Social Behavior Change Communication Officer (2 Positions) Mogadisho/Baidoa

Job Expired

Job Description

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT – VA 17/2023

Position Title: Social Behavior Change Communication Officer

Number of positions: 2

Reporting to: Social Behavior Change Communication Coordinator

Duty Station: Mogadishu and Baidoa

Contract Duration: 12 Months

Organizational background:

Action Against Hunger leads the global movement to end hunger. We innovate solutions, advocate for change, and reach 24 million people every year with proven hunger prevention and treatment programs. As a nonprofit that works across 50 countries, our 8,300 dedicated staff members partner with communities to address the root causes of hunger, including climate change, conflict, inequity, and emergencies. We strive to create a world free from hunger, for everyone, for good.

Action Against Hunger USA is part of the Action Against Hunger International network. As an independent NGO, Action Against Hunger USA currently manages operations in 8 countries: Kenya, South Sudan, Somalia, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Zambia and Haiti. Action Against Hunger-USA has over $100 million in programs, and approximately 1,800 permanent staff based in New York City, Washington D.C, Nairobi, and country offices. Additional growth is anticipated.

Job Summary

The Social and Behavioral Change Communication (SBCC) officer is expected to provide a consistent and high quality technical support in relation to behavioral change activities. The positions involve training and monitoring of community Workers, VSLAs, WASH committee members and other existing community structures with frequent trips to the project sites and organize promotion and demand creation campaign to the communities on key MIYCN and hygiene messages. As part of the assignment the position holder is expected to support in the identification, design and develop materials/manuals on appropriate health promotion, diseases prevention, hygiene promotion and community sanitation; conduct formative survey and need assessment concerning good maternal and new-born health practices, sanitation and hygiene practice and outbreaks. S/he is expected to liaise with communities, local authorities and other agencies regularly to ensure coordination and effective implementation activities and participate on meeting regarding MIYCN and WASH; collect data and statistics concerning issues that relates with health and WASH and prepare and share them with the concerning department.

Purpose Provides technical assistance, direction and support in Social Behavior Change (SBC) activities at community level and provide capacity building to Action Against Hunger program staffs, partners and to humanitarian and governmental entities in order to improve overall program impact.
Engagement: Represent Action Against Hunger in all coordination forums at community level, district level, collaborate with other implementing partners, INGO, UN bodies and the local communities to ensure successful implementation and smooth running of the projects
Delivery: Delivers technical training, and establish care groups, baby child friendly spaces and other SBC intervention while closely working with communities and field program staffs. Use already established community structures to leverage and promote healthy nutrition and hygiene behaviors and mobilize key stakeholders and community leaders on nutrition and hygiene promotion for a better implementation.

Essential job duties

Tasks and Responsibilities

Assisting with SBCC program design, adaptation, implementation, and monitoring with program staff and technical experts in line with the project strategic plan;
At the direction of the SBCC Coordinator, developing, pre-testing, and producing communication tools and job aids based on evidence-based theories and methodologies, in line with the SBCC strategy.
Provide technical assistance in community sensitization and mobilization and behavior change communications, to the targeted population.
Under supervision of the SBCC Coordinator, coordinating with other stakeholders and assisting with technical activities involving co-existing SBCC communications campaigns.
Support to prepare training materials and conduct training and capacity building activities to increase the effectiveness of local partners and Action Against Hunger staffs to implement demand creation programming.
Assist with the planning and coordination of special events, including World Breast feeding Week, Immunization week and other commemorated days.
Assist the SBCC Coordinator in supervision and monitoring of ongoing function and technical trouble-shooting for integral services including health, nutrition, WASH and FSL.
Working with the M&E staff and SBCC Coordinator to monitor and evaluate the progress and impact of SBCC activities.
Assisting in documenting project results and impacts in various forms, including media stories, lessons learned, case studies, client satisfaction, and other areas, and contributing to regular quarterly and annual reporting
Performing other duties as directed by the SBCC Coordinator.

Supervisory Responsibilities

None

Fiscal Responsibility

None

Physical demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to sit for long periods and to concentrate on work, including typing, and turn out heavy volumes of work accurately, within short time frames under stressful situations in the context of a moderately noisy office with many interruptions.
Must be able to proofread own work accurately so that only minor corrections are needed on an infrequent basis.
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

Working Conditions, Travel and Environment

The duties of the job require regular job attendance at least five days per week. Must be available to work outside normal office hours or on the weekends as required.
Must be able to travel as required for standard domestic and international official matters. While performing the duties of this job in the field, the employee may be exposed to precarious settings under high security risks and outside weather conditions, as well as infectious diseases

Gender Equality Commitments & Zero Tolerance to Abuse

Foster an environment that reinforces values of women and men, and equal access to information.
Provide a work environment where women and men must be evaluated and promoted based on their skills and performance.
Promote a safe, secure, and respectful environment for all stakeholders, particularly for children, beneficiaries, and members of staff.
Help to prevent any type of abuse including workplace harassment and sexual abuse and exploitation.
Respect beneficiaries’ women, men, children (boys and girls) regardless of gender, sex orientation, disability, religion, race, color, ancestry, national origin, age, or marital status.
Value and respect all cultures.

Skills and Qualifications

Required Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in health or social sciences and over 2 years of experience in implementing social and behavior change communication programs.
Additional training in maternal, child health and FP is an added advantage.
At least three years working experience in maternal and child health programs
Good experience in monitoring and evaluation of programs including report writing and communication skills.
Ability to work independently as well as in cooperation with a multi-cultural team;
Ability to think creatively and strategically;
Relevant computer software skills (including, at a minimum, the standard applications in MS Office).
Ability to enhance good interpersonal relationship.
A good command of both written and spoken English
Understanding of Somalia context preferred

VIII. Required Skills & Competencies

Demonstrated ability to coordinate closely with government staff, effectively manages their expectations, and builds capacity.
Proven abilities to set priorities, to multi-task, and to work collaboratively across technical disciplines
Strong management skills are required, along with the ability to work well in a team environment.