Regional SBC Technical Assistance Specialists Jobs – Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs (CCP)

Job Title:  Regional SBC Technical Assistance Specialists

Organisation: Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs (CCP)

Duty Station:  Kampala, Uganda

Reports to: Technical Advisor, SBC

About Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs:

Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs (CCP) is a leader in strategic communication and research that facilitates access to information and exchange of knowledge to improve health.  CCP has more than 60 projects that employ staff in more than 40 countries around the world.  CCP has unparalleled experience as a global center for Social and Behavioral Change excellence.  Through its projects, CCP harnesses the power of social and behavior change communication to encourage the adoption of healthy behaviors in the projects implemented worldwide.

Project background: 

The Social and Behavioral Change Activity (SBCA) is a five-year program implemented through a cooperative agreement between the United States Agency for International Development (USAID/Uganda) and Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs (CCP). The vision of USAID’s Social and Behavioral Change Activity is a Uganda where individuals and communities are not just healthy, but resilient, supported by strong adaptable systems and institutions to lead productive lives.

The SBC Activity supports the Government of Uganda (GOU) and US Government (USG) implementing partners to design and implement Social and behavioral Change (SBC) communication initiatives that   contribute towards reduction in Maternal and Child mortality, Malaria prevalence, Total Fertility rate, new HIV infections, TB prevalence and improved Nutrition out comes, resilience and improved SBC systems and expertise.

Job Summary:  The SBC Technical Assistance Specialists will act as the lead regional liaisons of the project in regions where USG and other implementing partners work. Oversee the regional level SBCA activities under each of the above four intermediate result areas including; research, design, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, learning, knowledge management, quality improvement, capacity building and technical assistance for USG and other implementing partners.

The five specialists will each oversee one of the following regions or clusters: Central, North and West Nile, Eastern and Karamoja, Western and South Western, and East Central and Kampala region. The five specialists will report to Technical Advisor, SBC. The positions involve 50% in country travel.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead regional level mapping of key stakeholders/partners for the SBCA including; districts, IPs, private sector, CBOs, FBOs, media houses and establish and maintain good working relationships with them. The SBC Technical Assistance Specialist will act as a liaison between SBCA and the regional USG implementing partners, districts and other stakeholders.
• Identify and address SBC needs of regional based implementing partners and districts, and work with Technical Advisor SBC, Technical Advisor Capacity Building and the Regional Engagement SBC Officer to provide ongoing tailored technical assistance across various thematic areas addressed by SBCA.
• Develop and implement regional workplans that are aligned to SBCA, implementing partner and district objectives. This will involve liaising with regional IPs and districts to streamline SBC activities in their workplans.
• Lead the regional level SBCA efforts to identify internal, social and structural factors that affect the adoption of healthy behaviors and use to inform social behavior change (SBC) interventions.
• Participate in the design of SBC interventions at national, regional and district levels and ensure that needs of the audiences, IPs and districts are effectively identified and addressed. This will also extend to working with audiences, DHTs and other key stakeholders in testing the developed SBC interventions.
• Oversee regional level implementation of SBCA evidence-based SBC interventions scaled up to cause change at population level.
• Support SBC coordination efforts of USG implementing partners and districts in the region and participate in existing coordination mechanisms including; DHMT, DOP, DNCC, among others and ensure that SBC features on the agenda.
• As part of the implementation of SBC interventions support the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) team to carry out routine monitoring, evaluation, research, quality improvement, and learning to inform targeted design and rollout of interventions.
• Support the Monitoring Evaluation and Learning (MEL) team and the Collaboration, Learning and Adaptation (CLA) Advisor to document lessons and deepen learning during the implementation of SBC interventions in the region.
• Keep abreast with international and national protocols on SBC and SBCA thematic areas of focus that include Malaria, Tuberculosis, HIV, WASH, GHS, FP/RH and MNCH, and Nutrition, and regularly impart the knowledge to SBCA staff and partners.
• Provide strategic and technical input and direction in SBCA annual work plans, and quarterly and annual reports.
• Represent the project in relevant technical meetings and events and make presentations when required.
• Perform any other duties as assigned by the supervisor.
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• Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in mass communication, education, public health, social sciences or related field.
• At least 5 years’ hands on experience in providing technical assistance and supporting capacity building interventions for implementing partners, civil society organizations and or district health teams.
• Relevant computer software skills (including, at a minimum, the standard applications in MS Office)
• Prior experience with USAID-funded health communication/ SBC/ SBCC projects is preferred
• Uganda national.
• Excellent communication, coordination and negotiation skills.
• Excellent skills and experience in collaborative working relationships with IP staff, DHTs CSOs and GOU officials.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English (and at least one key regional language).

How to Apply:

All candidates are encouraged to submit e-mail applications to ccpug-jobs@jh.edu with copies of current CV, cover letter and three professional referees. Please indicate which position you are applying for in the subject line of the email. This position is being re-advertised and if you applied before there is no need to re-apply.

Deadline: 8^th July 2022