Job Title: Social, Structural & Behavioral Change Officer
Hiring Organization: Mercy Corps
Location – Locality: Nairobi
Location – Region: Kenya
Industry: NGO
Job Type: Full Time
Salary: KES
Date Posted: 06/13/2024
About
Mercy Corps
Mercy
Corps is powered by the belief that a better world is possible. To do this, we
know our teams do their best work when they are diverse, and every team member
feels that they belong. We welcome diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and
skills so that we can be stronger and have long-term impact.
The
Program / Department / Team
Mercy
Corps, in consortium with Save the Children, Research Triangle Institute (RTI),
the BOMA Project, African Population & Health Research Center (APHRC), and
Caritas Lodwar and several local implementing partners is implementing the
USAID Nawiri Program in Turkana and Samburu counties. The USAID Nawiri program
is anchored by a robust learning agenda that is executed in close collaboration
with county governments, civil society organizations, private sector players,
and benefiting communities in Turkana & Samburu counties. Evidence
generated from the various studies commissioned by USAID Nawiri has informed
the design of the program interventions. The interventions will contribute to
strengthening communities on nutrition resilience by bridging critical knowledge
gaps and transforming practices, relating to the understanding of the
complexities and the interplay of casualties contributing to P-GAM in Turkana
and Samburu County.
Position Summary
USAID
Nawiri’s SSBC work is central to the sustainable reduction of acute
malnutrition. Phase 1 evidence gathering and continuous adaptive learning
provides for a unique opportunity to be agile in implementing high quality and
effective SBC interventions. USAID Nawiri envisions the position holder to
program and implement a multi-sectoral SBC activities that creates nutrition
resilience at household level. They will work with a multi-disciplinary team,
covering resilient livelihood, health and nutrition, GESI, water sanitation and
hygiene with the sole objective of reducing acute malnutrition in a sustainable
way. They will be responsible for integrating SBC activities in all USAID
Nawiri activities at the field implementation level. Specifically, the Officer
will conceptualize with clarity and implement contextualized SBC activities at
the household and community level while working with system level actors to
address the structural barriers to uptake of optimal behaviors. They will be
responsible for building the necessary skills and competencies of the frontline
workers and change agents (include Peer Educators, Youth Counselors, Teachers,
Gatekeepers, Opinion Leaders, Positive Deviants (Role Models), CORPs to
implement quality SSBC activities.
Essential
Job Responsibilities
- TECHNICAL
LEADERSHIP
- Take full
ownership of SSBC activities at Sub-County/Zone level as detailed in USAID
Nawiri’s Theory of Change, Detailed Implementation Plan (DIP) and budgets,
i.e., Analyze and understand the general SSBC dimensions of PAM and
steward the design, development, and implementation of customized (County)
Nawiri SSBC strategies as guided by research findings, HCD insights and
other available relevant programmatic intelligence.
- Technically lead
the implementation of USAID Nawiri’s iterative learning and adaptations in
regards to SBC activities across all thematic areas.
- Provide
technical (SSBC) and general administrative support to all Nawiri
technical areas; specifically, support the conceptualization, design,
implementation, and reporting needs of the different thematic areas,
including the development and implementation of relevant SSBC frameworks,
tools, messaging, and distribution of IEC materials in appropriate
formats, appropriately customized for program’s target audiences and
needs.
- Support in
capacity building/strengthening (e.g., Trainings, Supportive/Facilitative
Visits, On-Job Trainings, Mentorship and Shadowing) of relevant change
agents at Sub-County/Zone level. Develop implementation plans, relevant
content, facilitate SSBC training & support follow-on implementation
activities.
- In coordination
with the sub county coordinators, and technical coordinators, oversee the
coordination across implementation teams of the sequencing, layering and
integration of household and community dialogues including mapping of
content and delivery tools
- PROGRAM SUPPORT
& IMPLEMENTATION
- Liaise with the
Sub-County program team in ensuring that USAID Nawiri’s SSBC Strategy
takes cognizance of and is aligned to County priorities and strategic
plans. Additionally, assess and map out relevant interventions by
partners, government agencies and private sector players and purposefully
guide layering/integration of USAID Nawiri’s SSBC interventions in a bid
to avoid duplication and improve cost-efficiency and effectiveness at the
Sub-County/Zone level.
