Individual Consultancy - Behaviour Insights for Polio and Life-Saving Commodities, Garissa Kenya Country Office at UNICEF

Purpose of Activity/Assignment

The impact of climate change manifests as a water crisis and disease outbreaks in Kenya. The changes in rainfall patterns are causing floods, droughts, and desertification. Climate-induced movement of people and mosquitoes is causing disease outbreaks.  The negative effects of climate change and disease outbreaks are most grave among young children from the most disadvantaged populations in ASAL counties. In order to protect people from the impact of climate shocks, UNICEF plans to harness the behaviour science in the following areas.

One of the most vulnerable children exposed to the extreme weather and disease outbreaks are those children who are missing out on the health services. According to the DHIS2, Kenya reaches 83% of children under one year with routine immunization yet 2% of children remain without any protection from the vaccines. These children are exposed to the risk of vaccine-preventable diseases, especially Measles, Rubella and Polio with the most at-risk populations being the nomadic, cross-border, and slum dwellers populations across the country. In 2023, there has been increased reporting of circulating vaccine-derived polio virus cases from Garissa County indicating cross-border importation and active transmission at community level, underscoring the need for targeted community engagements informed by the behaviour science amongst the most vulnerable populations living in zero-dose immunization reporting areas along the Kenya-Somalia border. This is in line with the National Vaccine & Immunization Programme (NVIP) National Strategic Plan of the Ministry of Health, which prioritize improving the effectiveness and efficiency of routine and supplementary immunization delivery systems to achieve equity with a focus on under-immunized and zero dose populations. In collaboration with NVIP and Garissa County, UNICEF Kenya plans to expand its evidence-based community engagement with cross-border, nomadic and urban populations to increase the vaccine coverage among children below 5 years.  The intervention will be designed using the behavioural insights with technical support from UNICEF contracted behavioural research firm. The project will be implemented and assessed using a research framework using data at the health facility level, considering the county context.

In 2023, Kenya detected and later confirmed polio outbreaks. The cases and community contact are all from Hagadera refugee camp, associated with frequent population movement with neighbouring Somalia. The Ministry of Health through the Division of Disease Surveillance and Response and the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre has activated a Technical Coordination Committee, to begin preparations for implementation of emergency outbreak response, as per internationally agreed outbreak response guidelines, including rapid implementation of large-scale supplementary immunization activities. Three rounds of polio immunization campaign were conducted to contain the spread of polio. Additional campaign might be conducted in 2024. It is important to support MOH in collecting and analysing data to provide timely advice to the preparation, implementation and monitoring the upcoming campaigns.

The same children in ASAL counties are also at risk of regular waterborne-disease outbreaks, where UNICEF provides WASH emergency kits as key commodities in the emergency response. The delivery of the kit is a life-saving measure that provides children, mothers and other community members access safety, better health, dignity and a means to sustain livelihoods. However, the uptake and usage of the humanitarian commodities are not always optimal.  Standardized emergency kits may not  be effective in addressing specific challenges and conditions, if the kit assembly does not take into consideration the local context, including the human aspect. UNICEF Kenya is applying behavioural science to unpack the barriers and enablers for the uptake and appropriate usage of lifesaving commodities and using the Accountability to Affected Population (AAP) approach to intentionally design a meaningful participation of emergency kit beneficiaries in the design and composition of the kits. The purpose of the initiative is to 1) customize the kits that are tailored to people’s needs in emergencies, 2) source the supplies locally where possible, and 3) optimize the delivery of the commodities using technology.

Justification

The application of behaviour science and community engagement require an SBC expert who can speak the local language. It is essential to have a sound knowledge of qualitative and quantitative research, as well as pro-active engagement of the county health to bridge the needs of the communities and health services. Recognizing the need to intensify demand for health services and appropriate use of life-saving commodities, it is necessary to hire a full-time consultant based in the Garissa Zone Office.

