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Sierra Leone has been polio free since 2010 but is currently facing an outbreak of circulating vaccine derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2). As of January 2021, three cVDPV2 cases have been confirmed in three out of the country’s 16 districts. No cases of wild polio have been discovered.
As an immediate response to the polio outbreak, the Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS) plans to conduct two rounds of the national polio vaccination campaign starting in February/March 2021 to stop the transmission of poliovirus. A total of 1,472,813 children under five years of age are to be vaccinated in each round. Vaccination will be house-to-house.
Objectives :
The objective of the consultancy is to provide C4D support to the District Social Mobilization Coordinators at the District Health Monitoring Teams to plan, implement and monitor communication and social mobilization activities for polio vaccination campaigns in Sierra Leone.
Description of the Assignment/Scope of Work/Specific Tasks :
Under the direct supervision of the International Polio C4D Consultant and the Country Office Communication for Development Specialist, the consultant will perform the following duties and responsibilities :
A. Before polio vaccination campaign :
- Provide technical assistance for the development of evidence-based communication micro-plans ;
- Provide technically support to district and chiefdom social mobilization pillars ;
- Provide support to District Social Mobilization Coordinators to map out hard-to-reach areas ;
- Provide technical support to building capacities of District Social Mobilization Coordinators and other stakeholders in planning and implementation of advocacy and social mobilisation for polio vaccination ;
- Ensure that national communication guidelines are well received and understood at sub-national levels.
B. During Polio Vaccination Campaign (Round) :
- Oversee the implementation of communication and social mobilization activities especially in areas with underserved and hard-to-reach populations focusing on vaccine refusals and hesitancy ;
- Provide strategic support to address refusal cases and rumors/ misinformation ;
- Encourage and facilitate community participation in coordination meetings at all levels ;
- Encourage and facilitate participation of community and religious leaders ;
- Support the collection and reporting of communication data ;
- Monitor funds utilization at subnational levels.
C. After polio vaccination campaign :
- Provide support to active search and retrieval of NOPV2 in health areas ;
- Provide support to campaign independent monitoring with specific focus on lessons learned, good practices and recommendations for communication and social mobilization.
D. Other duties and responsibilities – see attached ToR :
Deliverables/Expected Output :
- All districts have social mobilization and communication micro-plans ;
- Special populations and anti-vaccination groups at sub-national levels are mapped out and updated before each round ;
- Vaccine and vaccination refusals are duly and effectively addressed ;
- Religious and community leaders are oriented for the importance of vaccination and they publicly support children’s immunization ;
- Monthly technical reports on completed assignments are certified and submitted ;
- Final consultancy report.
Payment Schedule and Conditions– Monthly payment upon submission of technical reports certified by supervisor.
See attached ToR for full details 
TOR National_Polio_C4D_Consultant_Sierra Leone_FINAL_VA.pdf
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
The consultant is required to have the following technical background, experience and competencies :
- University 1st degree in one of the disciplines of social/behavioral/communication sciences or university degree in other fields with relevant certified trainings in behavioural and social communication ;
- A minimum of three years of professional experience in advocacy, social mobilisation and C4D programme planning and management at the national or sub-national level preferably in a developing country ;
- Relevant experience in immunisation programme, polio supplementary immunization activities (SIA), project development and management in any UN system agency or organization is an asset ;
- Ability to work independently and to meet deadlines ;
- Ability to write clear and concise reports in English ;
- Demonstrated ability to effectively work and communicate in a multicultural environment ;
- Computer literacy with high ability to use excel spread sheets ;
- Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of local languages 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.
To view our competency framework, please visit here.
Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.
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 :
Consultants and Individual contractors are responsible for paying any taxes derived from the earnings received from UNICEF :
- Application to include financial proposal that will detail your daily/monthly rate (in Leones) to undertake the terms of reference ;
- Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed satisfactory deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.
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.