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For every child, Advocacy
How can you make a difference?
Background :
Immunization serves as a cornerstone of public health and has made significant contributions to the control of infectious diseases all over the world. Vaccination directly protects individuals, including children who receive the bulk of vaccines globally. Vaccination boosts a body’s defense system, which is also called the immune system. Vaccines create immunity that protects an individual from infection and prevents the spread of diseases in communities, nations, and more broadly, globally.
Immunization in Rwanda is one of the basic essential services, which is observed to have closely reached universal coverage. The vision of the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) is to eradicate all Vaccine Preventable Diseases (VPDs), thereby enhancing the well-being of the people through the reduction of morbidity and mortality.
To further strengthen this vision, a strategic and comprehensive Multi-Year Plan (MYP 2017-21) was put in place to maintain the achieved performance in terms of the immunization programme. The cMYP, which is also an offshoot of the Health Sector Strategic Plan (HSSP) is in full consonance with the National Transformation Strategy 2017-24).
Notwithstanding the achieved successes, there are also some observed variances in the districts in terms of the outcomes of the immunization programme, most probably related to knowledge, attitudes, practices and behaviours of the parents/primary caregivers and community leaders regarding vaccination. COVID-19 pandemic also contributed to disruption of access to some essential health services like HPV immunization and its negative effects are yet to be fully understood.
The Government of Rwanda with technical support from UNICEF are working to improve the effectiveness of immunization efforts and maintain a high immunization coverage. This work is guided by identification and addressing of socio-cultural, administrative and legal barriers and behavioural drivers for achieving high and equitable vaccines uptake.
In 2019, the Ministry of Health (MoH) / Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC) with support from UNICEF and Rwanda Health Communication Centre (RHCC) commissioned a Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices and Behaviours (KAPB) study on immunization, which is nearing its finalization, in order to inform future strategic social and behaviour change interventions and offer policy advice.
Justification :
The ongoing KAPB study and its results will inform the social and behaviour change communication (SBCC) interventions and policy advice around addressing social norms and barriers to vaccination and ensure that all children irrespective of gender and health status equally enjoy their right to health.
This consultancy will support UNICEF and key national partners (MoH/RBC/RHCC) in designing a 5-year SBCC strategy and a corresponding action plan to guide the first two years of the strategy implementation to maintain high levels of immunization coverage and address the pockets of the population lagging behind for the reasons identified in the KAPB study. Additionally, this consultancy will contribute to further strengthening regular evidence generation on behavioural drivers in support of demand generation and increasing acceptance of the routine immunization.
Objectives :
The consultancy will support designing of a 5-year SBCC strategy and a corresponding 2-year implementation plan to increase demand for vaccination through review of evidence, advising on culturally appropriate and cost-effective approaches and methodologies that are guided by global knowledge and are inclusive in nature.
The consultancy will also support development of communication messaging and concepts of communication materials that can be applied at scale.
In addition, the consultancy will provide technical advice on further strengthening regular evidence generation on behavioural drivers in support of demand generation and increasing equitable vaccines uptake.
Work Assignment :
Areas of focus and key tasks :
- Review the latest KAPB study report and other available evidence provided by UNICEF and Ministry of Health ;
- Design a comprehensive 5-year SBCC strategy to increase demand for routine immunization ;
- Design a corresponding 2-year implementation plan to guide strategic SBCC interventions outlined in the strategy with a strong monitoring and evaluation framework in place ;
- Support development of a creative brief for creative agencies with advice on communication messaging and concepts of communication materials that can be applied at scale. The consultant will have a number of online meetings with the creative agency to arrive at communication concepts and materials contextualized for Rwanda. These meetings will be facilitated by UNICEF ;
- Provide technical advice on strengthening regular evidence generation around behavioural drivers for demand generation and increasing equitable vaccines uptake.
Deliverables and Estimated Days Due Date :
- Evidence review: Summary report of the review of the latest KAPB study on immunization and other available evidence provided by UNICEF (with highlights of key findings that will inform the SBCC strategy) 3 days 27 February 2021 ;
- A 5-year SBCC strategy: A comprehensive SBCC strategy to increase demand for routine immunization endorsed by UNICEF and key national partners 25 days 27 March 2021 ;
- A 2-year implementation plan: A comprehensive action plan to guide strategic SBCC interventions outlined in the strategy with a strong monitoring and evaluation framework in place endorsed by UNICEF and key national partners 15 days 25 April 2021 ;
- A creative brief: A creative brief for creative agencies with advice on communication messaging and concepts of communication materials that can be applied at scale endorsed by UNICEF and key national partners. 5 days 5 May 2021 ;
- Advice on evidence generation: A technical guidance note to strengthen regular evidence generation on behavioural drivers in support of equitable vaccines uptake endorsed by UNICEF and key national partners 2 days 25 April 2021.
Note : Travel to/within Rwanda is not anticipated for this consultancy, due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.
General Conditions : Procedures & Logistics :
The consultant will work from home. The consultant will use her/his own computer. The consultancy fees, communication costs and other required costs will be negotiated, on a daily rate basis. The consultant will be supervised by the UNICEF C4D Specialist and will work closely with UNICEF Rwanda Health team and key national partners (Ministry of Health/Rwanda Biomedical Centre/Rwanda Health Communication Centre, MCCH/Vaccination Program Unit) through the C4D Specialist.
Evaluation Criteria :
The Technical proposal is weighted at 70% and 30% for the Financial proposal. Only candidates passing the technical evaluation will be invited to submit a financial proposal.
Applicants will be assessed on the following areas :
- Experience in effective evidence based SBCC programming, including design and application of approaches to create and sustain demand, supply products, and services, and enable sustainable change in key development areas, preferably in the field of immunization ;
- Experience working to strengthen government approaches through SBCC, particularly working closely with government agencies ;
- Developing approaches, guidelines and materials to change social and individual behaviours across settings (communities, schools, health facilities, etc.) ;
- Communication skills (oral and written) ;
- Working in Rwanda or countries with similar characteristics (regional, socio-economic, political, etc.).
Please note that the final remuneration will be negotiated by HR.
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
- An advanced university degree in social and behavioral science, health, sociology, anthropology, psychology, education, communication or another related field ;
- Minimum of 8 years of professional experience in areas relevant to social and behavioural change communication, strategy development and implementation, monitoring and evaluation, systems strengthening and advocacy ;
- Experience in effective evidence based SBCC programming, including design and application of approaches to create and sustain demand, supply products, and services, and enable sustainable change in key development areas, preferably in immunization ;
- Experience working to strengthen government approaches through SBCC, particularly working closely with government agencies ;
- Experience in developing community engagement approaches ;
- Experience working in Rwanda preferably or otherwise with low-income countries, especially in sub-Saharan Africa ;
- Experience with the development of SBCC strategies and materials. Provision of examples is an asset ;
- Relevant experience in related areas in the UN system is an asset ;
- Proficiency in English is required. Knowledge of Kinyarwanda, French, and/or Swahili is 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 a CV/resume or Personal History (P11) form, which can be downloaded form (http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/P11.doc), as well as a cover letter explaining what makes them suitable for this consultancy. The application package should be submitted to UNICEF’s online recruitment system.
Qualified and experienced candidates are requested to submit a letter of interest. In their letter of interest, candidates should highlight their previous work experience relevant to the assignment and the attributes that make them suitable for 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 :
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.