Social Behavior Change Officer, Baghdad, Iraq

General

Description of assignment title: Social Behavior Change Officer

Assignment country: Iraq

Duty stations: Baghdad

Work location: On UN premises

Expected start date: 08/02/2026

Duration: 6 months(with possibility of extension)Long-term benefits and allowances

Sustainable Development Goal: 17. Partnerships for the goals

Host entity: UNICEF

Modality: Onsite

Type: National

Volunteer category: Specialist UCoS from Apr2026

Work schedule: Full-time

Number of Assignments: 1

Details

Mission and objectives:

• UNICEF has a long-term commitment to Iraq's children and young people, with the first formal cooperation agreement signed with the Government in 1963. UNICEF works in close partnership with the Federal through established Cooperation Agreements. UNICEF has a broad geographic presence in the country with four offices located in Basra, Baghdad, Erbil and Dohuk. UNICEF collaborates with UN agencies, international and national NGO partners to meet the humanitarian and development needs of most vulnerable children and young people.

Discover more

Job application assistance

International job alerts

UN recruitment services

• In recent years, UNICEF's work to support the unique needs of young people has gained momentum, as the challenges facing them have come more sharply into view. UNICEF is committed to deliver for all children and young people through its overall impact goal of 'realizing the rights of every child, especially the most disadvantaged. The UNICEF Strategic Plan, 2018−2021 recognizes the whole spectrum of young people, including young adults or youth over 18, and includes in its Change Strategies "supporting young people and children as agents of change." Taking its cue from the strategic plan, the Global Communication and Advocacy Strategy 2019−2021 (GCAS) asserts the important role that young people can play in the successful realization of UNICEF's mandate, and outlines the need to listen to, co-create and collaborate with young people and create meaningful engagement opportunities for them to make a difference. Being important drivers of change, children and young people are essential partners and contributors to both the development and implementation of UNICEF's Strategic Plan 2022 2025. With a new and ambitious SP, UNICEF intends to be deliberate and committed in fully involving children and young people in creating the solutions to accelerate the realization of the SDGs and driving change forward.

Context:

• A volunteer is sought to support the country office with the social behaviour change function. The volunteer will provide professional technical assistance and support for the planning, implementation, monitoring, and reporting of the social behaviour Change program activities. Responsibilities include data analysis, progress reporting, knowledge sharing, and capacity-building efforts, in alignment with the objectives of the SBC work plan and the overall SBC program strategy.

Task description:

• 1. Generate and utilize research, data, and evidence to inform the design, measurement, and monitoring of SBC programs and outcomes in both development and emergency contexts.
• Collate, analyze and summarize data, evidence and trends on social and behavioral issues to inform evidence-based SBC strategies, plans and activities and support development of briefing notes on SBC related issues.
• Support data collection, tracking, monitoring and reporting SBC results.

Discover more

International development careers

Government Contracting & Procurement

Global job search

• Assist in the establishment of community feedback mechanisms and use feedback to inform community engagement and SBC actions for disaster preparedness, response, recovery and resilience. Generate and use SBC evidence, data, and assessments for disaster preparedness, response, recovery and resilience.
• Contribute to terms of reference, research tools, frameworks and protocols for generating evidence to inform SBC initiatives and apply tools, methodologies and frameworks for data collection, tracking, monitoring and reporting and disseminating SBC results.
• Support annual reviews and reporting on SBC
• 2. Design, plan and implement SBC activities that are backed by social and behavioural evidence and strong engagement and participation mechanisms in both development and humanitarian contexts.
• Provide technical and administrative support for the development, implementation and monitoring of evidence-based SBC activities in collaboration/consultation with UNICEF sectoral and cross-sectoral specialists, relevant government and NGO partners, and in line with global standards and UNICEF priorities and approaches.
• Support the inclusion of community engagement and social and behavioral approaches in sectoral workplans, with active participation in sectoral programme planning and reviews and viable recommendations for the integration of SBC.
• Support the application of the above skills of designing, planning, implementing and monitoring of community engagement and SBC interventions in the context of humanitarian emergencies.
• 3. Support partnerships building and management and resource mobilization for SBC acceleration/scaling up
• Support Country office's resource mobilization efforts and contribute to proposals, donor reporting, and development of communication and fundraising materials.
• Contribute to budgeting and support grants management and monitoring for SBC.
• Support mobilization of strategic partners and alliance building for SBC
• Coordinate with stakeholders and partners for the implementation of community engagement and SBC in humanitarian action.
• 4. Promote continuous learning, strengthening and scaling up in SBC for both development and humanitarian contexts through capacity building of UNICEF staff, partners and implementers.
• Support SBC capacity assessments
• Support the identification, design, and/or organization of SBC training for staff and partners.
• Support the development and/or adaptation of existing UNICEF learning resources, guidelines and training materials for staff, implementing partners and relevant government and non-government counterparts.
• Support the development and/or adaptation of capacity development tools and activities for humanitarian programming with a focus on preparedness, response and recovery.
• Help identify and strengthen mechanisms and systems for community engagement in humanitarian contexts.
• Other assigned duties and responsibilities
• 5. Required education: Bachelor degree or equivalent
• Descriptions of assignments (DOAs) for UN Community Volunteers are not to request education higher than secondary school, or equivalent. If higher qualifications are required, the National Specialist UN Volunteer modality should be used.
• 6. Area(s) of specialization (education): A university degree (Bachelor's or higher) in a social and behavioral science, including sociology, anthropology, communication studies/communication for development, psychology and/or related field is required
• 7. Required experience: 3 years
• 8. Required skills and experience:
• A minimum of three years of professional experience in one or more of the following areas is required: social development programme, communication for development or social and behaviour change, public advocacy or another related area.
• Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered an asset.
• Familiarity with social and behaviour change communication (SBC) tools and approaches.
• Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills.
• Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing.
• Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including government partners, grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels;
• Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel.
• Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, among others); familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment.
• Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines.

Eligibility criteria

Age: 18 - 80

Required experience: 3 years

Nationality: Candidate must be a national, legal resident or hold refugee status in the country of assignment.

Assignment requirements

Relevant experience:

• 3 years

Languages:

• English, Level: Fluent, Required
• Arabic, Level: Fluent, Required
• Kurdish, Level: Working knowledge, Desirable

Required education level:

• Bachelor's degree in A university degree (Bachelor's or higher) in a social and behavioral science, including sociology, anthropology, communication studies/communication for development, psychology and/or related field is required

Competencies and values:

• Respect
• Integrity
• Care
• Trust
• Accountability
• Thinks and acts strategically
• Innovates and embraces change
• Build and Maintain Partnerships
• Drive to achieve results for impact
• Works collaboratively with others

Skills and experience:

• A minimum of three years of professional experience in one or more of the following areas is required: social development programme, communication for development or social and behaviour change, public advocacy or another related area.
• Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered an asset.
• Familiarity with social and behaviour change communication (SBC) tools and approaches.
• Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills.
• Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing.
• Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including government partners, grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels;
• Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel.
• Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, among others); familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment.
• Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines.

Area(s) of expertise:

• Communication, advocacy, public information, Project management, programme development, strategy

Driving license:

Other information