UNICEF recrute un consultant national junior pour l’appui à la mise en œuvre de la stratégie nationale de communication pour le changement social et comportemental pour le DPE intégré, la nutrition et le WASH, Kigali, Rwanda

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Title of Assignment : National Contractor: Support to implementation of the National Social and Behaviour Change Communication Strategy for Integrated ECD, Nutrition and WASH

Category of the assignment : National

Proposed level of assignment : Junior

Section : Communication, Advocacy and Partnerships (CAP)

Location : Kigali City, National Child Development Agency (NCDA)

Duration : 11.5 months

Start date : From: 7 January 2021             To: 21 December 2021

Background and purpose :

UNICEF is working with the Government of Rwanda to implement the Country Programme 2018-2023. The overall aim of the Country Programme is to accelerate progress towards the realization of all rights of all children.

The programme of cooperation seeks to achieve sustainable results for children at various stages of the life cycle, and is focused on selected outcomes related to health, education, early childhood development, nutrition, water and sanitation and child protection.

Special emphasis in both development and humanitarian contexts is put on applying Communication for Development (C4D) as a strategy to effectively promote social and behavioural change among caregivers and other immediate duty-bearers and address harmful social norms. This strategy contributes to reducing barriers to the equitable realization of children’s rights in family and community settings in a more sustainable and efficient manner.

The National Child Development Agency (NCDA) is one of the key partners of UNICEF. Currently, NCDA in coordination with multiple partners and stakeholders is implementing the National Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC) Strategy for Integrated ECD, Nutrition and WASH (2018-2024), with the overarching aim of reducing the level of stunting among children below the age of five.

The purpose of the proposed assignment is to further strengthen the strategic C4D capacity of NCDA in support of the National SBCC Strategy implementation.

Justification :

Ever growing scope and complexity of social and behaviour change interventions for Integrated ECD, Nutrition and WASH undertaken by NCDA with support from UNICEF Rwanda and other partners as well as additional challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic require additional capacities with specialized communication skills and knowledge, to ensure timely implementation, monitoring and quality assurance of the comprehensive SBCC interventions.

Therefore, UNICEF seeks services of National Individual Contractor who will contribute to strengthening the strategic C4D interventions in support of the National SBCC Strategy implementation led by NCDA.

Objectives :

The National Contractor under the supervision of the Director General of NCDA, and guidance of UNICEF C4D Specialist will work closely with the NCDA and UNICEF teams to enhance social and behaviour change communication, social mobilization and advocacy activities for Integrated ECD, Nutrition and WASH.

Key expected results :

• Support provided to NCDA and UNICEF in coordination, implementation and monitoring of the communication, advocacy social mobilization and community engagement interventions for Integrated ECD, Nutrition and WASH, including in the context of COVID-19 response ;
• Support provided to NCDA and UNICEF in coordination, maintenance and further strengthening partnerships with all relevant stakeholders, including government entities, international organizations, civil society and private sector in support of the implementation of the National SBCC Strategy for Integrated ECD, Nutrition and WASH ;
• Support provided to ensure that the key joint communication interventions in support of Integrated ECD, Nutrition and WASH SBC communications agreed in the work-plan between NCDA and UNICEF for the period of 2020-2021 are rolled out as per set timelines, the progress is regularly monitored and possible implementation challenges are identified and addressed in a timely manner.
• Support provided to NCDA and UNICEF to ensure that culturally relevant and attractive social and behaviour change communication materials are designed, pre-tested, produced and disseminated timely, meeting quality standards.

The expected deliverables and timelines :

1. Inception report with the detailed timelines, methodology, work-plan, including the M&E component for ensuring quality deliverables submitted and endorsed by NCDA and UNICEF.  Quarter 1, 2021 ;
2. The stocktaking report on the National Integrated ECD, Nutrition and WASH Campaign with clear recommendations on way forward in 2020-2021 on: 1. Campaign materials finalization and dissemination; and 2. Action plan for social mobilization component implementation in the context of COVID-19 submitted and endorsed by NCDA and UNICEF.               Quarter 1, 2021 ;
3. The Care for Caregivers Framework and COVID-19 prevention materials for ECD caregivers designed and disseminated.              Quarter 1, 2021
4. Social mobilization and community engagement component of the National Integrated ECD, Nutrition and WASH Campaign is supported and monitored.         Quarter 2, 2021 ;
5. Support provided in informing the content of the Itetero and Urunana radio programmes with the key messages of the Integrated ECD, Nutrition and WASH Campaign.                Quarter 2, 2021 ;
6. Support provided in adapting and contextualizing the ‘Care for Caregivers’ ECD framework for frontline workers and parents/caregivers in the context of COVID-19 pandemic.        Quarter 2, 2021 ;
7. Culturally relevant and attractive behaviour change communication materials on Integrated ECD, Nutrition and WASH are designed, pre-tested and disseminated.          Quarter 2, 2021 ;
8. Support provided to enhance advocacy with the private sector around the issues of the Integrated ECD, Nutrition and WASH services.              Quarter 3, 2021 ;
9. Support provided in rigorous documentation and publicizing the successes around the implementation of the National SBCC Strategy for Integrated ECD, Nutirion and WASH.       Quarter 3, 2021 ;
10. Support provided in systematic review and assessment of the progress of the implementation of the National SBCC Strategy for the Integrated ECD, Nutrition and WASH and recommendations to address challenges and further enhance implementation are provided.    Quarter 4, 2021 ;
11. Implementation of the National Integrated ECD, Nutrition and WASH Campaign supported, and quality assured with all relevant stakeholders onboard.  Quarter 4, 2021 ;
12. Final detailed implementation report with the recommendations on way forward submitted and endorsed by NCDA and UNICEF. Quarter 4, 2021.

