Social and Behavior Change (SBC) Consultant – Parenting, Child Protection & Mental Health in the Digital Sphere, Media, and Crisis Contexts, 1.38 months, UAE, Abu Dhabi, Remote with travel

***Two consultants will be recruited, with each consultant assigned to one of the two pillars.***

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.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, the right to a future.         

How can you make a difference?

The primary objective of this consultancy is to design, implement, and monitor evidence-based SBC strategies, campaign framework, communication packages and community engagement tools addressing parenting support, child and adolescent mental health, child protection and wellbeing in the digital environment. These initiatives will promote positive parenting & mental health and digital safety for children while providing behavioral guidance during crises and unexpected school closures across the Gulf region, starting in UAE, to be later tweaked to each of the Gulf countries.

If you would like to know more about this consultancy, please review the complete Terms of Reference here:  External ToR TMC0007652.pdf

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

Minimum requirements:

Education:

• Master’s degree in social and behavioral sciences, psychology, communication for development (C4D), or other related field.

Work Experience:

• Documented media experience, training media professionals and designing public awareness campaigns or behavior change toolkits targeted at youth and caregivers.
• Minimum of 5 to 7 years of progressive professional experience in designing and executing SBC strategies, specifically within child protection, mental health, or digital safety sectors.
• Prior experience with UN agencies or international NGOs is highly desirable.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English and Arabic (written and spoken) is required, as deliverables must be contextualized for local Gulf audiences.

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills:

• Strong familiarity with the cultural, social, and digital landscape of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate complex psychological and protection concepts into simple, actionable behavioral messages.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills to coordinate effectively across regional governments, media houses, and country offices

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

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

Qualified candidates are invited to submit the following documents via the online recruitment portal, TMS (Talent Management System):

• An up-to-date TMS profile and curriculum vitae (CV)
• Cover letter
• A separate financial proposal (only acceptable in the format of the linked template)  Financial proposal template TMC0007652.docx