UNICEF has announced an opportunity for an experienced Social & Behavior Change Specialist (P-3) to join its Global Programme Division (GPD), WASH Centre of Excellence in Nairobi, Kenya.
The position is offered on a fixed-term appointment and focuses on strengthening Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) and Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) during cholera, waterborne disease outbreaks and other public health emergencies.
The opportunity is particularly suited to professionals with experience in social and behavior change, public health, emergency response, WASH, risk communication, community engagement and humanitarian programming.
Candidates with a Master’s degree and at least five years of progressively responsible experience in emergency SBC or RCCE programming with a WASH focus are encouraged to apply.
The position provides an opportunity to contribute to UNICEF’s global technical work while supporting country and regional offices, governments and partners in some of the world’s most challenging environments.
The Social & Behavior Change Specialist will be based at UNICEF’s WASH Centre of Excellence in Nairobi and will work within the Global Programme Division.
Key details include:
- Position: Social & Behavior Change Specialist
- Job Number: 595421
- Level: P-3
- Contract Type: Fixed Term Appointment
- Duty Station: Nairobi, Kenya
- Location: Kenya
- Functional Area: Social and Behavior Change
- Division: Global Programme Division – WASH Centre of Excellence
- Team: High Impact Solutions Team
- Advertised: August 28, 2026
- Application Deadline: September 4, 2026
- Required Language: English
- Required Experience: At least 5 years
- Required Education: Master’s degree or equivalent advanced university degree
About the UNICEF WASH Opportunity
UNICEF’s Global Programme Division provides technical leadership, policy guidance, standards and support to country and regional offices across the organization’s programme priorities.
The WASH Centre of Excellence in Nairobi serves as a technical hub supporting UNICEF offices in strengthening water, sanitation and hygiene systems and achieving sustainable results for children and communities.
The Social & Behavior Change Specialist will contribute to global efforts to prevent and respond to cholera, waterborne diseases and other public health emergencies.
A central part of the position involves strengthening Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) and Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) so that communities receive relevant information, participate meaningfully in response efforts and are empowered to protect themselves during emergencies.
Role and Responsibilities
The successful candidate will provide technical support to UNICEF Country Offices and partners in designing and implementing innovative SBC, RCCE and AAP approaches.
The role will help translate global strategies and guidance into practical country-level solutions.
Key areas of responsibility include:
- Providing technical support for programme implementation.
- Strengthening emergency preparedness and response.
- Supporting RCCE and AAP programming.
- Building the capacity of national and regional stakeholders.
- Developing and sharing technical knowledge.
- Coordinating partnerships and stakeholder engagement.
- Monitoring programme performance and supporting reporting.
- Promoting learning and evidence generation.
- Contributing to global WASH and public health initiatives.
The specialist will work closely with Country Offices, governments, partners and communities to help ensure that public health interventions are responsive to local needs and informed by evidence.
Emergency Response and Community Engagement
The position has a strong focus on emergency preparedness and response, particularly in relation to cholera and other waterborne disease outbreaks.
The successful candidate will support the development of approaches that enable communities to understand public health risks and participate in emergency response activities.
The role also emphasizes Accountability to Affected Populations, ensuring that communities have appropriate opportunities to provide feedback and that their perspectives inform programme design and implementation.
Professionals with experience working in humanitarian contexts, fragile settings and development environments may therefore be particularly well suited to the position.
Education Requirements
Applicants must hold a Master’s degree or equivalent advanced university degree in one of the following areas:
- Public Health;
- Social and Behavioral Sciences;
- Communication;
- Epidemiology; or
- A related field.
The academic background should provide relevant preparation for social and behavioral change programming, public health communication, emergency response or related work.
Professional Experience
UNICEF requires candidates to have at least five years of progressively responsible experience in emergency Social and Behavior Change (SBC) or Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) programming, with a focus on WASH.
Experience at country level is desirable, particularly in:
- Development settings;
- Fragile settings;
- Humanitarian contexts;
- Emergency response;
- Community engagement; and
- Public health programming.
Experience designing feedback mechanisms and applying behavioral data during emergencies is also considered highly desirable.
Technical and Professional Skills
The ideal candidate should be able to interpret both qualitative and quantitative data and use evidence to develop data-driven RCCE recommendations.
Strong understanding of socio-political contexts is important, as the role requires engagement with governments, UNICEF Country Offices, partners and affected communities.
Candidates should also demonstrate strong writing and presentation skills and be able to translate social and behavioral data into practical recommendations.
Other important skills include:
- Strong interpersonal and collaboration skills;
- Ability to design and deliver training sessions;
- Ability to coordinate multiple workstreams;
- Strong organizational and time-management skills;
- Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines; and
- Capacity to work effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Language Requirements
Fluency in English is required.
Knowledge of another official UN language—Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish—would be an advantage.
Knowledge of a relevant local language is also desirable.
UNICEF Competencies
UNICEF identifies several competencies for this P-3 position.
Candidates are expected to demonstrate the ability to build and maintain partnerships, work collaboratively, think and act strategically, innovate and embrace change, manage ambiguity and complexity, and maintain a strong drive to achieve results for impact.
Self-awareness and ethical awareness are also important competencies for the role.
Benefits and International Work Environment
The fixed-term position offers an opportunity to work within UNICEF’s international professional workforce and contribute to global programmes supporting children and communities.
UNICEF promotes an inclusive workplace and encourages qualified candidates from diverse backgrounds to apply.
The organization also provides staff benefits that may include paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities, subject to applicable policies.
Because humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority for UNICEF, staff at all levels may be called upon to support humanitarian responses and deployments when required.
Important Application Information
UNICEF appointments are subject to relevant requirements, including medical clearance. For international professional positions, issuance of a visa by the host country is required and will be facilitated by UNICEF where applicable.
Candidates should also be aware that UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of recruitment, selection or hiring. UNICEF will not ask applicants for bank account information as part of the recruitment process.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advanced to the next stage.
Application Deadline and How to Apply
The UNICEF Social & Behavior Change Specialist vacancy was advertised on August 28, 2026, and the application deadline is September 4, 2026, East Africa Standard Time.
Interested and qualified candidates should apply through the official UNICEF recruitment portal using Job Number 595421.
Applicants should ensure that their CV and application clearly demonstrate their academic qualifications, emergency SBC/RCCE experience, WASH expertise, public health knowledge, partnership-building skills and experience working in humanitarian or development settings.
Final Note
The UNICEF Social & Behavior Change Specialist (P-3) position in Nairobi offers an opportunity for an experienced public health or social and behavioral change professional to contribute to global efforts addressing cholera, waterborne diseases and public health emergencies.
The role combines WASH, RCCE, AAP, emergency response, community engagement, capacity building, evidence generation and global technical support, making it particularly relevant to professionals seeking an international career in humanitarian and public health programming.
