Programme Associate - Social and Behaviour Change

Mission and objectives

La mission fondamentale de l'UNICEF est de promouvoir les droits de chaque enfant, partout, dans tout ce que fait l'organisation : dans les programmes, dans le plaidoyer et dans les opérations. La stratégie d’équité, qui met l’accent sur les enfants et les familles les plus défavorisés et exclus, traduit cet engagement en faveur des droits de l’enfant en actions concrètes. Pour l’UNICEF, l’équité signifie que tous les enfants ont la possibilité de survivre, de se développer et de réaliser leur plein potentiel, sans discrimination, préjugés ou favoritisme. Dans la mesure où un enfant a des chances inégales dans la vie – dans ses dimensions sociales, politiques, économiques, civiques et culturelles – ses droits sont bafoués. Il est de plus en plus évident qu’investir dans la santé, l’éducation et la protection des citoyens les plus défavorisés d’une société – en luttant contre les inégalités – non seulement donnera à tous les enfants la possibilité de réaliser leur potentiel, mais conduira également à une croissance et à une stabilité durables des pays. C’est pourquoi l’accent mis sur l’équité est si vital. Il accélère les progrès vers la réalisation des droits humains de tous les enfants, qui constituent le mandat universel de l'UNICEF, tel que défini par la Convention relative aux droits de l'enfant, tout en soutenant également le développement équitable des nations.

Context

UNICEF Algeria, through its Tindouf Field Office, supports Sahrawi refugee children and families living in the five refugee camps in Tindouf. Within the framework of its Health, Nutrition and Early Childhood Development (ECD) programme, UNICEF works with Sahrawi authorities, community structures and implementing partners to improve child survival, development and wellbeing during the critical early years of life. The proposed UN Volunteer assignment will contribute to the implementation of integrated Early Childhood Development (ECD), nurturing care and Social and Behaviour Change (SBC) interventions, with complementary support to maternal and child health and nutrition activities. The project promotes positive parenting, responsive caregiving, early stimulation, early learning through play, optimal infant and young child feeding practices, gender-responsive caregiving and disability inclusion. The volunteer will support community-based implementation, caregiver engagement, capacity strengthening of frontline workers, field monitoring and documentation to help translate programme priorities into practical and measurable behaviour change among families and communities across the camps. The assignment is designed to strengthen community-level delivery of Early Childhood Development and Social Behaviour Change interventions, complementing the strategic guidance provided by SBC and health and nutrition specialist and supporting UNICEF's efforts to ensure that children, particularly from conception to five years of age, survive, thrive and reach their full developmental potential in a humanitarian setting.

Task Description

Under the direct supervision of UNICEF health and Nutrition Officer Tindouf Field Office, and oversight supervision of chief health and nutrition specialist and SBC sections in Algiers the UN Volunteer will support the implementation of Social and Behaviour Change (SBC) interventions for community based Early Childhood Development (ECD), with a focus on parenting, caregiver engagement, maternal and child nutrition, and promotion of healthy child development. while contributing to maternal and child health and nutrition programming in the Sahrawi refugee camps. The volunteer will undertake the following key tasks: 1. Support community based Early Childhood Development (ECD), Nurturing Care and Positive Parenting:

