SBC Consultant (Emergency)

Overview of position

Background:

• Our clients Bangladesh Country Program (CP) 2022 – 2026 program of cooperation with the government of Bangladesh builds on the impressive socioeconomic development achieved by Bangladesh over the past few decades. The CP is aimed at contributing to the country’s 8th Five-Year Plan (8FYP) 2020 – 2025 & includes a focus on inclusive growth that lowers poverty & improves economic & social equity, sustainable development resilient to disasters & climate change, the successful management of urbanization, the development of critical institutions & attaining the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s). The program will also contribute towards the goals of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2022 – 2026. The CP document (2022 – 2026) has reiterated its commitment to emergency preparedness & response, pandemic challenges, environmental health issues, which includes climate change.
• Bangladesh has made climate change & disaster management a central pillar of the 8FYP. Globally, Bangladesh is the 7th most affected country by extreme weather events, particularly tropical cyclones. Rising sea levels also its impact on people, forcing the migration of poor people to the urban slums. Bangladesh has one of the worst air pollutions ranking in the world. The country is susceptible to different types of multi hazard situations & is at high risk of facing humanitarian crises. Natural disasters like cyclones, floods, landslides due to heavy rainfall are common phenomena that lead to greater vulnerability for communities & affect thousands of children & their families almost every year. The country is also at high risk of earthquakes as 5 geological fault lines run through the country. Furthermore, new scope & areas such as anticipatory action, early warning for all are also emerging for SBC to coordinate, contribute & shape further with its expertise & experiences of the community engagement throughout the country on several thematic areas.
• In addition, the risk of disease outbreaks like dengue, Nipah & other public health related emergency such as heatwave has increased & able to disrupt the country’s regular health service system as well as affect the economy. The importance of pandemic prevention, preparedness & response in Bangladesh has also been emphasized by the profound impact of the COVID – 19 pandemic. The nation, like many others, faced significant challenges ranging from public health crises to economic downturns. Recognizing this, investing in robust prevention measures, preparedness plans & efficient response strategies is imperative for the well being of the population & to engage the population meaningfully to strengthen the ability of the nation for future pandemics. The COVID – 19 experience has highlighted the need for a proactive measure to address the unique social & cultural dynamics of Bangladesh.
• Considering the different aspects of disasters, emergencies & climate change, the SBC section is aiming to support the government’s efforts to ensure engagement of the at risk communities are well informed, can engage & are aware of their rights & dignity as well as the accountability of the system when it comes to the issues mentioned above. Therefore, the SBC section has been working to strengthen its readiness through ensuring an up to date Emergency Preparedness Platform (EPP), development & implementation of contingency plans through the provision of supplies & information services, community engagement & strengthening feedback & accountability mechanisms.
• Thus, the SBC section requires a dedicated human resource in the form of a national consultant to provide the required technical & operational support to ensure timely & quality SBC inputs & assistance for emergency related activities including Accountability to Affected People (AAP) & strengthening the disaster & climate change related initiatives in sections as well at national level.

Objectives, purpose & expected results:

The purpose of the assignment is to hire a National Social & Behaviour Change (SBC) consultant to strengthen section response in emergency, including natural disasters, disease outbreaks & man-made crises, as well as to support climate change & community resilience initiatives at national & sub national level & for the timely & quality SBC input into our clients Bangladesh country office Emergency Preparedness & Response Planning (EPRP). The specific objective of this assignment will be to provide technical support in the following areas:

• Technical support to the SBC section to strengthen emergency preparedness, humanitarian response, Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) & climate change programming.
• Technical support to strengthen the Risk Communication & Community Engagement (RCCE) for public health emergencies such as dengue & other disease outbreak.
• Technical support to strengthen officewide systematic planning & implementation of Accountability to Affected Population (AAP) Framework & Anticipatory Action initiatives.
• Provided SBC input to the situation report, management report, preparedness & response documents including proposal development related to SBC in emergency.
• Facilitate necessary coordination with the relevant stakeholders in regards of all type of emergency with internal & external partners.

