Programme Manager (Behavioral Change Communication) at Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action - helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Programme Manager (Behavioral Change Communication)

Location: Damaturu, Yobe
Employment Type: Full-time, Regular
Supervisory Responsibility: TBD.
Reports Directly to: Director of Programmes.
Work Directly with: Field Manager, Communication Specialist, Director of Programmes, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Team, Finance, and Operations.

Program Summary

• Mercy Corps has been present in Nigeria since 2012, focusing its interventions on adolescent girls’ empowerment, economic and market development and conflict mitigation. With the insurgency spilling over from the Northeast of Nigeria and causing displacement of millions of individuals, Mercy Corps started its humanitarian response in 2014 to address the rising humanitarian needs. With funding from institutional donors, foundations and private corporations, Mercy Corps continues to provide assistance to meet the basic needs of vulnerable populations in the areas of food security, shelter, water and sanitation, protection, and livelihoods.
• As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to take a tremendous toll on the health, economic security and well-being of families and communities around the world, the need for an expanded and well-coordinated response by international and national non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other civil society stakeholders working in partnership with governments is critical.
• The task of rolling out vaccines in low- and middle-income countries could not be more challenging, as COVID-19 cases continue to rise in countries and communities, threatening lives and challenging weak health systems. Compounding the demands of planning, vaccine supply, transport, cold-chain, logistics and human resources, are the socio-behavioral obstacles of limited information, vaccine hesitancy, misinformation, rumour and misunderstanding that limit acceptance and uptake of the vaccine when it becomes available. As members of the INGO COVID-19 Collaborative, Mercy Corps and Care in Nigeria – a 1-year programme in Yobe State to support and accelerate efficient and equitable COVID-19 vaccine delivery. The same programme will be implemented by Save the Children and World Vision in Zambia.

General Position Summary

• The identified Programme Manager will play a key role in the successful engagement of civil society, government stakeholders, and businesses to ensure the deployment of context-appropriate Behavior Change and Communication (BCC) strategies to increase COVID-19 Vaccine uptake in the targeted communities. He/ She will be responsible for planning and monitoring the participation of the targeted entities in behavior change activities and oversight of their collective action around shared goals.
• She/he will be responsible for supporting the coordination of multiple stakeholders and overseeing and coordinating behavior change activities. Finally, the Programme Manager will be responsible for ensuring efficient knowledge management processes and a continuous exchange and coordination with the INGO Covid-19 Collaborative members of this project (CARE, SCI, WV).

Essential Job Responsibilities
Strategy & Vision:

• Lead initiatives to revise/develop a positive enabling environment to increase Covid-19 vaccine uptake and trust between community members, leaders and health workers in coordination with CARE and key stakeholders including the State Ministry of Health and community committees.
• Ensure coordination, collaboration and knowledge/best-practice exchange with the INGO Covid-19 Collaborative particularly with CARE, Save the Children, and World Vision.
• Work with the Director of Programs, Senior Managers, Technical Support Unit (TSU), and Communication Specialist to ensure BCC approaches are integrated across all proposed activities, including through capacity building initiatives to ensure best practice in Social Behavior Change, and Health approaches.
• Ensure the program is in alignment with Mercy Corps’ principles, values and the program’s strategic plan.

Program Management and Implementation:

