Social and Behaviour Change Specialist

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

WFP celebrates and embraces diversity. It is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all its employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of race colour national origin ethnic or social background genetic information gender gender identity and/or expression sexual orientation religion or belief HIV status or disability.

ABOUT WFP

The World Food Programme is the worlds largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict disasters and the impact of climate change.

At WFP people are at the heart of everything we do and the vision of the future WFP workforce is one of diverse committed skilled and high performing teams selected on merit operating in a healthy and inclusive work environment living WFPs values (Integrity Collaboration Commitment Humanity and Inclusion) and working with partners to save and change the lives of those WFP serves.

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WHY JOIN WFP

• WFP is a 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.

• WFP offers a highly inclusive diverse and multicultural working environment.

• WFP invests in the personal & professional development of its employees through a range of training accreditation coaching mentorship and other programs as well as through internal mobility opportunities.

• A career path in WFP provides an exciting opportunity to work across the various country regional and global offices around the world and with passionate colleagues who work tirelessly to ensure that effective humanitarian assistance reaches millions of people across the globe.

• We offer an attractive compensation package (please refer to the Terms and Conditions section of this vacancy announcement).

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is the worlds largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. As such nutrition is integral to our mission of reaching Zero Hunger and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). WFPs new Strategic Plan (2026-2030) emphasizes its commitment to nutrition with nutrition firmly embedded across the three strategic outcomes. The WFP Nutrition Strategy to improve diets and address malnutrition 2024-2030 underscores WFPs commitment to embed nutrition at the heart of the organization to ensure that everyone has access to healthy nutritious diets. It aims to safeguard the nutrition of people in humanitarian crises and during shocks and crises in more stable contexts. Adopting a prevention first approach the Strategy focusses on reducing the frequency and severity of malnutrition increasing the consumption of healthy nutritious diets among populations at highest risk of malnutrition strengthening national nutrition systems and capacities to mitigate the impact of shocks and crises on nutrition and influencing social norms and practices that impede access to healthy nutritious diets.

WFP implements programs across the humanitarian-development nexus in support of management and prevention of wasting and maternal nutrition. WFP also promotes and integrates nutrition across programs that support achieving healthy diets for young children women and school aged children. Social and behaviour change (SBC) is widely used in these programs to address socio-cultural barriers and support good practices to enhance the nutrition and dietary outcomes WFP operates through direct implementation or through provision of technical assistance to government and partners strengthening capacities at policy and program implementation levels.

The increased emphasis on prevention of malnutrition the increased scale of cash programming focus on social protection and food systems including the intersection between nutrition climate and resilience present unprecedented opportunities to influence diets. For example in cash programming SBC is required to empower recipients of cash assistance to meet their needs and maximize the nutritional value of their purchases.

There is a well-defined demand by WFP country offices for tools and capacity to implement SBC as a complementary intervention across many country contexts and programmes. The WFP global HQ is responsible for supporting country offices by providing tools and guidance promoting learning ensure access to technical expertise exchanging best practices and documenting evidence of the impact of SBC interventions in s improving nutrition outcomes through WFP programs

ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES
The consultant will report to the Team lead for Systems Strengthening for Nutrition and coordinate across Nutrition School Meals and Social Protection Service and other operational support functions. The SBC Specialist will be expected to lead on:
1. Establishing guidelines and tools for the use of SBC approaches and interventions to enhance programme design implementation and improve dietary and nutrition outcomes
a) Collaborate with WFP units including Social Protection Gender Protection and Inclusion School Based Programming Climate and Resilience and Supply Chain in order to define and integrate SBC as an essential part of all response packages through policy briefs guidance notes and advocacy meetings
b) Lead SBC community of practice for engagement across Food Quality and Nutrition service to facilitate exchange of learning and evidence of SBC as part of integrated and specific nutrition programming (including prevention and management of wasting school-based programming social protection resilience and food systems).
c) Support resource mobilization for SBC programme opportunities supporting prevention of wasting and healthy diets.

