Duration: 3 months
Location: Jigawa or Zamfara
Mission Overview
ACF arrived in Nigeria in May 2010, to begin the registration process in the country. In July 2010 a technical coordinator joined the Country Director to start up coordination and technical support with main stakeholder such as the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) and UNICEF. UNICEF was very keen to see ACF arrive in the country and several possible collaborations were discussed in order to support CMAM and other nutrition activities in the country.
As the registration process advanced, contacts were made with different donors and ECHO indicated interest in support ACF activities in the northern part of the country. With a concept note approved, the team on the field consulted with different partners and designed an opening/start up strategy for ACF in Nigeria.
A nutrition program started in Yobe State in January 2011 with a focus on integration and monitoring of nutritional treatment within the local health system. The nutritional problem in Northern Nigeria is existent and in need of a larger response to cover the needs. By September 2011, three LGAs – Damaturu, Fune, Potiskum- were supported directly by ACF while and additional three were supported directly by UNICEF in Yobe State.
As a result of ACF’s work in support of SMOH in Yobe and FMOH , as well as close collaboration with other key partners in nutrition in the country, ACF worked together with Save the Children and UNICEF in the development of Integrated Nutrition in Northern Nigeria Project (INNN). INNN is a 6-year initiative supported by DFID targeting 5 states - Jigawa, Zamfara, Yobe, Katsina and Kebbi States – that will tastart in rger the first 2 states in year 1 (Jigawa & Zamfara) and then extend to the other 3 states in year 2. The vision is to scale up low cost high impact interventions and engage government in prioritizing nutrition in state health policy and financing.
Overall, the ACF strategy is about State governments at the forefront, and ensuring that key stakeholders take leadership and ownership in nutrition management and decision making in the state. ACF’s role is in technical advising and guidance towards strengthening the capacity of the State. The role of the RSCA Specialist will be to work with the INNN team to ensure strong technical support and comprehensive community information for quality implementation of nutritional activities.
Objective 1: To conduct a rapid socio cultural assessment in the intervention context.
* Define the overall area that is feasible to be conducted within the timeframe and responding to program need.
* Define planning of activities for the 3-month assessment according to area defined
* Assess the intervention context in identification of key informants, communication channels and best practices in awareness/mobilization activities with state and LGA stakeholders according to ToR in annex.
* Plan and organize all needs to conduct the assessment including cash forecasts and logistics.
* Coordinate with field teams in order for timely recruitment of translator.
* Produce a final report and present findings to key stakeholders.
Objective 2: To facilitate the development of a community mobilisation strategy based on findings and involving key stakeholders in nutrition.
* Facilitate definition of a community awareness/mobilization strategy based on findings with participation of key stakeholders.
* Assess existing and define/refine tools and methodology for the overall community awareness/mobilization strategy in the field in terms of communication with beneficiaries and communities in intervention areas (indirect or non-beneficiaries of the program).
Objective 3: To define follow-up and evaluation tools for the community strategy.
* Develop and define basic tools that can allow for follow-up of community mobilization.
* Collect preliminary information that will support Semi Quantitative Evaluation of Access and Coverage (SQUEAC) surveys.
Objective 4: To ensure the training of field and counterpart teams in community communication and mobilization.
* To train teams on the communication methods and application tools developed according to outputs from previous objectives.
* Reporting: document the products for each project for capitalization of the approach.
Education / Specific Degrees / Special Skills :
* Masters’ degree in Public Health, Health Promotion Sciences, Community Approach and Communication related topic or other relevant subject. Extensive successful experience in community based approaches will be considered.
* Background in Anthropology or Sociology mandatory
* At least 2 years experience in the development field
* Participation in assessments
* Strong community approach background
* Dynamic with sensitivity to cultural perceptions in order to fulfill the task adequately.
* Capacity to innovate and integrate strategy within a given context
* Good adult education techniques and understanding
* Strong capacity for strategy definition in collaboration with three technical sectors.
