Job Vacancies at Malaria Consortium

Job purpose
To provide health communications, promotion, gender mainstreaming, and implementation support to all SuNMaP 2 project activities in the state.

Scope of work
This role involves implementation of communications activities which include social mobilisation and social behaviour change communication (SBCC), advocacy. It also involves mainstreaming of gender and equity related issues in programme planning, implementation and evaluation for the state. Other areas within the scope are documentation and dissemination of learnings and external communications/ public relations.
S/he will implement these activities according to the communications strategies of the country office, the projects’ activity planning and under the guidance of the SBCC Specialist. S/he will also ensure an appropriate level of relevant visibility for the project among stakeholders through engagement with the media, regional events and other relevant forums.

Key working relationships
The Officer directly reports to the State Malaria Service Delivery Expert and indirectly to the SBCC specialist. It also involves working closely with the project’s partners, including the media, state health teams, health workers and VHTs.

Key accountabilities
1. Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC) - 40%

• Provide input to all aspects of SBCC strategy development, implementation and evaluation including communication initiatives, training and capacity building, mass media, community/social mobilization, interpersonal communication, and media/materials development.
• Provide technical assistance to support planning, development, coordination, and implementation of BCC materials in print and electronic formats.
• Liaise with programme and other technical staff for the development and coordination of SBCC activities especially at planning and at implementation in selected communities.
• Review research, programme, and media reports; and share/apply relevant findings to inform programmatic reviews and decisions.
• Seek, identify and share innovative program approaches in response to changing priority areas and other condition.
• Provide accurate budget and activity reports in adherence to the agreed timeline or schedule
• Contribute to the design effective monitoring mechanisms for SBCC activities and arrange for technical assistance as appropriate.
• Collaborate and liaise with the partners and key stakeholders to exchange best BCC practices
• Work closely with the MEAL Officer in the monitoring and evaluation of project activities
• Support the conduct of surveys and other relevant data gathering approaches, as required

2. Equity and Gender Mainstreaming (EGeM) - 30%

• Support the planning and implementation and monitoring of the EGeM component of the malaria programme in the focal state
• Support the collection, analysis, sharing and application of relevant and current data on EGeM; in close coordination with M&E officer.
• Ensure gender, poverty and social development issues are incorporated and implemented in all the malaria components, including training, capacity building, and development programs both at institution and community levels.
• Ensure implementation and monitoring of the Gender and social inclusion action plan.
• Provide inputs regarding EGeM for all training programs, both at institution and community levels.
• Maintain regular communication on EGeM in relation to malaria with relevant partners and stakeholders within and outside the programme, document and share the information.
• Develop mechanism to ensure effective participation of, women’s organisations, ministries and agencies in malaria programme planning, and implementation especially community level.

3. Documentation - 10%

• Support implementation of documentation exercises including success/significant change story collection supported with relevant pictures
• Support to the State Manager and MEAL officer in story writing and data analysis as required
• Support the MEAL Officer to ensure that all relevant project documentation is disseminated to the State health teams

4. Networking (5%)

• Provide support to the projects’ staff to maintain effective relationships with local governments and development partners when required
• Act as the main liaison agent between cultural and religious institutions in their region of intervention
• Develop effective and collaborative relationships with all project partners, including the state health teams, implementing partners and a network of CSOs
• Participate in relevant meetings, presenting project results and experiences as required

5. External Communications - 10%

• Facilitate the relationship between state media representatives, partners and stakeholders’ based in the state of intervention, in accordance with project guidelines regarding media/ community engagement
• Ensure the quality data, testimonies and pictures are collected in the field and appropriately labelled.
• 6. Other - 5%
• Actively participate as a member of the project Technical Team
• Adhere to all project policies and procedures

Person specification
Qualifications and experience:

Essential

• Minimum of 3-5 years of professional experience in health communication/ promotion behavior change communications, community mobilization, activations, gender development, and projects documentation.
• Master’s degree in communications, social sciences, health promotion, marketing or related field, with a public health bias
• Experience in story collection and story writing to document projects’ achievements and successes.
• Basic understanding of gender and equity related issues in malaria and public health programmes
• Adequate knowledge of the state, local government and community structures and institutions relevant to public health programmes.
• Basic understanding of malaria and other public health issues in Nigeria; and the associated behavior change processes. associated to them
• Experience in working with media organisations to achieve public health programme objectives

Desirable
Knowledge of the Nigerian Public health sector
Experience in health sector advocacy work
Foundational knowledge of public health approaches

Work-based skills and competencies:
Essential

• Good oral and written communications skills and ability to convey messages to diverse audiences
• Strong interest in and desire to promote improved health policy and practice
• Proven skills in writing, copy editing, proof reading and documentation, excellent attention to detail
• Excellent computer skills (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher or other design software)
• Excellent organization, planning, communication and follow-up skills
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple assignments

Desirable

• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to interact effectively with all levels of associates, including management
• Skills in the use of different media outlets (photography, film, TV, radio, newspapers etc.) for communications purposes
• Experience in public health communications campaigns
• Experience and skills in training and transfer of knowledge

go to method of application »

Malaria Consortium is recruiting for a Senior Health Systems Strengthening Advisor to join our team in the Abuja office of the SuNMaP 2 Project.

The Senior HSS Advisor will provide technical leadership on all aspects of health systems to improve the quality of service delivery in both the public and private health sectors using malaria as entry point into the health system at Federal and State levels.S/he will lead the design and oversight of interventions which use the WHO health systems framework and Malaria Consortoium's approach to health systems strengthening to facilitate changes to embed and institutionalize SuNmaP 2 into the Nigerian Health System at the Federal, State and LGA levels. The position holder will work closely with the project team and Short Term Technical Assistants (STTA) ti implement evidence-based approaches to achieve the project's outcome.

