Program Officer II - Risk Communications & SBC at Breakthrough ACTION

Reports to:                 Deputy Project Director

Project Activity:        Risk Communication (COVID & GHSA)

Duration:                   1 year – extension contingent on funding.

Project Description

Breakthrough ACTION is a five-year cooperative agreement funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to lead their social behavior change (SBC) programming around the world. Breakthrough ACTION is a partnership led by the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs (CCP) in collaboration with Save the Children, ThinkPlace, ideas42, Camber Collective, International Center for Research on Women, and Viamo.

In Nigeria, Breakthrough ACTION (Breakthrough ACTION Nigeria) focuses its efforts on malaria; maternal, newborn, and child health, including nutrition (MNCHN); family planning/reproductive health; TB; priority zoonotic diseases; and the COVID-19 response. In addition, Breakthrough ACTION supports the capacity strengthening of key stakeholders to design, implement, and evaluate SBC activities.

With recently awarded funding from USAID, BA-Nigeria is recruiting positions to lead and implement Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE), Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA), and COVID-19 activities.

Summary

The Program Officer II - Risk Communication & SBC will contribute to the day to day implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the BA-N COVID-19 and GHSA activities. S/he is expected to work in close collaboration with the key partners at the national and subnational level to improve the risk communication capacity and address behaviors associated with high priority zoonotic diseases and COVID-19.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities 

• In addition to the overall technical inputs to the project as described above, specific duties and responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned:
• Serve as technical liaison officer with key Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) overseeing One Health Approach and GHSA Implementing partners;
• Provide technical assistance to International Health Regulations (IHR) National Focal Point and National One Health Coordination Unit (NOHCU) for implementation of RCCE-related activities in national policies e.g. One Health Strategic Plan; National Action Plan for Health Security and Joint External Evaluation Report;
• Provide technical assistance to the coordination of the activities of the national risk communication technical working group and other infectious diseases working groups;
• Provide administrative and technical support for the implementation of COVID and GHSA work plans;
• Provide support to planning for programmatic research processes such as desk reviews, gaps assessment, mapping, situation analysis and behavioral insights;
• Prepare, submit and disseminate quality activity reports, including field notes and success stories, to effectively capture lessons learnt on the ground from the projects;
• Other duties as identified by the supervisor.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This position has no direct supervisory responsibilities.

Minimum Qualifications and Skills

• Degree in Medicine (MBBS, MBChB, DVM) preferred OR A Postgraduate Degree in Public Health, Epidemiology, Social Sciences or related field.
• A minimum of six (6) years of experience in donor-funded health projects is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience working with varied stakeholders especially ministries, departments, and agencies in a multisectoral approach developing and implementing policies is required.
• Experience working on issues related to public health response, zoonotic diseases, global health security or COVID-19 is an advantage.
• Excellent technical writing and oral presentation skills are highly desired.
• Working knowledge of MS Office Packages and database software and applications.
• Well-organized, with the ability to track multiple activities and deadlines.
• Strong communication skills (written & spoken) in the English language and one or more Nigerian language(s) is required.
• Ability to travel within Nigeria and work successfully within a cross-cultural, multi-sectoral, multi-project team-based environment.