• Support the implementation of ECD and nurturing care interventions across the five refugee camps, with a focus on the first 1,000 days and children aged 0–6 years.
• Support the facilitation of parenting groups, caregiver learning sessions, community dialogues, and home-based engagement activities.
• Promote positive parenting, responsive caregiving, early stimulation, learning through play and child development through community-based communication channels.
• Support the adaptation and field testing of ECD counselling materials, job aids and practical tools for caregivers and frontline workers (Care for child development package, IYCF package…).
• Strengthen community awareness of child development milestones and referral pathways for developmental concerns.
• Promote caregiver participation in the design and improvement of ECD activities and communication materials. 2. Support Social and Behaviour Change for Maternal and Child Nutrition:
• Support community-based SBC activities promoting maternal nutrition, breastfeeding, complementary feeding, responsive feeding and dietary diversity aligned with the results of the breastfeeding survey.
• Assist community health workers and peer facilitators in delivering participatory counselling and caregiver support at primary health care facilities and during outreach compaigns.
• Facilitate breastfeeding support groups and engage fathers, grandmothers and other influential family members in nutrition and healthy habits promotion.
• Contribute to nutrition-ECD activities linked to nutrition screening, antenatal care and vaccination campaigns and child health services.
• Support implementation of SBC activities that contribute to a unified cross-sectoral "Healthy Habits" strategy across the camps. 3. Promote Gender-Responsive and Inclusive Caregiving
• Encourage equitable caregiving practices and greater involvement of fathers and male caregivers in childcare, health, nutrition and early learning.
• Support the safe and inclusive participation of adolescents and vulnerable groups in parenting and caregiving initiatives.
• Promote disability-inclusive and gender-responsive approaches within SBC and ECD interventions. 4. Help Strengthen Capacity of Frontline Workers and Partners:
• Support orientation, training and mentoring of community health workers, peer educators and partner staff on ECD, nurturing care, parenting and nutrition.
• Participate in supportive supervision visits and field monitoring activities conducted by UNICEF and partners.
• Promote the consistent use of approved communication tools, job aids and monitoring instruments.
• Facilitate peer-learning and reflection sessions to improve programme implementation and community engagement. 5. Support Monitoring, Learning and Documentation:
• Maintain activity plans and support routine monitoring of outreach sessions, caregiver participation, referrals and SBC activities.
• Assist with collection and analysis of ECD, inclusion and community feedback data.
• Conduct simple knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) assessments and qualitative listening exercises.
• Document behavioural barriers, community insights, lessons learned and promising practices.
• Develop human-interest stories and positive parenting case studies in compliance with UNICEF safeguarding and ethical standards in collaboration with UNICEF staff and partners. Results/expected outputs:
• Increased caregiver knowledge and adoption of positive parenting, nurturing care, responsive feeding and early learning practices through community-based ECD and SBC interventions.
• Parenting groups, caregiver support sessions and nutrition-related community engagement activities implemented across the five refugee camps, with increased participation of mothers, fathers and caregivers.
• Community health workers, peer educators and partners supported to deliver quality ECD, parenting and nutrition counselling using approved tools and approaches.
• Improved integration of ECD, nurturing care and nutrition messages within community outreach, growth monitoring, vaccination, maternal and child health services and activities.
• Timely monitoring data, community feedback, lessons learned, success stories and human-interest stories documented and reported to support programme improvement and knowledge sharing

Competencies and values

Core Values

• Care
• Respect
• Integrity
• Trust
• Accountability Core Competencies (for all staff)
• Demonstrates Self-Awareness and Ethical Awareness
• Works Collaboratively with Others
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships
• Innovates and Embraces Change
• Thinks and Acts Strategically
• Drives to Achieve Results
• Manages Ambiguity and Complexity

Living conditions and remarks

• Duty station is Tindouf, with frequent field visits to Sahrawi refugee camps.
• The incumbent will work in a non-family humanitarian duty station with challenging living conditions and limited infrastructure. The role requires strict adherence to UNICEF’s child safeguarding, ethical and communication standards. Additional information: 1. Pre-assignment Entry lump sum: USD 400 Relocation costs: $200 at beginning and end of assignment if duty station is outside of commuting distance (as determined by UNV) 2. During assignment Volunteer living allowance: DZD 115273.89 Learning: Access to UNV's learning and career development resources and participation in an assignment preparation training provided by UNV Annual leave: 2.5 days per month Insurance: Comprehensive coverage for health, life and malicious acts for the UN Volunteer and health insurance coverage for up to 3 eligible dependents . See the Conditions of Service for more details on eligibility criteria. Danger and Hardship Differential (DHD): DZD 34582.16 3. End of assignment Exit allowance (paid on successful completion of the assignment): DZD 12007.7 for each month served, paid on completion of contract