UNICEF Consultancy Social Science Data Manager Jobs in South Sudan

UNICEF Consultancy Social Science Data Manager Jobs in South Sudan

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Terms of Reference

Title Social Science Data Manager – Ebola Viral Disease

Type of Contract Consultant

Supervision Chief, Communication for Development/C4D Ebola Coordinator

Location South Sudan – Juba, with a frequent travel to UNICEF field offices with at risk/affected counties

Duration Six (6) months

Start Date Immediate

Background/Rationale for the Assignment

Following the continuously Ebola outbreak in DRC and the significant risk of cross-border spread to neighboring countries, WHO prioritized 9 countries for Ebola preparedness and response in line with their proximity to the outbreak epicenter and health system capacity to cope with EVD. South Sudan, along with Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi, is categorized as the priority one.

The continuous risk of EVD spread from DR Congo has emphasized due to the fact that South Sudan has reported three indigenous outbreaks in the past.

The outbreaks occurred in 1976, 1979, and 2005 and all the outbreaks occurred in the Western Equatoria state hub. The first two outbreaks occurred in Nzara and Maridi while the third outbreak occurred in Yambio alongside with a measles outbreak.

These trends therefore suggest that even without the risk of EVD spread from the current outbreak in DR Congo, South Sudan harbors the reservoirs for EVD since the Greater Equatoria region shares the same ecological features with endemic locations in DR Congo.

As part of the prepared response, UNICEF is working in close coordination with Ministry of Health, WHO and other partners and actively engaged in the EVD preparedness contingency planning that aims to ensure alignment of preparedness and to be continued for readiness actions in the coming months.

UNICEF's C4D role as lead agency for risk communication includes:

i) coordination;

ii) capacity reinforcement and guidance;

iii) facilitation of assessments;

iv) production, pre-positioning and broadcast of mass media messages to raise public awareness and overcome resistance;

v) outreach to and training of opinion leaders, military personnel, journalists, community-based workers and other field-level partners; and

vi) door-to-door campaigning and interpersonal communication to deliver focused messages to households and service providers.

In addition, UNICEF through the established Risk Communication Task Force at the national level will continue to provide support to the Ministry of Health at national and state level to ensure effective coordination.

Due to the key role UNICEF plays in coordinating Ebola Preparedness Response on Risk Communication, Social Mobilization and Community Engagement across the country with more focus on high risk states, UNICEF (C4D) is seeking to deploy a Social Science Research Expert/Anthropologist with solid expertise in data collection and analysis of prevailing socio-cultural practices.

Purpose & Expected Results

Under the guidance of the Communication for Development (C4D) Chief, and in close coordination with the UNICEF C4D Ebola Coordinator working on Risk Communication, Social Mobilization and Community Engagement, the Social Science Data Manager is responsible for the establishment of a responsive ‘near real time’ mechanism in South Sudan to track and analyze Ebola-related rumors, perceptions, and community opinions, for informing the design and implementation of effective socio-behavioral interventions that build, maintain, or restore community trust and confidence in EVD prevention and containment measures
Data collection and analysis of prevailing socio-cultural practices

Analyze the source of the growing resistance to the EVD preparedness response to understand what is driving it and make concrete evidence-based recommendations on how to reverse it, including new strategies that may be needed.
Proactively address prevailing community concerns, including rumors that have a negative impact on the response strategies and propose strategies on how to address concerns/rumours and use community feedback to improve response strategies.

Reporting and feedback to response teams
Develop weekly briefs for action for risk communication, social mobilization and community engagement working group based on rapid analysis on topics mentioned above and other concerns that emerge as the response situation evolves. Participate in meetings of the RCSMCE TWGs.