Description:

Job Title: Communications Consultant

Project Overview and Role:

The UK Support to Health transformation in Nigeria through the Lafiya Program is a flexible, demand-led strategic partnership with the Nigerian Federal and targeted State governments designed to address equity, improve and sustain health outcomes for the most vulnerable States with the worst health statistics. The desired objectives of the program included fostering an enabling environment for Universal Health Coverage (UHC) policy reform and implementation, institutional management capacity building, and health system strengthening. This required the full engagement and participation of communities with a view to contributing to ending preventable maternal and new-born deaths. The program operated at the Federal level; and geographically in five states of – Borno, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano and Yobe. Following the ODA cuts, from 0.7% to 0.5% and the spend review handrails, the FCDO reprioritization and business planning exercise, beginning in the last quarter of 2020 and first quarter of 2021, the program had to scale down some key interventions and consider reviewing the geographic scope going into the next financial years. The program now focuses on contributing to three outcomes: (1) substantially increased health financing (SDG 3.c); (2) improved coverage of integrated essential health services and health emergency preparedness (SDG 3.8 and SDG 3.d); and (3) improved access to sexual and reproductive health services (SDG 3.7).

Output 1: Strengthened governance for the delivery of integrated health and nutrition services
Output 2: Strengthened health financing, including use of Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) and innovative financing approaches.
Output 3: Strengthened health workforce and health information systems, including use of data for decision-making.
Output 4: Improved health security through a One Health approach, including response to emergencies.
Output 5: Improved access to sexual and reproductive health and rights, including strengthened access and demand in north-east Nigeria, and support to accelerate the demographic transition.

Lafiya will be delivered at federal level, as well as with a focus on targeted states (Borno, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano and Yobe) with activities tailored for each specific state, instead of a “one size fits all” approach. The Communications Consultant will be responsible for managing Lafiya program communications activities across the federal level and Lafiya supported states. These include creating communications content for the Lafiya program; collecting, curating and publishing success stories; and disseminating regular and effective social media content based on Lafiya program activities.

Reports to: MEL Expert
Location:  The Communications Consultant will be based in Abuja/ Kano.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities: 

The Communications Consultant will be responsible for:

• Sourcing, documenting and publishing success stories and other programme relevant content, suitable for uptake by a diverse range of audiences
  
• Facilitating and communicating the overall implementation of the Lafiya programme’s communication and branding strategy.
  
• Collating and developing news briefs, web-stories, blog support, op-eds for the Lafiya website and newsletters.
  
• Developing engaging social media content for the Lafiya programme’s Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook platforms.
  
• Ensuring communications are visible and easily accessible, with audience engagement regularly monitored.
  
• Capturing high-quality photographs from events and activities at national and state levels.
  
• Ensuring compliance with relevant company and contractual policies and procedures including the National Health Research Ethics Committee on privacy/safeguarding and the Lafiya FCDO-UK policies on branding
  
• Other duties as assigned by supervisor.

  Required Qualifications:

• A degree in Communications, Political Sciences, Public Information, International Relations, or a related field.
  
• Minimum of 2 years of relevant experience working in media, journalism, advocacy, or communications and marketing, or in closely related external relations contexts.
  
• Very good technical affinity for media contexts including knowledge of a wide range of multimedia, web, and digital tools.
  
• Outstanding news writing, editing, creative and social media skills.
  
• Excellent English and Hausa language (written and spoken) skills.
  
• Excellent social media skills and ability to proficiently use LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook
  
• Basic photography skills.
  
• Infographics design skills are preferred.
  
• Excellent social skills i.e the ability to work in a multicultural setting and be a team player.
  
• Proven organizational skills and strong attention to detail.

Company Overview:

About Palladium – Palladium is a global leader in the design, development and delivery of Positive Impact – the intentional creation of enduring social and economic value.  We work with governments, businesses, and investors to solve the world’s most pressing challenges. With a team of more than 3,000 employees operating in 90 plus countries and a global network of over 35,000 experts, we help improve economies, societies and, most importantly, people’s lives.

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion – Palladium is committed to embedding equity, diversity, and inclusion into everything we do. We welcome applications from all sections of society and actively encourage diversity to drive innovation, creativity, success and good practice. We positively welcome and seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce; and that all job applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment regardless of their background or personal characteristics. These include: (but are not limited to) socio-economic background, age, race, gender identity and expression, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, nationality, veteran, marital or Indigenous status.  

Should you require any adjustments or accommodations to be made due to a disability or you are a neurodivergent individual or for any other circumstance, please email our team at accessibility@thepalladiumgroup.com and we will be in touch to discuss. 

Safeguarding – We define Safeguarding as “the preventative action taken by Palladium to protect our people, clients and the communities we work with from harm”. We are committed to ensuring that all children and adults who come into contact with Palladium are treated with respect and are free from abuse.  All successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced selection process including safeguarding-focused interviews and a rigorous due diligence process.