Senior SBCC Consultant - TJ / 1855832

Our client Integral Global is looking for a Senior SBCC Consultant in Islamabad

Integral Global is seeking a highly experienced Senior Consultant / Adviser in Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) to provide advanced technical expertise. This role focuses on reviewing, refining, and guiding the implementation of SBCC strategies for the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) in Pakistan. The ideal candidate brings a deep understanding of global SBCC standards while being sensitive to the unique cultural, social, and behavioral nuances within Pakistan. With at least ten years of experience, the consultant will play a critical role in bridging global best practices with local realities to ensure effective communication and social mobilization efforts.

The consultant will perform a comprehensive analysis of current SBCC systems to identify gaps and opportunities within the social and behavioral landscape. They will use anthropological evidence and rigorous monitoring and evaluation methods to inform strategic directions and recommendations. Collaboration with multiple partners will be essential for harmonizing communication efforts and advancing capacity building and training initiatives. Although this role does not involve managing a team directly, it requires strong coordination and leadership skills to influence stakeholders and drive impactful social change programs.

Responsibilities

• Background
  
  

Persistent challenges in Pakistan’s Polio Eradication Initiative —ranging from community mistrust, misinformation, sociocultural resistance, and program fatigue—underscore the need for the implementation of a dynamic, evidence-informed SBCC strategy embedded within the National framework taking due account of the diversity and evolving nature of SBCC challenges during the final miles.

The national core team envisions strengthening the ongoing SBCC efforts through effective integration of behavioral insights, anthropological/Community-level understanding, and evidence from previous experiences. Aim is to strengthen SBCC systems, and strategic decision-making at national and sub-national levels.

• Purpose of the Assignment
  
  

The SBCC Consultant will provide advanced technical expertise to review, refine, and guide through the implementation of SBCC strategies of the NEOC, ensuring alignment with global technical standards taking due account of Pakistan’s specificities and peculiarities. They will systematically analyze existing SBCC systems vis-à-vis observed social and behavioral challenges and recommend future directions grounded in sound anthropological evidence.

• Duties & Responsibilities
  
  

:

• Review & Analysis of Existing SBCC Landscape
• Conduct a comprehensive situation analysis of existing SBCC strategies, approaches and communication tools, including immunization service experience among caregivers and health workers, and tools to monitor and evaluate these activities.
• Review historical and emerging SBCC challenges, including refusals, community fatigue, cultural barriers, misinformation, and social trust dynamics, among other potential challenges.
• Analyze available social research, behavioral insights, anthropological studies, social listening data, and community feedback in Pakistan and in other comparable contexts.
• Summarize findings, including lessons learned, best practices, innovations, and recommendations.
• Map SBCC actors, community influencers, formal and informal networks, and external partners.
• Assess and optimize coordination with in-country partners and other relevant functional areas such as service delivery or campaigns in a more cross-cutting fashion
• Supporting community engagement
• Support field teams in conducting effective community engagement using real-time operational/implementation research to monitor and improve program activities (e.g., social listening, capacity building, etc.), and tailor strategies to tackle vaccine hesitancy and misinformation and enhance trust and timely response.
• Map SBCC actors, community influencers, formal and informal networks, and external - - Provide tailored recommendations for high-risk districts and populations, based on sociocultural insights and epidemiological trends.
• Identify, pilot, and promote innovative approaches and tools in SBCC to enhance community engagement, address barriers, and improve immunization uptake
• Strengthening M&E and Evidence Systems
• Review and assess the current SBCC M&E framework, including indicators, tools, and data flows.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of community feedback systems, campaign monitoring, refusal tracking, and perception studies.
• Recommend updates to data systems to capture behavioral and sociocultural drivers more accurately.
• Strengthen the M&E framework incorporating behavioral, social, and communication-related indicators , real-time social listening, and behavioral outcomes.
• Evaluate the design, implementation, and outcomes of community engagement sessions to ensure their effectiveness.
• Strategic Guidance for the NEOC Task Team
• Facilitate integrating behavioral science data and insights into national SBCC planning.
• Provide recommendations for strengthening risk communication, community engagement, and crisis-response messaging.
• Consolidate lessons learned from previous polio campaigns and incorporate them into refined, highquality strategies.
• Support the development of a comprehensive, evidence-based national SBCC strategic framework.
• Provide tailored recommendations for high-risk districts and populations, based on sociocultural insights and epidemiological trends.
• Identify, pilot, and promote innovative approaches and tools in SBCC to enhance community engagement, address barriers, and improve immunization uptake
• Capacity Strengthening & Technical Support
• Conduct training for NEOC and provincial teams on behavioral and social sciences for immunization, behavioral insights, health communications, and SBC strategy development.
• Mentor staff in designing evidence-driven SBC interventions.
• Develop job aids, guidance notes, SOPs, and tools to integrate SBCC evidence into operational planning.
• Facilitate cross-learning with CDC-supported partners and technical teams.
• Documentation & Knowledge Products
• Prepare a detailed SBCC landscape assessment.
• Produce a Lessons Learned Compendium capturing insights from prior campaigns, refusals data, social research, and community feedback.
• Develop the NEOC SBCC Strategic Framework, including a 12–24-month implementation roadmap.
• Produce briefs, presentations, and knowledge products for CDC, NEOC, and partner dissemination.
• Partner Coordination and Communication
• Engage with NEOC Task Team for strategic planning for SBC interventions
• Build and maintain partnerships with key organizations including CDC, UNICEF, [ADD RELEVANT LOCAL ORGANIZATION]
• Serve as a focal point between CDC and NEOC along with other relevant partners for continuous technical engagement for planning and coordination of activities.
• Facilitate timely implementation of activities
• Education: & Experience
• Advanced degree from a reputable university in fields of relevance such as Anthropology, Sociology, Behavioral Sciences, Public Health, etc.
• Minimum 7–10 years of demonstrated experience in SBCC, behavioral science, cultural anthropology, health communication, or community engagement encompassing work experience in difficult geographical zones, preferably in Pakistan.
• Expertise in integrating social and behavioral insights into public health programming.
• Expertise in health communication research and strategies
• Experience with global / national immunization initiatives is highly desirable.
• Experience in monitoring and evaluating SBC type programs is required.
• Strong analytical, writing, coordination, and strategic planning skills.
• Languages:
  
  

Fluency in English and Urdu;

Good working knowledge of regional Pakistani languages preferred.

• Duration of Assignment
  
  

Initial 3 months, renewable on yearly basis thereon, based on performance and program needs.