SBC Consultant - Polio & Immunization, Khartoum, Sudan, (Nationals only) remote with travel

Organizational Context

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential. We are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling. UNICEF is a place where careers are built, offering diverse opportunities for professional and personal development.

Job Purpose

The consultant will support the development and adaptation of Polio Social and Behaviour Change (SBC) strategies at federal and state levels, ensuring their integration into preparedness and outbreak response plans. They will provide technical assistance to develop evidence-based SBC micro-plans, informed by various data sources, and support pre-campaign readiness activities including stakeholder mapping and community engagement. During campaign implementation, the consultant will provide technical oversight and support post-campaign follow-up for missed children and zero-dose identification. A key focus will be on designing and implementing targeted SBC interventions to address vaccine hesitancy, refusals, and misinformation, and strengthening rumor tracking and rapid response mechanisms. The role also involves capacity building of health promotion officers and strengthening coordination between various stakeholders.

Responsibilities

Support development and adaptation of federal and state-level Polio SBC strategies and ensure integration into preparedness and outbreak response plans. Provide technical assistance to develop evidence-based SBC micro-plans informed by IM, LQAS, refusal tracking, social investigations, and KAP/social research findings. Support pre-campaign readiness including stakeholder mapping, mobilization planning, and coordination of community engagement activities. Provide technical oversight during campaign implementation and support post-campaign follow-up for missed children and zero-dose identification. Ensure effective use of communication channels including interpersonal communication, community dialogues, influencers, and local leaders. Design and implement targeted SBC interventions to address vaccine hesitancy, refusals, and misinformation. Support engagement of influencers, religious leaders, health workers, and community networks to promote polio vaccination. Develop/review key messages and IEC materials and strengthen rumor tracking and rapid response mechanisms at state level. Provide on-the-job mentoring and support capacity building of state, locality, and administrative health promotion officers on SBC microplanning, IPC, community engagement, and monitoring tools. Strengthen coordination between Health, SBC, implementing partners, and line ministries, and actively participate in federal and state-level technical coordination meetings. Analyze SBC data from IM, LQAS, and field monitoring; produce monthly technical briefs; document best practices and lessons learned; and submit comprehensive campaign reports with recommendations.

Work Experience

Minimum three years of professional experience in Polio SBC or related technical area, programme planning and management at national or international levels, preferably in a developing country. Experience working in emergency settings is required. Experience in SBCC and Community Engagement for immunization is an asset.

Skills

Ability to work independently, Ability to meet deadlines, Effective communication in multicultural environments, Computer literacy, MS Office package proficiency, MS Excel competency, BSAFE training completion, SBC strategy development, SBC micro-planning, Community engagement, Vaccine hesitancy intervention, Data analysis

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