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UNICEF is Hiring! Social and Behaviour Change Consultant for the Europe and Central Asia (Home Based)

Eugen3 weeks ago

3 minutes read

Are you passionate about making a difference in the lives of children and communities across Europe and Central Asia? Do you have a strong background in social and behavioral science? If so, UNICEF has an exciting opportunity for you! We are on the lookout for a Social and Behaviour Change Consultant to support our Health section at the UNICEF Europe and Central Asia Regional Office (ECARO). This position is home-based, comprising 80 working days over 7 months, from March to September, and will be based in Geneva, Switzerland.

Who We Are

At UNICEF, we strive to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children in some of the toughest places on earth. Our mission is clear: to save lives, defend rights, and help children fulfill their potential. Operating in 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, building a better world for everyone, and we never give up.

Consultancy Overview

The primary goal of this consultancy is to provide Social and Behaviour Change (SBC) support to our nutrition and immunization teams at UNICEF ECARO. You will play a crucial role in identifying the psychological, social, and environmental factors that influence breastfeeding and vaccination behaviors among health workers in maternity wards and breastfeeding counselors.

Despite our efforts, childhood vaccination remains a significant challenge across Europe and Central Asia (ECA), with over 200,000 children not fully vaccinated and measles coverage alarmingly below the required 95%. Additionally, breastfeeding rates in the region are the lowest globally. Health workers, including nurses and gynecologists, are pivotal in supporting new mothers with breastfeeding and play an essential role in discussing vaccination with families. However, many are hesitant to engage in vaccine promotion, often influenced by commercial entities promoting infant formula over breastfeeding.

How You Can Make a Difference

As the Social and Behaviour Change Consultant, you will lead an assessment across three priority countries to understand the drivers behind breastfeeding and vaccine promotion behaviors among health providers. Your work will entail several key phases:

Inception Phase:

Conduct consultations with representatives from three country offices and perform a desk review of documented evidence, BI research reports, and communication plans.
Prepare an inception report detailing findings, gaps in knowledge, and the methodology for the assessment phase based on established frameworks (e.g., COM-B, BDM).

Assessment Phase:

Develop research protocols and tools, including questionnaires and guides for interviews and focus group discussions.
Support the creation of a sampling strategy for each country to ensure representativeness.
Provide capacity-building sessions for in-country NGOs and contractors involved in data collection and analysis, guiding them through qualitative and quantitative data interpretation.
Assist partners in developing brief country reports based on the assessment findings.

Qualifications and Expertise Required

To qualify for this consultancy, you will need:

A Master’s degree in social and behavioral sciences, sociology, anthropology, psychology, education, communication, or a related field.
A minimum of 7 years of experience in designing tools for mixed-methods data collection, especially focused on vaccine uptake and breastfeeding barriers.
Proven expertise in report writing, desk reviews, and conducting key informant interviews.
Strong written and spoken English skills are a must.

Desirable qualifications include:

Familiarity with and experience working in the UN system, ideally with UNICEF.
Fluency in Russian.

Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

At UNICEF, we value diversity and are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace. We encourage candidates from all backgrounds—regardless of gender, nationality, religion, ethnicity, or disability—to apply. To support this commitment, we offer paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and accommodations for employees with disabilities. Additionally, UNICEF is dedicated to promoting reasonable accommodations and has introduced a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to enhance both physical and digital accessibility.

How to Apply

If you’re ready to make a significant impact on children’s health and wellbeing in Europe and Central Asia, we invite you to apply for the Social and Behaviour Change Consultant position on our UNICEF Careers page. This is an excellent opportunity to leverage your expertise for a noble cause and contribute to shaping healthier futures for vulnerable children.

Closing Thoughts

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance approach to any conduct that undermines our mission and values. Selected candidates will undergo thorough reference and background checks to ensure adherence to our standards. If you share our commitment to creating a better world for every child, we encourage you to seize this opportunity to join our team. Apply now and help us champion the rights and well-being of children everywhere!