VAC-12268 State Facilitator

• In 2020, Nigeria was declared WPV free for having gone without any WPV cases for over four years. However, Nigeria is experiencing outbreaks of cVDPV2 due to low Routine Immunization (RI) coverage & population immunity. In 2018, Nigeria experienced a major outbreak leading to about 34 cases. The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) in collaboration with partners has ensured the overall planning, implementation & monitoring of the polio eradication program in 19 northern states & a few southern states where the spread was recorded. As of 2018, the number of cases reduced to 18, but about 4.3 million children are still unimmunized (18%, MICS / NICS 2021).

• RI performance in Nigeria has remained suboptimal for over 10 years, according to the National Demographic Health Surveys (NDHS) of 2003, 2008, 2013 & 2018, communication & social mobilization are critical components in RI & Supplementary Immunization (SI) campaigns for polio vaccination & other vaccines. The Volunteer Community Mobilizers (VCM) network is one of the strongest community structures that support 12 high risk states in northern Nigeria, working closely with stakeholders, caregivers & communities to promote vaccination. These volunteers organize community dialogues & compound meetings, track newborns & children under five years for polio vaccination & refer pregnant women to health facilities for antenatal care. The network is supervised by a network of Facilitators at the LGA & state levels

• The engagement of state & LGA Facilitators across these states has ensured no wild polio case has been reported for the past 3 years, after the last polio case was reported in August 2016 from Borno state. Enhanced awareness of the community about the polio campaign remained at 94%. Strengthened monitoring of the program & routine monitoring of the program is jointly done by all polio partners. Support rapid survey implementation to generate additional data, national level review, planning & capacity building events for VCM network members & a data quality assurance mechanism in place.

• The LGA Facilitators will be located at the state & LGA with frequent trips to wards & settlements to provide that essential link between the community structures in the assigned LGA of implementation, serving to coordinate & supervise polio / RI activities at the LGA level. S / he will supervise the day to day implementation of polio / RI activities across our client supported implementation sites. S / he will also supervise the daily operations of the VCM network, with a specific focus on ensuring quality implementation & data reporting. The LGA Facilitator will also play a prominent role in reporting on the changing humanitarian situation (Borno / Yobe states) within their LGAs & will enable & client & its partners to adapt in a timely & appropriate response to the changing situation. In the context of increasing insecurity with limited travel to implementation sites by our clients staff, LGA Facilitators’ presence in the field provides a much needed means for program monitoring to ensure the maintenance of the quality of implementation according to national & international protocols as well as an independent layer of accountability.

• Work with a cluster of LGA / ward teams to ensure deeper ward analysis, planning & implementation of strategic communications interventions & be responsible for basic monitoring.

• The specific communication interventions to be implemented in each area will be informed by local knowledge & the unique characteristics of the wards / settlements.

• Support the development of LGA social mobilization action plans for polio & non polio SIAs targeting high risk wards in the high risk LGAs within the state.

• Facilitate, in coordination with Field Offices (FO’s), the effective use of social mobilization funds channeled through the government departments at the state, LGA & ward levels for SIA.

• Support training of state / LGA / ward staff & vaccination personnel in social mobilization activities, including interpersonal communications.

• Advocate with LGA / ward policymakers, religious & traditional leadership for support for implementing polio & non polio campaigns / RI.

• Participate in planning & implementing media & communication activities & work with media groups & networks for coordinating our client supported programs during SIPDs.

• Work directly & collaborate with traditional district & ward leaders to increase community participation & OPV acceptance to reduce missed children during campaigns.

• Design & implement group specific strategies to reach hard to reach, nomadic & minority groups at LGA, district & ward levels.

• Participate in state / LGA / ward IPD management team activities geared towards successfully implementing SIAs.

• Supervise data collection at the state, LGA, district & ward levels.

• Analyse data for specific trends / patterns of non compliance, poor coverage, dropouts, left outs, etc. & undertake coordinated actions to facilitate the process of reaching such communities / households.

• Coordinate stakeholders such as NGOs, CBOs, religious groups, women’s groups & youth groups for their involvement & participation in polio eradication activities.

• Work closely with other partners like WHO, ROTARY, Red Cross, NTLC / SPHCDA & other relevant government partners.

• Ensure strong supervision of LGA Facilitators & other polio communication team members in their cluster of LGAs within the accountability framework.

• Support all required activities in respective clusters of LGAs to increase coverage for routine immunization.

• Support any emergency non polio SIAs such as COVID – 19, as required by the organization & any other duties assigned by the supervisor.

Expected output:

• Based on the major tasks outlined above, a work plan should be submitted for approval by the supervising Facilitator / SBC Specialist / Health Specialist 2 weeks after joining with clear monthly deliverables for each month of the contract period.

• A detailed work plan at the beginning & monthly work plans thereafter (1st week of each month).

• Monthly report of activities, outcomes, mission reports & Notes for the Record (NFR) on meetings, etc. (monthly).

• Accountability dashboard indicators submitted monthly & strict adherence to the accountability framework in the state.

• One report after each IPD by using a supplied template on intervention & other social data tools / social mobilization indicators (as per IPD conducted).

• One end of contract report.

Expected results:

• Data driven & evidence based high risk operational plans with strong communication components in place across all LGA’s within the assigned cluster of LGA’s contributing to a reduction in missed children & quality campaigns (every campaign).

• Immunization barriers identified, analyzed & overcome by social mobilization groups & key influencers (updated monthly in all LGA’s).

• The number of missed children & non compliance is reduced through intensified social mobilization activities.

• Full implementation of the accountability framework across all LGAs within the cluster leading to high quality immunization activities (monthly dashboard updated & quarterly review of Facilitators).

• Polio & RI, M&E reports from LGA are available at state, FO & Abuja levels (weekly & monthly report submitted).

• Functioning social mobilization committee & polio task forces are in place across all LGAs within the assigned cluster of LGAs.

• The volunteer expansion is highly operational, delivering results as reported through accurate & timely reporting (weekly reports submitted).

The primary outcomes will be:

• Quality implementation of all polio & non polio IPDs / Supplemental Immunization Activities (SIA)’s reduces (to almost zero) missed children (non compliant or absent) & zero dose children.

• Increased commitment from LGA officials, traditional leaders & religious leaders through frequent LGA Facilitator feedback & engagement on all SBC activities for our clients programs.

• Social mobilization working groups & committees at LGAs hold regular meetings & use social mobilization data to plan, monitor & implement SBC interventions in polio, RI, health, nutrition, education, WASH & child protection.

• Improved use of social & Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) data in communication strategy development & planning by the LGA team, including social mobilization working group members through technical inputs.

This role reports to the line manager.

• Bachelors degree in social sciences, communication, public health, community nutrition, community development or a related technical field.

• Fluency in English & knowledge of any local languages(s) spoken at the duty station where the candidate will be selected.

• At least 3 – 5 years of progressively responsible professional work experience at the state / LGA level in program planning, management, monitoring & evaluation in immunization programs.

• Experience in social mobilization, advocacy & communication in health related programs, polio eradication campaigns, IEC materials development, training / capacity building & team building.

• Current knowledge of development issues, strategies as well as programming policies & procedures in international development cooperation.

• Proven ability to conceptualize, innovate, plan & execute ideas & impart knowledge & tech skills.

• Demonstrated ability to work in multi cultural environment & establish harmonious & effective working relationships both within & outside the organization.

This role has no team management responsibility.

Qualified female candidates are encouraged to apply for this role.