Social & Behavior Change Officer, NO-2, Temporary Position, 364 days, Maseru, Lesotho, #00138123
Organizational Context
UNICEF operates in over 190 countries and territories, dedicated to saving children's lives, defending their rights, and helping them fulfill their potential from early childhood through adolescence. We are committed, passionate, and proud of our work, viewing the promotion of every child's rights not just as a job, but as a calling.
Job Purpose
The Social and Behaviour Change Officer, reporting to the Chief of Child Survival and Development, provides essential technical and operational support. This role is crucial for administering, executing, and implementing a variety of tasks aimed at promoting community engagement and driving behaviour and social change interventions, particularly in immunization. The officer's work directly contributes to UNICEF's organizational goals by applying technical skills in alignment with established policies and procedures. The incumbent's efforts will be instrumental in strengthening rights-based Social and Behaviour Change (SBC) and Community Engagement (CE) interventions. These interventions are designed to address knowledge, attitudes, norms, and practices of individuals and social groups, ultimately enhancing vaccine uptake, reducing the number of zero-dose and under-immunized children, facilitating social listening, improving community feedback and accountability, and increasing knowledge about vaccines.
Responsibilities
The Social and Behaviour Change Officer is accountable for supporting programme development and planning, ensuring that interventions are aligned with UNICEF's strategic objectives and equity focus. This includes contributing to the design of innovative and evidence-based SBC strategies. The role involves programme management, monitoring, and delivery of results, tracking progress against key performance indicators and ensuring timely and effective implementation of activities. The officer provides crucial technical and operational support to programme implementation, working closely with government counterparts, partners, and communities to ensure effective delivery of services and interventions. This includes capacity building of partners and community volunteers. Furthermore, the position entails advocacy, networking, and partnership building to scale up effective SBC principles and approaches. This involves engaging with stakeholders at various levels to promote child rights and advocate for policies that support behaviour and social change. Finally, the role encourages innovation, knowledge management, and capacity building within the team and among partners, documenting lessons learned and best practices to inform future programming and contribute to UNICEF's global knowledge base on social and behaviour change.
Work Experience
A minimum of two years of professional experience in one or more of the following areas is required: Social Development Programme Planning, Communication for Development, Social and Behaviour Change, Public Advocacy, or another related area.
Skills
Drive To Achieve, Change Agility, Financial Acumen, Ambiguity Management, Self Awareness, Programme Development and Planning, Programme Management, Monitoring and Evaluation, Technical Support, Operational Support, Advocacy, Partnership Building