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Purpose of Assignment :
Liberia is expected to conduct Polio Outbreak Mitigation and response activities in six (6) counties bordering Guinea and La Cote d’Ivoire. UNICEF is the pillar lead for C4D, vaccine management and cold chain; as such, there’s a need to recruit qualified C4D consultants in each of the six counties who will support the county health teams to plan, implement and evaluation the polio campaign C4D activities in those counties.
The nOPV2 campaign will require huge logistical and human resource needs as this is a modified polio vaccine with EUL approval. The need to have adequate staffs at the county-level to coordinate, support the County Health Teams and provide supportive supervision for the successful implementation of the campaign cannot be overemphasized. Given the complexity of the emergency response in the midst of Covid-19, there’s a need for coordination among GPEI, development partners and government agencies to ensure that there are strategies to address special populations and hard to reach population groups across national, regional, district and sub-district levels to adhere to the preventive protocols that will curb the spread of the pandemic in Liberia while safe guarding the essential needs of children and caregivers.
Basic Objectives of Consultancy Assignment :
- To identify gaps and put in place strategies and detailed plans on social mobilization aspects of the emergency response based on field monitoring visits and reports at the county level ;
- To ensure that all additional risk communication and community engagements content activities meet expected quality standards in the county of assignment and are effectively planned, implemented and monitored ;
- To support the county health team to monitor the C4D component of the campaign, manage rumors, hesitancy and refusal, and promote cross-border surveillance and response activities.
- Provide suppor to the county, district and field level staff on raising awareness amongst communities to increase demand for polio vaccine.
| Objective 1: To identify gaps and put in place strategies and detailed plans on social mobilization aspects of the emergency response based on field monitoring visits and reports at the county level. |
| Key Activities/Tasks |
Outputs/Deliverables |
Time frame |
- Review supervisory reports, routine and SIA data and develop action plan to address identified gaps at the county, district and community level
- Contribute to the update of social mobilization strategies and plans for polio mitigation and response activities at the county, district and community levels
- Conduct field monitoring visits in urban as well as hard to reach areas and document findings
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- Analyzed communication quantitative data with mapped out operational actions as relevant with partners
- Social mob strategies updated, and social mob indicators incorporated within program monitoring and feedback fine-tuned to inform social mob plans used in the field
- Copies of field monitoring reports available
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Ongoing from 01 November 2020 to, 31 January 2021 |
| Objective 2: To ensure that all additional risk communication and community engagements content activities meet expected quality standards in the county of assignment and are effectively planned, implemented and monitored. |
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Key Activities/Tasks
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Outputs/Deliverables |
Time frame
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- Plan and coordinate the conduct of advocacy meetings and community engagement activities at the county, district and community levels
- Plan and coordinate the conduct of Focus Group Discussions, document and use findings for decision making
- Support the County Health Team to address issues of vaccine hesitancy, rumors, refusals and Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFIs)
- Support the development of radio and IEC material content and jointly participate with County Health Teams in radio talk shows
- Provide technical support to government for the distribution of IEC materials and supplies
- Ensure timely disbursement of UNICEF funds and liquidation of same
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- All planned advocacy meetings conducted and well documented
- Reports of FGDs available
- Risk communication plan to address vaccine hesitancy, rumors, refusals and AEFIs available; all vaccine hesitancy, rumors, refusals and AEFIs addressed in a timely manner
- IEC material and radio content developed and approved by Message and Material Development (MMD) group
- Report on supplies distribution according to distribution plan
- Liquidation reports received on time
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Ongoing from 01 November 2020 to, 31 January 2021
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| Objective 3: To support the county health team to monitor the C4D component of the campaign, manage rumors, hesitancy and refusal, and promote cross-border surveillance and response activities. |
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Key Activities/Tasks
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Outputs/Deliverables |
Time frame
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- Support cross-border meetings to strengthen polio surveillance and response
- Coordinate the organization of all RCCE and Social Mobilization meetings in the county and represent UNICEF in said meetings
- Document social mobilization activities as per GPEI and UNICEF requirements including reports on hesitancy, refusal etc.
- Document lessons learnt from communication and social mobilization activities in the field
- Compile final report at the end of the contract highlighting findings and recommendations for C4D activities in the county
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- Report (with pictures) of cross-border meetings
- Minutes and attendance of meetings attended
- Social Mobilization documentation and reports as per GPEI, OBRT assessment and UNICEF global requirements including reports on hesitancy, refusals and how these were addressed based on field monitoring and data collected.
- Documentation of lessons learnt and communication results for social mobilization developed and shared for informing response planning and implementation.
- Collate Final report with data, findings, recommendations and action points
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Ongoing from 01 November 2020 to, 31 January 2021 |
| Objective 4: Provide support to the county, district and field level staff on raising awareness amongst communities to increase demand for polio vaccine. |
| Key Activities/Tasks |
Outputs/Deliverables |
Time frame |
- Conduct field visits to at least one district every week to address operational and technical problems in the field
- Conduct joint community engagement meetings with the County Health Team and address concerns from the communities.
- Support the training of CHAs, CHVs and town criers
- Support integrated C4D and surveillance activities for polio
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- Weekly reports of field visits with pictures, issues identified, and solutions proffered
- Updates of weekly coordination and community engagement meetings highlighting action points and outcomes
- Training report of CHAs, CHVs and town criers
- Field report highlighting integrated surveillance and C4D activities
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Ongoing from 01 November 2020 to, 31 January 2021 |
Qualification or Specialized Knowledge/Experience/Expertise required for the Assignment :
- Education : A Bachelors Degree in social and behavioural science, sociology, anthropology, psychology, Public health, Development communication, public relations or other related social science field is required ;
- Professional/Technical Experience : At least three years relevant C4D experience in the health sector in lieu of a Bachelors degree ;
- Relevant work experience in emergency response especially epidemics; Experience with public health communication and social mobilization issues ;
- Knowledge of ODK or other digital data platform for analysis is a plus; ability to work in a fast-changing emergency setting, ability to use own initiative ;
- Language skills required : Fluency in English and a local dialect is essential. Other attributes essential for the assignment: Results-driven and good writing skills.
General Terms and Conditions of the Contract :
- Under the consultancy agreements, payment is deliverable based as defined in the ToR ;
- All remuneration must be within the contract agreement ;
- No contract may commence unless the contract is signed by both UNICEF and the consultant or Contractor ;
- For international consultants outside the duty station, signed contracts must be sent by fax or email ;
- Unless authorized, UNICEF will buy the tickets for the consultant. In exceptional cases, the consultant may be authorized to buy their travel tickets and shall be reimbursed at the “most economical and direct route” but this must be agreed to beforehand ;
- Consultants will not have supervisory responsibilities or authority on UNICEF budget ;
- Consultant will be required to sign the Health statement for consultants/Individual contractor prior to taking up the assignment, and to document that they have appropriate health insurance, including Medical Evacuation ;
- Mention is it as per the General Terms and Conditions of the Contract
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.
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 :
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.
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.