National SBC Consultant–EPI and Health; Dhaka; Bangladesh

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. 

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone. 

And we never give up. 

Background:

UNICEF is emphasizing alignment with the new SDG framework, “zero dose” children those who have the least access to broader health and social services beyond immunization. The communities where zero-dose children are clustered, face multiple deprivations and are disproportionally impacted by vaccine-preventable diseases. UNICEF will work with MOHFW to extend immunization services to regularly reach “zero doses” and under-immunized children and communities and to sustain high and equitable immunization coverage nationally and in all districts.

In recent times, the gains that Bangladesh has made in EPI coverage went into a reverse trend due to the lockdown induced by COVID-19. Though immunization services and coverage picked up after the initial drop by April and May 2021 to above 90% there are a large number of missed children for all antigens. The fear of parents/caregivers of themselves of their children getting exposed to infection because of prevailing challenges in the vaccination sites such as maintaining physical distancing and sub-optimal Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) procedure in the face of COVID-19 pandemic risk factors believed to be contributing to high drop out rates.

Under these circumstances, with the support from GAVI, UNICEF, and Government of Bangladesh, overall SBC interventions for routine and special immunization Activities (SIAs) needs to be revitalized towards reaching “zero doses” and under-immunized children with active community engagement and behaviour change communication to sustain high and equitable immunization coverage nationally and in all districts. In 2023, the Government of Bangladesh introduced a new vaccine to protect against Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) in Bangladesh. In the first phase, the HPV vaccine has been given to 10-14 years old girls in 13 districts under Dhaka Division while the rest of the Divisions will be covered in 2024. In addition to this – The government has a plan to introduce an Oral Cholera Vaccine (OCV) in 2024 for all age groups.

Job organizational context: This is a consultant position. The incumbent will work under the direct supervision of a Social and Behavior Change (SBC) Specialist assigned to the Health Programme and guidance of the Chief of the SBC Section. S/he will work in close collaboration with SBC and Health section, EPI specialist, SBC Specialist, and MNCAH sub-unit as required.

The purpose for the job: The consultant will support EPI HQ Dhaka under the MNC&AH program, Ministry of Health and Welfare to steer the strategic process for advocacy, program implementation, capacity building, and knowledge management as defined in the SBC Strategy.

The position will provide technical support to ensuing routine EPI and new or introducing special vaccines including the COVID-19 vaccination campaign to foster a common umbrella approach being planned by various development partners in Bangladesh and simultaneously encourage innovations. S/he will also propose a roadmap for a multi-sectoral response to Social and behavioral change challenges through the convergence of ongoing interventions and promoting a highly focused enter-educate campaign approach while pulling together select actionable innovations.

How can you make a difference? 

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

• The consultant will support EPI HQ Dhaka under the MNC&AH program, Ministry of Health and Welfare to steer the strategic process for advocacy, program implementation, capacity building, and knowledge management as defined in the SBCC Strategy.

  The key purposes of this assignment are the following:

  1. To provide technical support to ensuing routine EPI, promote new vaccine vaccines i.e. HPV, OCV and other special vaccines including COVID 19 vaccination campaign, due to recently increasing C-19 NI.1 and to foster a common umbrella approach being planned by various development partners in Bangladesh and simultaneously encourage innovations.
  2. To engage partners for promoting new vaccines to be introduced in 2024 countrywide and routine vaccination as well in 16 low performing districts including 8 CCs.
  3. To provide technical support and guidance in capacity building of field level health staff on IPC, SBC and Community Engagement through training and other means.
  4. To provide technical support to integrate SBC and community engagement in other programs of the Health Section i.e. Lead Poisoning Prevention, Reaching Every Mother & Newborn (REMN), HPV +, and Pediatric NCD.

Please see the TOR for more details:

 Short_TOR.pdf

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Social or Behavioural Science/ Public Health/ Communication
• A minimum of [5 years] of relevant professional experience in the field of social development program planning, and social and behavior change programs.
  • Technical knowledge and experience of working experience with religious leaders in social development will be an added advantage.  
  • A track record of working with the UN, Government organizations, religious ministries, and in urban will be an added advantage.
  • Experience and skills in capacity building, facilitation, and negotiation
  • Language Requirements:

• Fluency in written and verbal English

  Other requirements:

  • High level of Integrity and commitment to responsibilities.
  • Conceptual ability, negotiating, communication, and advocacy skills.
  • Familiarity with UNICEF systems is an asset

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS). 

  To view our competency framework, please visit  here. 

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions, or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterward in your assignment. 

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 be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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. 

Remarks:  

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. 

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, by local or other applicable laws. 

The selected candidate is solely responsible for ensuring that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met before taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, program delivery locations, or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.