State Support Officer- MHNow at Population Services International - 2 Openings

Population Services International (PSI) is the world’s leading non-profit social marketing organization. We are a diverse group of over 5,000 entrepreneurial development professionals located in over 46 countries committed to making it easier for all people to lead healthier lives and plan the families they desire. PSI is using its global presence and 50+ years of experience to help reimagine healthcare. We are working to shape market systems, shift policy and funding, and strengthen global capacity to better support consumer empowered healthcare.

Menstrual Health and Hygiene (MH) is a critical yet often neglected issue affecting over 300 million people menstruating daily worldwide. Approximately 500 million women and girls face challenges managing menstruation due to inadequate sanitation, healthcare, agency, and the stigma surrounding it. In Nigeria, women and girls encounter numerous obstacles, including lack of education, stigma, unaffordable menstrual products, and the absence of supportive national policies.
PSI Nigeria is implementing ‘MH-NoW’, a three-year project addressing challenges related to easy access to affordable and quality menstrual hygiene products and services. PSI Nigeria is addressing these issues by stimulating local production of affordable menstrual hygiene products, providing MH education, and counselling, and advocating for government policies to subsidize low-cost MH products.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: State Support Officer- MHNow

Locations: Akwa Ibom, and Lagos

Job Description

• We are seeking a dedicated and passionate State Support officer to join our team, focusing on Menstrual Hygiene Health initiatives. 
• The State Support Officert will play a pivotal role in the successful implementation of the Menstrual Health and Hygiene (MH-NoW) project at the state level. 
• This officers will be responsible for supporting project activities, coordinating with local stakeholders, and ensuring the effective delivery of project outcomes. 
• The officer will work closely with the Team Lead, state government officials, community leaders, and other partners to improve access to affordable and quality menstrual hygiene products and services, enhance MH education, and advocate for supportive policies.

Responsibilities
You will be responsible for the following:
Project Implementation

• Support the rollout and implementation of MH-NoW project activities in the as-signed state, ensuring alignment with project goals and timelines.
• Coordinate the local production and distribution of affordable menstrual hy-giene products.
• Oversee the implementation of community outreach and MH education cam-paigns.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with state government officials, local health authorities, community leaders, and other key stakeholders.
• Facilitate regular meetings and workshops with stakeholders to discuss project progress, challenges, and strategies.
• Advocate for the integration of menstrual health into state health policies and programs.

Capacity Building

• Assist in organizing and conducting training sessions for local women’s groups on the production and distribution of menstrual hygiene products.
• Support the development of community champions and peer educators in the state to promote MH awareness and education.
• Ensure the dissemination and adoption of Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials within the state.

Monitoring and Evaluation

• Monitor project activities in the state to ensure adherence to project objectives and timelines.
• Collect and analyze data on project indicators, including the number of MH products distributed, education sessions held, and policy advocacy efforts.
• Prepare and submit regular progress reports to the Team Lead.

Advocacy and Policy Support

• Collaborate with local stakeholders to advocate for the inclusion of menstrual hygiene management (MHM) in state budgets and policies.
• Support the development and adaptation of state-level MH policies and frameworks in line with national guidelines.
• Participate in state-level technical working groups (TWGs) on MHM and con-tribute to policy discussions.

Communication and Reporting

• Serve as the primary point of contact for the MH-NoW project in the state, en-suring effective communication between PSI Nigeria, state stakeholders, and community partners.
• Contribute to the documentation of project successes, challenges, and lessons learned for internal and external dissemination.
• Assist in the development of communication materials and social media con-tent to raise awareness of MH issues in the state.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in public health, Social Sciences, Development Studies, or a related field. A Master’s degree is an added advantage.
• Minimum of 3 years’ experience in project management, health programming, or community development.
• Experience in reproductive health, WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene), or menstrual health programming.
• Proven experience in engaging with state governments, NGOs, and community-based organizations.

Skills:

• Strong leadership and supervisory skills.
• Excellent communication, advocacy, and relationship-building skills.
• Proficiency in data collection and report writing.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines.
• The candidate we hire will embody PSI’s corporate values:
• Measurement: You use hard evidence to make decisions and guide your work. You set clear goalposts in advance and explain clearly if you need to move them.
• Pragmatism: You will strive to deliver the best possible result with the resources available. You will not be paralyzed by a need to make things perfect.
• Honesty: You own your mistakes and are open about your shortcomings – it is the only way you will learn and improve.
• Collaboration: You will quickly establish a mental map of whom you can rely on for what, on your team, at headquarters, and in our country offices – if you try to do it all yourself, you will not succeed.
• Trust: You accept limits to your sphere of control and give colleagues the benefit of the doubt.
• Commitment: You are in it for the long-haul and want to grow with the organization, just like PSI serves its consumers and partners with host-country governments through thick and thin.

Application Closing Date
28th February, 2025.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their Resume to: [email protected] using the Job Title as the subject of the mail.

Note

• Due to high volume of applications, only finalists will be contacted.
• PSI is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages applications from qualified individuals regardless of actual or perceived race, religion, colour, sex, age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, personal appearance, matriculation, political affiliation, family status or responsibilities, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, childbirth, related medical conditions, breastfeeding or disability.