Job no: 575103
Contract type: Consultant
Duty Station: Panama City
Level: Consultancy
Location: Panama
Categories: Social and Behavior Change

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.
Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.
And we never give up.
For every child, a champion
Social and Behaviour Change in UNICEF is a cross-cutting programme strategy that analyses and addresses the cognitive, social and structural determinants of individual practices and societal changes in both development and humanitarian contexts. SBC uses the latest in social and behavioral sciences to understand people, their beliefs, their values, the socio-cultural norms and the economic and institutional contexts that shape their lives, with the aim of engaging them and increasing their influence in the design of solutions for change. SBC brings social and behavioral evidence generation together with participation in community-led and human-centered processes. SBC is at the core of UNICEF’s mandate, with corporate results across sectors revolving around behaviors like immunization, feeding practices, learning, hygiene, and positive discipline, as well as transformations across sectors needed to make societies more inclusive, equitable and peaceful.
UNICEF SBC employs a mix of approaches including community engagement, strategic communication, applied behavioral science, service delivery improvement, systems strengthening, social mobilization and policy advocacy to advance child rights, survival, development, protection, and participation.
How can you make a difference?
The LACRO Regional Rosters include approved profiles of SBC experts and are maintained and utilized by UNICEF staff regionally to recruit consultants, ranging in length from short term to long term.
Currently the UNICEF SBC Section is expanding its regional roster in two categories 1) SBC Roster (development context) for candidates with proven expertise in a wide range of SBC services in non-emergency, development programming contexts 2) an Emergency Roster for candidates with expertise in delivering SBC in humanitarian, disease outbreak, conflict, and other emergency contexts. Candidates with expertise to work in this capacity are highly encouraged to apply.
Applicants for this announcement will be considered for the Regular (development context) and / or the Emergency Roster based on their expressed interest in one or both rosters; responses to a set of screening questions; and qualifications.
By applying to this announcement, you are applying to be considered for inclusion in one or multiple SBC Rosters. The rosters will be used by UNICEF staff to streamline the process for onboarding SBC experts with relevant experience. Approved applicants will be assigned to the pool of candidates for one or both rosters based on their preferences expressed at the start of the application process.
Approved candidates could be offered consultancies across UNICEF LAC Countries and the Regional Office that can range in topics but might fall under any of the technical areas listed below. Since this announcement is to build two distinct rosters (development context and humanitarian), the list of technical areas might not apply to all candidates for all rosters. Across the rosters, we are looking for applicants with some combination of technical areas of expertise.
For more information of the technical areas of expertise please see the enclosed Final To Rs SBC Roster for VA.pdf
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Education:
A University degree in one of the following fields is required: social and behavioural science, sociology, anthropology, psychology, education, communication, communication for development, public relations, or another relevant technical field.
Qualifications:
The level of experience required will vary according to the specific positions, starting at a minimum of 2 years for a junior level position, and up to a minimum of 10 years for senior level position, at the national and international levels.
Some of the typical qualifications required for UNICEF SBC positions are listed in the Final To Rs SBC Roster for VA.pdf
For every Child, you demonstrate…
UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).
UNICEF competencies: building and maintains partnerships, demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness, drive to achieve results for impact, innovates and embraces change, manages ambiguity and complexity, thinks and acts strategically and works collaboratively with others.
To view our competency framework, please visit here.
Administrative details.
Workplace: The consultancy is home-based with eventual travels depending upon specific assignment.
Purpose: Varies depending on specific assignment.
Expected results: (measurable results) - Varies depending on specific assignment.
Timeframe: Based on specific assignment
How to apply? Application should be submitted online and should include/upload: TMS application form duly completed, Cover Letter, University Certificates/Diplomas and UN Mandatory courser certificates in case you have done them.
A panel will review all applicants and assess their suitability for inclusion in the roster(s). In some cases, the candidate may be contacted for additional assessment, including, for example, work samples, a brief interview, reference checks, etc. Please note that only candidates who have passed this selection process will be included on the rosters. If you are selected for at least one roster, your profile will be accessible to approved UNICEF staff regionally who can then contact you directly with invitations to bid for future consultancies that fit your profile. The assignment of a candidate to a roster does not guarantee contracts and not all positions are sourced from the rosters.
UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.
UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.
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. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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.
Remarks:
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
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.
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. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully vaccinated status against SARS-Co V-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.