- Support USAID
Nawiri’s Continuous Learning & Adapting (CLA) approach, especially
activities with an SSBC dimension; specifically, the identification of
critical issues, documentation & analysis of emerging evidence,
learnings, and best practices. Thereafter, guide and/or participate in the
co-creation and iterative processes that are designed to incorporate the
lessons learnt into the agile Nawiri SSBC framework.
- Provide support
for the monitoring, collection, storage, analysis (Knowledge Management)
and reporting of SSBC data, including achievements against targets, data
on program quality and effectiveness and contextual factors influencing
program implementation. Submit regular SSBC programmatic reports as
required. Additionally, participate in the development and publication of
informatics products such as HCD decks, technical briefs, professional
articles, success, and Human-Interest Stories (HIS).
- TEAM
COLLABORATION & COMMUNICATIONS
- Work with USAID
Nawiri Officers, consortium partners and Sub-County officials to
competently supervise Research Assistants, Healthcare Workers, Community
Health Workers (CHWs – CHVs/CHEWs/CHAs), collaborating Civil Society
Organizations (CSOs), Faith-Based Organizations (FBOs) and any other
program operatives and/or partners implementing SSBC activities on behalf
of the program.
- Liaise with and
maintain cordial relationships with partners and Sub-County
officials/departments implementing SSBC interventions. Plan for and
support the coordination of relevant SSBC mechanisms at Sub-County level
including participation and technical support to the Nawiri-fronted
Multi-Sectoral Platform (MSP).
- Foster
organizational values of efficiency, integrity, professionalism,
responsiveness, collaboration, and respectful programming. Develop &
manage implementation of SSBC plans in a manner that increases team
operating performance & efficiencies according to prescribed protocols
& Standard Operating Procedures.
- SECURITY
- Ensure that SSBC
interventions/activities are designed and implemented with a clear
analysis and understanding of security at the Sub-County/Zone level.
- Keep the SSBC
Senior Officer for Nutrition Resilient updated with regard to the security
situation in the program implementation areas and provide advice as to how
to manage our presence in this environment.
- Supervisory
Responsibility
Accountability
- Reports directly
to: Social, Structural and Behavior Change (SSBC) Coordinator for
Nutrition Resilience (technically); and, with day-to-day supervisory,
operational and administrative management reporting to the Program
Coordinator & Head of Field Office.
- Works directly
with: USAID Nawiri County & Sub-County Field Teams, Nawiri Technical
Staff, County Government and County stakeholders and relevant partners
(specifically, sub-awardees, CSOs, FBOs, schools/institutions etc.).
Accountability
to Participants and Stakeholders
- Mercy Corps team
members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability,
specifically to our program participants, community partners, other
stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief
and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as
equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field
projects.
- Mercy Corps team
members represent the agency both during and outside work hours. Team
members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and
respect local laws, customs and MC’s policies, procedures, and values at
all times and in all locations.
Minimum
Qualifications & Transferable skills
- A degree in
Communications, Journalism, Community Development, Marketing, Public
Health, Population Studies, Social Sciences, Anthropology or related
disciplines.
- At least 5 years
of SSBC experience in designing, developing, implementing, monitoring
strategies, activities, and materials.
- Experience in
conceptualization, design, and implementation of user-centric approaches
e.g., HCD and demonstrated experience at testing/pre-testing tools,
materials, and strategies.
- Demonstrated
ability to develop partnerships across sectors and cultures
(cross-cultural skills).
- Demonstrated
experience at working with & coordinating county mechanisms &
multi-sectoral players.
- Experience and
excellent skills at training and facilitating community forums including
competence in approaches such as Education Through Listening,
Communication for Development and Problem-Posing Techniques.
- Demonstrated
experience meeting USAID and other donor reporting requirements.
- Excellent
interpersonal and communications skills; excellent English language
writing skills are a must.
- Ability to think
critically and strategically.
- Strong
organizational skills and attention to detail.
- Proficiency in
Office 365 including Word, Excel, Teams, and PowerPoint.
- Willingness and
ability to travel at least 60 – 80 percent of the time.
- Proficiency of
the local languages/dialects is a plus.
- Experience
working in ASAL counties of Samburu & Turkana is an added advantage.