Social & Behavior Change Specialist, P3, TA at United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF)

United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (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.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Social & Behavior Change Specialist, P3, TA

Job no: 592916
Duty Station: Abuja
Contract type: Temporary Appointment
Level: P-3
Categories: Social and Behavior Change

Description

• UNICEF Nigeria supports the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (FMHSW), the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), and State Primary Health Care Boards to strengthen both operational and demand components of the national immunization programme, with the goal of boosting routine immunization (RI) coverage and reducing zero dose prevalence.
• To accelerate progress, a dedicated Social and Behavior Change (SBC) Specialist is required to support the implementation of the zero dose reduction agenda, enhance the RI demand components of the Annual Operational Plan (AOP), and promote evidence driven, community led approaches across priority states. The role will focus on addressing the behavioral and social determinants of low immunization uptake, strengthening community engagement systems, and advancing equity by targeting zero dose and under immunized children in Nigeria.

Key functions, accountabilities and related duties / tasks

• The SBC Specialist (TA) will provide technical leadership, coordination, and programmatic oversight for SBC interventions that contribute to improved RI outcomes, ensuring that social data, community insights, and evidence‑based strategies inform routine immunization programming at national and subnational levels. Particularly, the SBC Specialist will:

Social and behavioral Data for Immunization Support generation and use:

• Design and implement Behavioral and Social Drivers (BeSD) studies to generate a deep understanding of the cognitive, emotional, social, and structural factors shaping caregivers’ decisions to vaccinate or not vaccinate their children. Apply standardized global tools, mixed‑methods approaches, and rigorous sampling methodologies to gather high‑quality qualitative and quantitative data, and synthesize this evidence to produce comprehensive analyses of demand‑ and supply‑side barriers within the immunization programme.
• Use the social and behavioural findings to strengthen national and global evidence on reaching zero‑dose and under‑immunized children in line with GAVI’s equity and zero dose agenda. Translate insights into targeted, context‑specific SBC strategies that inform government and partner decision‑making at national and state levels, ensuring RI interventions remain evidence‑driven, people‑centered, and responsive to the needs and preferences of communities.

Evidence Based Social and Behaviour change Immunization interventions Implementation:

• Collaborate with FMHSW, NPHCDA, State Primary Health Care Boards, and UNICEF Health programme sections to design and roll out Social and Behavior Change (SBC) interventions that directly strengthen Routine Immunization (RI) outcomes across Nigeria. Lead the development, field‑testing, and implementation of SBC strategies, communication materials, interpersonal communication modules & tools, and community engagement approaches tailored to zero‑dose LGAs, mobile populations, urban slums, and humanitarian settings in underserved and special populations.
• Provide technical assistance to NPHCDA, State Primary Health Care Boards, civil society partners, and community structures to design, implement, and monitor the SBC components of immunization campaigns, including Routine Immunization intensification efforts, Non‑Polio SIAs, and new vaccine introductions, ensuring evidence‑based community engagement, effective caregiver mobilization, and improved uptake of vaccination services across focus / priority LGAs.
• Drive SBC‑focused advocacy and community mobilization efforts by leveraging on traditional and religious leaders, civil society organizations, Ward and Village Development Committees, women’s groups, youth networks, and other community structures. Facilitate community dialogues, compound meetings, town hall sessions, and accountability platforms to strengthen social norms, increase service utilization, and ensure local ownership of RI improvements.
• Support social and community listening efforts to detect emerging rumors, misinformation trends, caregiver concerns, and service-related barriers in priority LGAs. Establish feedback loops with communities, frontline workers, traditional and religious institutions, youth groups, and CSOs to ensure community voices inform programme adaptations. Synthesize insights from community interactions and digital/social media to guide adaptive SBC strategies, risk communication, and engagement efforts with the Immunization programme.
• Establish and maintain strategic partnerships with media, academia, influencers, and development partners to amplify accurate immunization information, counter misinformation, and sustain political and public commitment to immunization. Leverage these partnerships to advance the national zero‑dose reduction agenda and strengthen social accountability in PHC systems.
• Ensure the technical quality, accuracy, and relevance of all RI demand‑generation materials and messaging by supporting the review, validation, and refining of content. Recommend and deploy appropriate communication channels, including community networks, social and digital media, radio/TV, mobile platforms, and traditional and religious leaders, to achieve broad, equitable outreach and foster trust in immunization services. Oversee the rollout of multimedia and community‑based initiatives that reflect national priorities and emerging evidence.
• Lead and contribute to monitoring, evaluation, and learning activities, including donor reports, supportive supervision, programme reviews, AOP reviews, RI/SBC assessments, and mid‑year/annual sector reviews, to measure the effectiveness of SBC interventions. Use findings to refine strategies, improve programme quality, and support evidence-based decision‑making at national and state levels.
• Document, institutionalize, and share best practices, lessons learned, tools, and evidence from SBC work within the immunization programme—including zero‑dose strategies, community engagement models, campaign mobilisation, and social listening approaches—with government, civil society partners, and global/regional platforms. Disseminate these products to donors, technical partners, and stakeholders to strengthen practitioner capacity and inform future programme design
• Plan and implement targeted capacity‑building initiatives to enhance the competencies of government and non‑government partners, including NPHCDA, State PHC Boards, CSOs, frontline workers, and community structures, in SBC planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation for Routine Immunization, Non‑Polio SIAs, and new vaccine introductions, including in humanitarian and hard‑to‑reach settings

