National Individual Contractor (IC)-Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) at UNICEF

National Individual Contractor (IC)-Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) at UNICEF

National Individual Contractor (IC)-Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) Mbeya, Mtwara, Kilimanjaro, Morogoro

Job no: 553817
Contract type: Consultant
Duty Station: Mbeya
Level: Consultancy
Location: United Republic of Tanzania
Categories: Social and Behavior Change

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 fulfill 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.

For every child, love

Purpose

Support UNICEF SBC Unit to implement RCCE activities at all levels of implementation to facilitate strengthening of RCCE interventions and systems in Tanzania.

How can you make a difference?

Background

UNICEF is accountable for supporting the government in the areas of SBC/ACSM and RCCE activities for emergency interventions. The ToR has been prepared to hire four emergency RCCE national consultants for immediate deployment by the UNICEF Tanzania country office to support the Ministry of Health (MoH) and PO-RALG (  President’s Office- Regional Administration and Local Government) to implement RCCE activities. The Consultant will be supporting both MoH and PO-RALG to provide SBC technical support to RCCE activities as guided by the international contractor (contracted by UNICEF).

Rationale

When emergencies arise, such as new epidemics or pandemics, communities need timely, accurate, up-to-date information they can trust. Reaching communities can be a challenge and this is compounded by fears of the unknown, unfounded rumors and misinformation and requests to behave in new ways. Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) focuses on informing and engaging the public on how to reduce risks and better protect themselves. RCCE uses strategic behavior change approaches to motivate action. Importantly, tailored RCCE interventions facilitate and promote the engagement and support for communities to create and execute plans to control outbreaks based on their local context. The presence of the contractors will support RCCE activities on COVID-19 vaccination in low performing regions, and support RCCE activities across outbreaks such as cholera, leptospirosis and others as they emerge. They will support strengthening RCCE mechanisms and structures at national and sub-national level.

Scope of work:

  • This assignment is expected to start from 1 September 2022 for a period of 6 months and final reports will be submitted.
  • The consultants under the guidance of the SBC-RCCE Specialist will support RCCE activities in the regions of:
  1. Mbeya, Njombe, Iringa and Songwe- 1st contractor based in Mbeya
  2. Mtwara and Rukwa- 2nd contractor based in Mtwara
  3. Kilimanjaro, Manyara and Tanga- 3rd contractor based in Kilimanjaro
  4. Morogoro and Mara- 4th contractor based in Morogoro

Tasks, deliverables, and time frame

The four Individual Contractors will undertake the following tasks:

  • Provide technical support on multiple evidence generation mechanisms to inform RCCE interventions.
  • Support the roll out of National RCCE strategies and plans to subnational level.
  • Support the development of customized RCCE plans at subnational level for tailored interventions.
  • Support establishment of sub-national level coordination mechanisms, mirroring national structures to optimize implementation of RCCE activities.
  • Support development, review, pre-testing, and dissemination of key messages to priority and targeted groups e.g., disabled, refugee, elderly teachers, tourism, and security sectors among others using the Transtheoretical model stages of change.
  • Providing technical support in conducting community engagement, social mobilization, and advocacy activities to support RCCE activities.
  • Support mainstreaming of AAP mechanisms into RCCE interventions at sub-national level.
  • Facilitate RCCE capacity building provincial and district health promotion and other relevant staff in line with the UNICEF global training standards for RCCE.
  • Ensure monitoring, evaluation, reporting and documentation of RCCE activities in line with the M&E standards and systems.
  • Support and co-lead optimization of coordination platforms at subnational level.
  • Provide weekly reports, monthly reports and quarterly reports detailing progress of activities.

Support resource RCCE mobilization strategies and any other activities delegated.

