Social & Behavior Change Specialist P-3 – UNICEF Nairobi – 7 octobre 2026

Contexte

UNICEF has announced an opportunity for an experienced Social & Behavior Change Specialist (P-3) to join its Global Programme Division (GPD), WASH Centre of Excellence in Nairobi, Kenya. The position is offered on a fixed-term appointment and focuses on strengthening Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) and Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) during cholera, waterborne disease outbreaks and other public health emergencies.

UNICEF’s Global Programme Division provides technical leadership, policy guidance, standards and support to country and regional offices across the organization’s programme priorities. The WASH Centre of Excellence in Nairobi serves as a technical hub supporting UNICEF offices in strengthening water, sanitation and hygiene systems and achieving sustainable results for children and communities. The Social & Behavior Change Specialist will contribute to global efforts to prevent and respond to cholera, waterborne diseases and other public health emergencies. A central part of the position involves strengthening Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) and Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) so that communities receive relevant information, participate meaningfully in response efforts and are empowered to protect themselves during emergencies.

Missions et responsabilités

The successful candidate will provide technical support to UNICEF Country Offices and partners in designing and implementing innovative SBC, RCCE and AAP approaches. The role will help translate global strategies and guidance into practical country-level solutions.

Key areas of responsibility include:

• Providing technical support for programme implementation.
• Strengthening emergency preparedness and response.
• Supporting RCCE and AAP programming.
• Building the capacity of national and regional stakeholders.
• Developing and sharing technical knowledge.
• Coordinating partnerships and stakeholder engagement.
• Monitoring programme performance and supporting reporting.
• Promoting learning and evidence generation.
• Contributing to global WASH and public health initiatives.

The specialist will work closely with Country Offices, governments, partners and communities to help ensure that public health interventions are responsive to local needs and informed by evidence. The position has a strong focus on emergency preparedness and response, particularly in relation to cholera and other waterborne disease outbreaks, ensuring that communities understand public health risks and participate in emergency response activities.

Profil recherché

Applicants must hold a Master’s degree or equivalent advanced university degree in one of the following areas:

• Public Health
• Social and Behavioral Sciences
• Communication
• Epidemiology
• A related field

Professional Experience requirements:

• At least five years of progressively responsible experience in emergency Social and Behavior Change (SBC) or Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) programming, with a focus on WASH.
• Experience at country level in development settings, fragile settings, humanitarian contexts, emergency response, community engagement, and public health programming.
• Experience designing feedback mechanisms and applying behavioral data during emergencies.

Technical and Professional Skills:

• Ability to interpret both qualitative and quantitative data and use evidence to develop data-driven RCCE recommendations.
• Strong understanding of socio-political contexts.
• Strong writing and presentation skills.
• Strong interpersonal and collaboration skills.
• Ability to design and deliver training sessions.
• Ability to coordinate multiple workstreams.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Capacity to work effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English is required.
• Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) is an advantage.
• Knowledge of a relevant local language is desirable.

UNICEF Competencies:

• Build and maintain partnerships.
• Work collaboratively.
• Think and act strategically.
• Innovate and embrace change.
• Manage ambiguity and complexity.
• Maintain a strong drive to achieve results for impact.
• Self-awareness and ethical awareness.

Conditions et avantages

The fixed-term position offers an opportunity to work within UNICEF’s international professional workforce and contribute to global programmes supporting children and communities. UNICEF promotes an inclusive workplace and encourages qualified candidates from diverse backgrounds to apply.

The organization provides staff benefits that may include paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities, subject to applicable policies. Because humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority for UNICEF, staff at all levels may be called upon to support humanitarian responses and deployments when required. UNICEF appointments are subject to relevant requirements, including medical clearance, and issuance of a visa by the host country where applicable.

Dossier de candidature

• Curriculum Vitae (CV) clearly demonstrating academic qualifications, emergency SBC/RCCE experience, WASH expertise, public health knowledge, partnership-building skills and experience working in humanitarian or development settings.
• Application via the official portal.

Comment postuler

Interested and qualified candidates should apply through the official UNICEF recruitment portal using Job Number 595421. The application deadline is September 4, 2026, East Africa Standard Time. UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of recruitment, selection or hiring, and will not ask applicants for bank account information.