Consultant for Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP)

Job Posting Organization:
UNICEF, established in 1946, operates in over 190 countries and territories with a mission to save children's lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential. The organization is committed to promoting the rights of every child and offers diverse opportunities for professional and personal development. UNICEF employs a large workforce dedicated to serving children and communities globally, fostering a culture of belonging and growth, and providing an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Job Overview:
The consultant will work under the supervision of the Chief Social and Behaviour Change (SBC) and collaborate closely with various program sections, field offices, emergency teams, and inter-agency partners. The primary function of this role is to provide technical leadership and operational support to enhance UNICEF South Sudan’s Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) systems and community feedback architecture. This includes establishing effective community feedback mechanisms, ensuring that the voices of affected populations are heard and integrated into programming, and fostering a culture of accountability within humanitarian efforts. The consultant will also be responsible for developing standard operating procedures (SOPs), frameworks, and analytical reports that guide the implementation of AAP initiatives.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide technical leadership in the development and implementation of AAP systems and community feedback mechanisms.
• Collaborate with program sections and field offices to ensure that community feedback is effectively integrated into program planning and implementation.
• Establish and operationalize community feedback mechanisms in humanitarian settings, ensuring they are accessible and responsive to the needs of affected populations.
• Support inter-agency coordination mechanisms and promote multi-sector collaboration to enhance AAP efforts.
• Develop SOPs, frameworks, and operational guidance to standardize AAP practices across UNICEF South Sudan.
• Conduct training and capacity-building sessions for staff and partners on AAP principles and practices.
• Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of AAP initiatives and community feedback mechanisms, providing recommendations for improvement.
• Prepare analytical reports and documentation to share findings and best practices with stakeholders.
• Engage with local communities to foster trust and encourage participation in feedback processes. 1
• Ensure compliance with UNICEF’s humanitarian principles and AAP commitments throughout all activities.

Required Qualifications:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Social Sciences, Communication for Development, Public Health, Anthropology, International Development, Humanitarian Affairs, Sociology, Political Science, or related fields.
• Minimum of 8 years of progressively responsible professional experience in AAP, community engagement, RCCE, humanitarian programming, or social accountability.
• Demonstrated experience in establishing and operationalizing community feedback mechanisms in humanitarian settings.
• Strong analytical and facilitation skills, with the ability to synthesize complex data and translate findings into actionable recommendations.
• Excellent interpersonal and coordination skills, with a proven ability to work collaboratively in diverse, multicultural teams.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in relevant fields such as Social Sciences, Communication for Development, Public Health, Anthropology, International Development, Humanitarian Affairs, Sociology, Political Science, or related disciplines. This educational background is essential to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the social dynamics and challenges faced by affected populations in humanitarian contexts.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 8 years of progressively responsible professional experience in areas related to Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP), community engagement, and humanitarian programming. Candidates should have a strong track record of establishing community feedback mechanisms and engaging with affected populations in fragile or emergency contexts. Previous experience with UNICEF or other UN agencies is highly desirable, as is experience in coordinating with governments, donors, and civil society organizations.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory for this position, as it is the primary language of communication within UNICEF and in the context of humanitarian programming. Knowledge of local languages is considered an asset, as it can enhance communication and engagement with affected communities, ensuring that feedback mechanisms are accessible to all.

Additional Notes:
The contract duration for this consultancy is 6 months, and the working arrangement is office-based with travel to field locations as necessary. UNICEF emphasizes a commitment to diversity and inclusion, encouraging applications from all qualified candidates regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities. The organization provides reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy regarding conduct that is incompatible with its aims and objectives, including discrimination and abuse. Selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and all positions are advertised publicly.