Senior consultant to coordinate National Polio (nOPV2) and Social Mobilization, Kigali- Rwanda, 6 months ( Based in RBC) – For Rwandan Nationals Only at UNICEF – United Nations Children’s Fund: (Deadline 26 May 2023)

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Background

On 25th August 2020, the Africa Regional Certification Commission for Polio Eradication (ARCC) certified the WHO African Region as Wild Polio Virus (WPV) free, including Rwanda, despite having sustained a polio-free status from 2005 until a reported case in 2019. The Government of the Republic of Rwanda, through the Ministry of Health, aims to attain universal health coverage where all Rwandans have access to essential health services, including vaccines for children, without suffering financial hardship. Although the African region is WPV-free, the threat of Polio remains high due to the circulating Vaccine-Derived Poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) and its importation into Rwanda through the porous border with Burundi, Uganda and DR Congo. Therefore, it is crucial to continue implementing strategies to maintain the polio-free status in line with the Polio End Game strategy, considering the threat of the importation of cVDPV2, which still remains rife. Social and behaviour change communication (SBCC) is a critical component of the polio outbreak response, which aims to inform caregivers and communities about polio risks and vaccination campaigns to ensure their support and acceptance of the vaccination for every eligible child. To achieve this, social and behaviour change employs a strategic mix of communication methods, tactics, channels, and approaches, including the engagement of parents/caregivers, health workers, community volunteers, traditional and social media, community and religious leaders, non-governmental partners, and other stakeholders.

Purpose of Activity

Social and Behavior Change (SBC) is a critical component in enhancing child immunization rates, by promoting knowledge and understanding of childhood diseases, generating demand for services, and encouraging acceptance of vaccines. Recognizing the significance of this role, UNICEF Rwanda collaborates with the Ministry of Health to implement effective SBC initiatives that support national immunization programmes and disease outbreak campaigns.

The recent Polio outbreak in Sudan, Burundi, South Sudan, Ethiopia, and Somalia is a cause for concern as it was caused by circulating Vaccine-Derived Polio Virus (cVDPV), which puts neighboring countries such as Rwanda at risk of experiencing a resurgence or importation of the polioviruses, particularly due to the presence of unimmunized or under-immunized pockets of children. Additionally, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) has introduced a novel OPV2, an improved vaccine that can more effectively interrupt cVDPV2. The introduction of this vaccine requires specific capacities, including Advocacy Communication and Social Mobilization (ACSM), which are not currently available in Rwanda. Moreover, capacity for polio-specific communication must be revitalized since polio campaigns have not been conducted in Rwanda for some time.

The introduction of the novel vaccine, nOPV2, demands technical capacity that is currently not available in Rwanda, given that this is a new vaccine. As a vital partner of the GPEI, UNICEF is responsible for providing assistance to ensure evidence-based, fast-track, and effective SBC responses whenever a polio outbreak is confirmed, as well as supporting routine immunization. The organization relies on highly trained and experienced staff and consultants to fulfil this obligation. The introduction of nOPV2 vaccine and preparedness for Polio Outbreak Response in Rwanda requires a dedicated Social & Behaviour Change (SBC) Specialist at Senior level to provide technical support, strategic direction, and coordinate SBC national officers/consultants.

This specialist will bridge the gap between the national and decentralized teams, prioritize communication and engagement, and empower stakeholders and communities for sustainable and concrete results. With potential risks associated with the Polio outbreak in neighboring countries, hiring a skilled and experienced SBC consultant is essential for achieving polio eradication in Rwanda and safeguarding the health of Rwandan communities, especially children.

Key Tasks:

The crucial task of Polio Outbreak Preparedness and Response and the introduction of nOPV2 vaccine demand the highest level of technical support from a qualified Social & Behaviour Change (SBC) consultant. This consultant will play a critical role in providing technical expertise, strategic guidance, and hands-on coordination to ensure the successful implementation of SBC strategies for achieving sustainable and concrete results in Rwanda’s polio eradication efforts.

