Chief Social & Behavior Change Vacancy-Job Ref: WJMGUNICEF/1905/2025802

Chief Social & Behavior Change Vacancy-Job Ref: WJMGUNICEF/1905/2025802

Antananarivo (Madagascar)

JOB DESCRIPTION
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 calling

Social and Behavior 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 Chief, Social and Behavior Change reports to the Deputy Representative for general guidance and direction. The Chief, SBC is responsible for developing a systematic, planned and evidence-based strategy and process for SBC as an integral part of programme development, planning and implementation.

Through the use of appropriate social and behavioral science, as well as the empowerment and participation of stakeholders, communities, children, civil society partners and government counterparts, s/he promotes measurable behavioral and social change/mobilization. This subsequently contributes to the achievement of sustainable and concrete results on improving children’s rights, survival, and well-being in the country.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

Generate and utilize research, data, and evidence to inform the design, measurement, and monitoring of SBC programs and outcomes in both development and emergency contexts and to build the evidence base for SBC.
Design, plan, and implement SBC activities that are backed by social and behavioral evidence and strong engagement and participation mechanisms in both development and humanitarian contexts.
Support operationalization of SBC by advocating for SBC, mobilizing resources, coordinating across stakeholders, sectors and teams, and partnership building.

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

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

Minimum requirements:

Education:An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: Social and behavorial science. sociology, anthropology, psychology, education, communication, public relations, or another relevant technical field.
Work Experience:A minimum of eight (8) years of professional experience in one or more of the following areas is required: social development programme planning, social and behavior change, public advocacy, or another related area.
Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.
Experience working in a developing country is considered as an asset.
Language Requirements:Fluency in French and English is required.  Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.
Desirables:

Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency.
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.

Please click on the button below to Apply.