Description:

Job Title: Demand Creation Officer

Overview

The Global Fund Malaria Cycle 7 (GC7) grant is a 3-year Global Fund supported grant (2024-2026), with Management Sciences for Health (MSH) as a sub-recipient (SR) to Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and National Malaria Elimination Program (NMEP) as Co-Principal Recipients (PRs). The goal of the grant is to contribute to the achievement of the goal of the National Malaria Strategic Plan 2021-2025 of achieving a parasite prevalence of less than 10% and reducing mortality attributable to malaria to less than 50 deaths per 100,000 live births by 2025. The scope of the grant includes vector control, case management (facility and community based), monitoring and evaluation, procurement and supply chain management, and health systems strengthening. MSH will be implementing the integrated Community Case Management component of the grant in Katsina, Taraba and Adamawa States, beginning with Adamawa in 2024.

The iCCM/CHIPS Demand Creation Officer (DCO) position is designed to work in close collaboration with the Technical Director, Malaria, project staff, and project partners in providing technical support and direct implementation of projects for iCCM/CHIPS activities with a focus on community engagement and mobilization; interpersonal communication and counselling for health and community based health workers; and behaviour change communication activities in the state.
S/He will provide support in creating demand for uptake of iCCM/CHIPS services in implementing areas and will be responsible for implementing all demand creation activities in the work plan and be accountable for them. The position will be based in the state, with regular travel within Project sites.

Interested applicants substantiated as the subject of an investigation for misconduct (exploitation, abuse or harassment) are not eligible to apply)

 Demand Creation Officer Responsibilities

Technical contributions

• Coordinate the development and roll-out of training manuals for facility/community health committees and community mobilisers
• Coordinate the planning, coordination and monitoring of project demand creation activities
• Contribute to the finalization of criteria for selection of communities, health facilities and volunteers for iCCM/CHIPS project implementation based on continuum of care approach
• Work with the State Technical Officer to coordinate the selection of communities in the selected LGAs for iCCM/CHIPS implementation
• Work with the State Technical officer to coordinate mapping and identification of community mobilisers and facility/community health committees
• Coordinate the development of demand creation strategy for the project
• Liaise with other project staff to ensure synchronization between demand and supply activities of the project
• Oversee and provide close support to project implementing partners in the implementation of demand creation activities
• Coordinate the development of project communications strategy and general documentation for internal and external dissemination of the project
• Support project communication activities (development of dissemination documents to allow wider sharing of MSH’s experiences, lessons and successes e.g. case studies, newsletters, reply to requests from project donor.)
• Technical support for the planning and management of community based programmes at state level

Project Management

• Contribute and work with the relevant personnel to prepare all necessary project planning tools on time
• Contribute to quarterly lessons identification and learning documentation and dissemination
• Preparation and submission of project demand creation activity reports to Project Manager

Technical Performance Management and Quality Assurance

• Take the lead in ensuring roll-out of project demand creation activities meet international standard of quality
• Document evidence and best practices that are related to the project

 Demand Creation Officer Qualification

• BSc/HND in Communication, Social Sciences, Public Health or another relevant specialty.
• Experience in community level mobilization activities for the CHIPS programme implementation is highly preferred
• 3-5 years’ experience in Demand Creation/ Community Mobilization at the field level and providing technical assistance to partner organizations
• Previous experience with or good knowledge of Global Fund operating procedures
• Experience working on demand creation for community level health programming especially CHIPS programme in developing countries
• Excellent project health communication planning, management and monitoring and evaluation skills
• Technical knowledge and skills in health communication
• Experience with, and a demonstrated commitment to community-based approach to development
• Familiar with public health principles
• Familiar with monitoring and evaluation of community based health programmes
• Ability to work both in a team and independently and ability to transfer knowledge through formal and informal training.
• Capacity to prepare evidence-based reports and documents.
• Ability to interface with multiple stakeholders, representatives, and partners in a professional manner on an ongoing basis.
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment and communicate information to both health and non-health audiences, and achieve consensus on policy, project, research, and administrative matters.
• Good verbal communication skills, tact and diplomacy are required to establish and develop sustainable working relationships at the highest level and a high level of trust with public/private organizations. Verbal communication skills are also used to negotiate activity plans and resolve activity implementation issues with counterparts, partners and team members. Excellent written communication skills are required to prepare regular and ad hoc reports, activity documentation and briefing papers.
• Excellent computer skills (MS Word, Excel and Powerpoint) are required for effectively operating in this position. Good computer skills are required to implement, analyze, and monitor, and manage activity goals, inputs, outcomes, and achievements.

MSH is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity, religion, creed, citizenship, national origin, age, veteran status, or disability unrelated to job requirements. MSH will take affirmative action to ensure that qualified applicants are employed and that employees are treated without regard to their race, age, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran and disability status. In compliance with U.S. Department of Labor Executive Order 11246, Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act, and Section 4212 of the Vietnam Era Readjustment Assistance Act, MSH has developed and maintains an affirmative action program and plan.