In close co-ordination with the UNICEF C4D unit, External Communication and the EPI Specialist and MoH HPE & SC department & UNEPI division, the consultant will undertake the following tasks:

• Lead the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of an evidence-based SBC strategy.
• Facilitate community engagement, social mobilization and specific behaviour change interventions.
• Undertake communication assessments and rapid social-behavioural research and evidence building, especially in high risk and hard-to-reach communities.
• Develop / adapt and tailor health messages and information products for various target populations/audiences, based on community knowledge, practices, and behaviours.
• Facilitate the designing and implementation of specific plans of actions for immunization and/ or Polio eradication to reach special groups.
• Organize Training of health workers, especially in inter-personal communication (IPC) for social and behavioural change in underserved and hard-to-reach communities who are at high risk of vaccine preventable diseases.
• Work with external communication colleagues and digital/ social media experts to support mapping of rumours and misinformation for their effective management.
• Lead the coordination and supervision of the SBC activities at both central and decentralized levels including data management and strategic direction at various immunization and technical forums such as RCCE, SIA subcommittee meetings to demonstrate the impact of nOPV2-SBC interventions in various districts.
• Conduct media landscape analyses and facilitate engagement of media in immunization and Polio activities.
• Support advocacy activities to engage political, religious, and community leaders and other stakeholders.
• Work closely with MOH PRO team and ACSM/RCSM sub-committee members on the developing and implementing a social media plan including addressing misinformation, disinformation, and vaccine hesitancy

Work Assignment Overview

Tasks/Milestone:

1. Coordinate the development/update communication for immunization/Polio eradication strategies and plans; and facilitate their implementation and monitoring; and support the SBC team to refine their SBC focus and interventions accordingly
2. Conduct SBC assessment of high-risk populations and strategic & social data gaps that need to be addressed, including capacity mapping. Suggest specific strategies, areas, and activities to be prepositioned should a Polio outbreak occur.
3. Conduct media landscape analyses and facilitate engagement of media in immunization and Polio activities
4. Monitoring tools for SBC activities developed, approved, and implemented.
5. Support MoH-RBC to develop national and district specific community engagement plans
6. Plan and implement media engagement activities on child immunization, and coverage of Polio campaign activities
7. Support production of communication materials to support immunization and/or Polio campaigns; facilitate dissemination of the produced materials.
8. Develop and implement training plan for health workers on interpersonal communication (IPC)
9. Provide support for training of Ministry of Health staff, Community Health Workers in charge of health promotion and other frontline workers in understanding and addressing SBC approach and vaccine hesitancy, rumors and misconceptions and Human Centered Design (HCD).
10. Develop/ adapt communication monitoring tools, train community volunteers/ health workers and facilitate monitoring of activities
11. Support advocacy activities to engage district leaders, CSOs, religious, and community leaders and other stakeholders
12. Coordinate the SBC officers at district level and work closely with UNICEF external comms, MOH-RHCC, Polio and EPI teams on the developing and implementing a social media plan including addressing misinformation, disinformation, and vaccine hesitancy
13. Document and share lessons learned and best practices in child immunization interventions and Polio campaigns
14. Submit monthly progress reports15.
15. Final consultancy report including analysis of coverage and social data, challenges, gaps, recommendations & best practices

Deliverables/Outputs:

Payment 1: 17% of payment

• Completed the development, validation, approval, and implementation of SBC-nOPV2 National strategy documents that includes   Advocacy Plan, SBC plan, Crisis Communication Plan and Social media plan with associated M&E reporting tool (reporting tool with standard set of indicators to monitor and assess the implementation of nOPV2 Communication plans.
• All communication assets agreed by RHCC, UNICEF and RCCE partners are developed in a participatory manner and endorsed by RCCE and UNICEF.
• Report on meetings and outcome in the monthly report provided
• Monitoring tools for SBC activities developed, approved, and implemented.

Payment 2: 17% of payment

• Community engagement plans developed, approved, and implemented
• Media engagement activities planned and implemented

Payment 3: 17% of payment

• Communication materials on polio immunization produced, translated pre-tested, revised, finalized, and distributed in strategic areas/ places
• Training plan, module and report submitted to and endorsed by RHCC and UNICEF.
• Report on meetings and outcome in the monthly report Health care providers have improved IPC knowledge and skills
• Reports on health workers’ training on IPC submitted

Payment 4: 17% of payment

• Community volunteers/ health care providers have improved knowledge and skills on monitoring of immunization communication.
• Report on engagement of district leaders, CSOs, religious and community leaders in advocacy activities provided

Payment 5: 17% of payment

• At least 2 human interest stories/lessons learned, and best practices documented and shared through internet and other online platforms with UNICEF and globally
• Monthly progress reports including monitoring activities submitted

Payment 6: 15% of payment

• Final consultancy report submitted

Selection Criteria

Applications shall be assessed based on their technical and financial proposals. Maximum scores for technical and financial applications will be 75% and 25%, respectively.

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

• Advanced University degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Public Health, Political Science, International Relations or a related field.
• Minimum of Eight years of experience in strategic communications and community engagement including experience in emergency settings.
• The consultant should have experience of working within the UN system or with UN partners.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language 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 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 afterwards 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: 

Individuals engaged under a consultancy 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. Consultants are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure 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 prior to 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, programme 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.