Social & Behavior Change Officer, NO-2, Temporary Position, 364 days, Maseru, Lesotho, #00138123 at Lesotho
Job no: 595254
Contract type: Temporary Appointment
Duty Station: Maseru
Level: NO-2
Location: Lesotho
Categories: Social and Behavior Change
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 for as long as we are needed. 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 professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.
How can you make a difference?
The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programmes, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favouritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfil their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.
Purpose for the job: The Social and Behaviour Change Officer reports to Chief of Child Survival and Development. The Officer provides technical and operational support to the supervisor, programmes, and partners by administering, executing and implementing a variety of tasks to promote and support community engagement and behaviour and social change interventions in immunization, requiring the application of technical skills in alignment with UNICEF organizational goals, rules, regulations, policies and procedures.
The incumbent’s work will be reflected in strengthened rights and evidence-based SBC and Community Engagement (CE) interventions to address knowledge, attitudes, norms and practices of individuals and social groups that contribute to enhancing vaccine update, reduction in the zero-dose and under-immunized children, social listening, community feedback and accountability and knowledge on vaccines.
Summary of key functions/accountabilities:
- Support to programme development and planning
- Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results
- Technical and operational support to programme implementation
- Advocacy, networking, partnership building and scale up of SBC principles and approaches
- Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building
If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:
JD – Social & Behavior Change Officer_NO2_00138123.pdf
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Minimum requirements:
- Education: Bachelor or equivalent (First Level University Degree) in Social and Behavioral Science, including Sociology, Anthropology, Communication Studies/ Communication for Development, Psychology and/ or related field is required.
- Work Experience: At least 2 years of professional experience in one or more of the following areas is required: Social Development Programme Planning, Commuication for Development or Social and Behaviour Change, Public Advocacy or another related area.
- Skills: Drive To Achieve, Change Agility, Financial Acumen, Ambiguity Management, Self Awareness.
- Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required.
Desirables:
- Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.
- Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered an asset.
- Experience in immunization programme is an asset.
- Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.
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
Deadline: 31 Aug 2026