Demand Creation Officer at Malaria Consortium

Malaria Consortium is one of the world’s leading non-profit organisations specialising in the comprehensive prevention, control and treatment of malaria and other communicable diseases among vulnerable and under privileged populations. We increasingly find our work on malaria can be effectively integrated with other similar public health interventions for greater impact and therefore expanded our remit to include child health and neglected tropical disease interventions.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Demand Creation Officer

Location: Niger
Job Type: Fixed Term
Grade: 7
Hours: 40
Level: Management
Department: Technical 
Length of contract: 3 years
Role type: National 

Country and Project Background

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)

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 GF malaria project activities with a focus on community engagement and mobilisation; interpersonal communication and counselling for health and community based health workers; and other behaviour change communication activities in the state.

Scope of Work:

• The Demand Creation Officer 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 State iCCM Delivery Officer and in close collaboration with the state, LGA, community actors, stakeholders and relevant partners would deliver aspects of the project as per the specified job tasks and expected deliverables.
• The officer would have dotted-line management from the Country Communications Manager.

Key Accountabilities
Technical Contributions (70%):

• Contribute to the development of demand creation strategy for the project
• Coordinate the development and roll-out of training manuals for health workers, facility / community health committees and community mobilisers on demand creation including interpersonal communication and counselling and design and use of job aids.
• Coordinate the planning, coordination and monitoring of project demand creation activities 
• Contribute to the finalization of criteria for selection of communities, health facilities, volunteers, community mobilisers for GF Project implementation based on continuum of care approach 
• Work with other project team to coordinate the selection of communities in the selected LGAs for iCCM implementation
• Work with other project team to coordinate mapping and identification of community mobilisers and facility/ community health committees
• Liaise with other project staff to ensure synchronization between demand and supply activities of the project
• Oversee and provide close support to project implementing partners in the implementation of demand creation activities 
• Coordinate the development of project communications strategy and general documentation for internal and external dissemination of the project
• Support project communication activities (development of dissemination documents to allow wider sharing of Malaria Consortium’s experiences, lessons and successes e.g. case studies, website design and management, newsletters, reply to requests from project donor.) 
• Technical support for the planning and management of community based programmes at state level

Project Management (20%):

• Contribute and work with the relevant personnel to prepare all necessary 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 demand creation activity reports to Project Manager

Technical performance management and Quality Assurance (10%):

• Take the lead in ensuring roll-out of project demand creation activities meet national standard of quality
• Document evidence and best practices that are related to the project

Person Specification

Qualifications and Experience
Essential:

• A degree in Communication, Social Sciences, Public Health or another relevant specialty is a minimum requirement
• Significant experience of working in developing countries
• Excellent project health communication planning, management and monitoring & evaluation skills
• Experience working in the health sector
  

Work-based Skills and Competencies
Essential:

• Technical knowledge and skills in health communication
• Familiar with public health principles 
• Familiar with monitoring and evaluation of community based health programmes
• Familiar with demand creation approaches in the health sector
• Excellent report writing and presentation skills are also needed
• Fluency in Hausa Language is a must
• Strong computer skills: Microsoft Office (Excel, Word and Power point) and Internet searches
• Solid experience in convening and facilitating meetings with diverse populations and communities

Core Competencies
Delivering results:
LEVEL B - Takes on pieces of work when required and demonstrates excellent project management skills:

• Shows a flexible approach to taking on additional work/ responsibilities when needed to achieve results
• Demonstrates excellent project management skills to agreed timescales (timelines, targets, donor requirements)
• Makes clear and timely decisions within remit of own role

Analysis and use of information:
LEVEL B - Uses evidence to support work:

• Identifies and uses various sources of evidence and feedback to support outputs
• Uses evidence to evaluate policies, projects and programmes
• Identifies links between events and information identifying trends, issues and risks
• Ensures systems are in place to address organisation needs

Interpersonal and communications:
LEVEL B - Fosters two-way communication:

• Recalls others’ main points and takes them into account in own communication
• Checks own understanding of others’ communication by asking questions
• Maintains constructive, open and consistent communication with others
• Resolves minor misunderstandings and conflicts effectively

Collaboration and partnering:
LEVEL B - Collaborates effectively across teams:

• Proactive in providing and seeking support from expert colleagues
• Raises difficult issues with teams/ partners and stakeholders with a view to positive resolution
• Proactive in building a rapport with a diverse range of people

Leading and motivating people:
LEVEL B - Manages own development and seeks opportunities:

• Actively manages own development and performance positively
• Learns lessons from successes and failures
• Seeks and explores opportunities within Malaria Consortium which develop skills and  expertise

Flexibility/ adaptability:
LEVEL B - Remains professional under external pressure:

• Able to adapt to changing situations effortlessly
• Remains constructive and positive under stress and able to tolerate difficult situations and environments
• Plans, prioritises and performs tasks well under pressure
• Learns from own successes/ mistakes

Living the values:
LEVEL B - Promotes Malaria Consortium values amongst peers:

• Shows a readiness to promote Malaria Consortium’s values amongst peers
• Promotes ethical and professional behaviour in line with Malaria Consortium’s values

Strategic planning and thinking and sector awareness:
LEVEL B - Is aware of others’ activities and vice versa in planning activities:

• Takes account of team members and others workload when planning
• Maintains awareness of impact on other parts of the organisation, keeping abreast     of other’s activities, objectives, commitments and needs
• Has a good understanding of the sector in which Malaria Consortium works

Salary
Competitive.

Application Closing Date
15th October, 2019.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Click Here for More Information (PDF)

Note

• Only Shortlisted candidates will be contacted
• Due to the nature of this role we will be reviewing applications on an ongoing basis and the role might be filled and closed before the closing date. Early applications are encouraged.