UNICEF
Vacancy Announcement: Social & Behavior Change Specialist, P3, TA, Abuja, Nigeria #137178 (364 days)
🇳🇪Niger8 days ago
MidTemporaryEN
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Organization Context
Nigeria remains one of the countries with the largest zero dose populations globally, with persistently low routine immunization (RI) coverage across several northern and hard to reach states. These challenges are driven by a combination of behavioral and social factors—including low caregiver confidence, ongoing vaccine hesitancy, competing household priorities, gender dynamics, mobility constraints, limited awareness of RI schedules and benefits, and weak community structures with inconsistent engagement of volunteers. In addition, humanitarian barriers in insecure states and the high concentration of zero dose children in rapidly growing urban slums and peri urban settlements continue to constrain equitable access to immunization services.
Routine childhood immunization coverage further declined during and after the COVID 19 pandemic due to disruptions in health services, reduced caregiver access, mobility restrictions, and the reprioritization of resources toward outbreak response. In light of these setbacks, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (FMHSW) and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) have renewed efforts to restore and strengthen RI by addressing both system wide and behavioral barriers that influence vaccine availability, caregiver demand, and equitable uptake—particularly in zero dose and low coverage LGAs. These efforts include investments in cold chain expansion, supply chain management, supportive supervision, human resource capacity, and improved service delivery, alongside demand generation strategies such as advocacy, interpersonal communication, social mobilization, and revitalization of community engagement structures, including in insecure and underserved rural and urban communities.
How can you make a difference?
UNICEF Nigeria supports the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (FMHSW), the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), and State Primary Health Care Boards to strengthen both operational and demand components of the national immunization programme, with the goal of boosting routine immunization (RI) coverage and reducing zero dose prevalence.
To accelerate progress, a dedicated Social and Behavior Change (SBC) Specialist is required to support the implementation of the zero dose reduction agenda, enhance the RI demand components of the Annual Operational Plan (AOP), and promote evidence driven, community led approaches across priority states. The role will focus on addressing the behavioral and social determinants of low immunization uptake, strengthening community engagement systems, and advancing equity by targeting zero dose and under immunized children in Nigeria.
Key functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks:
The SBC Specialist (TA) will provide technical leadership, coordination, and programmatic oversight for SBC interventions that contribute to improved RI outcomes, ensuring that social data, community insights, and evidence‑based strategies inform routine immunization programming at national and subnational levels. Particularly, the SBC Specialist will:
1. Social and behavioral Data for Immunization Support generation and use
Design and implement Behavioral and Social Drivers (BeSD) studies to generate a deep understanding of the cognitive, emotional, social, and structural factors shaping caregivers’ decisions to vaccinate or not vaccinate their children. Apply standardized global tools, mixed‑methods approaches, and rigorous sampling methodologies to gather high‑quality qualitative and quantitative data, and synthesize this evidence to produce comprehensive analyses of demand‑ and supply‑side barriers within the immunization programme.
Use the social and behavioural findings to strengthen national and global evidence on reaching zero‑dose and under‑immunized children in line with GAVI’s equity and zero dose agenda. Translate insights into targeted, context‑specific SBC strategies that inform government and partner decision‑making at national and state levels, ensuring RI interventions remain evidence‑driven, people‑centered, and responsive to the needs and preferences of communities.
2. Evidence Based Social and Behaviour change Immunization interventions Implementation
Collaborate with FMHSW, NPHCDA, State Primary Health Care Boards, and UNICEF Health programme sections to design and roll out Social and Behavior Change (SBC) interventions that directly strengthen Routine Immunization (RI) outcomes across Nigeria. Lead the development, field‑testing, and implementation of SBC strategies, communication materials, interpersonal communication modules & tools, and community engagement approaches tailored to zero‑dose LGAs, mobile populations, urban slums, and humanitarian settings in underserved and special populations.
Provide technical assistance to NPHCDA, State Primary Health Care Boards, civil society partners, and community structures to design, implement, and monitor the SBC components of immunization campaigns, including Routine Immunization intensification efforts, Non‑Polio SIAs, and new vaccine introductions, ensuring evidence‑based community engagement, effective caregiver mobilization, and improved uptake of vaccination services across focus / priority LGAs.
Drive SBC‑focused advocacy and community mobilization efforts by leveraging on traditional and religious leaders, civil society organizations, Ward and Village Development Committees, women’s groups, youth networks, and other community structures. Facilitate community dialogues, compound meetings, town hall sessions, and accountability platforms to strengthen social norms, increase service utilization, and ensure local ownership of RI improvements.
