State Facilitator, Social and Behavioural Change - Polio

Job Summary

In 2020, Nigeria was declared Wild Polio Virus (WPV)-free for having gone without any WPV cases for over four years. However, Nigeria is experiencing outbreaks of Circulating Vaccine-Derived Poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) due to low Routine Immunization coverage and population immunity. In 2018, Nigeria experienced a major outbreak leading to about 34 cases. To interrupt the cVDPV2, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) in collaboration with partners has ensured the overall planning, implementation, and monitoring of the Polio eradication program in 19 northern states and a few Southern states where the spread was recorded. As of 2018, the number of cases reduced to 18, however, about 4.3 million children in Nigeria are still unimmunized (18%, MICS/NICS 2021). Routine Immunization performance in Nigeria has remained suboptimal for over 10 years, with only one in five (20%) children aged 12-24 months fully vaccinated according to the national immunization schedule in Nigeria (NDHS 2024). Social mobilization is a critical component in Routine Immunization and Supplementary Immunization campaigns for Polio vaccination and other vaccines. The UNICEF established Volunteer Community Mobilizers (VCM) network is one of the effective and efficient community structures supporting 12 high-risk states in Northern Nigeria, working closely with community stakeholders, caregivers, and wider communities to promote vaccination. These volunteers organize community dialogues, and compound meetings, track newborns and children under five years for polio and routine immunization and refer pregnant women to Health Facilities for Antenatal Care. The network also plays a critical role in advancing integration as they support other sectors such as nutrition and child protection, with the potentials to do more. The network is supervised by a team of Facilitators at the LGA and State levels for quality delivery of programme interventions. The engagement of State and LGA Facilitators have been instrumental in enhancing community engagement and mobilizing support for the interruption of cVDPV2 in the states, contributing to reduction in cases over the last year, with Zamfara state successfully interrupting the virus. The Facilitators support routine monitoring of the program, through supportive supervision, on the job coaching and strengthen capacity of the network in participatory facilitation, documentation and reporting skills. They also support rapid survey implementation to generate additional data, national level review, planning, and capacity building events for VCM network members. The State Facilitators will be located in the State with frequent trips to the LGA, wards, and settlements, providing general oversight of the LGA facilitators as well as the VCM structures in the assigned cluster of LGAs. Coordinate and supervise Polio/RI and other sectoral SBC activities at the cluster level. He/ She will supervise the day-to-day implementation of activities across UNICEF-supported implementation sites. He/ She will also supervise the daily operations of the LGAF and Volunteer Community Mobilizers (VCM) network, specifically focusing on ensuring quality implementation and reporting. The State facilitator will play a prominent role in monitoring and reporting on the changing humanitarian situation within the state and LGAs, enabling UNICEF and partners to adapt and respond promptly and appropriately to the changing situation. In the context of increasing insecurity with limited travel to implementation sites by UNICEF staff, State facilitators’ presence in the field provides a means for program monitoring to ensure the maintenance of the quality of implementation and business continuity according to national and international protocols as well as an independent layer of accountability.

Job Details

Main Responsibilities and Tasks:

• Support the State Health Education officer to effectively lead and coordinate Polio SBC interventions of all GPEI partners across the state.
• Participate in state/ LGA/ Ward IPD management team activities geared towards successfully implementing SIAs.
• Support evidence generation and analysis to inform planning, implementation, and monitoring of local and culturally relevant strategic SBC interventions at community, ward, LGA and State levels.
• Ensure development of evidence based LGA specific ACSM Action Plans for Polio SIAs.
• Design and implement contextualized strategies to reach hard-to-reach, nomadic, and minority groups at LGA, district, and ward levels.
• Actively participate in all national and state-level pre-campaign planning meetings, trainings, etc as appropriate.
• Support capacity strengthening of State/ LGA/ Ward staff and community structures, including VCM networks in social mobilization activities, including interpersonal communication skills.
• Advocate with LGA/ Ward policymakers and religious and traditional leadership to mobilize support for implementation of Polio campaigns / Routine Immunization and other sectoral interventions.
• Coordinate stakeholders such as NGOs, CBOs, religious groups, women’s groups, and youth groups for their involvement and participation in polio eradication and other UNICEF activities.
• Participate in planning and implementing media and communication activities and working with media groups and networks for coordinating UNICEF-supported programs during SIPDs and other campaigns.
• Conduct supportive supervision of LGA facilitators and the VCM network in their cluster of LGAs within the accountability framework and ensure activities are implemented effectively.
• In coordination with UNICEF field Offices, ensure and report effective use of social mobilization funds disbursed to Government ministries, departments, and agencies at the State, LGA, and ward levels.
• Monitor and report monthly, factual, and complete disbursement honorariums to Volunteer Community Mobilizers, Polio Survivors Group, and Volunteer Ward Supervisors, reporting immediately any misappropriation of funds to UNICEF.
• Supervise Polio SBC related data collection at the State, LGA, district, and ward levels. Analyze data for specific trends/ patterns of non-compliance, poor coverage, dropouts, left outs, etc., and undertake coordinated actions to facilitate the process of reaching such communities/ households.
• Maintain close working relationships with other partners such as SPHCDA, WHO, ROTARY, Red Cross, NTLC, and other relevant government partners.
  • Support in establishing and promoting community complaint and feedback mechanism and generation of feedback from beneficiaries, and other community stakeholders.
• Support UNICEF’s focus on integration by supporting delivery of integrated SBC interventions across health, education, nutrition, WASH, child protection and social policy.
• Support different sectors to mark and celebrate global and national days, e.g., Global Hand Washing Day, Day of the African Child, etc.
• Support in responding appropriately to health emergencies and disease outbreaks through the risk communication and community engagement committees at the state and LGA levels.
• Perform any other duties assigned by the Supervisor.

Deliverables:

• Attend mandatory monthly meetings with SBC Specialist/Officer to discuss tasks, share feedback and review documentation and visibility items.
• A detailed monthly work plan and travel plan by the 1st week of each month.
• Monthly high-quality report of activities, outcomes, mission reports, and minutes of meetings, etc.
• Lead / participate actively in partner coordination meetings at the State (eg ACSM, RCCE, SOMTEC, etc).
• State ACSM Plan for relevant Polio campaign.
• Ensure development of evidence based LGA specific ACSM Action Plans for Polio SIAs.
• One high-quality report after each SIA by using a supplied template on intervention and other social data tools/social Mobilization indicators.
• Full implementation of the accountability framework across all LGAs within the cluster leading to high-quality immunization activities (monthly dashboard updated and quarterly review of Facilitators).
• Updated LGA, Ward and Community level personnel list.

Requirements

Education:

• University Degree in social sciences, communication, public health, community nutrition, community development, or related technical field.

Language:

• Fluency in English; knowledge of the local language of the duty station is an asset

Work Experience:

• At least 3-5 years of progressively responsible professional work experience at the State/LGA level in program planning, management, monitoring, and evaluation in immunization programs.
• Experience in social mobilization, advocacy, and communication in health-related programs, including polio eradication campaigns, training/capacity building, and team building.

About Company

NINA JOJER LIMITED

https://www.ninajojer.com/

Nina Jojer Limited is a Pan-African consulting firm committed to empowering transformation in Africa by providing innovative solutions to businesses, governments, and organizations. Our core services include Policy Development, Strategic Advisory, Stakeholder Management and Advocacy, Digital Transformation, and Data-Driven Insights. We are dedicated to driving impact and fostering long-term growth for our clients.