Social and Behavioral Change Communication Consultant - Sokoto at Malaria Consortium

Summary

• In Nigeria, twenty – one (21) states across the Sahel and non–Sahelian zone have seasonal malaria transmission, with most of the disease burden occurring during a distinct rainy season. Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) is a key approach to prevent malaria among children aged 3 to 59 months in such areas where malaria transmission is highly seasonal. SMC involves the administration of monthly treatment courses of a combination of antimalarial drugs (over 4 or 5 monthly cycles depending on the duration of the malaria transmission season specific to a given geographical area) with the objective of maintaining therapeutic antimalarial drug concentrations in the blood throughout the period of transmission (rainy season) to prevent malaria.
• Since 2014, Malaria Consortium has been supporting Nigeria in SMC implementation and currently supports SMC with funding support from the Global Fund (GF) and the open philanthropy project fund (PF) due to GiveWell Foundation’s recommendation of Malaria Consortium as a top charity. With GF funding, Malaria Consortium support SMC in four states - Jigawa, Kaduna, Niger and Yobe; and with PF support in ten states - Bauchi, Borno, FCT, Kebbi, Kogi, Nasarawa, Oyo, Plateau, Sokoto and Zamfara.” SMC is implemented in five cycles in Bauchi, FCT, Kogi, Nasarawa, Oyo and Plateau states and in four cycles in the other Malaria Consortium supported states.. The SMC campaign will commence with microplanning in March, and the implementation is scheduled to be from May 2026 - November 2026.
• This term of reference (ToR) is however focused on the 2026 SMC delivery in Borno (27 LGAs), Nasarawa (13 LGAs), Oyo (6 LGAs) and Zamfara (14 LGAs) states

Rationale:

• Social and Behavioral Change Communication (SBCC) is key to the effective implementation of SMC interventions as it is necessary for sensitization, knowledge improvement, acceptance of campaign and adherence to SMC medicines day 2 & 3. The SBCC Consultants are required to support states with planning and implementation of the SBCC component of the 2026 SMC implementation.
• The SBCC Consultant will play a critical role during SMC campaigns focused on planning and adaptation of SBCC materials, planning for engagement activities, development of SBCC materials and tools, facilitation, capacity-building of SBCC related personnel, monitoring, and reporting on overall SBCC activities during the campaigns.
• The SBCC Consultant will work as part of the state MC SMC team and support a broadened state structure for the SMC campaigns.
• The overall goal in engaging the SBCC consultant is to ensure and foster desirable behavior at community and household level to enhance acceptance and uptake of SMC during the campaign and beyond.
• The engagement of the SBCC consultant will also ensure correct SMC related messaging during the 2026 SMC campaign specific to context, peculiarities, stage of implementation and SMC experience.

Purpose of the Assignment

• The purpose of this consultancy is to support Malaria Consortium in the planning and implementation of the 2026 SMC campaign in all 4 PF-supported states by providing technical assistance and oversight on SMC activities to the State Malaria Elimination Programme (SMEP) during the SMC campaigns.
• The Consultants would serve as a member of the state SMC SBCC team of their respective states and provide state-level technical assistance and oversight on demand creation-related activities for the successful coordination of the 2026 SMC campaigns. Working with the relevant state agencies (SMEP/PHCDA), the consultants will serve as SBCC focal points and support SMC key activities including adaptation of SBCC materials, planning for engagement activities, development of SBCC materials and tools, facilitation, capacity-building of SBCC related personnel, monitoring, and reporting on overall SBCC activities in the 4 PF-supported States. They would also work with the states on the best channels of delivery.

Methodology:

• The technical support would be via a combination of physical or virtual participation in planning and implementation activities including off-site trainings, on the job training, supervision, and monitoring.
• The TA will work in sync with other state and LGA staff and government officials but would oversee SBCC related activities with support from the 10 State Project Managers (SPMs).
• Data collection and reporting would be via the standard SMC campaign forms, platforms, tools, and MC standard reporting template.
• The SBCC related activities will be tailored to each state’s specific needs and realities.

Scope

• The technical support would cover all the all LGAs of the supported states, although remotely for security compromised and hard-to-reach LGAs.
• The activity will commence with the development of advocacy plans and conclude after the last cycle of distribution for the year with the submission of a report.

Specific Tasks

• Provide support in producing demand creation materials aligned to state context.
• Support the development of advocacy plans and promote advocacy and engagement at all levels (community, ward, LGA, state).
• Facilitate state-level training of trainers (and lower-level training if needed).
• Support the development of media plans and engagement of media for the SMC campaign.
• Provide guidance to LGA teams in the selection of community level SBC personnel (Town Announcers, Lead Mothers, Community Leaders etc.) and monitor their training and deployment during SMC campaigns.
• Support identification of influencers and stakeholders for involvement in demand creation activities (e.g., state SMC Ambassador/Advocate, community leaders, religious leaders etc).
• Monitor mass media (airing of pre-, intra and post- campaign TV/radio spots) and community mobilization activities.
• Provide technical support for and participate in state and LGA flag off ceremonies and media chats with focus on the SMC campaign.
• Support planning for post-campaign SBC activities focused on a full 3-day course of SPAQ delivered to eligible children each cycle of the SMC round during the period of highest malaria transmission and use such, based on existing data and mapping of resources for social and behavior change (SBC) in the state.
• Prepare report on SBC activities during the SMC campaign and submit same to the State Program Manager (SPM).
• Submit detailed consultancy report on MC report template, clearly highlighting the specific DC technical assistant tasks/role performed during the SMC campaign, within 7days after its completion.
• Populate any shared templates (e.g. SMC Campaign Media Monitoring Form) to track SBCC activities

Expected Output/deliverables:

• SBCC campaign workplan
• Adapted demand creation materials within 2 days from workplan development meeting with MC state team and SMEP SBCC team.
• Advocacy plan prepared and shared with MC LGA Field Assistants and SPM for consolidation with activity report.
• Weekly update to the State SPM and National Project Manager to collate as weekly update from the campaign state.
• Detailed demand creation SMC campaign report prepared and submitted to State SPM for consolidation and onward submission.
• Media Engagement Plan and summary of executed media activities
• Detailed consultancy report on MC report template, clearly highlighting your specific tasks/role during the activity submitted at least 7 days after completion of the activity.

Required Consultant Qualification

• Minimum of First Degree in the Social Sciences or related fields and at least 5 years post- graduation.
• Knowledge of malaria and its prevention, diagnosis and treatment is required.
• Previous training and field experience in SMC or similar campaigns (LLINs, Polio Immunization, etc.) campaigns.
• Experience and understanding of demand creation issues related to campaign distribution of SPAQ.
• Previous experience supporting the development of behavior change campaigns that delivered results.
• Previous experience working in a National and/or State Ministry of Health preferred.
• Excellent leadership qualities.
• Experience with a flexible approach to managing and prioritizing significant workloads and multiple tasks, in a fast-paced environment, with tight deadlines is required.
• Excellent training/facilitation and supervisory skills
• Excellent technical writing and presentation skills
• A proven ability to work as part of a team and, also independently.
• Excellent experience in using Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Ability to work under stressful conditions and to remain flexible and calm under pressure.
• Experience of proactively identifying and addressing bottlenecks/issues desired.
• Experience of establishing strong working relationships with team members and state personnel.