Save the Children Social Behavioural Change and Communication Consultant Job Vacancy

Save
the Children is an International Organization that has been working for the
rights of Children globally for over 90 years. Save the Children has been
working in Nigeria since 2001 and has presence in 20 states. The Country Office
is located in Abuja and Field Offices in Bauchi, Borno, Cross Rivers, Gombe,
Jigawa, Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Lagos and Zamfara states. Addtionally SCI has
significant presence in Benue, Ebonyi, Edo, Enugu, Kano, Kogi, Kwara, Plateau,
Sokoto and Yobe states.

We
are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job
Title: Social
Behavioural Change and Communication Consultant
Location: Abuja

Background

In
collaboration with the Nigeria AFRINEST study investigators and
SMOH/SPHCDA in Ebonyi and Kogi States, USAID’s Maternal and Child Survival
Program (MCSP) will support Kogi and Ebonyi States to introduce and expand
full treatment for Possible Severe Bacterial Infection (PSBI) at Primary
Health Care centers where referral is not possible. This involves both
supply and demand side activities.
The
demand creation activity recommended by the World Health Organization is
early postnatal care (PNC) home visits by trained community health workers
(CHWs).
This
means programs seeking to implement full treatment for PSBI should, in
addition to home visits, seek alternate approaches to demand creation.
MCSP
is seeking to use a mixture of Social Behavior Change and Communication
(SBCC) strategies including home visits by CORPs and other community
workers, to improve recognition of danger signs and early care-seeking by
caregivers of young infants.
In
order to prepare for the development of the strategy for the SBCC
component of the PSBI intervention, MCSP is seeking the services of a
Nigerian national consultant to carry out some preparatory activities.
However,
it is widely recognized that while home visits by dedicated CHWs under
research conditions results in very high coverage, implementation of home
visits by CHWs with multiple responsibilities under routine service
delivery conditions only reach about a quarter of their target.

Job
Purpose

The
purpose of this consultancy is to collect detailed information and make
all necessary contacts that will help prepare and inform the PSBI SBCC
materials and approach for both states.

Tasks

Collect,
review, and evaluate (MCSP to provide the evaluation form) all print, mass
media and digital materials that can be found (e.g., print-based materials
such as job aids including counseling cards, posters, brochures, and mass
media such as radio jingles, and digital-based materials such as SMS
scripts) related to newborn health/ postnatal care for young infants (0-59
days)/ caring for a sick young infant/ care-seeking for a sick young
infant/ care-seeking for PSBI. The materials do not need to be specific to
Nigeria. If possible, collect hard copies of materials.
Through
key informant interviews, conduct a landscape analysis with relevant
organizations and stakeholders working at the state-level in Ebonyi and
Kogi including Johns Hopkins University Center for Communication Programs
(JHUCCP)/ Health Communication Capacity Collaborative (HC3) and staff from
the state Ministry of Health and the state Primary Health Care Development
Agency. The landscape analysis report (template will be provided) will
include:

List
of all organizations working on newborn health interventions/ improving
care-seeking for PSBI in Nigeria (in particular in the two focal states).
List any areas for potential collaboration.
List
SBCC activities in relation of the existing newborn health interventions
and the communication channels and media being used. Consultant to find
out what the existing plans and activities are in relation to the issue.
Identify the activities and note the gatekeepers – the individuals or
organizations responsible – for each activity. Note the main channels and
formats used by these organizations. Create a list the activities (e.g.,
interpersonal communication, community mobilization, mass media) and key
messages as well as the intended audience.
List
of existing media channels in each state. Describe the sizes and types of
the audience that they reach.
List
of the obstacles and opportunities involved in local communication
efforts and SBC activities in relation to newborn health. What has worked
and what has not?
Collect
reports or other documentation that describe the care-seeking behaviors
by caregivers of young infants in Nigeria – in particular Kogi and Ebonyi
states.

Based
on the landscape analysis findings, with remote and in-person (possible)
support from MCSP HQ, conduct a small amount of formative research in Kogi
and Ebonyi state to identify existing household, community support,
service utilization, and service delivery practices and factors affecting
optimal behaviors and use of services (barriers and motivating factors);
define priority behavioral and social support outcomes, barriers, and
target audiences for demand creation for PSBI services. MCSP will provide
the research design and protocol (e.g., individual interviews, group
interviews/ discussions, observations) and instruments to be used.
Work
with MCSP staff to analyze the data from the formative research and
develop presentation of findings
In
collaboration with MCSP staff in-country and headquarters team, design and
co-facilitate a 1-2 day workshop with key stakeholders to finalize the PSBI
SBCC approach.
Write
workshop report.

Deliverables
At the end of the assignment, the consultant will write and share a report
including the following information:

Compendium
of all related SBCC materials in relation to newborn health/ postnatal
care for young infants (0-59 days)/ caring for a sick young infant/ care
seeking for a sick young infant).
Evaluation
form listing all related SBCC materials reviewed.
Draft
workshop agenda
Report
from the PSBI SBCC approach workshop that includes audience segments, and
objectives; suggested channels, messages, tools and activities, list of
SBCC materials to be developed or adopted/adapted and use by the program
for improving care-seeking for PSBI, roles and responsibilities of each
partner, how the partners will work together; and a timeline for implementing
the SBCC approach. A report template will be provided.
Landscape
analysis report that will include information on the strategies and
activities implemented by HC3 and other possible stakeholders in the area
of care seeking for newborns and recommendations for possible
collaboration.
Formative
research and data collection forms and draft presentation of findings.

Duration:

The
estimated time for this consultancy is 20 days between August 24th to
September 30th.

Reporting
Lines:

The
consultant will report to the MCSP Nigeria Senior Newborn Health Advisor
with a dotted line to the Nutrition Social and Behavior Change
Communication Advisor based in Washington, DC.
The
consultant is expected to schedule and hold frequent virtual and in-person
meetings with MCSP counterpart in DC during the period of the consultancy.

Qualifications

Candidates
for this Consultancy position should hold at least a master’s degree in
public health or social or behavioral sciences, with specific training in
behavior change, community mobilization
Qualitative
research design, data collection and data analysis skills (desired)
Presentation
and meeting facilitation skills (desired)
At
least 5 years of experience in designing and implementing SBCC strategies
for reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health (RMNCH) programming.
Writing
skills