Communication Officer at International Medical Corps

Program Background

• International Medical Corps has been operating in Nigeria since November 2013, and currently has projects in two States (Kano and Borno). In Borno, International Medical Corps has been actively implementing interventions to support vulnerable populations recently affected by conflict and displacement due to insurgency.
• In Kano and Borno, IMC is a consortium member of the Core Group Polio Project in Nigeria. This is a five-year Polio Eradication program in covering 6 LGAs in Kano and 10 in Borno. IMC is implementing this project in partnership with CSADI in Kano.
• IMC is utilizing a three-pronged strategy to implement the Project to increase rates of routine immunization and supplementary immunization activities for children under 5 years of age, focusing especially on polio vaccination. The project 1) re-enforces the Ministry of Health’s routine immunization program to improve its performance, 2) strengthen supplemental polio immunization efforts, and 3) improves community mobilization in support of child immunization and acute flaccid paralysis surveillance. This is to improve the Expanded Program on Immunization services contributing to CGPP’s goal of polio eradication in hard-to-reach communities.

Job Summary

• The Communication Officer will be responsible for designing, planning and providing technical guidance on social mobilization activities in the polio eradication project in Kano states. She will work closely with the local implementing partners, social mobilization working groups both at the states and also CGPP secretariat, to ensure efficient and effective social mobilization in the implementation of the PEI activities in the two states.

Main Responsibilities

• Support implementation of social and community mobilization activities in collaboration with the local implementing partners’ staff (LGACs, VWS, VCMs), state social mobilization working groups
• Support advocacy with religious and community leaders to create an enabling environment to improve awareness on the benefits of polio and routine immunization and promote uptake of these services during immunization plus days’ campaigns and at the health facilities.
• Organize meetings with religious, traditional and community leaders, village heads, community groups and other relevant community stakeholders to improve awareness on polio, routine immunization, AFP surveillance.
• Support training and supervision of Voluntary Community Mobilizers and other social and or community mobilization agents working under the polio project.
• Support the M&E Officers and Senior Program officer to effectively collect, collate and report social and community mobilization data as required.
• Collaborate with State Senior Program officer and State M&E Officers to ensure documentation of all community mobilization activities.
• Prepare and submit timely and quality activity reports, including field notes and success stories, to effectively capture lessons learnt on the ground from the projects.
• Provide administrative support as needed.
• Carry out other tasks to support the polio project activities as assigned.

Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse:

• Actively promote PSEA (Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse) standards within International Medical Corps and amongst beneficiaries served by International Medical Corps.
• Any other duties that may be assigned from time by supervisors

Compliance & Ethics:

• Promotes and encourages a culture of compliance and ethics throughout International Medical Corps. As applicable to the position, maintains a clear understanding of International Medical Corps’ and donor compliance and ethics standards and adheres to those standards. Conducts work with the highest level of integrity.

Qualification and Experience

• First degree or its equivalent in Social/ Behavioral Sciences (Development Studies, Anthropology, Psychology, and Health Education) or any other relevant discipline of study
• Master’s degree will be an added advantage.
• Proven experience on strategic communication planning for behavior development, social mobilization, participatory communication, and research.
• Minimum of Three (3) years “Hands On” work experience in advocacy, social and or community mobilization in polio projects or any health programs.
• Excellent communication, and organizational skills; - and- ability to influence and facilitate advocacy agendas at LGA and State level.
• Understanding of local communities and cultures in the relevant states of operations and ability to communicate fluently in Hausa.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills in English.
• Ability to travel and work in difficult settings, including remote rural areas of Nigeria.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word and PowerPoint, or similar software.
• Well-organized, with ability to track multiple activities and deadlines.
• Experience in providing administrative support to work teams.
• Ability to work successfully in cross-cultural, team-based environment.
• Female candidate desirable