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

Solina Centre for International Development and Research (SCIDaR) is an indigenous non-profit organization dedicated to catalyzing positive transformations in health, social, and economic domains. We strive to uplift disadvantaged and underserved communities through effective program design and implementation, capacity building, research in implementation science, knowledge generation, and stakeholder engagement across various human development sectors. Our initiatives extend beyond Nigeria, as we are actively broadening our impact across several West and Central African nations.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: National Consultant, Advocacy and Communication and Social Mobilization

Location: Abuja (FCT)
Project: Strengthening PHC and Reaching Unimmunized Kids in Northern Nigeria – Project SPARK
Job type: Long term (12 months with possibility of extension)

Objectives of the Project

• In partnership with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), Solina aims to bolster the demand for vaccines and primary healthcare (PHC) services, while enhancing stakeholder involvement.
• We are collaborating closely with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) by providing targeted Technical Assistance (TA). Through this collaboration, our focus lies in optimizing vaccine coverage nationwide.
• Specifically, our efforts are concentrated on rejuvenating PHC outcomes by refining Advocacy, Social Behaviour Change and Communication (SBCC), and Community Engagement strategies to enhance the uptake of vaccines and PHC services.
• Our project endeavours to achieve these objectives by providing dedicated technical assistance (TA) at the national level.
• This support is directed through the NPHCDA’s Department of Advocacy and Community Engagement and the ACSM Technical Working Group. Together, we aim to strengthen the national zero-dose response and develop innovative community engagement strategies to enhance healthcare access and vaccine utilization across the country.
• Additionally, we support the SPARK project state teams in Bauchi, Borno, Kaduna, Kano, Sokoto, Yobe, and Zamfara to adapt these national innovations to drive demand in the supported states.

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.

Educational Qualification 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.

Application Closing Date
Not Specified.