Social & Behavior Change Officer, NOB, Fixed Term, Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh #128025

Bangladesh Country Office is seeking an experienced Social & Behavior Change Officer responsible for the design, management, monitoring, and evaluation of evidence-based, inclusive, and innovative SBC strategies.

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, a future

How can you make a difference? 

Under the general guidance of the SBC Team Lead, SBC Unit and in close coordination with Sectoral and Cross-Sectoral Specialists and Officers, contributes to/is responsible for the design, management, monitoring, and evaluation of evidence-based, inclusive, and innovative SBC strategies and promote accountability to affected population in support of the Rohingya refugee response programme and host community in Cox’s Bazar. 

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Generate and utilize research, data, and evidence to inform the design, measurement, and monitoring of SBC/AAP programs and outcomes in both development and emergency contexts and to build the evidence base for SBC.  

• In collaboration with sectoral and cross-sectoral specialists, relevant government officers, and other UN/NGO partners, design, implement, and/or participate in SBC situation analyses and formative research that identify social and behavioral drivers. 
• Initiate, commission, manage, and/or utilize qualitative and quantitative research on social and behavioral drivers that include behavioral analysis, human-centered design, social listening, behavioral insights, participatory research, and/or RCT.  
• Support data collection, tracking, monitoring, and reporting SBC results and prepare syntheses of results. 
• Collate and summarize data, evidence, and trends for social and behavioral issues to inform evidence-based SBC strategies, plans, and activities 
• Contribute to terms of reference, research tools, frameworks, and protocols for generating evidence to inform SBC initiatives and apply tools, methodologies, and frameworks for data collection, tracking, monitoring and reporting, and disseminating SBC results. 
• Conduct and/or participate in-country programme monitoring and evaluation exercises and make recommendations on work plan revisions based on the results. 

2. Design, plan, and implement SBC activities that are backed by social and behavioural evidence and strong engagement and participation mechanisms in both development and humanitarian contexts. 

• In collaboration/consultation with UNICEF sectoral and cross-sectoral specialists, relevant government officers, and other UN/NGO partners, provide technical and administrative support for the development, implementation, and monitoring of evidence-based SBC strategies and activities, in line with global standards and UNICEF priorities and approaches. 
• In collaboration/consultation with UNICEF sectoral and cross-sectoral colleagues and implementing partners, select appropriate SBC activities and platforms for engagement, ensuring quality and integration of the latest evidence and science-backed approaches. In this process, oversee coordination with SBC stakeholders and partners to align plans and activities. 
• Identify/propose actional evidence-based programme/strategy recommendations from current data, evidence, and trends for priority social and behavioral issues and ensure the integration of the latest innovative approaches and technology in SBC in programme approaches and advocate for their adoption among internal and external stakeholders. 
• Apply the above skills of designing, planning, implementing, and monitoring community engagement and SBC interventions in the context of humanitarian emergencies. 

3. Support the operationalization of AAP by advocating for community feedback approaches, coordinating across stakeholders, sectors, and teams, and building alliances and partnerships. 

• Contribute to strengthening AAP in programme planning across all sectors promoting people-centered approaches, including emergency preparedness and response, recovery, and resilience.
• Assist in strengthening community feedback mechanisms through existing Information Feedback Centres, analyzing data collected and use of feedback for programme course correction and community engagement actions.
• Ensure AAP is integrated into community engagement capacity-building training activities, including the development of relevant training materials.
• Coordinate with stakeholders and partners implementation of community feedback mechanisms in humanitarian actions and host community programmes. 
• Ensure UNICEF lessons and experience on AAP contribute to wider learning in the humanitarian and development field, with regular engagement and contribution through UN-wide coordination structures (AAP Working Group -ISCG and other relevant clusters/networks) within the framework of the framework by UN ICSC guidelines and policies.

4. Promote continuous learning, strengthening, and scaling up in SBC for both development and humanitarian contexts through capacity building for UNICEF staff, partners, and implementers. 

• Identify, design, and/or organize SBC training materials and opportunities for staff and partners, including on new approaches such as behavioural analysis, behavioural insights, human-centered design, social listening, and social accountability mechanisms.
• Use and adapt existing UNICEF learning resources, guidelines, and training materials to build SBC capacity among staff, implementing partners, and relevant government and non-government counterparts. 
• Identify, recruit and collaborate with consultants, vendors and other technical expertise to support delivery of SBC activities. Plan, use and track the use of resources and verify compliance with organizational guidelines and standards.
• Contribute to the development and institutionalization of best practices, facilitate the exchange of experiences and provide technical assistance for the uptake of new SBC methods and knowledge internally and externally. 
• Contribute to financial planning, budget planning and tracking and financial management for SBC. 
• Identify and contribute to the development of mechanisms to strengthen systems for community engagement in humanitarian contexts.  
• Develop and/or adapt capacity development tools and activities for humanitarian programming with a focus on preparedness, response, and recovery. 

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

• A university degree (Bachelor’s or higher) in social and behavioral science, including sociology, anthropology, communication studies/communication for development, psychology, and/or related fields is required.
• A minimum of two years of Professional experience in one or more of the following areas is required: social development programme planning, communication for development or social and behavior change, public advocacy, or another related area. Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered an asset.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish). Very good working knowledge of Bangla is an asset. 

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 

(8) Nurtures, leads and manages people

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

This position has been assessed as an elevated risk role for Child Safeguarding purposes as it is a role with direct contact with children, works directly with children, or is a safeguarding response role. Additional vetting and assessment for elevated risk roles in child safeguarding (potentially including additional criminal background checks) apply.

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.

We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, time off for breastfeeding purposes[KR5] , and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

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. UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will 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.

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 female candidates are encouraged to apply.

Internal candidates who are legally permitted to work for UNICEF in Bangladesh, independently of UNICEF appointment, will also be considered.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required[LK6]  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.