• Oversee program startup, ongoing program management and close-out.
• Coordinate closely with other projects/programs of Mercy Corps to seek and enhance interlink between different projects and activities in the field.
• Ensure that program implementation is responsive to the needs and aspirations of communities and partners, and consistent with Mercy Corps’ relevant program guidelines, principles, values, quality standards and strategic plan.
• Ensure program implementation is on time, target, and budget, and well-coordinated with Mercy Corps’ Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) team to measure, document, and report on program impacts.
• Coordinate closely with CARE for activities implementation in the 4 selected Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Yobe State.
• Identify funding opportunities and network with partners and donors with a view to submitting funding proposals for the sustainability of the initiative. Co-author funding proposals if necessary.
• Act as a liaison and facilitator between MC target communities and relevant authorities, building community representatives’ capacity to engage in effective dialogue.
• Maintain regular communications with key stakeholders to gauge perceptions, tensions, and potential triggers.
• Expand local partner networks, foster linkages to local government, health authorities, civil society coalitions and other relevant local networks including religious leaders.
• Collaborate with the State Ministry of Health on COVID-19 vaccine roll-out campaigns using community influencers and support the development of key messages for vaccine confidence.
• Lead the set-up and/or strengthening of Community COVID-19 Response Committees and support the development of action plans for scaling up sensitization and awareness activities on COVID-19 vaccines. Ensure campaigns influence the largest possible number of individuals and do not leave out the vulnerable.
• Outreach, engage and support community committees (including community leaders, health workers, groups and associations) on activities related to behavior change and Covid-19 vaccine uptake.
• Support the development of behavior change training tools and conduct training of trainer workshops to Community leaders, health workers, and journalists
• Support the development of relevant and appropriate digital media content
• Ensure appropriate project monitoring and reporting based on donor requirements
• Ensure the appropriate integration of Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) standards across all programme activities.
• Manage media inquiries and interview requests including creating content for press releases, articles and keynote presentations.

Team Management:

• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
• Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback via regular performance reviews.

Finance & Compliance Management:

• Ensure compliance with Mercy Corps’ regulations and use of Mercy Corps’ procurement and finance processes.

Influence, Representation & Communication:

• Manage collaborative partnerships with consortium partners Care (in Nigeria), Save the Children and World Vision (in Zambia) and ensure knowledge exchange
• Build and coordinate relationships with relevant community committees and leaders.
• In coordination with Mercy Corps’ MEAL and Communication team, ensure appropriate results dissemination within Mercy Corps as well as stakeholder events at the national/local level.
• Identify, build, and manage collaborative partnerships with national and local government partners (i.e Ministry of Health), local CSO and CBOs.
• Coordinate with other relevant development partners to advocate for community-led practical social behavior change communication (SBCC) approaches while striving to prevent unnecessary duplication of activities.

Security:

• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership;
• Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies;

Organizational Learning:

• As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves;

Accountability to Participants:

• Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field programs.

Knowledge and Experiences

• Bachelor's Degree, preferably in Social Sciences, Psychology, Communications, Public Health or related major.
• 4 years of project implementation experience with NGOs or international agencies
• Demonstrated experience in Communication, Awareness raising campaigning design and implementation is required
• Ability to work independently, flexibly and with remote teams.
• Ability to coordinate people and processes.
• Experience in proposal writing, including conceptualizing and technical writing.
• Good organizational skills, ability to make recommendations for improvement and contribute to overall program strategy.
• Excellent English oral and written communication skills.
• Understanding of local languages of Nigeria – particularly Hausa and/or Kanuri is desirable.
• Demonstrated knowledge of Behavioral Change Communication (BCC) is required.
• Experience working with a range of partnerships including the private sector, government representation or officials, NGOs
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and representational skills.

Success Factors

• The selected Programme Manager will have a strong background in Behavioral Change Communication (BCC) and knowledge of communication tools, community mobilization and awareness strategies. He/She will move beyond information sharing and use evidence-based BCC Theory to develop a campaign with the power to truly increase vaccine uptake. He/She has strong interpersonal communication and coordination skills that allows to build trustworthy relationship with key stakeholders and consortium partners. Lastly, the team member will be able to make data-driven decisions and show adaptive management capacities.

Working Conditions:

• The position will be based in Damaturu, Yobe State, Nigeria and requires frequent travel to the selected LGAs. Security in the field locations requires additional vigilance and accessibility will be reassessed continuously. Access to good medical services in the field is limited. Phone communication, internet, electricity and water is available but might be erratic.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply

Note

• Diversity is powerful. To achieve transformational change, we seek out team members with different origins, beliefs, backgrounds and ways of thinking. Diversity helps us unlock complexity.
• Women are encouraged to apply.

Equal Employment Opportunity

• Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have a sustained global impact. We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, colour, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work

Application Deadline  15th February, 2022.