Communication Development Specialist at UNICEF

Purpose

Under the general guidance of the Polio Team Lead (UNICEF), the C4D Specialist will be responsible for leading the coordination the C4D activities for the polio emergency response and revitalisation of routine immunisation including accelerated disease control interventions.

Communication Development Specialist Job Main Responsibilities

• Oversee field implementation of comprehensive Polio Outbreak and routine immunisation strategy in Somalia.
• Develop and implement existing and/or new strategies/approaches to tackle inequities in routine immunization coverage & accelerated disease control through the support to micro planning and social mapping.
• Provide technical support to implement C4D strategies directed to Regional/District & community social mobilization, inaccessible areas, nomadic/mobile population and marginalised groups like IDPs.
• Advise polio eradication & routine immunization teams on most appropriate approaches and strategies to adapt and implement.
• Provide technical support and collaborate with other partners for implementation of polio emergency response interventions & EPI strengthening at the Zone level to facilitate high OPV and Penta 3 (EPI) coverage.
• Act as a liaison between UNICEF Somalia Support Office in Nairobi and field teams, manage implementing partners and contractors.
• Support field implementation of C4D activities through the development of Institutional contract/PCA/LTA/SSFA/SSA/MOU and other forms of agreements with media, NGOs etc. for implementation in a timely manner to ensure ongoing activities.
• Develop daily and weekly SitReps as required
• Support the Ministry of Health in developing a coordination mechanism for all the communication partners and interventions.
• Support the training of C4D implementing partners with emphasis on communication evidence based micro-planning & communication planning, ensure timely implementation through monitoring, reporting, data collection and analysis.
• Support development of Zonal/Regional/District communication plans targeting Left-outs/dropouts/missed children & refusals in preparation for the nation-wide integrated EPI & Accelerated disease control campaigns.
• Support the development & implementation of advocacy, training and community materials for use in reaching out to the political leadership, media organizations, health workers and community.
• Establish community monitoring and reporting mechanism to deal with AFP reporting pockets of unvaccinated children for both polio and routine immunisation.
• Ensure timely data reporting/analysis for C4D indicators on a monthly, quarterly, and annual basis including Independent monitoring, Administrative & HMIS data, District Communication Plans, Micro-plans, Social
• Mobilization Activity Tracking formats and monitoring checklists.
• Manage GAVI HSS2 & Polio Eradication activity implementation, monitoring, optimal grant/fund management & timely reporting of indicators as required.

Qualifications for Communication Development Specialist Job

• Advanced university degree in the Social Sciences (Communication, Sociology, Anthropology, Psychology,
• Health Education) with emphasis on participatory communication, communication planning, social mobilization, participatory research, training and impact evaluation of communication interventions.
• Minimum 5 years of relevant work experience in the planning and management of social development programmes, including minimum 2 years in developing countries, with practical experience in the adaptation and application of communication planning processes to specific programmes.
• Fluency in English.
• A first level university degree with a relevant combination of academic qualifications and experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Communication Development Specialist Job Competencies

• Knowledge of current developments the fields of communication theory, motivational psychology, adult learning theory, indigenous media, community organization and participation.
• Training in strategic communication planning, behaviour analysis, formative research and evaluation of communication interventions.
• Proven skills in communication, networking, advocacy and negotiations.
• Ability to organize and implement training, including development of curricula and methodologies.
• Ability to express clearly and concisely ideas and concepts in written and oral form.
• Computer skills, including internet navigation, and various office applications.