State Social Behaviour Change and Communication Officer at John Snow Inc - JSI

Position Description
General Information:

• The MOMENTUM Routine Immunization Transformation and Equity (M-RITE) project is part of a suite of innovative awards funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to holistically improve family planning and maternal and child health in partner countries around the world.
• The project applies best practices and explores innovations to increase equitable immunization coverage in USAID-supported countries around the globe. It works to build countries’ capacity to identify and overcome barriers to reaching zero-dose and under immunized children and older populations with life-saving vaccines and other integrated health services. M-RITE works at multiple levels and in alignment with global strategies such as the Immunization Agenda 2030 and Gavi 5.0.
• The project also contributes to ongoing global efforts to mitigate the impact low routine immunization coverage and support states to prepare for and introduce vaccines new vaccines against vaccine preventable disease once they are available. In Nigeria M-RITE works to strengthen routine immunization (RI) services and supports COVID-19 vaccine rollout at the state level and in 5 focus states.

Summary

• The Social Behaviour Change and Communication Officer will report to the State Team Lead and provide technical support to the field team in all key SBCC, Gender & RI/PHC programmatic areas. S/he will work with the SBCC Advisor to support the implementation of the Momentum Routine Immunization Transformation and Equity Project according to the approved work plan to ensure the achievement of strategic goals and objectives.
• The Social and Behaviour Change Communication Officer’s role will be community-based in USAID/ Momentum Routine Immunization Transformation and Equity Project intervention areas to promote key transformative RI/PHC awareness programs through adapting RI/PHC behaviour change strategies.

Responsibilities

• The Social Behaviour Change and Communication Officer will provide technical expertise in social behaviour change communication areas with a special focus on Advocacy, Demand generation and Community mobilization for RI/PHC.
• Support the Senior SBC Advisor in the design of the project SBCC model and lead in the implementation of all SBCC campaigns to increase community level of awareness on key RI/PHC behaviour change through various transformative practices and learning processes.
• Support the Senior SBC Advisor in the development of training materials, and curriculum and Media plan focusing on RI/PHC behaviour change while ensuring adaptability to local context using appropriate communication tools.
• Identify and establish a strong working relationship with other project partners to support the Momentum project with the intervention communities.
• Ensure gender mainstreaming in all elements of planning and implementation of Momentum activities, communication, and promotion of social inclusion/equity for all women in the intervention communities.
• Lead in the planning, coordination, and implementation of RI/PHC activities to promote improved utilization of RI/PHC services in the state.
• Oversee the establishment of community-based caregivers group and conduct monthly meetings with care groups to promote improved utilization of RI/PHC among women-pregnant and lactating mothers, young girls(adolescents), caregivers, and women with children under age 5.
• Support the State Team Lead in strong community engagement and lead all mobilization and periodic sensitization of community members on the Project SBC activities.
• Lead the commemoration of global & RI/PHC events that strongly aligns Project goals and objectives with a special focus on gender.
• Share learning and developments on SBCC using various media platforms.
• Provide weekly field reports, contribute to monthly activity progress reports, document and share lessons learned, success stories, community feedback as well as general situational awareness within the communities.
• Support the Monitoring & Evaluation team to track program activities and deliver surveys, assessments, and other monitoring activities to ensure that interventions are on-track for progress and increased impact.
• Work closely with community structures for implementation of all Momentum Routine Immunization Transformation and Equity Project activities through effective community mobilization and sensitization for community-led RI/PHC activities with a focus on achieving Program strategic objectives.
• Maintain successful relationships between the Project and community associations, community leaders, and other key stakeholders in the host community while working in the field.
• Other duties as assigned by Supervisor.

The Ideal Candidate’s Experience

• Degree in Public Health, Communications, or related field; advanced degree is preferred;
• Experience in leading the development and implementation of advocacy and communication strategies, with clear theories of change, specific, measurable and timebound objectives, and performance indicators.
• A track record of achieving or contributing to tangible policy change at the state or national level is a plus.
• Proven experience in deploying a range of advocacy and communication tactics based on a clear theory of change.
• Demonstrated experience in drafting human angled stories to USAID audiences
• Experience in building strong relationships with traditional and social media entities and using media relations and channels to engage public audiences.
• Experience in leading the development, implementation and monitoring of digital strategies.
• Experienced and current in digital and social media content and audience trends as well as in managing online platforms and channels.
• Experience in building and maintaining a network of stakeholders, and in working with coalitions.
• Strong communicator with emphasis on being able to present complex policy ideas in succinct, engaging ways through campaign narratives and creative tactics.
• Experience in managing a team is a requirement, along with a proven commitment to diverse and inclusive recruiting process.