Afghanistan and Pakistan remain the world’s only polio-endemic countries. In 2024, Afghanistan reported 25 cases of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) and 106 environmental isolates, primarily from the eastern and southern regions. As of May 2025, two WPV1 cases and 25 environmental isolations have been reported. The eastern and southern regions continue to be classified as high-risk and remain priority areas for the polio eradication program.

Given the ongoing risk of virus circulation and the shift in campaign modality from house-to-house to site-to-site, there is an increased need for community engagement between campaign rounds. This also necessitates adapting campaign-based social mobilization strategies to align with the site-to-site modality to ensure optimal coverage.

To address these needs, the PULL strategy has been developed, focusing specifically on high-risk areas. As part of the strategy’s implementation, the realignment of frontline workers (FLWs) has been undertaken to concentrate efforts in high-risk zones while maintaining a minimal footprint in low-risk areas.
Deploying SBC extenders to support demand generation for polio vaccine and reduce missed children in immunization campaigns through coordination, engagement of communities, authorities and influencers, and capacity building of frontline workers. 

• Support and oversee the action planning and performance monitoring of PCOs and DCOs to ensure alignment with program objectives.

• Ensure that SBC and Operations, at the team level, are integrated into microplanning and regularly updated.

• Support the identification of cluster- and team-level enablers (e.g. influencers, respected elders, grey-haired women, adolescents) and actively engage them in campaigns to help PULL children toward vaccination sites.

• Assist in the deployment, capacity building, and monitoring of Female Mobilization Vaccination (FMVs) in high-risk and convergence districts.

• Support the rapid onboarding and capacity building of campaign-based cadres of FLWs as needs arise.

• Map out, maintain and update list of vaccine pro-religious leaders and other community influencers and those opposing polio vaccines and routine vaccination.

• Categorize and find out reasons for refusal, especially those with religious misperceptions given geographical areas, target groups and their influencers.
  

• Conduct training need assessment and training of key influencers including religious scholars/mobilizers, and members of the NIAG on polio misinformation and ways to counter it.
  

• Work closely with the communication team and programme extenders to assist and test audience-specific message aimed at responding to reason of refusals such as religion-based misperceptions and distrust in polio vaccines.
  

• In coordination with PEI partners, liaise with the public health, Hajj and Religious Affairs and PVPV directorates and other line departments to plan activities to convince families with religion-based misperception and refusals.

• Work with institutions, build their knowledge, and engage them in Polio and routine immunization awareness raising activities.

• Organize targeted community engagement sessions in hardcore refusal areas to address misperception and promote positive practices towards vaccine at the community

• Co-lead the misinformation management taskforce, collect rumors, misinformation, and provide feedback in coordination with relevant EOCs.

• In coordination with the Directorate of Hajj and Religious Affairs and the IAG focal point, engage female Madrasas in polio eradication efforts.

• Work closely with provincial IAG focal point and Misinformation Management and Crisis Communication Committee to track and respond to rumors, especially those with religious misperceptions.
  

• Support planning and conducting monitoring of campaigns and paying visits to low performing and high refusal clusters.

• Prepare a monthly plan and report on progress against the plan.

• Undertake any other programmatic activity assigned by supervisor. 
  

Specific tasks/activities – SBC cross border:

• Conduct mapping of influencers in cross border districts.

• Conduct targeted community engagement sessions in cross border districts.
  

• Track returnees in cross border districts in coordination with operation team.

• Oversee the SBC interventions in official borders for both normal cross border activities and returnees.

• Coordinate cross border activities with relevant stakeholders and cross border teams.

• Prepare visibility materials in coordination with communication team at cross border.

• Any other task assigned by supervisor.

SBC Technical Facilitator will work under the direct supervision of the Regional SBC Specialist/Officer. SBC extenders will supervise PCOs/DCOs/FMVs and will collaborate closely with other FLWs, partners, local authorities, stakeholders, community-based structures, and caregivers.

• University degree in social science, medical science, public health, Sharia and Law.

• Bachelor’s degree in Sharia/Law/Theology, philosophy, anthropology, and/or behaviors communication is preferable. Experience in the Polio programme is given priority.

• 3-5 years' experience in mentioned areas – working with community-based structures, advocacy, and health promotion.

• Fluent in English, Pashto, and Dari.

• Good computer skills.

• Ability to travel remote and far to access areas.

This role has no team management responsibility.

Qualified female candidates are encouraged to apply for this role.