Payment schedule : The Contractor will be paid by UNICEF on a monthly upon submission of invoice and progress report on each deliverable, against the table of agreed deliverables, subject to certification by the direct and secondary supervisors.

Evaluation Criteria :

The technical proposal (described in How to apply section for the ) is weighted at 70% and 30% will be allocated to the Financial proposal.

Please note that the final remuneration will be negotiated by HR :

General conditions :

• The assignment is office-based in Kigali. The Contractor will use her/his own computer and mobile phone. The office space, internet connection and other relevant materials for the assignment will be provided by NCDA ;
• The assignment may involve travel to different locations within Rwanda. NCDA shall provide the transport for the Contractor to attend meetings within Kigali as well as for field visits and the Contractor will be reimbursed the living allowances in the field based on the applicable Government ;
• All necessary readings, documents, guidelines and forms will be provided by NCDA ;
• All materials developed will remain the copyright of NCDA and UNICEF ;
• The Contractor is not considered a staff member. Notwithstanding this status, she/he will observe all applicable rules, regulations, instructions and procedures and directives of NCDA and UNICEF.
• The Contractor will respect the impartiality and independence required of UNICEF and will not seek or accept instructions regarding the services performed under the contract from any Government agency, except NCDA, or from any authority external to UNICEF ;
• Unless otherwise authorized by NCDA and UNICEF, the Contractor may not communicate at any time to the media or to any institution, person, Government, except NCDA, or any external source any information, which has become known to her/him. She/he may not use any such information without the written authorization, and such information may never be used for personal gain. These obligations do not lapse after the end of the assignment ;
• UNICEF and NCDA accept no responsibility for the medical insurance of the Contractor or costs arising from accidents and illness incurred during the assignment, including while on duty travel. The Contractor must demonstrate proof of medical insurance prior to the beginning of the assignment ;
• The Contractor will not have supervisory responsibility within UNICEF and/or NCDA, nor responsibilities on UNICEF and/or NCDA budget and other resources ;
• Under the assignment contract, a month is defined as 22 working days, and fees are prorated accordingly. Contractors are not paid for weekends or public holidays ;
• The Individual Contractor will receive Paid Time Off (PTO) credit at the rate of one- and one-half days (1.5 days) for each full month (22 Working days) of service, to be credited on the last calendar day of the month, and up to 17 days for a maximum of 11.5 months contract ;
• Contractors are not entitled to payment of overtime. All remuneration must be within the contract agreement.

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

• University degree in social/behavioral sciences, communication, education, public health, social work or similar fields ;
• At least three years of professional work experience in the field of ECD, education, social and behaviour change communication, media, public health and other relevant fields ;
• Experience in communication, social mobilisation, outbreak/risk communication, media, and development of information, communication materials will be an asset ;
• Fluency in English and Kinyarwanda ;
• Working knowledge of computer, internet and various office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) ;
• Proven ability to work as part of a multicultural team ;
• Work experience with government, UN and other international organizations will be an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

How to apply :

UNICEF is committed to gender equality in its mandate and its staff. Well qualified candidates, particularly females are strongly encouraged to apply.

Interested candidates should send their complete Personal History (P11) form, which can be downloaded form (http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/P11.doc) or a CV/resume, as well as a cover letter explaining what makes them suitable for this consultancy.

Qualified and experienced candidates are requested to submit a letter of interest considered as a Technical Proposal for the consultancy in which candidates should highlight their previous work experience relevant to the assignment, the attributes that make them suitable, and their proposed road map and approach to undertake the assignment.

Only successful candidates from the technical evaluation exercise will be contacted and requested to submit their most competitive Financial Proposal.

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 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, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.