Senior SBC Program Officer, Malaria

JOB DESCRIPTION

Position: Senior SBC Program Officer, Malaria

Location: Monrovia, Liberia

Supervisor: Health Services Specialist

Breakthrough ACTION Liberia is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to lead social and behavior change (SBC) programming in 12 counties. Led by the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs (CCP), Breakthrough ACTION partners include Save the Children, ideas42, and Think Place. The vision of the Breakthrough ACTION Liberia project is to deliver effective, high-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); nutrition; 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 Senior SBC Program Officer (Malaria) will be responsible for managing day-to-day implementation and oversight of Breakthrough ACTION Liberia’s Malaria programmatic activities at the county, district, and community levels. S/he will be expected to work in close coordination with the county health team, USAID implementing partners, and civil society organizations. S/he will report to the Health Services Specialist and work in close consultation with the other team leads, as well as the broader SBC and research, monitoring, evaluation, and learning (RMEL) teams, as appropriate. S/he will also be responsible for providing context-specific input on county implementation while working to strengthen capacity in Malaria and promote collaboration among government partners and other non-governmental stakeholders in the counties.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: The Malaria SBC Specialist’s specific duties will include:

• Lead the Malaria SBC efforts under Breakthrough ACTION Liberia, providing technical assistance to strengthen the capacity of the government of Liberia and that of private and NGO sectors.
• Collaborate with government and non-governmental partners at the county, district, and community levels, serving as a liaison regarding Malaria SBC-related health issues.
• Strengthen coordination structures at central, county, district, and community levels, by working with various program units of the National Malaria Control Program (NMCP), Ministry of Health (National Health Promotion Unit(NHPU), Family Health Division (FHD), National Community Health Program (NHPD), and relevant Malaria stakeholders and implementing partners to identify priority Malaria related behavior, develop/review, standardize communication materials, and identify the most effective channels for advocacy, communication, social mobilization, and behavioral approaches.
• Enhance country-wide capacity to roll out Breakthrough ACTION Liberia Malaria SBC approaches through the provision of simplified tools and resources, technical assistance and guidance, and rapid deployment of expertise.
• Collaborate with key stakeholders to ensure focus on identified Malaria priority behaviors and materials and strategies (at all levels) developed are evidence-based, linked, and mutually reinforcing.
• Ensure that gender is at the forefront of all Malaria SBC activities, including design, planning, implementation, and monitoring.
• Provide guidance on conducting formative research and using existing local data and global evidence base to build the foundation of Liberia’s Malaria strategies and guidelines.
• Work with the MEL team to establish detailed Malaria SBC M&E indicators, including the RBM Malaria Social and Behavior Change Communication Indicator Reference Guide (https://endmalaria.org/our-work/working-groups/social-and-behaviour-change)
• Work with the NMCP to position SBC as a cross-cutting activity that supports all aspects of malaria prevention and control.
• Work collaboratively with the SBC sections of NMCP to align with global guidance for malaria SBC, including the RBM Strategic Framework for Malaria Social and Behavior Change Communication 2018-2030 (https://endmalaria.org/our-work/working-groups/social-and-behaviour-change)
• Identify opportunities as they arise to include non-communication behavior change interventions to support malaria prevention and control.
• In collaboration with the wider Breakthrough ACTION Liberia team, design strategies, approaches, and a planning process for ensuring sustainability and Liberian self-reliance.
• Direct and manage the planning, organizing, budget preparation/maintenance, and program implementation required in the daily operations of project implementation at multiple levels.
• Participate in and/or effectively represents Breakthrough ACTION Liberia at SBC and Malaria related meetings, training, and stakeholder forums.
• Ensure project documentation is appropriately drafted, packaged, and shared.
• Seek, select, engage, and monitor qualified consultants and agencies to provide technical assistance in support of the project.
• Perform job duties/responsibilities in support of CCP’s mission and values, as appropriate.
• Perform other duties as may be assigned by Breakthrough ACTION Liberia Chief of Party.

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

Education and/or Experience: Minimum of a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field (public health, social science, humanities, other). Advanced university degree in the social and behavioral sciences (Communication, Public Health, Health Education) or related fields is an added advantage.

Required experience will include:

• Minimum of 5 years progressive experience leading health and/or development project implementation, including 3+ years’ experience providing technical expertise on malaria
• Skilled in mentoring, coaching, and training stakeholders with varying educational backgrounds and aptitudes
• Strong organizational skills with an ability to manage a fast-paced workload with minimal supervision.
• Demonstrate high-level oral and written communication skills (in English) including the capacity to communicate and work with people from diverse backgrounds.
• Possess knowledge of country-specific contexts and networks
• Strong experience working with community channels or structures.
• Well-developed interpersonal skills and demonstratable ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team to develop collaborative relationships and networks between government, nongovernment organizations, and other relevant stakeholders.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, make independent decisions and consistently demonstrate sound ethics, and act with integrity.

Preferred experience

• Minimum of 5 years with progressive technical experience in Malaria health programs in Liberia.
• Experience developing, designing, and implementing social behavior change communication interventions that reflect the priorities and local context county.
• Experience with supportive supervision, monitoring field activities, data capture, timely project reporting, and generating success stories.
• Ability to facilitate meetings effectively and efficiently.
• Ability to use technology to connect, share, exchange, update team members, and develop project documents.
• Proficient computer skills in MS Word, MS Excel, PowerPoint, and other standard software.

Language Skills: Must be fluent in English (verbal and written communication); Fluency in Liberian local dialects is a plus.