Social and Behavior Change Project Manager - PLANE at Save The Children

Child Safeguarding

• The responsibilities of this post may require the post holder to have regular contact with children and young people. In the overseas context, all posts are considered to be level 2.
• As part of these responsibilities, the post holder will support the establishment of child safeguarding systems, promote a culture of children safety, and ensure that potential harm to children (by our staff or as a result of how we do our work) is identified and addressed on an ongoing basis.
• The post holder should report and respond to interventions as determined by position-related responsibilities identified in the Child Safeguarding Policy.

Introduction

• Save the Children International is a 'dual mandate organization and as such equal priority will be given to both humanitarian and development work.  Save the Children will support programs in sudden onset and chronic emergencies as part of a commitment to work with children through humanitarian interventions.
• This is the only way we will be able to ensure that some of the fundamental rights that we believe children have, such as survival, safety, and constant access to protection and education, can be guaranteed.
• Partnership For Learning For All In Nigeria (PLANE)  - is an FCDO funded education project in Jigawa, Katsina and Kano, SC will be implementing window 3 in these three states and will use evidence-based approaches to enable and increase community-based support for learning for 200,000 marginalised children, especially girls and children with disabilities, through building foundational competencies, fostering empowerment, strengthening protection systems and supporting families to overcome demand-side barriers to productive education opportunities.

Role

• The Social and Behaviour Change (SBC) Project Manager will be responsible for providing overall technical assistance for the design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of SBC strategies and strengthening the capacity of SC partners and their frontline workers in SBC. S/he will ensure the utilization of evidence-based, best practices and SC’s global SBC Framework and Process to inform the development of effective SBC strategies, frameworks, tools, materials for the SBC interventions on PLANE Window 3.
• The SBC Specialist will also support SC's efforts to address the demand side barriers to education, particularly for out of school children, including girls and children living with disabilities, through SBC technical assistance.
• Under the guidance of the Programme Manager and  Senior SBC Technical Advisor, the Social and Behaviour Change and Capacity Strengthening Specialist the SBC Specialist will also lead SC's efforts in creating equitable Partnerships with communities, local  and consortium partners that relate to the project’s SBC components.
• Specifically, this work will entail support to PMC, the consortium partner with whom SC has joint plans and a teaming agreement to incorporate SBC interventions within this project, develop SBC strategic plans, help manage relationships with the partner.

Main Responsibilities
Programme Support:
Under the leadership of an Programme Manager and other team members, the post holder will;

• Collaborate with MEAL colleagues to contribute to formative research and evaluation protocols, tools, training, data collection, analysis and report writing;
• Provide technical direction to define evidence-informed SBC approaches and activities to influence shifts in community norms, attitudes and behaviours  in support of learning by households and communities.
• Work with PMC to develop, adapt and pretest SBCC packages (framework, tools, messages, and materials) on community support to learning for use by PMC and community volunteers.
• Develop detailed implementation plans for PMC and SC-supported SBC interventions, and ensure high quality and timeline delivery of deliverables against intended objectives, targets, and timelines.
• Provide strategic direction and leadership in social and behavior change to meet SC and donor requirement targets/goals and deadlines;
• Manage and lead staff and partners to ensure efficient and timely implementation and robust monitoring of social and behavior change interventions;
• Work closely with the technical team and PMC on the design, planning, implementation and monitoring of a comprehensive SBC strategy;
• In cooperation with Advocacy Advisors, ensure community-based and social accountability initiatives are linked with policy influencing;
• Provide staff with ongoing training, mentoring and guidance on social and behavior change;
• Ensure the timeliness, cost, and quality of all activities related to social and behavior change;
• Prepare required reporting for social and behavior change activities;
• Prepare annual work plans and budgets with clear and measurable SBC objectives and deliverables.

Capacity Strengthening:

• Provide oversight to the SBC program components, including undertaking field visits to partners to oversee implementation, provide on-site feedback and supportive supervision on required improvements, and generate field visit reports with timely and appropriate follow-up on action points.
• Provide mentoring and support to community mobilisation officers, partners and SC staff in SBC, encourage the development of peer networks and learning opportunities, including review meetings.

Partner Management:

• Under the supervision of the SBC Advisor, liaise and maintain relationships with PMC, SC’s communication partner, with whom the organization has joint ambition/plans/teaming agreement on the SBC and communication components for PLANE.
• Ensure that all supported SBC activities from Partners are appropriately planned and delivered, and report on progress monthly.
• Provide support and ensure the quality of the work of partners' selected consultants and staff working on community mobilisation and support to learning.

