UNICEF recrute un agent de recherche(Cellule d’Analyse en Science Sociale- CASS), P-2, TA, Kinshasa, RDC

During the 2018-present Ebola outbreak in the DRC, UNICEF led the setup of an integrated, multi-actor social sciences analysis cell (Cellule d’Analyse en Science Sociale- CASS), which worked alongside the Epidemiological Analysis Cell to be able to provide real time, integrated Outbreak Analytics. The work of the CASS to provide rapid understanding of potential causal factors in epidemiological trends, in identifying secondary impacts of the outbreak and mapping changing community and public health during and after the outbreak. The study results are aimed to influence response actors, interventions and strategies. The CASS seeks to use evidence to influence and improve outbreak and public health interventions for greater public health outcomes.

The success of the CASS and its ability to influence response actors (MoH, UN and NGOs) resulted in investment to model the CASS for future outbreaks; both in counties and as a small, global structure to support country teams in the set up, coordination and use of social sciences as part of outbreak analytics and outbreak response (including public health and other interventions resulting from secondary outbreak impacts).

The CASS has 3 main operational goals in the DRC :

1. Conduct real time operational social sciences research in public health emergencies and outbreaks across the country (measles, malaria, malnutrition, cholera, Ebola, covid…) to use evidence inform response and public health strategies;
2. Strengthen local responses and capacities by rapidly providing enhanced information, evidence, continuous support and resource sharing with local governments, responders, community media and other local actors working across the spectrum of health, development and humanitarian programming ;
3. Coordinate and lead coordination with different social sciences, epidemiological health and other researchers (national academic institutions, NGOs and other actors/ UN) with an aim of better integrating data and analyses for a more comprehensive understanding of context and community health ;
4. Coordinate with different actors and across different locations to provide technical guidance, facilitate information, tools and documents sharing to and across different partners, country teams and groups for better quality studies, better use of results and influence and improved public health outcome

Outside the DRC, the CASS support :

1. Provide technical guidance, facilitate information, tools and documents sharing to and across different partners, country teams and groups for better quality studies, better use of results and influence and improved public health outcome ;
2. Provide rapid field support to country teams in setting up and using social sciences in outbreaks (including coordinating with epidemiologists and health data analysts as well as other research groups/ results) ;
3. Strengthen local responses and capacities by rapidly providing enhanced information, evidence, continuous remote mentoring support and resource sharing with local governments, responders, community media and other local actors working across the spectrum of health, development and humanitarian programming.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities :

1. Rapid social sciences research: deploy to new and existing locations to conduct mixed methods research analysis (meta-synthesis) of qualitative and quantitative data ;
2. Identify local social sciences capacity and hire, train and coach local social sciences teams ;
3. Pro-actively coordination and lead coordination among different actors to integrate various forms of data for analyses and to inform response ;
4. Ensure social sciences research results are shared across multiple for a in real time to facilitate use of recommendations and actively participate in various coordination meetings, representing the CASS ;
5. Ensure knowledge management and data sharing.