Risk Communication and Community Engagement State Consultants - COVID at Breakthrough ACTION

Consultancy Title:                   RCCE State Consultants - COVID

Reports to:                               RCCE Program Manager

Project Activity:                      Risk Communication (COVID)

Location:                                 Akwa Ibom, Oyo, Ebonyi, FCT, Plateau, CRS, Zamfara, and Kano

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.

Scope of Work

The State Consultant will provide required technical and strategic level coordination for COVID workstream implementation in the state including programmatic oversight for all BA-N risk communication and community engagement in the state.

Specifically, the state consultant will:

• Support the state coordinator with the implementation of RCCE activities in the state;
• Provide state-level project leadership for the BA-Nigeria risk communication and community engagement activities in the state including partnership management, stakeholder’s engagement, and overall coordination of all COVID vaccination, prevention, and testing activities in collaboration with the country office team;
• Collaborate with the State Primary Health Care Development Agency/Board and the State Agency for the Control of AIDS and its partners to implement COVID-19 work plans at the state, LGA, facility, and community level;
• Provide support to State Social Mobilization Committee and state-level partners to coordinate and implement RCCE activities for COVID;
• Provide SBC support and capacity building at the state level for diverse stakeholders;
• Work together with the State M&E Officer in the coordination and monitoring of activity across all intervention areas;
• Document the implementation process, success stories and provide key highlights including lessons learned on a monthly basis and submit the same to the RCCE Program Manager;
• Represent Breakthrough ACTION Nigeria at stakeholder meetings and similar partner forums as required;
• Other duties as identified and assigned by supervisor and/or Abuja country office program leads.

 Minimum Qualifications & Skills

• Minimum of Bachelor’s degree in arts, social/health sciences, or related discipline is required. An advanced degree is desirable
• 3-5 years previous experience carrying out the related tasks with a donor-funded project is desirable;
• Previous work experience implementing USAID or US-CDC funded or donor-funded health programs is strongly preferred;
• Previous work in HIV, COVID, SBC/SBCC or health communication programs will be added advantage
• Ability to work collaboratively and proactively;
• Excellent organizational, problem-solving skills and attention to detail is essential;
• Knowledge of key health sector players in the public and aid sectors in Nigeria required;
• Excellent communication skills (written & spoken) in English language and one or more Nigerian languages is required;
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint, or similar software;
• Geographical knowledge of the state is a must. Candidates who currently reside in State will be given top priority

Period of engagement

10 months (October 2021 to July 2022) – Possible extension of contract subject to donor funding.

Number required:

8 personnel (one per state)