Scope of Work:

Technical support to Vaccine Demand Intensification through Community Engagement

• Contribute to the behavioural insight design pitch and behavioural analysis
• Contribute to the finalization of the behavioural insight interventions tools
• Support the review and finalization of research plan and translation of the tools into local language
• Support the training of the Implementing partners and the National/County Department of Health on behavioural insight toolkit application in immunization interventions
• Monitor the implementation of the project activities in close collaboration with focal points and leads from National Vaccine & Immunization Programme and County Department of Health
• Support the review and timely feedback on the project narrative and financial progress reports 

Support the polio outbreak response

• Contribute to the planning, implementation and use of data – social investigation – for emergency outbreak response
• Participate and provide technical assistance in the outbreak response planning meetings
• Monitor the polio immunization campaigns
• Participate and provide technical assistance in the campaign internal and external progress & review meetings and ensure timely closure of all action points

Conduct research to generate behaviour insights for customization of WASH kits.

• Create a research plan, including research tools and proposed methodology.
• Conduct site visits to pilot sites to gather behavioural insights.
• Disseminate behavioural insight reports internally and externally as agreed in the technical working group for WASH kit customization.
• Conduct pre-testing of the customized and innovative product with the target communities and document feedback for further refinement.
• Review current IEC material that accompanies WASH NFI distribution and work with office WG to develop updated IEC material based on needs that arise in pilot, including child friendly IEC materials.

Deliverables:

Overall work plan and monthly progress report that encompasses the three areas of work and deliverables. This includes documentation of good practices and lessons learned.

Technical support to Vaccine Demand Intensification through Community Engagement

• Behavioural insight interventions tools refined and translated after consultation with the county and communities
• Research plan approved by the ethical committee
• Training report submitted with an observation of the Implementing partners and the National/County Department of Health in their understanding of the behavioural insight tool application in immunization interventions
• Programme Monitoring Visit report submitted after the monitoring visit to the project sites (PMV 1)
• Programme Monitoring Visit report submitted after the monitoring visit to the project sites (PMV 2)

Support the polio outbreak response

• Support Polio evidence generation planning and implementation using SBC approaches such as social listening, social investigations and rumour tracking among others.
• Support the planning, implementation and monitoring of polio immunization campaigns in focus counties
• Represent UNICEF SBC in the Polio campaign RCCE Committee, Daily PHEOC review meetings and generate evidence-based recommendations and closure of UNICEF action points.

Conduct research to generate behaviour insights for customization of WASH kits.

• Research plan, including research tools and proposed methodology.
• Research report describing the community feedback and behavioural insights gathered.
• Dialogue held with vendors and suppliers in consultation with the technical working group for WASH kit customization.
• Pre-testing report summarising the community feedback on the customized and innovative product and recommendations for further refinement.
• Key messages, IEC materials and communication assets produced to strengthen the correct usage and uptake of the WASH kits.

Desired Competencies, technical background and experience

• Advanced university degree in environmental/public health or social sciences (health education, health communication, anthropology, sociology, psychology, social development, development studies etc.).
• At least 6 years of solid professional experience in Social and Behavioral Change or related disciplines, including community engagement and vaccine demand intensification.
• At least 2 years' experience in the field of immunization and WASH, particularly in generating evidence through formative research and behavioral insights study approaches
• Previous work experience in preparedness or response. 
• Previous work experience in the UN or international NGO an asset. 
• Working experience in North-East Kenya is highly desirable 
• Excellent communication, networking, advocacy and facilitation skills.
• Proven ability to work independently under difficult conditions.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships, both within and outside the organization.
• Familiarity and/or experience with UNICEF and the UN system is desired
• Previous working experience with implementing partners delivering interventions to cross-border, new arrivals and mobile nomadic populations
• Advanced quantitative and qualitative behavioral data analysis skills using Power BI, Microsoft Office Applications, Open Data Kit (ODK) amongst others
• Fluency in English, Kiswahili and Somali is required. Other local languages are an asset.