West and Central Africa Region (WCAR) has the lowest human development indicators in the world.
Emergencies pose a growing threat to stability and development in the region. In 2011, there has been a sharp increase in both political instability and insecurity, which the already fragile states of this region are ill-equipped to deal with. The global economic crisis is putting further pressure on food prices. Climate change is increasing the impact of droughts, nutrition crises and flooding. Natural and human-made hazards multiply these needs and have taken a toll on infrastructure and access to basic services, hastening the spread of epidemics that affect almost every country in the region.
Immediate epidemic concerns include the cholera outbreaks around Lake Chad Basin and in western
Democratic Republic of the Congo; in the three quarters of 2011, reported cholera cases in West and
Central Africa were at more than 85,000, with 2,500 deaths, making it one of the worst cholera epidemics in the region’s history.
2011 has seen also a surge in polio cases in AFRO region. Out of 335 cases, 329 were recorded in
WCAR, with significant increases in cases in Chad and Nigeria and a major outbreak in Cote d’Ivoire.
Polio is a public health emergency that requires immediate attention and action, within the framework of eradication.
Food and nutrition insecurity have become long-term, chronic problems in the Western Sahelian countries (Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon and Chad). While the looming acute food security and nutrition crisis in the region demonstrates the lack of resilience to such shocks amongst vulnerable populations, the chronic crisis has led to a vicious cycle of asset depletion, environmental degradation, and deteriorating vulnerability to recurrent hazards. These long-term adverse consequences particularly affect children.
Communication for Development (C4D) plays a key role in humanitarian crisis by promoting essential lifesaving behaviour at family and community levels and providing vital information about available services. To allow an efficient C4D response in humanitarian situations, the preparedness phase is critical. In 2012, there is a need to support preparedness and response planning exercises in order to help countries in the region to prepare their C4D response to health-related outbreaks and other emergencies. This includes the following thematic areas of work:
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Preparedness and response to Cholera outbreaks
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Preparedness and response Nutrition crisis
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Preparedness and response Polio outbreaks
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Other health-related emergencies depending on the situation
The UNICEF West and Central Africa Regional Office based in Dakar, Senegal, is establishing a roster of suitably qualified Communication for Development (C4D) professionals. Consultancies will be established either at the regional level or at the national level in countries affected by outbreaks / emergencies. The duration may be short term (1 to 3 months) to medium term (3 to 9 months).
MAIN DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES :
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A. For appointments with the Regional Office (including field mission to WCAR countries):
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Provide technical support to UNICEF Country Offices, development partners and national governments in the design of preparedness and response communication plans on health-related outbreaks or other emergencies. The plans will combine interpersonal communication, proximity media and mass media approaches for the adoption of key caring family practices for child survival, and community resilience.
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Provide technical advice to plan on evidence and to monitor C4D interventions in preparedness and response phases.
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Provide facilitation to build capacity of national and local implementing actors for conducting and monitoring a C4D intervention.
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Support the strengthening partnerships with credible source of information at community and family levels.
B. For appointments at Country Office level in West and Central Africa region
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Provide technical assistance for the implementation of C4D preparedness and response plans for the adoption of caring practices and community resilience on health-related outbreaks or other emergencies (with a focus on nutrition crisis).
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Strengthen existing partnerships in emergency with relevant ministries of the national government,
UN/NGO partners, emergency cluster to integrate and enhance C4D dimension of the national response.
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Provide technical guidance for, and oversee, appropriate and timely situation assessments utilizing rapid data collection methods and information from existing surveys.
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Build capacities of national counterparts and implementing actors on the principles of C4D applied to emergency contexts and ensure supervision of their activities
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Organize and manage the development, pre-testing and production (where relevant) of communication materials for behaviour change and community resilience to the emergency.
QUALIFICATION REQUIRED
Education: Advanced university degree in communication for development of the social/behavioral sciences (Sociology, Anthropology, Psychology, community-based development, Health Education).
A first-level university degree (Bachelor ’s degree or equivalent) in one of the academic disciplines listed above in combination with qualifying relevant professional experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Work Experience:
For P3 Level Assignments - A minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible work experience in the planning and management of communication for development programmes, including a minimum of two years in developing countries, with practical experience in the adaptation and
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application of communication planning processes to emergency contexts. An experience in the field of Communication for Development in a UN organization is an asset.
For P4 Level Assignments - A minimum of 8 years of progressively responsible work experience in the planning and management of communication for development programmes, including a minimum of four years in developing countries, with practical experience in the adaptation and application of communication planning processes to emergency contexts. An experience in the field of Communication for Development in a UN organization is an asset.
For P5 Level Assignments - A minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible work experience in the strategic design, planning and management of communication for development programmes, including a minimum of five years in developing countries, with practical experiences in the adaptation and application of communication planning processes to emergency contexts. An experience in the field of Communication for Development in a UN organization is an asset .
Languages: Fluency in either French and/or English is required. Knowledge of Spanish and /or
Portuguese is an asset. Please note that working knowledge of English is required for all assignments.
COMPETENCIES REQUIRED
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Knowledge of current developments in the fields of communication theory, adult learning theory, indigenous media, community organization and participation.
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Proven experience with programming in emergency and post emergency situation. Experience in dealing with disease outbreaks an asset.
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Specialized training on humanitarian assistance in emergency.
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Training in strategic communication planning, social and behaviour analysis, formative research and evaluation of communication interventions.
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Proven skills in communication, networking, advocacy and negotiation.
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Ability to organize and implement training, including development of curricula and methodologies.
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Knowledge of the social, political and economic environment of West and Central Africa would constitute a major asset.
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Ability to express clearly and concisely ideas and concepts in written and oral form.
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Computer skills, including internet navigation, and various office applications.
UNICEF West and Central Africa Country Offices are located in the following countries: Benin, Burkina Faso,
Cameroon, Cape Verde (UN Joint Office), Central African Republic, Chad, DR Congo, Congo, Cote d’Ivoire,
Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria,
Sao tome & Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo.
Suitably qualified candidates are required to submit their updated CV and UN Personal History Form (attached) as well as the Candidate Self Assessment Form (attached) to scisse@unicef.org
and mdioufdiallo@unicef.org
by 29 January 2012 at the latest.
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INCLUSION IN THE ROSTER DOES NOT GUARANTEE ANY FUTURE CONTRACTUAL RELATION WITH
UNICEF
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