Technical and operational support:

• Collaborate with UNICEF Country Office (CO) and global technical teams to develop context‑specific strategies, approaches, and policies that strengthen Social and Behavior Change (SBC) components of Nigeria’s Routine Immunization (RI) programme. Contribute to the planning and implementation of SBC and social mobilization initiatives that support national priorities—including the zero‑dose reduction agenda, Annual Operational Plans (AOPs) and PHC revitalization.
• Participate actively in Country Office strategic discussions and national immunization planning platforms (including Technical Working Groups) to shape SBC advocacy, policy direction, and investment priorities including engagement with Gavi. Support agenda setting for SBC within the Nigeria immunization programme, ensuring alignment with FMHSW/NPHCDA strategies, Gavi 6.0 priorities, and state-level operational plans.
• Contribute to budgeting processes for SBC interventions within the national immunization programme. Prepare financial plans for SBC activities across RI priority states, monitor the utilization of funds, and ensure compliance with UNICEF financial rules, transparency standards, and donor requirements. Track expenditures against workplans, ensure timely implementation, and adjust plans as needed to strengthen efficiency and effectiveness of RI demand-generation efforts.

Minimum Requirements
Education:

• An advanced university Degree in Social and Behavior Change, Communication for Development, Public Health, Development Communication, or a relevant social science field such as Sociology, Anthropology, Psychology, Health Education, International Studies, or Community‑Based Development is required.

Experience:     

• A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible professional experience in Social and Behavior Change, social development programme planning, demand generation for immunization, public advocacy, or another related field is required.
• Experience working with immunization programmes—including Routine Immunization, SIAs, zero‑dose strategies, or community engagement for health—is a strong asset. Relevant experience within the UN system or in a similar international organization is an advantage.
• Experience working in developing country contexts, particularly in complex or humanitarian settings, is also considered an asset.

Technical Skills:

• Proven, substantive experience in Social and Behavior Change for immunization programmes, including work in humanitarian, complex, or health emergency contexts.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate multi‑stakeholder platforms—such as government working groups, technical committees, or emergency coordination structures—to achieve shared objectives and support the design and implementation of community engagement strategies.
• Strong experience in building consensus and brokering effective partnerships across government, civil society, community networks, and development partners.
• Solid understanding of information management systems, including data flows, data protection principles, and both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies relevant to immunization and SBC.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, with a clear motivation and ability to support inter‑agency coordination, joint planning, and accountability mechanisms.
• Experience facilitating participatory and community‑driven approaches to programming is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in fast‑paced and challenging environments, with flexibility, adaptability, and the capacity to manage multiple priorities and shifting demands.
• Experience in SBC within emergency or humanitarian settings is a strong asset.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or a local language is an asset

Application Closing Date
21st May, 2026.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online