2. Coordinate and support capacity building of Global HQ Country Offices governments and partners in SBC.
a) Contribute to the implementation of SBC Roadmap
b) Coordinate development of proposals strategies and tools for capacity building design and implementation of SBC strategies and interventions.
c) Develop further and support implementation of a SBC service center approach
d) Oversee the establishment and utilization of SBC consultant roster and Long-Term Agreements for SBC technical services by Country Offices (COs) and Global HQ units.

3. Contributing to the global evidence base for the use of SBC for improved nutrition outcomes across WFPs work with communities national actors and systems and partnerships.
a) Contribute to the development of evidence base on the use of SBC in humanitarian food and nutrition response social protection and food systems in collaboration with relevant teams.
b) Coordinate and lead on documentation of high-quality evidence and learning from SBC programming and support to Governments.
c) Support the dissemination of available SBC evidence best practices and lessons learnt internally and through regular engagement with external fora including the Global Nutrition Cluster ENN and International SBC Summit.

EXPECTED DELIVERABLES:
1. Guidance note on the use of SBC - setting out when and where SBC is essential and effective ways of incorporating and implementing SBC programme activities.
2. Guidance note on integrating SBC in CSPs
3. Case studies and learning materials for integrating SBC into WFP programming and technical assistance to governments
4. COs support demands met through various mechanisms such as roster service center LTAs
5. Brief that sets out a compelling rationale and evidence for SBC Nutrition in humanitarian contexts that can inform funding proposals and resource mobilization efforts.
6. Updated and well-structured Community of Practice resources site with key resources including CO and Regional resources easily accessible for WFP staff.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
Education:

Advanced degree in social or behavioural science public health marketing and communications psychology education or other relevant university degree

Experience:

Minimum 6-8 years of experience providing strategic guidance organizational capacity strengthening designing implementing SBC interventions for improved nutrition or health required
Experience conducting formative research using mixed methods and behavioural science/ consumer insights research required
Humanitarian programming experience considered an asset.

Knowledge & Skills:

Advanced knowledge of SBC programming in public health nutrition and humanitarian response
Knowledge of cash programming including social protection and school-based programming
Knowledge of nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions
Strong interpersonal and communication skills required for in-person and remote team-based work
Experience managing diverse teams and facilitating multi-sectoral working groups
Demonstrated ability to work effectively in complex settings particularly supporting governments
Excellent technical writing and oral presentation and communication skills

Languages:
Fluency in English required. Working knowledge of another UN language in particular French is highly desirable.

WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK

WFP Leadership Framework guides to the common standards of behavior that guide HOW we work together to accomplish our mission.

Click here to access WFP Leadership Framework

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION

WFP is committed to supporting individuals with disabilities by providing reasonable accommodations throughout the recruitment process. If you require a reasonable accommodation please contact:

NO FEE DISCLAIMER

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REMINDERS BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

• All applications must be submitted exclusively through our online recruitment system. We do not accept CVs or spontaneous applications by email.

• If you experience challenges while submitting your online application please contact us at for technical support only.

• Please note that applications sent to this email address cannot be considered.

• We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate complete and includes your employment records academic qualifications language skills and UN Grade (if applicable).

• Once your profile is completed please apply and submit your application.

• Kindly note the only documents you will need to submit at this time are your CV and Cover Letter

• Additional documents such as passport recommendation letters academic certificates etc. may potentially be requested at a future time

• Only shortlisted candidates will be notified

All employment decisions are made on the basis of organizational needs job requirements merit and individual qualifications. WFP is committed to providing an inclusive work environment free of sexual exploitation and abuse all forms of discrimination any kind of harassment sexual harassment and abuse of authority. Therefore all selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ) International Civil Service Commission (ICSC) FAO Finance Committee WFP External Auditor WFP Audit Committee Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.