Representation & Advocacy & Organisational Learning:

• Ensure that Save the Children's and PMC’s work is coordinated with other agencies and the Government's efforts and support Interagency Coordination forums, advocating for the specific needs of children. This may involve supporting coordination working groups within the  project supported communities, LGAs and States.
• Contribute to communications and media work as required through correction of data and information and sharing with the project heads;
• In cooperation with the MEAL Team, provide tools and support to project staff for the effective monitoring and evaluation of social and behaviour change and community capacity strengthening efforts, enabling measurable outcomes and impact to be demonstrated;
• Expand capacity for documentation and dissemination of programme results, including success stories and case studies in close coordination with SCI Nigeria’s Knowledge Management team;
• Ensure that all materials produced have been posted to PLANE’s Sharepoint/Onenet site, SC workplace and external platforms in collaboration with the CO Media and Comms Team;
• Facilitate the sharing of experience and learning about PLANE across the country office, Region and SC movement and wider  sector  including publishing in journals and giving presentations/ attending conferences.

General:

• Comply with Save the Children policies and practices concerning child protection, code of conduct, health and safety, equal opportunities, and other relevant policies and procedures.

Qualifications & Experience
Essential:

• Master's Degree in Public Health, Nutrition, Communications, Marketing, Social or Behavioral Sciences, Public Relations, or related fields;
• At least five years of  SBC-specific experience in designing, development, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of SBC strategies and materials as well as related training;
• Experience in planning and implementing participatory learning and action approaches
• Experienced in pre-testing and concept testing SBC approaches and content;
• Strong organizational skills and ability to lead a stream of work;
• Ability to work independently as well as in cooperation with a multi-cultural team;
• Ability to think creatively and strategically;
• The proven capacity of management, leadership, and teamwork;
• Excellent communication skills and a willingness to be respectful, kind, sensitive, and empathize with all beneficiaries and their carers;
• Willingness and capacity to be flexible and accommodating when faced with difficult and frustrating working conditions;
• Demonstrable ability at report writing ;
• Prepared to live and work in an uncertain security environment;
• Proficient writing and verbal communication skills;
• Must be able to read, write and speak fluent English and Local languages (Hausa/Kanuri);
• Ability and willingness to frequently travel and stay at the field;
• Commitment to and understanding of Save the Children's aims, values, and principles;
• Relevant computer software skills (including, at a minimum, the standard applications in MS Office)

Desirable:

• Master trainer and a good facilitator
• Experience in conducting SBC related assessments.

Core Behaviours
Understanding humanitarian contexts and application of humanitarian principles:

• Ensures that program goals and activities uphold the principles of the critical national and international humanitarian frameworks, codes, and commitments
• Integrates beneficiary accountability principles into the approach
• Participates in disaster coordination mechanisms and interagency cooperation

Achieving results effectively:

• Ensures efficient and transparent use of resources following internal controls
• Establishes staff engagement mechanisms.
• Addresses difficult situations and makes tough decisions confidently and calmly
• Considers the broader impact of decisions in the short and long term.
• Continuously provides feedback and updates to achieve improved results
• Coordinates with stakeholders to avoid duplication and maximize resources
• Documents lessons learned and applied them to future projects

Maintaining and developing collaborative relationships:

• Actively listens to different perspectives and experiences of stakeholders
• Actively participates in networks to access and contribute to good practice
• Establishes and maintains clear communication and dialogue with disaster and conflict-affected people and other stakeholders
• Establishes clear objectives with teams and individuals and monitors progress and performance.

Operating safely and securely:

• Identifies and communicates risk and threats and minimizes these for oneself and the agency
• Takes measures to do no harm and to minimize risks for partners and the communities
• Reduces vulnerability by complying with safety and security protocols set by the organization
• Demonstrates an understanding of broader UN/NGO security coordination and how the organization can benefit from, and contribute to, those mechanisms

Managing yourself in a pressured and changing environment:

• Helps team members to practice stress management through prioritization of workloads and modeling of appropriate self-care
• Remains effective and retains perspective in the face of complex or demanding situations
• Demonstrates personal integrity by using one's position responsibly and fairly
• Maintains ethical and professional behavior following relevant codes of conduct
• Plans prioritize and perform tasks well under pressure
• Takes responsibility for own work and the impact of own actions

Leadership: Action; Thinking; Self; Inspiring; Developing Others:

• Builds own awareness of the bigger global picture by using a broad range of sources to gather data
• Demonstrates managerial courage by confronting difficult situations and seeking resolution, and stating willingness to champion ideas
• Demonstrates approachability and trust by listening carefully to others and valuing their contribution, and making others feel comfortable by being open and honest about their thoughts and feelings
• Demonstrates self-development and management by taking responsibility for own development and actively seeking out feedback to understand their strengths and weaknesses better
• Makes positive statements about work
• Effectively influences others by understanding their interests and showing how they will be met by own preferred solution
• Gives constructive feedback to enhance capabilities and responsibilities to another for their development.