Save the Children is the leading independent organization for children in need, with programs in over 120 countries. We save children’s lives. We fight for their rights. We help them fulfil their potential. Save the Children is working in Nigeria because one in five children in Nigeria dies before their fifth birthday. About 40% of children miss out on school and have to work to survive while nearly 2 million children have lost one or both parents to an AIDS-related disease.
Job ID: 13700 Location: Kano
Employment Type: Full Time
Job Summary
The incumbent will be responsible for leading the design, integration, and implementation of SBC strategies within the PLANE project to complement advocacy and community mobilization efforts, aiming to shift harmful social norms and promote positive behaviours around education, particularly for girls and marginalized children.
S/he will lead on education advocacy and community engagements and support the design and implementation of the programme within the right based programming approach.
Generally, s/he shall provide technical support, capacity building and technical oversight to community mobilization Officers and Assistants; networking and partnership building at state level; and shall promote Girl Education Campaign across the State.
Scope
This role will manage, coordinate and mobilize all advocacy, and community engagements for PLANE project, through collaborating and closely working with the Education Manager and Coordinator, GEDI Coordinator, MEAL Coordinator, Child Protection Coordinator, Advocacy, Campaign and Policy Manager/Learn, Deputy Director/s of Program Operations, Programme Manager, Field Manager– ensuring that there is an effective and coordinated team spearheading SCI Nigeria’s influence towards an accelerated positive change for all children, specially girls, to access quality, safe, inclusive, uninterrupted and free education.
S/he will work closely with the Community Mobilization Officers and Programme Manager on the implementation of the advocacy and community engagements.
S/he will ensure during proposal development that sustainability of the projects are well articulated, and the project implementation are directed using both National and Sub-national advocacy and community engagements strategies as appropriate. S/he will also be expected to contribute to the design, review and implementation of wider SCI Nigeria Advocacy, Campaign, Media and Communication Strategy and the CSP.
S/he will coordinate and oversee the Community Mobilization Officers to ensure monthly, quarterly and annual advocacy reports that feeds into CO and donors report.
S/he will work closely with CO ACCM Unit to develop relevant materials, such as but not limited to policy briefs/briefing messages, concept notes, guidelines and undertake actions to create enabling environment and promote increasing government and community commitment and action on children’s rights to education.
Responsibilities
Advocacy and Community Engagements:
Develop, coordinate and manage Advocacy, SBC and Community engagements plans, in order to influence relevant stakeholders and achieve required changes at State and local government levels.
Lead on the development and implementation of SBC strategies and messaging to address social norms and behavioural drivers affecting school attendance, especially among girls and vulnerable groups.
Lead Advocacy and community engagements at the state, local government and community levels on Universal Basic Education, develop key messages for influencing state policy reviews, processes and discussions.
Champion, promote, coordinate and manage the implementation of out of school children Campaign Strategy in collaboration with Advocacy, Campaign and Policy Manager learn.
Lead on the development of SBC materials and tools (e.g., talking points, posters, radio scripts, community dialogue guides) in collaboration with the CO ACCM Unit and MEAL
Mobilize and build capacities of community mobilization officers and assistants, towards delivering advocacy and community engagements strategies through strengthening knowledge and skills/capacities to incorporate, align and integrate advocacy and community engagements into their area of work
In collaboration with the MEAL Coordinator, s/he shall track, measure, monitor and evaluate the quality of integration and implementation of advocacy and community engagement in the implementation of the project.
Shall contribute to the development of annual work plans, budgets, reports and document case studies and success stories on the PLANE project.
Ensure maximum visibility of Save the Children according to the branding guidelines both internally and externally across relevant platforms.
Ensure that children are at the heart of advocacy and community engagements activities, and they are an integral part of Save the Children’s campaigning work.
Ensure proper documentation and dissemination of major activities, successes and learnings related to PLANE.
Strengthen Networking and Partnership:
S/he shall represent SCI Nigeria in state-level forums related to education, SBC, and community mobilization, advocating for the integration of behaviour change into government and partner strategies
Work with Media and Communication team, Education Manager, Safeguarding officer and Programme Manager to develop case studies for the project and ensure that these meets Save the Children Child Safeguarding Policies (SP)
In collaboration with the CO Media and Communication Manager, Advocacy, Campaign and Policy (ACP) Manager/learn, s/he will identify story ideas on lessons learned and experiences for development of success stories and other communication materials.
Explore opportunities to communicate about PLANE project deliverables and its impact internally and externally, with a wide variety of state and national level stakeholders using innovative methods.
Produce reports, advocacy messaging and presentations for internal and external audiences, as directed by the line manager or ACCM Director.
Act as SCI Nigeria’s representative at state and local government levels as required, mainly in events relating to education advocacy, and community engagement.
Develop and maintain a professional network for governance issues within project state and within SCI Nigeria.
Identify and support community champions, role models, and peer influencers to reinforce positive behaviours and mobilize communities for education.
Work with partners, CSOs, traditional/religious leaders, school authorities, parents’ associations to promote sustainable behaviour change and ensure community ownership.
Build the capacity of CSOs and support the development of strong civil society engagement in reducing out of school children.
Contribute to the bi-weekly ACCM country wide coordination meeting and produce stories and case studies for publication in the monthly Jebb times.
In collaboration with Advocacy Campaign and Policy Manager Lean, Community Mobilization and Engagements manager, organise events on education issues, including symposiums, trainings, high-level seminars and conferences for the dissemination of important information, learning, reports, research and messages.
Requirements
Degree/ Postgraduate certificate in Development Economics, Education, Public Policy, Human Rights Law, Development Studies or any related field.
Desired Number of Years’ experience – 4 (in education/development advocacy)
Level of IT Expertise Required – Excellent
Profound knowledge in Nigeria governance and education systems and political terrains
Ability to write very good position papers and policy briefings
Experience in designing and implementing Social and Behaviour Change strategies, preferably in education or child rights programming.
Strong understanding of community dynamics, cultural norms, and the role of behaviour change in improving educational outcomes.
Strong analytical framework to clearly articulate and communicate our policy positions.
Ability to be strategic and proactive when required to be able to keep advocacy plans dynamic and aligned to new policy and political developments.
Ability to clearly communicate and easily relate to state and local government authorities.
Able to demonstrate positive attitude, diplomatic, negotiator, and team player.
Experience of working in a multi-cultural environment and respect for diversity
Comply with the requirements of Save the Children’s commitment to protect children in accordance with the Child Safeguarding Policy
Building external networks
Strategic Planning
Governance and Gender advocacy
Enhanced voice accountability
Training and Facilitation
Application Closing Date
15th August, 2025; 02:16 PM