Strategic Behaviour Change Project Officer at Methodist Church Nigeria

LOCATION: Borno State, with travel around the North East

TIME/STATUS: Regular, Full-time

DURATION: One-year contract, with a possibility of extension

Position Summary

To work in a team in the design and implementation of psychosocial interventions, support the development of self-help groups, monitor mental health promotion activities and ensure that the project objectives are met. Moreover, to strengthen accessibility to mental and general health and social services for service users and ensure that support is extended to both mental health service users and their families, and families of displaced people, refugees and returnees including child and female-headed households to benefit from the projects.

S/he will be based in Maiduguri, and will report to the Project Manager.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Facilitate and brief stakeholders and community groups on mental health promotion and self-help group development activities
• Collaborate with project beneficiaries and organizations of persons with disabilities to initiate and develop viable and sustainable self-help groups in the target communities.
• Oversee the economic integration programme for service users within the project. This includes providing technical support to the self-help groups in managing the revolving loans scheme as well as provide technical support in developing business ideas, business fundamentals and financial literacy towards self-reliance.
• Identify and provide linkages and referrals to project beneficiaries for placements in formal and informal employment based on needs of the beneficiaries.
• Support the reporting of child and vulnerable adult safeguarding issues and referral to other agencies in targeted area.
• Ensure that all programmes take gender issues fully into account. This includes the introduction of mechanisms to enable women and girls to participate in decision making around public health issues.
• Contribute to the development of context relevant SBC/IEC materials (Strategic Behaviour Change or Information Education Communication) for different target audiences.
• Conduct training of community groups on context relevant and culturally appropriate IEC materials promoting key public health practices and messages about the available mental health services.
• Facilitate strategic behaviour change interventions for the project aimed at promoting good mental health among young people and at risk populations. This includes selecting and training Advocates / Peer Facilitators to deliver strategic behavior change messages within their cohorts as well as monitoring the activities of these community volunteers.
• Organize and ensure awareness campaigns, community and mass media activities are conducted to educate general public about mental health and promote dignity for persons with mental illness. This includes commemorating international days related to mental health celebrated annually.
• Conduct data collection related to public health and protection indicators (at household and community level) for programming purpose.
• Work with the project team in developing and strengthening accountability mechanisms at community and partner levels.
• Coordinate with other humanitarian actors and participate in activities of sector working groups in the catchment areas.
• Contribute in timely and quality reporting on mental health promotion project activities. To report regularly, verbally and in writing to the Project Manager and to represent the partner to other NGO’s, agencies and Government authorities where requested.
• Assist in collecting best practices, case studies that demonstrate qualitative and quantitative changes over the period. This also include keeping a log of “lessons learnt" within scope of work.
• Conduct reviews, learning events, surveys at project locations.
• Actively participate in weekly project management and team meetings.

• Liaise closely with the project team throughout the planning, design and implementation stages of the CBM-BMZ Transitional Aid project.

Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrated desire and experience working with ethnically diverse populations.
• Intermediate to advanced computer skills and experience with various software programs as required by the position.
• Strong organizational/time management skills; ability to multi-task in a fast-paced and often stressful environment; demonstrated flexibility in regards to job duties and assignments; ability to work effectively and independently, and as part of a team to organize tasks, solve problems, make decisions, while handling multiple priorities.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills demonstrated by the ability to communicate effectively and relate congenially with parents, children, clinic staff and providers, and community referral representatives.
• Proven understanding of standards and practices governing patient/client confidentiality; demonstrated ability to preserve client confidentiality.
• Thorough knowledge of and willingness to adhere to mandated reporting requirements as stated by law; working knowledge of generally accepted Quality Assurance standards and procedures.
• Position requires moderate physical activity such as sitting, travelling, walking, and computer usage.

Qualification, Education and Experience

• Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Sociology, Mass Communication, Business Management, Economics or the Social Sciences from a recognized institution.
• Master’s degree in Public Health, Clinical Psychology or related field is an added advantage.

• At least three years’ prior experience in administration, coordination with supervision of mental health and/or case management/counseling services programs required.