Communication Consultant — Nigeria at PATH

Background

• The consultant will provide services as a Communication Consultant and work across a diverse set of internal and external partners, including health stakeholders at the national, state, local government, ward, and community levels. These partners include the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), National Malaria Elimination Program (NMEP), State Primary Health Care Agencies/Boards, and State Malaria Elimination Program (SMEP) in states where the malaria vaccine has been deployed (Bayelsa and Kebbi States). The consultant will help define and execute communication and social mobilization strategies while contributing to crosscutting priorities.
• PATH’s Center for Vaccine Innovation and Access (CVIA) spans every stage of the long and complex process of vaccine research, development, and introduction to make lifesaving vaccines widely available to women, children, and communities across the world. CVIA’s current portfolio encompasses more than two dozen vaccines either in development or already in use to protect against 18 different diseases, including diarrheal disease, malaria, meningitis, pneumonia, polio, and typhoid. CVIA works in partnership with national health ministries, pharmaceutical manufacturers, donors, international financing and regulatory organizations, and many others.
• Specifically, this consultancy will support implementation and expansion of malaria vaccination in Nigeria, applying global guidance and lessons from the malaria vaccine pilots in Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi, and best practices from other implementing countries. To do this work, the consultant will collaborate with key stakeholders and program teams across government and partner organizations, including colleagues at PATH, the Federal and State Ministries of Health of Nigeria, NPHCDA, NMEP, SPHCDA/B, SMEP, other relevant ministries, departments, and agencies, and national and local malaria and immunization partners. The consultant will develop and execute workplans, strategies, and activities that align with and support malaria vaccine communication and demand promotion priorities.

Consultant Responsibilities

• The consultant will collaborate with PATH’s malaria vaccine (MalVac) project team members and program teams across government and partner organizations to define risk communication and community engagement strategies and plans in the context of malaria vaccine implementation.
• Working with PATH and health teams across government and partner organizations, the consultant will develop and maintain updated workplans and timelines for carrying out these activities.
• The consultant will work with internal and other health teams across government and partner organizations to adapt job aids and other interpersonal communication tools for health workers and identify appropriate social listening and feedback mechanisms for communities.
• Similarly, the consultant will keep internal and external stakeholders updated on the most current messages and will help to organize and participate in any PATH-led training related to risk communication.
• The consultant will work collaboratively with teams across government and partner organizations to develop and support implementation of risk communication strategies to address misinformation and misconceptions about the malaria vaccine,
• The consultant will work with health teams across government and partner organizations to map and engage external stakeholders and media at national and subnational levels and will develop briefing packets for these audiences toward galvanizing interest and support for malaria vaccination.
• The consultant will manage processes for translating messages, materials, and tools into local languages.
• The consultant will document progress, lessons learned, and success stories and will help design and implement external stakeholder meetings and workshops, as needed.
• The consultant will coordinate and participate in supportive supervision and other mentoring and information-gathering field visits and will conduct interviews, gather photos, and engage in other efforts to document progress.
• The consultant will participate in initial and on-the-job training for health workers and health committees.
• The consultant will participate in community sensitization and mobilization activities.
• The consultant will monitor availability and use of communication material at health facilities and within communities.
• The consultant will attend internal as well as government and partner organization work planning meetings and will provide periodic progress reports.

Required Experience

• Bachelor's degree or higher, preferably in communication, public policy, global health, or related field.
• A minimum of 10 years of experience in designing and managing advocacy, communication, and community engagement strategies for health, particularly immunization.
• Understanding of immunization programs and health systems required.
• Experience working with national-level stakeholders as well as civil society organizations and communities.
• Experience facilitating strong relationships and working within multi-country, cross-functional and diverse teams.
• Excellent verbal and written communication with the ability to tailor approaches for various audiences and channels.
• Fluency in oral and written relevant local languages as well as English required.
• Willingness to travel, as needed.