Advisor, Demographics and Policy Support at Population Council

Job Description/Programme Summary

• The Population Council is seeking a demographer and policy specialist to support a new DFID-funded initiative, the Lafiya programme, which is designed to improve health outcomes for the poorest and most vulnerable in Nigeria, through encouraging the Government of Nigeria to increase resources invested in health; ii) improving effectiveness and efficiency of public and private basic health for services; and iii) reducing total fertility rate in Nigeria. Activities will be conducted in Kaduna, Kano, Jigawa, Yobe and Borno states (as access permits) and lessons learned and findings will be culminated at the federal level. There will be three state level demographers/policy analysts; one each in the states of Jigawa, Kaduna, and Kano.
• The family planning (FP) component includes increasing demand for, utilisation of, and acceptance of FP as well as analysing and communicating the wider impact of demographics.
• This demographer at the state level will work the local authorities, universities, and research institutions to collect, compile, and analyse demographic data (including economic, migration, urbanisation, and health data) and produce results that can be readily communicated to policy makers at the state and community levels, programme planners, academics, opinion leaders and the general public.

Responsibilities

• Work with state level institutions to conduct demographic research and analyses, including political economy analysis, and gather and synthesise the data to help the state government strengthen its policies and programmes to increase demand for and ensure voluntary, quality FP services.
• Collaborate with the Abuja-based Senior Advisor, Demographics and Policy Support and the two other state level project demographers to identify trends in the data across states, demographic research to be conducted, and ways to harmonise messages about FP based on evidence across the project.
• Ensure data can be compiled for and contribute to federal and state level findings and that state level activities are carried out with the larger goals of the project in mind.
• Collaborate with the Lafiya project team and Nigerian institutions to develop and implement communication and advocacy strategies to a range of stakeholders to develop or strengthen programs that address population growth and its effects on other aspects of the country’s economic and social development.
• At the state level, support technical assistance and capacity-building efforts for Nigerian researchers to strengthen their skills to conduct demographic and political economy analyses and to disseminate this information effectively to stakeholders.
• Work with the Abuja and state-based demographers to develop dissemination, advocacy, and research uptake strategies, identify influencers and leaders in the state to encourage adoption of evidence for policy formulation, planning, and resource allocation.
• Use evidence on demographic trends to identify key messages and potential policy levers to encourage the voluntary use of family planning and other women’s health services.

Qualifications

• A PhD in Demography, Public Health, Social Sciences, or equivalent field.
• At least 6 years of conducting research in demography, population planning, reproductive health and/or public health, preferably in Nigeria.
• Knowledge and practical application of political economy analysis.
• Experience in a range of quantitative research methods including the collection, quality assurance, analysis, interpretation and use of data for decision-making.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and sustain professional relationships, to manage and work collaboratively with government agencies, civil society and community-based organisations, and donors.
• Practical experience in training and capacity building of researchers in data collection, analyses, and use.
• Strong oral and written communication skills in English, including evidence of high-quality report writing and presentations.
• Solid diplomatic and representational skills and ability to communicate with government agencies, non-governmental organisations, and civil sector society about the project’s research, analyses, and lessons learned.

Location: Kaduna, Nigeria  Application Link

Location: Jigawa, Nigeria   Application Link

Location: Kano, Nigeria  Application Link