead. Bi-weekly activities progress reports will be submitted electronically.
While on support mission to COs, the C4D consultant will also be required to submit an electronic report to CO Health manager and Chief C4D or other supervisor of the mission, of all special activities including:
- Trainings
- Investigations
- Country level coordination meetings
- Special advocacy meetings
Administrative Issues
This assignment is office based in UNICEF Regional office in Dakar, Senegal, with multiple trips to countries in the region.
The consultant will be expected to adhere to the agreed timelines and should be able and willing to extensively travel for the purposes of this assignment. Consultant is expected to use his own equipment.
The Consultant will work under the terms and conditions as provided by UNICEF’s regulations governing consultants. All materials and information collected will be the property of UNICEF and will not be used by the consultants for any other purposes without the express authority of UNICEF. Health insurance is mandatory, at the expenses of the consultant.
As per UNICEF policy, payment is made against approved deliverables. No advance payment will be allowed unless in exceptional circumstances against bank guarantee, subject to a maximum of 30 per cent of the total contract value in cases where advance purchases, for example for supplies or travel, may be necessary.
Application requirements: one Technical Proposal and one Financial Proposal.
The Technical Proposal will include:
The Financial Proposal will include (expressed in US dollars):
Technical Evaluation Criteria:
Category
Total Points
1 Experience
Range and depth of experience with similar work
30
2 Proposed work methodology
20
Total Technical Scoring
50
Applicants are strongly recommended to attach their technical and financial offers when applying.
Applicants without their technical and financial offers will not be considered.
Financial Evaluation Criteria:
The total amount of points allocated for the price component is 20. The maximum number of points will be allotted to the lowest price proposal that is opened and compared among those candidates which obtain the threshold points in the evaluation of the technical component. All other price proposals will receive points in inverse proportion to the lowest price.
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
For every Child, a new idea
UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.
The technical competencies required for this post are….
View our competency framework at
http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf
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, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.”
Remarks:
Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
How to apply:
UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organization. To apply, click on the following link http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/?job=526046