UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built. We offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, the right to result

How can you make a difference? 

To provide UNICEF Center of Excellence in Panama with timely, actionable and behaviourally informed intelligence on emerging narratives, concerns, misinformation trends, information needs, trust dynamics, and emerging issues related to child and adolescent health and immunization across Latin America and the Caribbean, and to generate evidenceinformed recommendations to support programme decision-making, risk communication, community engagement and demand generation efforts.

The consultant will monitor, analyse and interpret digital conversations and information ecosystems to identify:

•Emerging health concerns and public questions;

•Misinformation, disinformation and rumours;

•Information gaps and unmet information needs;

•Perceptions, concerns, beliefs and social influences reflected in digital conversations;

•Trust and confidence in health systems, vaccines and health professionals;

•Emerging risks that may affect health-seeking behaviours or programme performance;

•Positive narratives, opportunities, trusted messengers and successful approaches that may be leveraged to improve child health outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

Digital Social Listening and Intelligence

•Establish and maintain a regional digital social listening and infodemic intelligence system covering priority child and adolescent health topics across Latin America and the Caribbean.

•Monitor and analyse digital conversations to identify emerging narratives, public concerns, information needs, trust dynamics, misinformation trends, positive narratives and emerging issues related to child and adolescent health and immunization.

•Produce regular regional analyses highlighting key trends, recurring narratives, frequently discussed topics, emerging risks, opportunities and implications for child health programming.

•Produce country snapshots for up to five priority countries identified by UNICEF during each reporting cycle, including analysis of key narratives, concerns, information needs, misinformation trends and contextual factors.

•Triangulate findings with other available evidence sources whenever feasible and provide actionable recommendations to support programme adaptation, strategic decision-making and preparedness for emerging health issues.

If you would like to know more about this consultancy's detailed scope, deliverables and expected outcomes, please review the complete Terms of Reference here: TMC0003190 TOR.pdf

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have:

Minimum requirements:

Education: Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in one or more of the following fields:
Public Health; Epidemiology; Behavioural Science; Social Sciences; Communication; Data Analytics; Public Policy; International Development; or another relevant field.
A first-level university degree combined with seven additional years of relevant professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree.

Work Experience: At least 5 years of progressively responsible professional experience in one or more of the following areas:
Digital social listening; Infodemic management; Public health intelligence; Behavioural and social science; Risk communication and community engagement; Child health and/or immunization programmes; Public health emergency preparedness and response.
Demonstrated experience translating complex data and insights into actionable recommendations for programme and policy decision-making.
Previous experience working with UNICEF, WHO, PAHO, ministries of health or other international development organizations is considered an asset.
Experience working in Latin America and the Caribbean is highly desirable.

Language requirements: Fluency in English and Spanish

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

Qualified candidates are invited to submit the following documents via the online recruitment portal (Talent Management System):

An up-to-date TMS profile and curriculum vitae (CV)
Cover letter
A separate financial proposal (only acceptable in the format of the linked template) Financial proposal template.docx
A detailed technical proposal - Applicants are required to submit at least one sample of previous work demonstrating analytical and/or technical outputs (e.g. reports, briefs, dashboards), preferably related to social and community listening.

Remarks: If the TOR or financial proposal documents are not visible on certain recruitment platforms, please visit our official page Vacancies | UNICEF Careers.

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

SBC Consultant, Social listening, Global Health Practice, 5 months, COE Panama, (Remote/Home based, International), #594387