Deliverables and reporting requirements

Tasks Deliverables Time Frame (days) Payment Schedule
Support assessment of communication platforms and networks, review, and tailor RCCE materials for specific audiences
  • Customized RCCE Plans
  • Package IEC materials and distribution plans
  • Rapid assessments reports using both online and offline platforms
  • Key messages drafted using SBC models and IEC-SBC materials
  • Weekly reports, Progress updates from coordination platforms
4 weeks (28 days) 

 

1st payment (25%) 

 

Facilitate SBC microplanning in targeted provinces/districts and provinces working closely with MOH, PO-RALG and key stakeholders and support coordination of ongoing implementation of ACSM activities at subnational levels 

 

  • Matrix of established, activated, functional subnational level RCCE platforms. Public private partnerships mapped.
  • Weekly reports, Progress updates from coordination platforms
  • Roll out reports of national strategies
6 weeks (42 days) 2nd payment (25%) 

 

 

Provide technical support in conducting community engagement, social mobilization, and advocacy activities and capacity building interventions
  • Implementation progress updates detailing AAPs mechanisms
  • Detailed endorsed minutes and reports of coordination meetings
  • Training and field strategies reports
  • Resource mobilization report
8 weeks (56 days) 3rd payment (25%) 

 

 

Ensure monitoring and reporting of ACSM activities are carried out in line with the M&E standards and systems and use of social data, during RCCE, document human interest stories, lessons learned and good practices. Final assignment report Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting and Documentation report 

– Weekly reports, Progress updates from coordination platforms

– Final report

6 weeks (42 days) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Final payment (25%) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Management & Supervision

  • The contractor will work in close coordination with Health Promotion Services (HPS) and PO-RALG. The contractor will report to the SBC Specialist RCCE under the overall supervision of the SBC Unit Specialist
  • HPS, PO-RALG and UNICEF will provide background and documents that are relevant to for the contractor to undertake this assignment.
  • UNICEF will provide direction and technical inputs, along with HPS and PO-RALG which will be involved at all key stages of the assignment.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

The Individual Contractors are expected to have the following experiences and skills:

  • University degree, preferably in Social and Behavior Change, Public Health, Community Development, Development Studies, Social Science, or other relevant fields.
  • Minimum five years of professional work experience at national and/or international levels on RCCE.
  • Knowledge and understanding of the principles of social and behavior change, knowledge, and experience with collecting data and designing evidence based RCCE strategies, as well as risk communication and communication engagement are essential.
  • Proven experience in Public Health Emergencies and Risk Communication interventions planning and coordination in developing country context; and the experience in Tanzania would be as asset.
  • Strong communication skills in English and Kiswahili spoken and written.
  • Proven ability to work effectively in cross-cultural and multi-cultural settings and teams, and to deliver high-quality results within expected time frames.

Payment Schedule

Payment to the consultant should be made as follows:

Payment will be made on submission of reports as scheduled and invoice and satisfactory completion of the above-mentioned deliverables.

Administrative Issues

  • Evaluations: The applicant should submit both technical and financial proposal which clearly stipulate how the work will be conducted. The Financial Proposal should include all costs of this assignment including fee, travel costs, accommodation as UNICEF will not pay any DSA.
  • Proposals will be both technically and financially evaluated. The technical part will carry a weight of 75%, in which the contractor will clarify his/her technical approach to ensure quality attainment of each deliverable and the assignment in totality. The financial part will carry 25% showing the proposed budget breakdown of each deliverable and total cost.
  • Contractors will work from Mbeya, Mtwara, Kilimanjaro and Morogoro with frequent travels to the regions and councils.
  • The contractors will be required to travel for at least 15 days in a month on average.
  • The Contractors will be provided sitting space at UNICEF offices or government offices at their respective duty stations.
  • Individual Contractors will be required to sign the Health statement for Individual Contractors prior to taking up the assignment, and to document that they have appropriate health insurance, including Medical Evacuation. 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).
  • The Contractors will have to ensure that they have necessary medical insurance, including a provision for medical evacuation in an emergency.
  • The Contractors will be subjected to inoculation (vaccination) including against SARS – CoV – 2 (Covid)
  • Payment will be made on submission of a monthly invoice and satisfactory completion of the above-mentioned deliverables.
  • UNICEF will provide a meeting space, as needed, and will facilitate the collection of documents and connections with Government counterparts and other stakeholders as needed to complete the tasks of this assignment.
  • UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if work/outputs are incomplete, not delivered, or for failure to meet deadlines.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA).

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

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 offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

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:

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.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.

The deadline for submitting the application is 16 August 2022.

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