Consultant, Social and Behavior Change Communication Training

Position: Consultant, Social and Behavior Change Communication Training  

Location: Online/Remote 

Reports to: SMICA Regional Communications Manager  

Duration: Three months (January – April 2023) 

Level of effort: Not to exceed 25 working days 

Application Deadline: December 26, 2022 

Summary:  

Design and conduct three-day webinar on Social and Behavior Change Communication to develop messages for various target audiences to raise awareness about safe migration, risks of trafficking in persons, and labor and sexual exploitation to change social behavior of various target audiences 

About the Safe Migration in Central Asia (SMICA) Project: 

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded Safe Migration in Central Asia (SMICA) project works to strengthen the ability of Central Asia to promote safe migration and reduce trafficking in persons. SMICA is a 5-year initiative (through August 2024) providing support to the Central Asian republics of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan to foster a coordinated and evidence based regional response. Project activities include collaborating with national, regional, and international experts and organizations to strengthen bilateral and multi-country strategies and actions to promote rights-based migration and counter-trafficking in persons (CTIP), reduce vulnerability of at-risk populations to all forms of TIP, and expand and improve identification and assistance to trafficked persons. The overarching goal of SMICA is to strengthen the mutual accountability of all stakeholders, including governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and the private sector to become more self-reliant in efforts to prevent trafficking in persons, protect survivors of human trafficking, and promote safe migration. 

Background 

Human trafficking includes the purchase, sale, or exploitation of a person by means of deception, force, threat, as well as restriction of freedom or exploitation of person’s vulnerability. It is a worldwide problem that impacts all countries, including the United States and the countries in Central Asia. According to the U.S. State Department Trafficking in Persons Report, more than 25 million people around the world are victims of human trafficking. Traffickers are increasingly using the Internet, especially during travel restrictions due to COVID-19. Many migrants have lost jobs and incomes during the quarantine, making them more vulnerable to alluring and disingenuous offers from traffickers. 

As part of the project, SMICA provides number of training courses for NGO partners to build their capacity in developing social and behavior change communication materials (photo reports, press releases, features, articles, human interest stories, video reports, video reels for Instagram and TikTok, social media stories, flyers, posters) about safe migration, human trafficking, labor and sexual exploitation issues in Central Asia.   

SMICA works with several NGOs in Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, the Kyrgyz Republic, and NGOs supporting Tajik migrants in Kazakhstan, on migration issues, preventing and combatting trafficking in persons and labor and sexual exploitation, and provides psychological and social support to victims of trafficking. SMICA’s partner NGOs interact with target audiences, media, and state partners. However, to reach wider groups of vulnerable populations, NGOs need to develop tailored messages and communication materials which are comprehensive, short, effective, easy to remember, and prompt behavior change regarding safe migration.  

'Communication for development' (C4D) or 'Social Behavior Change Communication' (SBCC) , which are both recognized by the United Nations as integral to sustainable development, are based on participatory models that recognize local knowledge and local communities and individuals as the key actors to facilitate their own change. It highlights the understanding of communication as giving a voice, facilitating participation, and fostering social change and transformation. Behavior change is an approach that is applied in the development of tailored messages and communication materials that rely on empirically supported theories of behavior transformation in individuals and communities. 

Scope of work and deliverables 

OBJECTIVE: Strengthen capacity of NGOs and media production companies to develop effective SBCC materials to contribute to achieving project goals in partnership with SMICA 

Tasks and deliverables:  

The consultant will: 

1. Meet with Winrock International SMICA project staff to discuss goals of the training

• Design a three-day Central Asian regional training course on social behavior change communication and obtain approval by Winrock International 
• Provide methodology of the online training 
• Prepare pre-test and post-test questionnaires and provide post-training assessment 

1. Conduct the three-day online training, the agenda of which should include:

• Explanation of what SBCC is, introduction to SBCC 
• Principles of SBCC 
• Main steps in developing a comprehensive SBCC strategy 
• Understanding audiences for SBCC through needs assessment 
• Strategic design and planning of SBCC programs in the SMICA project 
• Following GESI (Gender Equality and Social Inclusion) principles in SBCC 
• Developing and pre-testing messages and communication materials 
• Implementing, monitoring, and measuring SBCC programs in SMICA activities 
• Social media management and concurrent online interaction with the target audience 
• Facilitating the developing and piloting of prototype messages and communication materials for migrants, survivors of trafficking, media, society, state agencies, families of migrants, employers by the participants. 
• Presenting of prototype messages and materials by participants 
• Action planning with participants. 
• Providing mentorship for the participants for two months after the training: 
• Following up and monitor the production of SBCC materials to ensure technical quality, consistency and relevancy of communications materials that are developed, produced, and disseminated to target audience (e.g., individuals, communities, government officials, partners, media etc.) 
• Develop training module 
• Develop pre and posttest, agenda, and conduct training online for the NGO partners 
• Produce a report, observation, and recommendations for Winrock International’s SBCC programs. 

Milestones: 

Mid-January:  

• Online discussions with SMICA, study of SMICA project materials, development of the online module 
• Last week of January: three-day online training 

February, March, and April: provide mentorship for NGOs which will be producing SBCC materials 

Required qualifications:  

• University degree in one of the following fields: social and behavioral science, sociology, anthropology, psychology, education, communication, public relations, or another relevant technical field
• A minimum of five years of professional experience in one or more of the following areas: social development, communication for development, public advocacy, or another related area. 
• Knowledge and versatility in using digital media technologies for communicating targeted public information and outreach messages (including social networks). 
• Knowledge of issues of migrants, migration, trafficking in persons, labor and sexual exploitation and development
• Excellent oral and written skills in English

Preferred Qualifications 

Knowledge of oral and written skills in Russian is an asset 

• Ability to work independently and effectively with attention to detail
• Previous experience with USAID is an asset
• Demonstrated ability to conduct on-line training for NGOs, state agencies, and media professionals

Applicants will submit a current resume and cover letter referencing Social and Behavior Change Communication Training Consultant by December 26, 2022 

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