National C4D Individual Contractor for Polio Emergency, NO-C, UNICEF Liberia

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.

Purpose of Assignment:

The Health Unit of the Liberia Country Office recently had a shortfall of one staff, who had to take a mandatory break of three (3) months.  The Immunization Team at UNICEF CO currently has only one NOC staff member who, in normal situation is expected support Routine and SIA programmes, including emergency response. However, both Polio and the COVID 19 risk Communication and community engagement activities are happening simultaneously across the northern to the southeastern parts of the country.

The nOPV2 campaign will require huge logistical and human resource needs as this is a new vaccine with EUL approval.  As such, there is a need to have adequate staffs at the county-level to coordinate, support the County Health Teams and provide supportive supervision for the successful implementation of the campaign. One C4D personnel will be required to support each county health team in planning, implementing and evaluating the campaign activities. In this light, it is important to have a C4D consultant at the national level who will coordinate the activities of the six (6) county level C4D staffs as well as support C4D activities at the level of the central ministry of health and with partners at the national level, given the complexity of the emergency response, need for coordination among GPEI, development partners and government agencies and ensure that there are  strategies to address special populations and hard to reach population groups across national, regional, district and sub-district levels to adhere to the preventive protocols that will curb the spread of the pandemic in Liberia while safe guarding the essential needs of children and caregivers.

Basic Objectives of Consultancy/Contractor Assignment:

1. To identify gaps and put in place strategies and detailed plans on social mobilization aspects of the emergency response based on field monitoring visits and reports
2. To ensure that all additional risk communication and community engagements content activities meet expected quality standards in the counties and are effectively planned, implemented and monitored
3. To support UNICEF to coordinate implementation actions between other partners including relevant NGOs and PCA partners and the Ministry of Health for the polio response across the country.
4. Supervise the 6-county level C4D staff to ensure successful implementation of the C4D plan and activities

Qualification or Specialized Knowledge/Experience required for the Assignment:

• Education:  An Advanced University Degree in social and behavioural science, sociology, anthropology, psychology, Public health, Development communication, public relations or other related social science field is required.
• Professional/Technical experience – At least five years relevant C4D experience in the health sector in lieu of an advance degree; relevant work experience in emergency response especially epidemics; Experience with public health communication and social mobilization issues; knowledge of ODK or other digital data platform for analysis is a plus; ability to work in a fast-changing emergency setting, ability to use own initiative.
• Language skills required: Fluency in English and a local dialect is essential.  Other attributes essential for the assignment: Results-driven and good writing skills.

General Terms and Conditions of the Contract:

• Under the consultancy agreements, payment is deliverable based as defined in the ToR
• All remuneration must be within the contract agreement.
• No contract may commence unless the contract is signed by both UNICEF and the consultant or Contractor.
• For international consultants outside the duty station, signed contracts must be sent by fax or email. 
• Unless authorized, UNICEF will buy the tickets for the consultant.  In exceptional cases, the consultant may be authorized to buy their travel tickets and shall be reimbursed at the “most economical and direct route” but this must be agreed to beforehand.
• Consultants will not have supervisory responsibilities or authority on UNICEF budget.
• Consultant will be required to sign the Health statement for consultants/Individual contractor prior to taking up the assignment, and to document that they have appropriate health insurance, including Medical Evacuation.
• Mention is it as per the General Terms and Conditions of the Contract.

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.

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:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service. 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.