The successful candidate will have:

• A post-graduate degree in public health or development related field with focus on health systems strengthening approaches;
• A minimum of 8-years experience working in a technical role and an excellent understanding of health systems;
• Significant experience in intervention design and implementation of large scale health projects;
• Familiarity with the challenges and opportunities of strengthening health systems in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA);
• Experience with value for money measurements;
• Familiarity with the Nigerian health systems; inlcuding planning and budgeting processes at the Federal and State levels;

Please be informed that ONLY shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

To view the full job description please click on the link below:

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The Nigeria Country Office in Abuja, started operations in 2008, through the DFID/UKaid funded Support To National Malaria Programme, SuNMaP (2008–2016). The office had presence in 23 states of the country and has managed at various times, about 15 programmes and projects. It follows the mandate of the parent organization in Nigeria and has been working specifically in the following areas:

Malaria control/elimination

Integrated community case management (iCCM) for malaria, pneumonia and diarrhoea

Nutrition

Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs)

• Currently, the Nigeria country office manages MC programmes/projects in Sierra Leone, Chad and Burkina Faso.
• Malaria Consortium has recently become a sub-recipient for the new grant of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GF) under the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP) and Catholic Relief Services as the principal recipients.
• The goal of the grant is to contribute towards reducing the malaria burden to pre-elimination levels and bringing malaria-related mortality to zero by 2020 in Nigeria.
• This project aims to achieve seven objectives while delivering high quality malaria services in 14 states (MC implementing in 7 of the states – Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa, Niger, Yobe, Gombe and iCCM only in Kebbi and Niger) through improved service delivery mechanisms, demand creation and health system strengthening strategies.
• To ensure at least 80% of targeted population utilizes appropriate preventive measures by 2020
• To test all care-seeking persons with suspected malaria using RDT or microscopy by 2020
• To treat all individuals with confirmed malaria seen in private or public facilities with effective anti-malarial drug by 2020
• To provide adequate information to all Nigerians such that at least 80% of the populace habitually takes appropriate malaria preventive and treatment measures as necessary by 2020
• To ensure the timely availability of appropriate antimalarial medicines and commodities required for prevention and treatment of malaria in Nigeria wherever they are needed by 2018
• At least 80% of health facilities in all LGAs report routinely on malaria by 2020
• To strengthen governance and coordination of all stakeholders for effective program implementation towards an “A” rating by 2018 on a standardized scorecard

Job purpose

To work with the project manager and team in providing technical support and direct implementation of projects for iCCM activities with a focus on the identification, training, logistic system for iCCM commodities and supervision of health facility and community health workers in the state.

Scope of work

The State Technical Officer (STO) would support the programme activities at state level, in all service delivery points in all the Local Government Areas (LGAs) of operation to ensure timely programme delivery to achieve given targets and objectives.

Key working relationships

The officer working under the line-management of the Zonal Programme Manager (ZPM) and in close collaboration with the state, LGA, community actors, stakeholders and partners would deliver aspects of the programme as per the specified job tasks and expected deliverables.

Key accountabilities

1.       Technical contributions (70%)

• Coordinate the implementation of state-based activities on malaria prevention (including routine LLIN distributions, use and monitoring)
• Work closely with the SR that would deliver mass distribution of LLINs in state of operation
• Coordinate programme activities to support malaria case management (diagnosis and treatment) within the state including support for LMIS
• Support the State MoH to implement activities for improving Intermittent Preventive Therapy for pregnant women (IPTp)
• Technical support for the planning and management of malaria and other communicable disease control programmes at state level
• Coordinate public sector, private sector and civil society on-site training of health workers, Community Care Givers and PMVs on malaria prevention and case management
• Support capacity building of the State MoH personnel on malaria technical areas
• Preparation and submission of project malaria technical activity reports to ZPM
• Coordinate the project specific and support to State MoH on procurement, supply chain and logistics activities
• Contribute to the finalisation of the project performance and M&E frameworks and take the lead in the operationalization of the frameworks

Support state M&E activities

Represent MC on malaria Technical Working Groups (TWGs) and other relevant health coordinating committees at state level with approval of the ZPM

2.       Project Management (20%)

• Contribute and work with the relevant personnel to prepare all relevant project start up and planning tools on time.
• Contribute to project exit strategy as part of project design and ensure inclusion of relevant activities to promote sustainability within the workplan and smooth transition of the project to government.
• Contribute to quarterly lessons identification and learning documentation and dissemination.
• Preparation and submission of project service delivery activity reports to Project Manager

3.       Technical performance management and Quality Assurance (10%)

• Take the lead in ensuring roll-out of project service delivery activities meet international standard of quality
• Document evidence and best practices that are related to the programme

Person specification

Qualifications and experience:

Essential

• Degree in Medical, Public Health, Health Policy, Epidemiology or another relevant specialty is a minimum requirement
• Significant experience of working in developing countries
• Excellent project planning, management and monitoring & evaluation skills
• Excellent written and spoken English

Work-based skills and competencies:

Essential

• Knowledge of medical supplies procurement and supply chain management
• Technical knowledge and skills in control of malaria, pneumonia and diarrhoea
• Familiar with public health principles
• Familiar with monitoring and evaluation of community based health programmes
• Excellent report writing and presentation skills are also needed