Social and Behavior Change Officer, NOB, Pacific Multi Country Office, Honiara, Solomon Islands, #81592

UNICEF Pacific is hiring a Social and Behavior Change (SBC) Officer at the NOB level on fixed term appointment to be based in Honiara, Solomons Islands. Under the general supervision of the Social and Behavior Change Specialist, Solomon Islands will be required to provide technical and operational support and is responsible communication, advocacy and social and behavior change activities.

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, Results.

In the Pacific we work in Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu: These 14 Pacific island countries are home to 2.3 million people, including 1.2 million children and youth, living on more than 660 islands and atolls stretching across 17.2 million square kilometers of the Pacific Ocean, an area comparable to the combined size of the United States of America and Canada. Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu are classified as Fragile States according to World Bank/OECD criteria.

All 14 Pacific Island countries and territories have ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, but only a third are on track with reporting obligations. Explore the different areas of our work here: UNICEF Pacific Islands.

How can you make a difference? 

The Social and Behavior Change Officer reports to the SBC Specialist (and second reporting line to Chief of Field Office Solomon Islands) for close supervision and guidance.

There are two key areas of the role:

1. Assists in planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluating an advocacy and communication strategy to get children’s and women’s issues into the public domain, strengthen political will in support of UNICEF's mission and objectives in the country, and enhance the organization’s credibility and brand.

2. Provide technical and operational support to the Supervisor and SBC team by administering, executing and implementing a variety of tasks to promote community engagement and participation, and measurable behavioral and social change/mobilization.

Key functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks

1. Support to UNICEF Pacific communication, advocacy and communication for development strategies and work plans at country level

• The production of communication products and materials to support the UNICEF Pacific communication strategies ensuring country context
• Develop content and coverage of relevant country efforts to identify effective relevant country programme activities and results
• Develop complementary, country specific and local community materials and activities (e.g. briefing notes, images, videos, web pages etc.) that meet the country and global standards as set out in the Communication Toolkit;
• Assist in drafting and editing articles, press releases, human interest stories and other advocacy/information materials for both web-based and traditional media, as appropriate. Recommend appropriate information and communication materials for use in media, and other advocacy and communication activities.
• Support research and/or participate in conducting comprehensive SBC situation analysis of social, cultural, economic, communication and political issues in the country/region.
• Support evidence-based communication strategies for social and behavior change related programme results, as well as for public information and advocacy purposes.
• Support the identification and maintenance (stock take) of resources, channels, tools, contacts, and networks to support maximum impact and outreach of communication and community engagement initiatives

2. Advocacy, media management and partnership building

• Effective and timely professional assistance and support are provided in developing, drafting and maintaining contact information, materials and relationships with journalists and media outlets covering all media in the country to communicate the story of UNICEF's cooperation to a wider audience.
• Ensure that the field office’s contact list of individuals, groups, organizations and fora (including Government, UN, and bilateral counterparts), are maintained and further developed, whose support is essential to/can assist in achieving the advocacy and communication objectives and who support and are able to actively participate in special events and activities that further the country programme goals.
• Build and maintain partnerships through networking and proactive collaboration with national and international civil society organizations, community groups, leaders and other critical partners in the community and civil society to reinforce cooperation through engagement, empowerment and self-determination and to pursue opportunities for greater advocacy to promote UNICEF mission and goals for child rights, social equity and inclusiveness.
• Collaborate with internal global/regional communication partners to harmonize, link and/or coordinate messaging to enhance SBC outreach and contribution to programmatic outcomes.
• Support the organization of public events and mobilization activities to ensure maximum outreach and intended impact of communication strategies (SBC, Advocacy).

3. Support capacity building and systems strengthening initiatives

• Support UNICEF Pacific partners in the Solomon Islands in media engagement and capacity building initiatives for appropriate reporting of children rights and wellbeing issues.
• Support the organization, administration and implementation of capacity building initiatives to enhance the communication competencies of clients/stakeholders/partners/media across programme sectors in support of program goals in development and humanitarian agenda.

4. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Knowledge management

• Monitor/track the implementation and progress of communication/advocacy and communication for development activities implemented.
• Support the evaluation of results of communication strategies implemented in support of programme goals, assessing contribution, impact and lessons learned.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Minimum requirements:

Education: 

• A university degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, social and behavioral science or other related field is required.

Work Experience: 

• At least two years of professional experience is required in areas of communication, print and broadcast media, digital media, social and behavior change program planning, or related areas

Language Requirements: 

• Fluency in English and local language is required.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(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 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

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 candidates are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.