The South-West and North-West regions of Cameroon are still in a compromised socio-political situation. For more than 6 years now the armed conflict between anglophone separatists and the Cameroon state army has led to a situation of insecurity in these two regions. As a result, there are more than 30 thousands persons have found refuge in neighbouring Nigeria; more than 400 thousands of the remaining population live as internally displaced persons (IDPs) within and out of both regions; several villages have been destroyed/burned down, hence forcing their inhabitants to move in the forests and live in IDP camps.
Though the situation has considerably improved in the last 2 years, there is serious degradation of health and other social conditions. Health care providers, services, and facilities as well as health service users remain vulnerable with regular blind or targeted attacks from parties to the conflict. Globally, lack of potable water, poor hygiene, scarcity of food leading to increased malnutrition, absence or low access to health services, increased gender-based violence and sexual harassment and abuse. Adding to this situation natural catastrophes such as flood and landslides can only result to catastrophic consequences, with regular cholera and measles outbreaks.
The Social and Behaviour Change Officers will be based in Buea and covering Bamenda. He will report to the Chief of Field Office Buea for close supervision, and the SBC Section Chief for technical guidance. The SBC Officer provides technical and operational support to sectoral programmes (Education, Child Protection, WASH, Health, and Nutrition), to ensure appropriate implementation of activities in emergency settings/security-compromised areas. This would be done through administering, executing, and implementing a variety of tasks to promote community engagement and participation, digital engagement, and measurable behavioural and social change, requiring the application of technical SBC skills in full respect of organizational goals, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
How can you make a difference?
The Social and Behavior Change Officer will report to the Chief of Field Office Buea for close supervision, and the SBC Specialist for technical guidance and shall be responsible for following key strategic functions, accountabilities and related duties/ tasks.
- Generate & Use Evidence: contribute to generation and use of research, data, and evidence to inform the design, measurement, and monitoring of SBC strategies and activities in the current emergency context.
- Design, plan and implement: Design, plan and implement SBC strategies and activities that are backed by social and behavioural evidence and strong engagement and participation mechanisms in the humanitarian context.
- Advocate & Build Partnerships: Support operationalization of SBC by advocating for SBC, coordinating across stakeholders, sectors and teams, and partnership building.
- Build Capacities: Promote continuous learning, strengthening, and scaling up in SBC for the current humanitarian context through capacity building of UNICEF staff and partners.
- Initiate, integrate, coordinate, and build capacities of AAP components across the field office.
- Coordinate design/development of social media contents for regular digital presence.
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
The following minimum requirements:
- Education: A university degree (Bachelor’s or higher) in one of the following fields is required: social and behavioral science, sociology, anthropology, psychology, education, communication, public relations, or another relevant technical field.
- Work Experience: A minimum of two years of professional experience in one or more of the following areas is required: social development and social and behavior change programme planning, communication for development, public advocacy, or another related area.
- Language Requirements: Fluency in English and French is required. Knowledge of a local language is an asset (Fulfulde and/or Pidgin English).
