Communications Lead – Malaria Vaccine Introduction

PATH’s Center for Vaccine Innovation and Access (CVIA) brings together our expertise across every stage of the long and complex process of vaccine research, development, and delivery to make lifesaving vaccines widely available to children and communities across the world. CVIA’s current portfolio encompasses more than two dozen vaccines either in development or already in use to protect against fifteen different diseases. We work in partnership with national health ministries, pharmaceutical manufacturers, donors, international financing and regulatory organizations, and many others. Within CVIA, the Policy, Access, and Introduction (PAI) functional area leads PATH’s efforts to support countries in all aspects of new vaccine introduction, including implementation, costing, communications, system strengthening, and evaluation.

PATH seeks to recruit an experienced Communications lead to work on the MalVac project in Zambia.  The Communications lead will work in close partnership with the EPI Secretariat and the National Malaria Elimination Centre, the Ministry of Health, provincial PAMO Coordinators and the CBOs/CSOs to implement enhanced strategic Malaria Vaccine Communication  activities that seek to boost the adoption, use and implementation of the Malaria vaccine, boost vaccine coverage, vaccine uptake and improve health care seeking behavior that increases demand for and acceptance of the malaria vaccine in Zambia.

We seek candidates who have at least 5 years’ experience working with communication for immunization programs and systems to introduce new vaccines or strengthen routine immunization services, as well as immunization program training, evaluation, and support and have appreciable overview of the malaria program in the country including health system operations at the national and subnational levels.

Responsibilities

The Communication lead will provide technical leadership in the supervision of Communication activities in accordance with the project’s work plan at facility and community level. He or she will also work closely with the EPI, NMEC, other relevant government, other implementing partners and CBOs/CSOs to plan and operationalize Communication activities.

Specific Duties:

Community mobilization

• Serve as the lead technical resource for community mobilization activities for all province/ facility -based Community Engagement and Mobilization activities undertaken at identified select districts, to be identified during the course of the project.
• Work closely provincial and district Ministry of Health counterparts, and the CSOs to conceptualize community-based communication strategies and processes and develop tailored community communication work plans and training materials for use by facilities for CHW.
• With the project M&E officer, design a simple M&E system for community mobilization activities. Include a self-assessment component that can be used by CSOs, targeted communities and neighborhood health committees (NHCs) to assess their performance.
• Review monitoring data in real-time and provide timely feedback and in-person support to the provincial, district teams and CSOs.

Strategy design and media activities

• Support the update (or development) of the national malaria Vaccine communication strategy
• Support mass media communication activities complemented by community mobilization activities as planned by the MOH in the Malaria vaccine implementation plan.
• Participate in Malaria Vaccine Technical (communication) Working Group meetings when formed

Other responsibilities

• Actively seek to learn about best practices in Communication and advocacy for the malaria vaccine   and share learnings with colleagues
• Develop Communication budgets and sign off on expenses and ensure sound stewardship of project funds
• Contribute to activity reports and annual work plans
• Other duties as identified and discussed with supervisor

Required Skills and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field (development studies, public health, etc.).
• Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in SBC/ Communication work.
• Demonstrated track record in planning and coordinating programs in consultation with government and other partners.
• Strong writing, reporting and presentation skills.
• Experience in training and institutional capacity-building.
• Knowledge of and experience with USG requirements preferred.
• Must have legal authorization to work in Zambia.