Local Consultancy: Social and Behaviour Change (SBC) Consultant for BARMM (Re-advertised)

For every child, the right to nutrition and care that reach every community.

UNICEF has been an active partner of the Government of the Philippines and civil society in realizing the rights of every Filipino child, in line with priorities to achieve the SDGs. UNICEF efforts have been focused on the most vulnerable regions identified by the Government of the Philippines Development Plan, particularly in the regions of Visayas and Mindanao. To ensure that interventions are sustainable and scaled up, UNICEF will support both the national and local government units (LGUs) as the main instruments of delivering services and building systems. The level of engagement with government institutions will consider capacities, economies of scale and sector issues.

UNICEF Philippines has two offices. One office is based in Manila and a field office in Cotabato City, the second largest city in Mindanao, Southern Philippines, with some 300,000 population. The city is the regional administrative center of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and over 80 percent of the population is Muslim. Mindanao is both conflict-affected and prone to frequent earthquakes and typhoons.

How can you make a difference?

Under the supervision of the Nutrition Officer in Mindanao Field Office, the consultant will work in close technical coordination with the MFO Cross Sectoral Team covering SBC, Sector Leads and SBC unit in Manila, UNICEF PMNP team, programme assistants, and government partners at the subnational and local level. The consultant will be co-managed by the Health and Nutrition Team, and Cross-Sectoral (SBC) team— with MFO-specific tasks under the management of the SBC Team, and CNF-related tasks under the management of the HN Team. The postholder is required to perform the following tasks.

1. SBC Evidence Generation and Pilot Testing of SBC Tools for Health and Nutrition

• Conduct Mapping and Desk Review of Existing SBC Initiatives: Identify and document existing SBC programs and interventions, materials, strategic documents, and research outputs. Conduct desk reviews to analyze social norms, motivations, and behavioral determinants influencing health and nutrition practices in BARMM.
• Analyze and Disseminate Desk Review Findings: Synthesize findings from desk reviews and share insights with internal and external stakeholders of the PMNP to inform the design and refinement of the Regional SBC Strategy.
• Provide Technical Support for Formative Research: Offer guidance and oversight in the design and implementation of formative research activities to generate evidence that will inform SBC strategy development and implementation.
• Co-Lead Development and Refinement of SBC Materials and Tools: Support the development, adaptation, pre-testing, review, approval, and dissemination of culturally appropriate SBC interventions, materials and implementation tools (e.g., toolkits) to support effective SBC programming.

• Support the Development of the Regional SBC Strategy: Facilitate the formulation of a comprehensive Regional Social and Behaviour Change (SBC) Strategy for Health and Nutrition, in close collaboration with the SBC Institutional Contractor and relevant stakeholders. Ensure alignment with the Regional Plan of Action for Nutrition (RPAN), the Bangsamoro Food Security and Nutrition Plan (BFSNP), and other relevant national health and nutrition priorities and policies.
• Support Localization and Quality Assurance of Sub-Regional SBC Plans: Provide technical assistance to provinces and municipalities in developing and contextualizing SBC strategies, ensuring integration into Local Nutrition Action Plans (LNAPs). Support municipalities in ensuring the quality, completeness, and accuracy of SBC strategic plans, progress reports, and monitoring and evaluation frameworks.

3. Coordination and Monitoring of Health and Nutrition SBC Strategy Implementation

• Conduct monitoring activities for implementation of Health and Nutrition SBC strategy: : Coordinate and collaborate with other PMNP consultants (e.g., F1KD, IM, Governance), UNICEF sector leads, government partners, and other agencies (e.g. UN agencies, I/NGOs) for joint site visits, data collection, stakeholder consultations, and other field activities to ensure coherence and synergy across PMNP components.
• Engage BARMM Ministries on SBC Interventions and Advocacies: Work closely with the Ministry of Health and other relevant BARMM ministries to gather and consolidate information on ongoing SBC strategies and interventions related to health and nutrition across the region. This in turn will also be utilize as a form of advocacy on all levels of programming.
• Report monitoring results: Identify any gaps, issues and concerns raised by government partners during SBC technical assistance implementation. Provide timely recommendations to address challenges and improve delivery.
• Document and Gather reports: Document good practices and recommendations and share accordingly with UNICEF team, and partners. Gather relevant SBC data for UNICEF reporting.

4. Support Cross-Sectoral SBC Implementation under CPC 9

• In close collaboration with the SBC Officer, cross-sectoral team, and sector leads, support the strategic implementation and integration of UNICEF’s SBC Strategy across key sectors, ensuring a complementarity approach and alignment with the core standards and inclusion principles outlined above:

5. Policy Advocacy for Nutrition Financing

• Provincial Nutrition Financing Advocacy and Communication Strategy: The consultant will support the development of a Provincial Nutrition Financing Advocacy and Communication Strategy that strengthens political commitment, resource mobilization, and accountability for nutrition at the provincial level. This will include analyzing the nutrition financing landscape, identifying key decision-makers and influencers, defining clear advocacy objectives and priority financing asks, and developing evidence-based messages and approaches tailored to provincial contexts, aligned with national nutrition priorities and Social and Behavior Change (SBC) principles.
• Provincial Nutrition Financing Advocacy Toolkit and Campaign Package: The consultant will develop a Provincial Nutrition Financing Advocacy Toolkit and Campaign Package to operationalize the strategy. The toolkit will translate evidence and policy priorities into practical advocacy and communication materials for use by government counterparts, civil society, and partners. This will include standardized messaging, briefing and presentation materials, campaign concepts, and adaptable communication products to support coordinated advocacy actions and sustained engagement to influence nutrition financing decisions at the provincial level.

6. Support SBC implementation during Emergencies

• Perform other tasks aligned with the UNICEF-DOH PMNP partnership agreement, including SBC support in Emergency Preparedness and Response.

Tasks and Deliverables

Detailed Consultancy Workplan

Regional SBC Strategy Document

Sub-Regional SBC Strategic Plans

• Emergency SBC Response Report (Ad Hoc Only)

*Detailed Terms of Reference may be requested.

Education

University degree (Master’s or Bachelor’s) in social and behavioral sciences or a related discipline, including but not limited to sociology, anthropology, communication studies or development communication, mass communication, psychology, behavioral science, nutrition, public health, or other relevant fields.

Work Experience

• At least 5-7 years of technical experience in the following:

Knowledge and Skills

Knowledge of the following:

• Strong analytical and presentation (oral and written) skills, including using people and leadership skills.
• Candidates with local knowledge and experience in the regional assignments are encouraged to apply.
• Relevant field experience and previous work experience in the UN are highly desirable.
• Additional knowledge and technical skills required include: a. Proven experience in material development, adaptation, and pre-testing of SBC, advocacy, and communication products b. Advanced cross-sectoral coordination skills, with demonstrated ability to work across health, nutrition, social protection, education, WASH, and governance sectors c. Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE)experience, particularly in emergency and humanitarian contexts
• Understanding of Local Government Unit (LGU) budget policies and Public Financial Management (PFM), including their application to policy advocacy and nutrition financing.

Language Requirements

• Fluency in English, Filipino and local language is desirable.

HOW TO APPLY

For every Child, you demonstrate...

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

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

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable eligible and suitable candidates irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, are encouraged to apply.

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.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.

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.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF’s Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. The candidate may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid).