The Communication for Development (C4D) section at the UNICEF West and Central Africa Regional Office (WCARO) provides technical support to 24 countries. The region has some of the highest child mortality rates in the world and faces major challenges in the field of education and protection. C4D plays a key role by promoting life-saving and care behaviors at family and community levels.

2.    Justification
In order to mobilize effective and timely C4D human resources both for the regional and country office level, the Regional Office maintains a C4D Roster. In prevision of 2013 need to surge capacity in C4D to support countries to develop communication plans and to reinforce capacities of partners in communication for development principles and planning, a roster update to identify new C4D regional consultants (SSA contracts) needs to be done.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS NOT A VACANCY FOR A POST, BUT A CALL FOR CANDIDATURES TO BE INCLUDED IN THE WCARO C4D ROSTER AS CONSULTANTS.

3.    Purpose and Objective
Provide technical support to UNICEF Country Offices in the West and Central African Region, development partners and national governments in capacity building, design and implementation of communication plans for the adoption of caring family practices for child survival in development and emergency programmes.

4.    Major Duties/Responsibilities

Provide technical assistance for the planning, implementation and monitoring of C4D strategies for the adoption of caring practices, emergency preparedness and response, and community participation.Strengthen existing partnerships with relevant ministries of the national government, UN/NGO partners to integrate and enhance C4D dimension of the national response.Conduct C4D assessments (communication environment, identification of participants, level of adoption of practices, barriers and facilitating factors to adoption of practices).Build capacities of national counterparts and implementing actors on the principles of C4D, C4D planning and implementation.Organize and manage the development, pre-testing and production (where relevant) of communication materials for behaviour change and community resilience. 

5.    Qualifications and Specialized Knowledge

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 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.

Critical Competencies:

Knowledge of current developments in the fields of communication theory, adult learning theory, indigenous media, community organization and participation.Proven experience with programming in emergency and post emergency situation. Experience in dealing with disease outbreaks an asset.Specialized training on humanitarian assistance in emergency.Training in strategic communication planning, social and behaviour analysis, formative research and evaluation of communication interventions.Proven skills in communication, networking, advocacy and negotiation.Ability to organize and implement training, including development of curricula and methodologies.Knowledge of the social, political and economic environment of West and Central Africa would constitute a major asset.Ability to express clearly and concisely ideas and concepts in written and oral form.Computer skills, including internet navigation, and various office applications.

 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.

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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.

Submission Instructions: 

If you are qualified and interested in these positions and meet the requirements, please forward your application with updated curriculum vitae and UN Personal History Form (available at www.unicef.org/employ) as well as the Candidate Self-Assessment Form, with “C4D Roster as the subject’’, via email to scisse@unicef.org and mdioufdiallo@unicef.org by 23rd November 2012.

INCLUSION IN THE ROSTER DOES NOT GUARANTEE ANY FUTURE CONTRACTUAL RELATIONS WITH UNICEF.

Proposal Deadline Date: November 23, 2012