Job Detail

About UNICEF

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfil their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

Organizational Context and Purpose for the job

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programmes, advocacy and in operations. UNICEF's work is based on the need to address the impact of conflict and other phenomena affecting the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families and translate this commitment to children’s rights into action. UNICEF performs these tasks to give all children equal opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias, or favouritism. This will ensure that every child has an equal chance in life. Moreover, UNICEF’s work accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child and in its Core Commitment for Children in the Humanitarian crisis.

In Afghanistan, more than forty years of conflict continue to undermine the rights of children to have access to their rights (Education, health, food, nutrition, protection etc) which adversely results in children and their families demonstrating Mental Health and Psychosocial disorders and challenge. The National Mental Health Survey and Assessment of Mental Health Services (2018)  showed that the population of Afghanistan is very much exposed to traumatic events: 66% have personally experienced at least one traumatic event, and 77% witnessed such an event, for a total of 85% who have either personally experienced or witnessed a traumatic event. This is a very high number which is considered a risk for PTSD[1].  Irrespective of this alarming level of risk of PTSD in the country, the multiple levels of emergencies ranging from the conflict, which intensified in 2021, the COVID Pandemic and climate-related (storms, flooding, winter, drought, earthquake etc) emergencies result in further Mental Health and Psychosocial challenge for the population, including children.  According to the 2018 National Mental Health Survey, 10 % of children were found to be impaired in their daily roles by a mental health problem as evaluated by their mother; 8% may qualify for a potential diagnosis[1]. 

Job Description

Purpose for the job: The SBC Polio Officer reports to the SBC Polio Manager for general guidance and supervision. The Officer provides support in the implementation of the SBC Polio Strategy and assists in the monitoring of the results with a focus on the Central Region.  The  Officer will work with the team and contribute to the capacity building of the Polio programme partners, the implementation of the community platform initiatives, designing of communication material, facilitating LTA activities and reporting on the programme’s progress. Through social mobilization and engagement, as well as the empowerment and participation of stakeholders, communities, children, civil society partners, and government counterparts, the SBC Officer promotes measurable behavioral and social change and mobilization leading to polio vaccine uptake.

1.  Support community engagement and campaign activities

• In close collaboration with the field teams, review and provide quality assurance of SBC Polio materials and community platform activities to ensure optimum impact within politically and culturally sensitive context.  
• Facilitate the development of comprehensive engagement activities ensuring that they are gender transformative and contribute to improving the community knowledge and addressing immunization barriers.
• In coordination with the Polio Team in Central Region, contribute to situation analysis of social, influencers groups, to develop social mobilization to support the polio campaign and collect feedback about the campaign’s coverage and gaps.
•  Working closely with the Kabul team, facilitate relevant social data and conduct surveys to ensure the quality of the programme and that it achieve its expected results. 

2.  Provide operational support to the engagement and social mobilization activities.

•  Provide technical support for effective social mobilization ensuring materials and activities are planned before the campaign.
•  Produce monthly analytical reports and draft an annual report of inputs based on M&E indicators and highlight/promote the impact   of community engagement intervention.
•  Monitor the campaign activities ensure that the HR needs are in place and support the reporting on the campaign’s outcome.
•  Contribute to donor reports and proposal development by providing inputs on the social mobilization and community engagement   components.

3.  Support the capacity building of the ICN Network and partners

•  Mapp the training needs and facilitate the training activities for the ICN & partners on a regular basis in coordination with all regions. 
• Ensure the training materials are available for different groups and collected after each training activities at both national and regional levels
• Participate in the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Meetings and provide technical advice, updates on activities and results of the community engagement initiatives and capacity building

4.  Lead on innovation and young people engagement in the programme

• Implement communication innovative practices, approaches and latest technology in multiple media and social/digital platforms and networks for community engagement that are appropriate and available for the target audience.
• Institutionalize/share communication best practices and knowledge learned/products with staff and stakeholders to build capacity of communication health workers in the field.
• Support the engagement of young people in the polio programme and work with them to design activities related to the Polio awareness

Skills Required

• Communication Skills

Submission Guideline:

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable female candidates are encouraged to apply.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Applicants are requested to apply through the provided link; https://jobs.unicef.org/en-us/job/561841/social-behavior-change-officer-polio-nob-fixed-term-kabul-afghanistan-123689

Submission Email: