Human Centered Design (HCD) Consultant at John Snow Incorporated (JSI) - 2 Openings

John Snow, Incorporated (JSI) - We are public health care and health systems consultants and researchers driven by a passion to improve health services and health outcomes for all.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Human Centered Design (HCD) Consultant - MOMENTUM Routine Immunization Transformation and Equity

Locations: Lagos and Edo
Period of Performance: October – December 2023
Level of Effort: 30 days

Background

• JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc. (JSI) is a public health management consulting and research organization dedicated to improving the health of individuals and communities throughout the world.
• JSI manages the USAID-funded MOMENTUM Routine Immunization Transformation and Equity project. The project is working in 18 countries with the overarching goal of strengthening routine immunization (RI) programs to overcome the entrenched obstacles contributing to stagnating and declining immunization rates and barriers to reaching zero-dose and under-immunized children with life-saving vaccines.
• The project works with countries to implement COVID-19 vaccination, including supporting strategies to reach hard-to-reach and priority populations.  The project also provides country, regional, and global technical support for routine immunization of children and older populations.
• Improving the use of immunization services to reduce the numbers of zero-dose and under-immunized children requires that services be available at times and days when caregivers can access them. Particularly in urbanized areas where many caregivers work outside the home, offering immunization services only during their working hours forces them to choose between generating income for the family and seeking a preventive service for a child. While it has long been recommended that immunization services be made available during afternoons, evenings, or weekends, and studies have demonstrated that this improves vaccination uptake, the practice is not widespread.
• The objective of this research activity is to identify sustainable ways to make immunization services available when more convenient for urban caregivers.
• This activity will employ Human Centered Design (HCD) methods to explore and examine local obstacles to expanding or adjusting the hours and/or days that immunization services are available, identify days/hours likely to increase vaccine uptake and completion, and apply co-created strategies to help institutionalize expanded service hours in selected urban health facilities in Edo and Lagos states.
• M-RITE requires a human centered design expert to lead the co-creation activities, working in close collaboration with in-country immunization experts and data collectors, as well as global level immunization experts.
• The consultant will be responsible for conducting key informant interviews (KIIs) and focus group discussions (FGDs) with key LGA, community, and health facility stakeholders.

Consultant Activities

• Attend an online training/orientation session with activity managers to review the study design, methodology, and analysis
• Review and provide inputs on research tools based on the local context (Edo and Lagos States)
• Contribute to the adaptation of the co-creation approach, data collection methodology, research tools, and design of the co-creation workshops using HCD principles and approaches
• Lead pre-testing of tools and methodology in Nigeria
• Travel to two LGAs and health facilities (one in each LGA) in Edo and Lagos states to oversee and conduct (14) KIIs, (4) FGDs, and (2) co-creation workshops
• Complete daily debriefs and upload them to the shared project folder online and in near-real time, along with audio recordings, interview notes, and other relevant documents identified/shared by stakeholders
• Review transcriptions or interview notes for quality and accuracy
• Attend debrief sessions with activity managers during data collection and analysis to ensure adherence to the study protocol and make adaptations as required
• Participate in other ad hoc calls and meetings with the activity team as needed
• Support application of lessons learned to inform plans for institutionalizing expanded hours/days for immunization services in Nigeria
• Support the analysis of interview and FGD data according to the analysis plan/framework
• Summarize key findings or learnings in a final report with key steps for institutionalizing expanded RI service hours/times
• Ensure that HCD principles are applied throughout the data collection and analysis process
• Prepare presentations for the co-creation workshops and debriefing sessions as required
• Support logistics for organizing the co-creation workshops, including sending invitations
• Co-facilitate the co-creation workshops with the M-RITE activity and country team in Nigeria

Deliverables

• Transcripts/notes, audio recordings, and daily debrief reports from the interviews and FGDs
• Analysis of data and findings in a report (draft submission for project feedback/review)
• Final submission of report incorporating requested feedback and changes.

Qualifications

• A Graduate Degree and/or more than six years of experience in the field of Public Health.
• Knowledge of the technical aspects of immunization programs and service delivery platforms.
• At least 5 years of experience working in public health programs using human centered design methods and principles for design, implementation, and evaluation.
• Experience with conducting and analyzing qualitative research, including in-depth interviews and focus group discussions.
• Understanding of Nigeria’s national and local government structure and health system.
• Ability to work across sectors and multiple partners to ensure alignment and collaborative planning.
• Ability to work independently and meet deadlines with attention to detail and quality.
• Excellent interpersonal, oral communication, writing and documentation skills.
• Current residency in Nigeria and be willing and able to travel to the project states/LGAs.
• Fluency in English,Yoruba, and Naijá required.
• Knowledge of Hausa language is an added advantage.

Application Closing Date
Not Specified.