CANADEM is seeking French-speaking individuals with previous UN experience who are available for an immediate deployment to Mali with UNICEF for a six month contract.
TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR EMERGENCY (SURGE) MISSIONS
Title: 2 Ebola Communication for Development Specialists
Reports to: UNICEF Chief of Communications
Duration: Six Months
Location: Bamako & Sikasso
Level: P3
BACKGROUND
The 2014 outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in West Africa is the first EVD hit the region and the largest documented in history. Since it was declared in Guinea this past March, the virus has continued to spread within West Africa and beyond. In contrast to previous occurrences, this outbreak has reached urban centres and transmitted across international borders. Mali has recorded the first confirmed case in Kayes region on 23rd October. Given the unprecedented scale and nature of this outbreak, UNICEF has activated its highest level of corporate emergency response (Level 3) to the severely affected countries, following the declaration of Grade 3 emergency response by WHO in July.
In the affected countries including Mali, a lack of adequate equipment and limited knowledge of infection control has put health workers at high risk. Case detection and contact tracing, difficulty monitoring burials, persistent misconceptions about the virus, have also contributed to the spread of the virus. Social mobilisation and interpersonal communication is therefore key to halt the spread of the disease, by combating rumours, quelling fears and clarifying misconceptions about EVD.
PURPOSE
Under the guidance of the Chief Communications and in close collaboration with the Ebola Advisor, Emergency Coordinator, C4D specialists, Logistics Specialist, and other team members and with strategic guidance provided by the UNICEF CO Representative support the development, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of UNICEF's and partners office response to the Ebola outbreak with a special focus on social mobilization/community engagement; ensuring overall efficiency, effectiveness and delivery of results in accordance with UNICEF's Core Commitment for Children in Emergencies (CCCs) and national and international humanitarian standards.
MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS
Ebola Emergency Coordination
• Under the framework of the National Ebola Social Mobilization coordination platform and the overall Ebola Response Strategy & Implementation Plan and in conjunction with other stakeholders and on behalf of UNICEF, support the overall analysis of sectorial needs and priorities and definition of strategies and standards to address needs and activities to contribute to the optimization of UNICEF Ebola response coordination (UNICEF is engaged in Coordination, Social Mobilization, Logistics, Surveillance & Contact tracing).
• Interact with national authorities and development partners (including UN, Donors, NGOs, CSOs, etc.) in the different stages of the emergency programme implementation following up on recommendations and other UNICEF's commitments for the emergency response, including the development of national partners' capacity to overcome the existing gaps.
• As per the coordination function, support partners to develop sectorial implementation plans to progressively accomplish the agreed outcomes; identifying whether any remaining gaps exist and present them to the broader Ebola emergency coordination to identify suitable options to cover them.
• Coordinate with UNICEF focal persons Case Management, Logistics, Surveillance and C4D technical working groups to ensure the complementarity of the sectorial interventions, to identify opportunities for integrated/cross-sectorial interventions.
• Support humanitarian partners and stakeholders to systematic share information on Ebola situation and agencies' implementation activities and, analyze existing data, identify remaining gaps and support the collective definition on how to overcome them.
• Collaborate with the design and roll-out of monitoring plans to follow up the implementation of the Ebola response, incorporating required changes into activities, with special attention to special needs of women, children and people with disabilities, as well as other cross cutting areas.
• In coordination with other UNICEF's relevant sections and divisions - particularly Health, Logistics and Emergency and Field Coordination - and implementing partners, support the development of strategies, plans and proposals.
• Contribute to UNICEF reporting, in accordance with UNICEF's CCC based Humanitarian Performance Monitoring criteria, allowing visibility of UNICEF results achieved and needs.
• Form a Social Mobilization Committee (Pillar) in accordance with UNICEF accountabilities under the UNMEER Framework for action and the WHO Roadmap to coordinate preparedness and containment activities at the national and subnational level (second level administrative units) days.
• Based on the contact tracing and incidence data, commission a desk review and quick research to understand knowledge, attitudes, practices and beliefs of different segments of society, particularly those most at risk.
• In accordance with the strategy and research, develop an action plan for preparedness with all relevant partners. Identify clearly and agree on accountabilities, timeframe and a monitoring framework
• Using the Social Mobilization pillar and the principal forum for coordination and partner collaboration, lead and oversee the development of the content and design of all communication materials for the implementation of the action plan.
• Forge and formalize as necessary, partnerships with civil society organizations to form PCAs and relevant cooperation mechanisms for joint action in preparedness and rapid response.
• Design/adapt tools such as checklists, job aids, key messages, Q & As, guidelines for community dialogue etc. for implementing the action plans.
• Ensure that the necessary human resource capacity and funding is in place to implement the preparedness strategy.
• Coordinate indicator-based timely reporting of C4D activities for EVD prevention against with partners and provide consolidated data / information at an agreed frequency.
• Organize, support trainings of partners and social mobilization networks to enable them to implement the action plan effectively.
QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPETENCIES:
Education:
• Advanced university degree in the social/behavioural sciences is desired, with emphasis on strategic communication planning for behaviour development, social mobilization, participatory communication, and research. A University Degree with qualifying experience may also be accepted in lieu of the Advanced University Degree.
Work Experience:
• Minimum 5 years of progressively responsible professional work experience in the development, planning and management of social development programmes, including several years in developing countries, with practical experience in the adaptation and application of communication planning processes to specific programmes. Minimum of 2 years emergency experience, preferably with an emphasis on EPI and Ebola outbreak experience.
Languages
• Fluency in French and English is required.
Competency Profile
i) Core Values (Required)
Commitment
Diversity and Inclusion
Integrity
ii) Core Competencies (Required)
Communication
Drive for Results
Working With People
iii) Functional Competencies (Required)
Leading and Supervising
Relating and Networking
Applying Technical Expertise
Formulating Strategies and Concepts
Persuading and Influencing
Entrepreneurial Thinking / Proactiveness
HOW TO APPLY:
If you are interested and available please email Phoebe Smith at phoebe.smith@canadem.ca as soon as possible and register with CANADEM at www.canadem.ca/register (registration is free)/or update your profile. In your email please include:
- An up-to-date resume.
- Exact date of availability (when you would be able to board the plane if selected).
- Confirmation that you are fluent in French.
- Confirmation that you are available for a 6 month deployment.
- Confirmation that you have passport that is valid for minimum of 6 months from your return date.
- A short paragraph of no more than 150 words explaining how your experience would allow you to fulfill the task of this position.
If you know of any qualified colleagues who might be interested in this opportunity, please do not hesitate to circulate this advertisement.
