National Consultant, Advocacy and Communication and Social Mobilization at Solina Centre for International Development and Research (SCIDaR)

Description and Objectives

• The Consultant will provide TA to the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency in implementing a variety of tasks to promote community engagement and participation, and measurable behavioural and social change/mobilization in demand generation for PHC services.
• The consultant will also be responsible for ensuring the domestication of innovative community engagement across the states and sending feedback back to the national team.

Technical Responsibilities

Project strategy implementation/technical assistance

• Provide technical expertise and guidance to the ACSM TWG in the design, implementation, and monitoring of SBC activities;
• Support in planning and coordinating with national and state-level stakeholders to plan and execute innovative ACSM for Zero Dose targeting unimmunized children;
• Lead the development, implementation and monitoring of demand-generation innovations for SPARK in alignment with national guidelines;
• Support the NPHCDA in the revision of the PHC demand creation strategy by providing inputs and recommendations based on practice and evidence from implementation across SPARK states;
• Monitor and evaluate the impact of SBC interventions and zero dose Interventions, and provide regular progress reports to project stakeholders;
• Collaborate with development partners and other stakeholders to leverage resources and expertise for effective implementation of SBC and community engagement activities;
• Facilitate capacity-building activities, workshops, and training for TWG members and relevant stakeholders on SBC and community engagement approaches;
• Contribute to the documentation and dissemination of lessons learned, best practices, and success stories related to SBC and community engagement efforts.

Other responsibilities

• Participate in problem-solving and learning sessions to share knowledge, best practices, challenges and progress on program implementation;
• Provide daily updates on implementation activities to the project manager;
• Engage actively with relevant stakeholders to foster good relationships with the organization;
• Support any other tasks as may be required by the central Project management team.

Education and Experience

• Undergraduate or Master’s degree in Social and Behavioural Science, Health Education, Sociology, Anthropology, Psychology, Communication, Medicine, or other related fields;
• 5+ years’ experience working in the development or consulting sector;
• Experience in community engagement, health data collection and/or demand generation strategy design for health programs/interventions or other development sector programs in local communities is desirable;
• Strong stakeholder engagement and coordination skills;
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and data management skills;
• Experience in leadership roles including management and/or interfacing with high-ranking officials is desirable;
• Experience working with/as part of government systems is advantageous.

Competencies required

• Computer literacy and competency using the MS suite of programs;
• Fluency in spoken and written English;
• Fluency in the local dialects of the geographic region is an added advantage;
• Excellent report-writing skills;
• Ability to perform multiple tasks, and adjust work pace and direction to emerging realities;
• Ability to work well with others and to develop and maintain positive working relationships;
• Resourceful in resolving problems and initiating solutions.