Community Demand Creators at Plan International - 4 Positions

Plan International is an independent child-centered international development organisation committed to advancing the rights of children and fight against poverty. Plan has no religious, political and government affiliation. For over 75 years, we have supported girls and boys and their communities around the world to gain the skills, knowledge and confidence they need to claim their rights, free themselves from poverty and live positive fulfilling lives. Plan currently works in 70 countries including Nigeria.

Plan International officially started operations in Nigeria in 2014 and works to strengthen and promote the rights of children. Our programme is currently focused on basic education; improve community health services, youth and citizens' participation in governance and creating economic opportunities and livelihoods for the poor, building resilient communities through our emergency and humanitarian response. Plan Nigeria works with communities, civil society organisations, development partner government at all levels and the private sector.

We are recruiting to fill the below position for a Global Affairs Canada funded MCNH project, strengthening Health Outcomes for Women and Children (SHOW) in Sokoto State:

Job Title: Community Demand Creator

Location: Sokoto
Department: Program
Report to: Communication and BCC Specialist National Program Manager
Duration: 4-5 years
Slot: 4

Purpose

• Provide support in the development and implementation of the project's BCC strategy to ensure positive behavioral change for improved demand and utilization of MNCH services within a cluster of Local Government Areas.
• Work with Gender advisor and M and E advisor to ensure gender equality is mainstreamed at the local level and project outputs are adequately documented to feed into Performance management frame work.
• Ensure compliance with all donor program and operational requirements.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Supervise and monitor the capacity building of stakeholders and other activities of project partners at community and household levels. in line with project standards.
• Contribute to the development and review of IEC materials and radio messages, including development of dissemination and monitoring plan.
• Responsible for ensuring implementation of project engagement strategy with 100 women groups, male champions and traditional/religious leaders.
• Participate in program research processes in the project.
• Work with service delivery facilitators to strengthen linkages and ensure alignment of demand and supply side interventions, including addressing demand/supply side issues.
• Work with and support WDCs and other stakeholders to ensure safe spaces for greater participation of women and adolescent in decision making around MNCH issues, including the development and implementation of advocacy and community mobilization packages and plants and sustainability of community interventions.
• Regularly support the documentation and review community level data, including collection processes.
• Responsible for regular and timely updates and reports, including success stories, best practices on demand side activities.
• Participate in the design and maintenance of SMS platform, ensuring regular communication to identified stakeholders, on MNCH events, issues and activities.
• Work with Gender advisor in identifying gender barriers to positive MNCH outcomes and addressing them through BCC interventions, including, supporting the gender responsive referral process.
• Work with VSLA coordinator to implement community component of VSLA strategy.
• Maintain good relationship with the local traditional and religious leaders, NURTW. Ward development Committees and women and men social groups.
• Assume any other responsibility as assigned by the Supervisor or the National Project Director.
• Fulfil Plan's Child Protection Policy at all times to prevent children from all forms of child abuses.

Qualifications and Experience

• A first Degree in Social Sciences/Arts or Communication from a recognized higher institution.
• At least 3 years practical work experience in the area of social and behaviour change communication and public relation of public health programs especially MNCH programs.
• Experience working with PHC workers, local communities, Ward development communities and social groups.
• Experience facilitating focus group discussion and other community participatory processes, including trainings.
• Knowledge and experience with some donor program frame work and approaches will be an added advantage.

Languages:

• Excellent command of English. a working knowledge of French will be an added advantage.

Application Closing Date
26th February, 2016.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should submit their full CV's and a comprehensive Cover letter, setting out your reasons for applying for the post and outlining the qualifications, experience, knowledge and skills that you feel you can bring to the role to: [email protected]

Note

• Only application sent electronically by e-mail with the Job title and location clearly indicated as as the subject mail will be considered and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
• The position will require 50% of time spent in the Local Government Areas and communities.