If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world’s leading children’s rights organization would like to hear from you.
For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children’s survival, protection and development. The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.
Background
Maternal, New Born, and Child Health (MNCH) is a core programme area for Zimbabwe. UNICEF supports the Ministry of Health to develop and implement HIV integrated child survival and maternal health programmes in the country. Demand creation activities have been conducted by both MoHCC and different partners such as MCHIP, OPHID, CWGH and UN Agencies, at national and sub-national levels, however a national Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCH-A) Communication for Development (C4D) plan has not been developed. For an effective RMNCH-A programme, both the service provision and demand creation components have to be strong.
Since the introduction of the HTF in 2012, most of the RMNCH-A indicators have significantly improved. However, a number of these indicators have begun to stagnate, and a communication strategy and action plan is required to address some of the factors contributing to this stagnation, including the growing number of religious and other socio-cultural objectors, the urban elite and peri-urban communities.
An evidence based communication strategy is important to make sure that families and communities adopt positive behaviours in relation to MNCH and utilize the available services.
As this task requires a dedicated person to work on the production of the RMNCH-A Behaviour Change Communication strategy and Plan; integrated with HIV, Nutrition and gender sensitive information, UNICEF would like to recruit a consultant to support the process of MNCH C4D strategy and Action Plan development. The assignment will be two-fold: first to conduct a desk review of available documents and evidence on MNCH C4D including HIV and Nutrition and conduct key informant interviews. The second part will be to produce an integrated national RMNCH-A C4D strategy and implementation plan engaging all relevant stakeholders in the process. It will be an iterative process and will require close follow ups and liaison with MoHCC and partners. The plan should also take into account needs of adolescents and young people.
Objectives
Under the supervision of the Chief of Communication and technical oversight from the Chief of Health and Nutrition, the consultant will conduct key informant interviews and a desk review of the available research and evidence on RMNCH-A C4D and develop an informed national RMNCH-A C4D strategy for Zimbabwe..
Methodology and Expected Outputs
- Conduct a desk review of available social research in the area of RMNCH-A C4D. This will include in-country and regional communication and social mobilization strategies/plans on child survival and maternal health: immunization, diarrhoea and pneumonia, water sanitation and hygiene, nutrition, maternal, newborn and child care.
- Conduct a desk review on the global evidence on RMNCH-A C4D including HIV.
- Conduct key informant interviews on RMNCH-A C4D.
- Prepare a report on the key findings from the KIIs and desk review.
- Consult with MoHCC, UNICEF, UNFPA, WHO and relevant partners and prepare an outline of the national RMNCH-A C4D strategy document.
- Facilitate workshop to get partner inputs into the RMNCH-A C4D strategy draft. The strategy will build onto the ongoing communication and social mobilization work being conducted in country by MoHCC, and partners and community level work being implemented by CSOs. The RMNCH-A C4D strategy will be based on UNICEF’s global guideline on RMNCH-A including HIV C4D strategy development.
- Write up the draft and share it with MoHCC and partners.
- Incorporate comments and feedback and produce a final draft.
Major tasks and Deliverables
The timeframe for the entire consultancy is 30 working days.
Key stages in the process
Tasks: National RMNCH-A C4D Behaviour Change Communication Strategy Development including workshops and consultative meetings
Deliverable: Rapid desk review
Final draft of the National MNCH C4D Behaviour Change Communication Strategy incorporating inputs and feedback from partners and stakeholders
Task: Development of a comprehensive, National RMNCH-A C4D Behaviour Change Communication Implementation Plan that also clearly articulates young people related RMNCH-A issues
Deliverable: Draft Implementation Action Plan, Submit final project report incorporating feedbacks from partners and stakeholders
Timeframe
The consultancy will start on 01 August 2017 and run for working 30 days.
Consultancy Requirements
- Advanced university degree in the social/behavioral sciences (Communication, Sociology, Anthropology, Psychology, Health Education) with proven experience in the field of Communication for development, health education/promotion, community mobilization, social marketing, participatory communication, new technologies and research.
- Knowledge of Baseline AKAP Surveys, quantitative and qualitative; as well as development of M&E Frameworks for communication strategies and action plans.
- At least 5 years of progressively responsible professional work experience in the development, planning and management of social development programmes, including several years in developing countries -preferably in Sub-Saharan Africa, with practical experience in the adaptation and application of communication strategy planning processes to specific programmes.
- Excellent analytical and advocacy skills,
- Excellent writing and presentation skills in English;
- Experience in team work in culturally diverse contexts.
- Initiate and execute activities in a timely manner
Application Procedure
If interested and available, please submit your application letter, CV, Technical proposal and an all-inclusive financial proposal detailing daily professional fees needed to support expenses for all phases of work by 27 July 2017.
Only shortlisted consultants will be contacted. UNICEF does not charge a fee during the recruitment process
More Information
- Job City Harare