Role objectives

In line with the rolling work plan 2024 – 2025, SBC section will hire a National Consultant SBC (Emergencies), to provide the technical support noted above at national & sub national levels. Following are specific areas of deliverables:

• Technical support to strengthen emergency preparedness & humanitarian response, disaster risk.
• Reduction & climate change programming.
• Strengthening existing Emergency Preparedness Platform (EPP), Emergency Preparedness & Response Plan (EPRP) though analysing / drafting risk of the population, SBC capacities, gaps & needs, proposed interventions for preparedness & response related to SBC.
• Support in designing inclusive (gender & culture sensitive) community engagement interventions to enhance prevention, preparedness & response capacities of the communities, social networks & the system for locally led actions & strengthening services.
• Provide technical support to address the identified gaps related to SBC programming.
• Support development & review of SBC related actions for generic contingency Program Document (PD) for emergency response.
• Work with creative agency in developing contents & materials for adolescent & youth led actions for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), climate change as well as for humanitarian / emergency response.
• Technical support to strengthen the Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) for public health emergencies.
• Support in finalizing & formalizing the TOR of RCCE & work closely with RCCE members.
• Participate at the RCCE meeting, activities & update SBC Manager as required.
• Designing RCCE strategic approaches for different public health emergencies in Bangladesh in close collaboration with the appropriate ministry / department of GOB.
• Assist the planning & implementation of RCCE interventions, content & materials development & capturing the lesson learn & good practices.
• Technical support to strengthen officewide & systemwide planning & implementation of Accountability to Affected Population (AAP) framework.
• Extend support to genuine application & implementation of AAP in different emergency response.
• Participate at the AAP working group meeting & activities & update SBC Manager as required.
• Support the development an action plan for national AAP Working Group (WG) & provide technical assistance to Accountability to Affected People Working Group AAP-WG.
• Provided support SBC input to the situation report, management report, preparedness & response documents including proposal development related to SBC in emergency.
• Support development of report / assessment / document related to emergency response & humanitarian action.
• Review existing emergency strategies / documents / guidelines / program interventions in the country & ensure incorporation of SBC inputs.
• Support development of proposals, documents, ideas, action plan related to the SBC in DRR, humanitarian / emergency response, climate change including anticipatory action, early warning etc. & RCCE interventions.
• Prepare lessons learned, human interest story, case studies, etc.

Deliverables:

• Monthly plan & progress reports submitted.
• TOR for RCCE finalized & support provided to DGHS to activate the RCCE coordination committee.
• Proposal for 2nd round of pandemic fund submitted.
• Roadmap for BCO’s AAP endorsed by the management & action plan activated by the sections with support from SBC section developed.
• Plan of action for national AAP-WG developed.
• SBC section input to the Emergency Preparedness Platform (EPP) platform reviewed & updated periodically.
• Documentation related to emergency and humanitarian response with SBC input produced.
• Inclusive content & materials developed for different disasters & emergencies developed.
• SBC related lessons learned, human interest story, case studies, prepared.
• Attendance in emergency relevant coordination meeting internally & with external partners.

Project reporting

• To be supervised on a day to day basis & coordinated by the SBC Officer Focal for Emergency & dotted line management by the SBC Specialist Focal for Health.

Key competencies

• Master’s degree in disaster management, behaviour change communication, development studies, social work, social welfare, anthropology, international relations, advocacy, peace studies or any other subject.
• Candidates having substantial working experience with an academic degree may also apply.
• A minimum of 7 years of professional experience in the field of social development & disaster management program planning, behaviour change communication & advocacy.
• Sound knowledge on different social issues preferably behaviour & social norms related issues & communicating with communication in emergency, advocacy & multi stakeholder partnership issues in the Bangladesh context.
• Relevant experience in related areas in a UN system agency or organization.
• Proven experience in preventing, preparing or responding to emergencies, with experience in managing multi stakeholder partnerships.
• Demonstrated experience in RCCE / SBC / Accountability to the Affected People (AAP) / anticipatory action related coordination & implementation.
• Good background & skills in facilitating training, workshops & meetings.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications.
• Ability to work in a multi disciplinary team & support unexpected tasks.
• Experience working in any other country is considered as an asset.
• High level of integrity & commitment to responsibilities.
• Conceptual ability, negotiating, communication & advocacy skills.
• Familiarity with UN systems is an asset.
• Experience in working with the government departments & ministries.
• Experience in humanitarian architectures in Bangladesh & good knowledge about the global standards & tools related to RCCE, AAP, community engagement, communication with communities etc.
• Fluency in Bangla & good English communication skills are required.

Team management

• This role has no team management responsibility.

Further information

• Qualified female candidates are encouraged to apply for this role.