Advocacy, Communication and Social Mobilization (ACSM) Officer at Catholic Relief Services (CRS)

Project: Health Systems Strengthening Unit
Location: Ondo
Band: C-1
Reports To: SPM, GF /Malaria

Job Summary
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) shares the National Malaria Elimination Program’s (NMEP) vision for a malaria-free Nigeria and its goal to reduce the malaria burden to pre-elimination levels and bring malaria-related mortality to zero. CRS will partner with the NMEP as a sub-recipient on the Global Fund Malaria New Funding Model grant for Nigeria in Ondo and Ekiti states.
CRS will support NMEP in the implementation of the following interventions:

• Vector Control - distribution of LLINs.
• Case management - diagnosis with Rapid Diagnostic Kits (RDTs, treatment with Artemisinin Combination Therapy (ACTs); treatment for severe malaria with injectable Artesunate.
• Specific Prevention Interventions (SPI) - Intermittent Preventive Therapy in Pregnancy (IPTp).
• Procurement and Supply Chain Management.
• Health Information Systems and M&E.
• Program Management.

Primary Function

• Social/community mobilization and behavioral change communication for Malaria
• Advocacy and networking
• Partnership and representation

Job Responsibilities

• Mentor the Community Oriented Resource Persons (CORPs) and ensure that their activities are in line with the project’s ACSM work plan.
• Organize regular advocacy visits to state and local government malaria implementation teams, other state and LGA-level stakeholders and establish linkages and working relationships with these.
• Working with the GF Malaria team and health facilities, organize regular targeted advocacy visits to designated community stakeholders such as TBAs, women groups, traditional and religious leaders, and establish linkages between the project and these stakeholders.
• Working with state teams, carry out mapping exercises relating to malaria service delivery in order to identify underserved groups (especially among pregnant women and under-5 and school-age children) and ensure the provision of services to these identified groups.
• Develop and implement strategies for well-targeted social mobilization activities – including outreaches and town hall meetings - in schools, markets, and communities to increase awareness of malaria services and increase coverage for malaria prevention, diagnosis and treatment services.
• Ensure the availability of relevant IEC materials for deployment during outreaches and at the facilities.
• Ensure that an effective and documented referral system is in place at community level to link clients to the GF-supported facilities.
• Ensure proper documentation of all implemented activities and data gathered, and ensure that same (both narrative and numbers) are reported in a timely fashion.
• Ensure that the ACSM activities at the state and LGA levels are aligned with NMEP’s assigned social mobilization sub-recipient (SM SR) activities.
• Other duties as may be assigned by the SPM and Head of Unit.

Qualifications

• A first degree in a relevant field such as Medical/Nursing Sciences, Community Health, Health Education, Biological Sciences and Social Sciences.
• Minimum of 3 years’ experience in malaria programming at the community level.
• Experience in managing social and behavior change communication programs.
• Experience in capacity building for health programming is required.
• Previous experience working with donor funded projects is required.
• Ability to work independently and efficiently within the CRS-GF Malaria team, while interfacing closely with the entire CRS team.
• Good interpersonal skills, the ability to interface with multiple stakeholders, representatives, and partners in an ongoing basis and capable of establishing stronger and mutually beneficial links between CRS and her partners.
• Strong English language communication skills, including written and verbal.
• Strong assessment, organizational, analytical and planning skills.
• Computer competency (MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint) is essential
• Flexible and independent.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Fluent in one or more local language of assigned states (Ondo or Ekiti).
• Willingness to travel frequently within the assigned project states.

Agency Wide Competences (For all CRS Staff):

• These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.
• Serves with integrity
• Models stewardship
• Cultivâtes constructive relationship
• Promotes learning

Key Working Relationships:

• Internal: S/he will report to the Senior Program Manager, and be expected to work in close collaboration with other GF Malaria team members especially the TMs, Technical Officers, M & E Technical Officers and Supply Chain Officer) in the areas of demand generation, advocacy and partnership.
• External: Assigned GF Malaria partners health facilities staff, NMEP, State Ministries of Health (SMOH), Role Model Caregivers and Traditional Birth Attendants etc.

Disclaimer Clause:

• This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.