Advocacy Toolkit Consultant at Futures Group

Position Summary

Futures Group is recruiting for a short-term consultant to coordinate advocacy activities with the government of Lagos State through the Lagos State Ministry of Health and between the Federal Ministry of Health and the Lagos State Ministry of Health, under a BMGF-funded initiative to support the government of Nigeria through a Technical Support Unit (TSU) project. The goal of the position is to ensure Lagos state buy-in to the recently developed National Family Planning Blueprint, and the development of a state-level costed implementation plan (CIP) for family planning. The consultant will coordinate with the TSU national level personnel and other consultants as well as the FMOH family planning focal person for the TSU project. The consultant will, in collaboration with the National Advocacy Consultant, identify and coordinate advocacy and awareness-raising activities during a week-long advocacy trip to be made by staff members from the FMOH family planning team to Lagos, Kaduna and Oyo. This position is based in Lagos, Kaduna and Oyo, Nigeria.

Key Responsibilities

• Work with project staff and consultants, and FMOH family planning staff to identify key stakeholders to be reached during the FMOH FP advocacy trip.
• Work with project staff and consultants to develop advocacy strategy that will lead to achieving goals
• Follow up with identified stakeholders to organize meetings, including identification of meeting venue, invitations, and other meeting logistics. Coordinate with Lagos State Ministry of Health family planning unit to ensure protocol and logistical details are observed.
• Comment on advocacy materials developed by other members of project team
• Provide limited follow up based on results of advocacy meeting.

Qualifications

• Graduate level degree (MD, MA, MPH) in International Health, Public Health, Development or related program (coursework in Family Planning/ Reproductive Health/ Population Studies is preferred)
• At least 5 years of relevant experience in family planning policy and advocacy work
• Strong knowledge of family planning program issues at Lagos State level and in Nigeria
• Excellent judgment, conceptual and analytical thinking ability
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing
• Proficiency in the Microsoft Office, ability to prepare professional PowerPoints and briefs, and work with editors, graphic designers, and local printers with a rapid turn-around time
• Good diplomatic skills and experience interacting with Government of Nigeria agencies at federal and regional levels, development partners, and civil society organizations
• Excellent written and spoken English is required
• Local language capabilities are an advantage
• Nigerian nationals strongly encouraged to apply

Deliverables (to be produced in conjunction with national lead advocacy consultant)

• Draft list of stakeholder groups to be engaged (including officials of Lagos State Government)
• Agenda for week-long advocacy trip
• Sign in sheets from all meetings held during advocacy trip
• Detailed report including recommendations for the next steps and a list of pending issues at end of advocacy trip