SBC Program Officer (Malaria)

Job Title: SBC Program Officer (Malaria)/ 1 Person

Location: Monrovia with frequent travel to the field

Reports to: Health services strengthening Specialist (Malaria and MNCH)

Background: Breakthrough ACTION is a cooperative agreement funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to lead its social and behavior change programming. The vision of the project is to deliver effective quality social and behavior change (SBC) activities in Liberia that will result in improved demand and use of health services for malaria; maternal, neonatal, and child health (MNCH); family planning/ reproductive health (FP/RH); adolescent health; and water, sanitation, hygiene (WASH) and engage communities in behaviors to prevent zoonotic and non-zoonotic infections in line with the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA).

Summary: The SBC Program Officer (Malaria) will be responsible for day-to-day implementation and oversight of Breakthrough ACTION-Liberia’s Social Behavior Change Malaria and Family planning interventions at the national and sub-national levels in close collaboration with Breakthrough ACTION-Liberia Field Managers. S/he will also be responsible for strengthening collaboration with and the building capacity of the project’s government partners at all levels, through advocacy and networking, strengthening relationships with other non-governmental stakeholders in the counties. She/he will report to the health services strengthening specialist (Malaria and RMNCH) and work in consultation with the broader Breakthrough ACTION-Liberia Monrovia Team as appropriate.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the design, planning, implementation, and monitoring of social and behavior change and risk communication programming.
• Ensure identified Malaria and adolescent health behaviors, materials, and strategies (at all levels) developed are evidence-based, linked, and mutually reinforcing.
• Support the project team in the implementation, documentation, and reporting of Breakthrough ACTION-Liberia’s malaria interventions and approaches at the community, district, county, and national levels.
• With support from the team lead work closely with NMCP and FHP to position SBC as a cross-cutting activity that supports all aspects of malaria prevention and control
• Support and participate in conducting formative research and using existing local data and global evidence base to build the foundation of Liberia Malaria strategies and guidelines.
• Support review and dissemination of research findings
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with government and partners at national, county, and district levels.
• Ensure social and behavior change and/or risk communication activities are implemented in coordination and harmonization with government, partners, and other relevant platforms at all levels.
• Conduct constant follow-up of SBC malaria and adolescent health activities in collaboration with field managers, and county and district health teams to ensure quality implementation of project activities.
• In close collaboration with CHT through the Field managers, support the training establishment, training, and monitoring of adolescent health interventions.
• In collaboration with field managers, and county and district health teams, plan and conduct community conversation and awareness activities as scheduled.
• Regularly monitor and ensure the Client ambassador provides peer onsite mentorship and submit findings to the district health team and Field managers.
• Attend radio presentations at national and county levels.
• Support and build the capacity of partners and existing structures to design and implement social and behavior change and/or risk communication activities.
• Ensure timeliness and high integrity of activity implementation in accordance with the work plan.
• Monitor and ensure all Malaria and adolescent health -related SBC and/or risk communication activities and any challenges are documented and reported on a regular basis.
• Generate media briefs, reports, success stories, and other program documentation as requested.
• Ensure that gender is at the forefront of all Malaria SBC activities, including design, planning, implementation, and monitoring.
• Communicate regularly and coordinate with Breakthrough ACTION headquarters.
• Represent Breakthrough ACTION at meetings as directed by the Chief of Party
• Comply with USAID, Johns Hopkins University (JHU), and Breakthrough ACTION processes and regulations.

Supervisory Responsibilities: This position has no direct supervisory responsibilities at this time.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Public Health, Social Sciences, or a related field
• Minimum of five years of experience in international programming; experience working with US Government-funded projects preferred
• Experience with programs in social and behavior change, risk communication, material, and message design, and/or capacity strengthening
• Knowledge or background on ASRH, and Malaria
• Experience planning and facilitating workshops and meetings
• Strong written communication skills including writing reports, newsletter blurbs, and program success stories
• Strong knowledge of MOH structures at the national, district, and community level
• Ability to work effectively in a rapidly changing, fluid environment, including possessing skills in proactive and strategic thinking, problem-solving, demand prioritization, and flexibility
• Strong interpersonal and teamwork skills
• Computer literate especially in Microsoft applications – Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Technical ability to set up web-based video calls using applications like Skype and Zoom
• Able and willing to travel within Liberia, as needed

Language Skills: Must be fluent in English and Liberian local dialects.