* Strong training capacity
* Effective monitoring and evaluation skills on health-nutrition-hygiene promotion activities
* Commitment to community based approaches for best outcomes for the targeted population
Location: Jigawa or Zamfara
Mission Overview
ACF arrived in Nigeria in May 2010, to begin the registration process in the country. In July 2010 a technical coordinator joined the Country Director to start up coordination and technical support with main stakeholder such as the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) and UNICEF. UNICEF was very keen to see ACF arrive in the country and several possible collaborations were discussed in order to support CMAM and other nutrition activities in the country.
As the registration process advanced, contacts were made with different donors and ECHO indicated interest in support ACF activities in the northern part of the country. With a concept note approved, the team on the field consulted with different partners and designed an opening/start up strategy for ACF in Nigeria.
A nutrition program started in Yobe State in January 2011 with a focus on integration and monitoring of nutritional treatment within the local health system. The nutritional problem in Northern Nigeria is existent and in need of a larger response to cover the needs. By September 2011, three LGAs – Damaturu, Fune, Potiskum- were supported directly by ACF while and additional three were supported directly by UNICEF in Yobe State.
As a result of ACF’s work in support of SMOH in Yobe and FMOH , as well as close collaboration with other key partners in nutrition in the country, ACF worked together with Save the Children and UNICEF in the development of Integrated Nutrition in Northern Nigeria Project (INNN). INNN is a 6-year initiative supported by DFID targeting 5 states - Jigawa, Zamfara, Yobe, Katsina and Kebbi States – that will tastart in rger the first 2 states in year 1 (Jigawa & Zamfara) and then extend to the other 3 states in year 2. The vision is to scale up low cost high impact interventions and engage government in prioritizing nutrition in state health policy and financing.
Overall, the ACF strategy is about State governments at the forefront, and ensuring that key stakeholders take leadership and ownership in nutrition management and decision making in the state. ACF’s role is in technical advising and guidance towards strengthening the capacity of the State. The role of the RSCA Specialist will be to work with the INNN team to ensure strong technical support and comprehensive community information for quality implementation of nutritional activities.
Objective 1: To conduct a rapid socio cultural assessment in the intervention context.
* Define the overall area that is feasible to be conducted within the timeframe and responding to program need.
* Define planning of activities for the 3-month assessment according to area defined
* Assess the intervention context in identification of key informants, communication channels and best practices in awareness/mobilization activities with state and LGA stakeholders according to ToR in annex.
* Plan and organize all needs to conduct the assessment including cash forecasts and logistics.
* Coordinate with field teams in order for timely recruitment of translator.
* Produce a final report and present findings to key stakeholders.
Objective 2: To facilitate the development of a community mobilisation strategy based on findings and involving key stakeholders in nutrition.
* Facilitate definition of a community awareness/mobilization strategy based on findings with participation of key stakeholders.
* Assess existing and define/refine tools and methodology for the overall community awareness/mobilization strategy in the field in terms of communication with beneficiaries and communities in intervention areas (indirect or non-beneficiaries of the program).
Objective 3: To define follow-up and evaluation tools for the community strategy.
* Develop and define basic tools that can allow for follow-up of community mobilization.
* Collect preliminary information that will support Semi Quantitative Evaluation of Access and Coverage (SQUEAC) surveys.
Objective 4: To ensure the training of field and counterpart teams in community communication and mobilization.
* To train teams on the communication methods and application tools developed according to outputs from previous objectives.
* Reporting: document the products for each project for capitalization of the approach.
Education / Specific Degrees / Special Skills :
* Masters’ degree in Public Health, Health Promotion Sciences, Community Approach and Communication related topic or other relevant subject. Extensive successful experience in community based approaches will be considered.
* Background in Anthropology or Sociology mandatory
* At least 2 years experience in the development field
* Participation in assessments
* Strong community approach background
* Dynamic with sensitivity to cultural perceptions in order to fulfill the task adequately.
* Capacity to innovate and integrate strategy within a given context
* Good adult education techniques and understanding
* Strong capacity for strategy definition in collaboration with three technical sectors.
* Strong training capacity
* Effective monitoring and evaluation skills on health-nutrition-hygiene promotion activities
* Commitment to community based approaches for best outcomes for the targeted population