Support social and community listening efforts to detect emerging rumors, misinformation trends, caregiver concerns, and service-related barriers in priority LGAs. Establish feedback loops with communities, frontline workers, traditional and religious institutions, youth groups, and CSOs to ensure community voices inform programme adaptations. Synthesize insights from community interactions and digital/social media to guide adaptive SBC strategies, risk communication, and engagement efforts with the Immunization programme.
Establish and maintain strategic partnerships with media, academia, influencers, and development partners to amplify accurate immunization information, counter misinformation, and sustain political and public commitment to immunization. Leverage these partnerships to advance the national zero‑dose reduction agenda and strengthen social accountability in PHC systems.
Ensure the technical quality, accuracy, and relevance of all RI demand‑generation materials and messaging by supporting the review, validation, and refining of content. Recommend and deploy appropriate communication channels, including community networks, social and digital media, radio/TV, mobile platforms, and traditional and religious leaders, to achieve broad, equitable outreach and foster trust in immunization services. Oversee the rollout of multimedia and community‑based initiatives that reflect national priorities and emerging evidence.
Lead and contribute to monitoring, evaluation, and learning activities, including donor reports, supportive supervision, programme reviews, AOP reviews, RI/SBC assessments, and mid‑year/annual sector reviews, to measure the effectiveness of SBC interventions. Use findings to refine strategies, improve programme quality, and support evidence-based decision‑making at national and state levels.
Document, institutionalize, and share best practices, lessons learned, tools, and evidence from SBC work within the immunization programme—including zero‑dose strategies, community engagement models, campaign mobilisation, and social listening approaches—with government, civil society partners, and global/regional platforms. Disseminate these products to donors, technical partners, and stakeholders to strengthen practitioner capacity and inform future programme design
Plan and implement targeted capacity‑building initiatives to enhance the competencies of government and non‑government partners, including NPHCDA, State PHC Boards, CSOs, frontline workers, and community structures, in SBC planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation for Routine Immunization, Non‑Polio SIAs, and new vaccine introductions, including in humanitarian and hard‑to‑reach settings
3. Technical and operational support
Collaborate with UNICEF Country Office (CO) and global technical teams to develop context‑specific strategies, approaches, and policies that strengthen Social and Behavior Change (SBC) components of Nigeria’s Routine Immunization (RI) programme. Contribute to the planning and implementation of SBC and social mobilization initiatives that support national priorities—including the zero‑dose reduction agenda, Annual Operational Plans (AOPs) and PHC revitalization.
Participate actively in Country Office strategic discussions and national immunization planning platforms (including Technical Working Groups) to shape SBC advocacy, policy direction, and investment priorities including engagement with Gavi. Support agenda setting for SBC within the Nigeria immunization programme, ensuring alignment with FMHSW/NPHCDA strategies, Gavi 6.0 priorities, and state-level operational plans.
Contribute to budgeting processes for SBC interventions within the national immunization programme. Prepare financial plans for SBC activities across RI priority states, monitor the utilization of funds, and ensure compliance with UNICEF financial rules, transparency standards, and donor requirements. Track expenditures against workplans, ensure timely implementation, and adjust plans as needed to strengthen efficiency and effectiveness of RI demand-generation efforts.
Minimum requirements:
Education:
An advanced university degree in Social and Behavior Change, Communication for Development, Public Health, Development Communication, or a relevant social science field such as Sociology, Anthropology, Psychology, Health Education, International Studies, or Community‑Based Development is required.
Experience:
A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible professional experience in Social and Behavior Change, social development programme planning, demand generation for immunization, public advocacy, or another related field is required. Experience working with immunization programmes—including Routine Immunization, SIAs, zero‑dose strategies, or community engagement for health—is a strong asset. Relevant experience within the UN system or in a similar international organization is an advantage. Experience working in developing country contexts, particularly in complex or humanitarian settings, is also considered an asset.
Technical Skills:
Language Requirements:
Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or a local language is an asset
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(1) Builds and maintains partnerships
(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
(3) Drive to achieve results for impact
(4) Innovates and embraces change
(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity
(6) Thinks and acts strategically
(7) Works collaboratively with others
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Remarks:
As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.
UNICEF’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable female candidates are encouraged to apply.
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