Market Development / Policy Advisor at John Snow Incorporated (JSI)

John Snow Incorporated (JSI) has partnered to strengthen the Nigerian health system since 1988. Today we are helping to strengthen market systems for family planning and HIV commodities in the public and private sectors. Taking a total market approach (TMA) to HIV prevention, condoms, lubricants, HIV self-testing, and PrEP, JSI is engaging the private sector and building their capacity to improve access to HIV prevention commodities. To stimulate demand, JSI is improving awareness and use of HIV-prevention commodities via social media through the Keep It Safe and Sweet (KISS) behavior change communication (BCC) campaign. JSI is also strengthening the capacity of the Nigerian Government to coordinate the many partners involved in TMA for HIV prevention programming. This initiative is a continuation of work first begun under the USAID-funded AIDSFree project that JSI implemented between 2014 and 2020.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Market Development / Policy Advisor

Location: Abuja
Supervisor: Chief of Party
Start date: October 3, 2023

Background

• Over the years, JSI has implemented a range of projects to strengthen the health system and improve pediatric health care and HIV and AIDS services, among others. Between 2009 and 2015, JSI’s Targeted States High Impact Project (TSHIP) increased access to maternal, newborn, and reproductive health and family planning services and increased community engagement to improve health outcomes in northern Nigeria’s Sokoto and Bauchi states.
• As an essential component of health systems strengthening, JSI has helped the government of Nigeria strengthens the supply chains for maternal and child health, HIV and AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, and family planning commodities through a range of activities funded by USAID, UNFPA, and the Global Fund. Among its accomplishments, JSI has streamlined distribution systems across commodities and health programs and improved the government’s ability to plan for its commodity needs at both the national level and in a number of states. Our focus on supply chain optimization for HIV commodities in particular has unified 12 separate supply chains, reduced costs, and improved performance, establishing a model for harmonization and integration across programs.
• In addition, JSI has provided the thought-leadership and technical assistance to apply private sector best practices at the state level, introducing vendor management inventory (VMI) direct delivery systems in Bauchi and Ebonyi states, and supporting business process reengineering and optimization of the essential drug program in Cross River State.
• JSI is implementing a Total Market Approach (TMA) to HIV Prevention Programming activities in Nigeria under a donor-funded sub-award mechanism. This activity builds on previous JSI work and has been expanded to include HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis and HIV self-testing kits. Under this project, JSI aims to increase vulnerable and key population demand for, and access to condoms, PrEP, and HIV self-testing kits using a total market approach. This will require project engagement across the public, social marketing, and commercial sectors to ensure sustainable markets for the commodities.
• The Market Development/Policy advisor will provide technical leadership to implement a Total Market Approach to condom, PrEP, and HIV self-test kits programming in Nigeria. S/He will work with a broad group of stakeholders, including public and private sector players to address policy issues and lay the foundation for the growth of the market for commodities used in HIV prevention in Nigeria.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and implement strategic plans to engage private and public sector players in condoms, HIV self-test kits, and PrEP programming in Nigeria.
• Build and ensure long-term relationships with all relevant stakeholders.
• Track market trends for commodities used in HIV prevention in Nigeria and share with stakeholders.
• Evaluate the condom, HIV self-test kits, and PrEP market in Nigeria to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the various markets.
• Identify policy issues limiting activities of private sector players in condoms, HIV self-test kits, and PrEP programming in Nigeria and engage with government agencies (NAFDAC, NACA, MoH) to address these issues.
• Work with other project staff to conduct a landscape assessment of the retail environment for PrEP and HIV self-test kits in 3 major retail markets in Nigeria.
• Work with team members to conduct orientation for KP CBOs, Peer Educators, and KOLs on the use of developed campaign materials
• Lead the implementation of a drug-revolving scheme at selected health facilities.
• Facilitate the generation of market intelligence on sales and distribution of commodities used in HIV prevention activities.
• Update and conduct routine analysis on the distribution of procured condoms, lubricants, and ARVs for PrEP in Nigeria and provide recommendations for optimal market performance.
• Stay current with information on social marketing related to HIV prevention and incorporate it into programming and project communications strategies.
• Contribute to timely review and completion of project monthly reports.
• Attend project-related and task team technical meetings and debriefings.
• Provide inputs to work plan development and monitoring.
• Implement a monitoring and quality assurance plan for program implementation.
• Mobilize social and political support at all levels to create and sustain an enabling environment for the delivery of interventions.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

 Qualifications/ Required Skills

• Bachelor's Degree in Public Health, Health Policy, Health Economics, Marketing, or a related advanced degree, with 5 - 7 years of experience.
• At least 2-3 years of experience with USAID or donor-funded projects is strongly preferred.
• Substantial demonstrated experience in stakeholder engagement and policy analysis is required.
• Experience in qualitative, and quantitative research, advocacy, and policy analysis policy.
• Demonstrated experience in implementing and assessing innovative approaches in demand generation programming for HIV prevention.
• Experience with social and commercial marketing, as well as the implementation of drug-revolving schemes.
• A good understanding of Nigeria’s health system and prior experience with the Total Market approach or other market development approaches will be an advantage.
• Excellent written and verbal English language skills including the development of abstracts and manuscripts.
• Ability to travel to project sites as needed.

Application Closing Date
Not Specified.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their CV and Cover Letter to: recruiting@ng.jsi.com using "Market Development / Policy Advisor" as the subject of the email.

Note

• This is a local position based in Abuja and reserved for those eligible to work in Nigeria.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be considered for interviews.