Social Mobilization & Development Officer (Polio),
Kandahar, Afghanistan
UNICEF - United Nations Children's Fund
Closing date: Monday, 6 August 2018
Apply
Summary of key functions/accountabilities:
- Plans and facilitates the implementation of locally appropriate social mobilization strategies based on the revised Afghanistan PEI Communication strategy; develops feasible action plans adaptable to the local social context to generate demand for polio and immunization services.
- Supports the social mobilization and M and E teams to assess the social determinants that impact on polio transmission in priority and low performing provinces and districts where communities are underserved or left out paying particular reference to aspects of social exclusion, accessibility that lead to vaccine refusal, missed children and other behaviour that contribute to low vaccine coverage.
- Develops and enhances strong partnerships for social mobilization within the Emergency Operations Centre, with key community groups, leaders and other partners working in close collaboration with national/MoPH focal persons in communication and social mobilization. and civil society for promotion of participation in social and behavioural changes supportive of uptake of immunization services, focusing on polio.
- Contributes to the designs, development and use of communication materials and tools at the local level that promote positive caregivers, family and community responses to immunization by influential community and religious leaders.
- Liaises with UNICEF Country office sections staff notably, health, nutrition, water and sanitation sections to promote social mobilization strategies and activities that lead to positive health seeking behaviour, create demand and improve utilization of immunization services in the context of PEI/EPI convergence.
- Monitors and evaluates outcome and impact of social mobilization strategies and activities on the basis of applied communication research, planned and regular field visits; Contribute to the preparation of section annual work plans, quarterly, bi-annual, annual and donor reports, and project proposals as needed especially, related to polio eradication and other immunization services.
- Decides on the validity, accuracy and usefulness of data, especially as it relates to behaviour change and social mobilization. Such decisions affect communication for development strategy and development of materials.
- Recommends appropriate materials for use in social mobilization and behaviour change activities; and makes recommendations on the appropriateness, quality and dissemination of printed and audio-visual materials. These recommendations contribute to the effectiveness of the communication for development strategy and plan.
- Incumbent operates within rules and regulations, and makes recommendations to the supervisor when deviation from guidelines or changes in procedures are required.
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Education: University degree in the social/behavioural sciences (Sociology, Anthropology, Psychology, and Health Education), Public/Community Health or any other related field of study is required.
Experience: Minimum two years of professional work experience in social development, preferably in the areas of participatory communication, communication planning, social mobilization, and behaviour change and community empowerment, at either the national or international level is required. Experience in polio eradication or immunization programming an asset.
Language: Fluency in English and local language of Dari and/or Pashto is required.