SBC Consultant – Polio & Immunization

The consultant will support the development and adaptation of Polio Social and Behaviour Change (SBC) strategies at federal and state levels, provide technical assistance for SBC micro-plans, support campaign readiness and implementation, and strengthen coordination and capacity building related to polio immunization efforts in Sudan.

Responsibilities

• Support development and adaptation of federal and state-level Polio SBC strategies and ensure integration into preparedness and outbreak response plans.
• Provide technical assistance to develop evidence-based SBC micro-plans informed by IM, LQAS, refusal tracking, social investigations, and KAP/social research findings.
• Support pre-campaign readiness including stakeholder mapping, mobilization planning, and coordination of community engagement activities.
• Provide technical oversight during campaign implementation and support post-campaign follow-up for missed children and zero-dose identification.
• Ensure effective use of communication channels including interpersonal communication, community dialogues, influencers, and local leaders.
• Design and implement targeted SBC interventions to address vaccine hesitancy, refusals, and misinformation.
• Support engagement of influencers, religious leaders, health workers, and community networks to promote polio vaccination.
• Develop/review key messages and IEC materials and strengthen rumor tracking and rapid response mechanisms at state level.
• Provide on-the-job mentoring and support capacity building of state, locality, and administrative health promotion officers on SBC microplanning, IPC, community engagement, and monitoring tools.
• Strengthen coordination between Health, SBC, implementing partners, and line ministries, and actively participate in federal and state-level technical coordination meetings.
• Analyze SBC data from IM, LQAS, and field monitoring; produce monthly technical briefs; document best practices and lessons learned; and submit comprehensive campaign reports with recommendations.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in social/behavioral/communication science, other fields with relevant certified training in behavioral and social communication.
• Minimum three years of professional experience in Polio SBC or related technical area, programme planning and management at the national or international levels, preferably in a developing country.
• Experience working in emergency settings is required.
• Relevant experience in SBCC and Community Engagement for immunization and social cohesion in any UN system organization is considered an asset.
• Ability to work independently and to meet deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively work and communicate in a multicultural environment.
• Willingness to work from Kassala and surrounding states.
• Computer literacy and strong familiarity with MS Office package required.
• Strong competency for MS Excel is considered an asset.
• Completed training on BSAFE.
• Fluent English and Arabic required.
• Sudanese Arabic capability is considered an asset.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively work and communicate in a multicultural environment writing and oral communication skills in English.

Skills

• Social and Behavioral Communication
• Polio SBC
• Programme Planning and Management
• Emergency Settings Experience
• SBCC
• Community Engagement
• Immunization Strategies
• Social Cohesion
• Multicultural Communication
• Microsoft Office Suite
• MS Excel
• Bsafe Training
• Technical Assistance
• Campaign Readiness
• Capacity Building

Languages

English, Arabic