The Save the Children Fund, commonly known as Save the Children, was established in the United Kingdom in 1919 to improve the lives of children through better education, health care, and economic opportunities, as well as providing emergency aid in natural disasters, war, and other conflicts. After passing a century, which it celebrated in 2019, it is now a global movement made up of 29 national member organizations which work in 120 countries.

Position Overview

Save the Children is looking for highly qualified and motivated Sr. Technical Specialist SBC for Immunization of high caliber to lead and support the SBC components of the GSK funded Ethiopia immunization programme that will be implemented in three regional states, seven zones and 16 woredas in Ethiopia. S/he will be responsible for providing technical assistance to strengthen the capacity of project staff, national and regional government offices and partners in the area of SBC and demand generation for immunization. S/he will serve as an expert advisor on social and behavior change interventions of the program to address zero dose and under vaccinated children. S/he will take the lead in the development of an SBC strategy for the project engaging relevant stakeholders at different levels.  Will lead the development of immunization SBC related work plans, guidelines, manuals, tools, content and communication materials and technical guidance for project implementation. Will lead evidence generation and facilitate learning in collaboration with the Evidence, Learning and Innovation team.  S/he is responsible for the overall demand side activities and will represent the project in SBC related technical platforms in collaboration with the Immunization Program Director. S/he will lead and guide and closely follow up on the implementation of new/adopted SBC approaches in the learning woredas of the project and document and share learnings for adoption/scale up. S/he will lead, guide and support implementation of SBC interventions to address individual, social, and environmental determinants (factors) that can affect adoption of healthy behaviors. Take the lead in drafting, producing and disseminating timely and content for various platforms which include: social media platforms, job aids for CHVs and low literacy audiences, and other information, education and communication materials. S/he will also produce regular content for Save the Children websites, newsletters, and annual reports. S/he will be responsible to strengthen the capacity of the project team and provide strategic and thought leadership to ensure effective planning and implementation of priority demand related activities. Will provide technical support for SBC Coordinators and SBC Officers at the Field Offices. S/he will build and maintain strong working relationships with government and partner agencies, operating in the country on SBC on immunization and child health through active engagement in the communication TWG and different taskforces and related platforms and promote adoption of evidence-based project SBC strategies and approaches to raise demand for vaccination in underserved communities with high zero dose and under vaccinated children. In collaboration with project field staff, s/he will monitor SBC interventions performance at regional, ZHD, Woreda Health Office and PHCU levels. The Sr. Technical Specialist SBC must have extensive breadth of technical expertise in SBC on immunization, and child health.

SCOPE OF ROLE: 

Reports to:  Immunization Program Director

Dimensions:  Addis Ababa-based with significant field visit (60%)

Staff directly reporting to this post: none

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY: 

Technical Leadership and Assistance 

• Stay abreast of emerging evidence, strategic recommendations, best practices, technical and programmatic developments, and data sources, in the areas of SBC for immunization with a focus on addressing zero dose and under vaccinated children;
• Take the lead in the development a SBC strategy for the project by analysing existing evidence, formative research and baseline findings, experience from grassroot implementation and stakeholder consultation at different levels;
• Take the lead in the development, dissemination, and implementation of immunization SBC work plans, approaches, activities, SBC tools and materials;
• Coordinate and lead the conceptualization, co-design, development, and production of tailored and effective immunization SBCC content, materials and messages, and media products;
• Lead and support the implementation of new/adopted SBC approaches in the learning woredas such as CAC and PDQS, and other community engagement approaches, and regularly document progress and learnings for adoption, revision and scale up;
• Support and provide guidance on the implementation of the project’s SBC strategies and work plan activities to ensure the project’s interventions and approaches address identified immunization SBC needs and apply best practices related to immunization SBC and addressing zero dose and under immunized children;
• Liaise and collaborate with the SCUK SBC TA and technical team to ensure SBC quality development, implementation and monitoring of SBC strategies and approaches. Develop and review weekly plans for SBC interventions and track implementation and spending in line with the forecast
• Organize and lead tailored and fit for purpose grass root social mobilizations, community engagement activities, and communication interventions; Identify appropriate community-based facilitators according to developed criteria,  train them in the required capacity, and engage them in planning, implementation, and monitoring of project activities;
• Provide technical guidance and training for project staff, MOH and RHBs and partners supporting immunization programming. Provide updates and summaries of in the areas social and behavior change, promoting gender equity and addressing social norms that affect zero dose and under vaccination
• Review and develop recommendations for behavior-related research and evaluation relevant to child vaccination demand and acceptance;
• Draft briefers, talking points, and information on immunization related with SBC
• Support on SBC budget development and regular tracking of spending of SBC budget
• Lead the preparation of standardized periodic (monthly, quarterly, annual) project SBC progress reports and donor reports
• Contribute to the development of project deliverables, including workplans, quarterly and annual reports, and success stories
• Build the capacity of SBC Coordinators and Officers in the Field Offices and provide support for effective implementation of planned SBC interventions
• Ensure that all supported SBC activities from Partners are appropriately planned and delivered, and report on progress monthly.
• Provide support and ensure the quality of the work of partners, and selected consultants and staff working on SBC;
• Provide technical expertise for country office immunization SBC program design and quality implementation.

Evidence and Learning 

• Closely support and follow up on the SBC related studies including the Formative Study, and develop synthesis and dissemination plans to translate the evidence and recommendations to inform program implementation and policy advocacy;
• Lead the documentation and dissemination of immunization SBC best practices, lessons learned, success stories, updates, and photos/videos across the project stakeholders;
• Disseminate knowledge and apply learning from current literature in immunization related behavioral research with particular attention to determinants of individual behavior change, including providers, and broader transformation of social norms, effectiveness of diverse behavioral approaches, including individual, small group, community and mass media interventions; and in design and evaluation of SBC activities
• In collaboration with the Immunization Program Director and the MEAL team, document, case stories, lessons, best practices from program implementation areas and share with the program team for informing evidence-based decision making and scale up of best practices and lessons;
• Develop/review and compile monthly, quarterly, and annual reports related for SBC;
• Collaborate with MEAL team to establish a monitoring system (e.g., indicators and data collection methodologies) to track quality and reach of activities; ensure that lessons learned from project implementation inform programmatic decisions at all levels
• Participate and provide SBC technical support during national and regional EPI review meetings and share key program success, challenges, and solutions.
• Work closely with the MEAL team to ensure immunization program monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning activities are of high quality and appropriately measure changes in behaviors, determinants, attitudes, knowledge through standard measures and indicators.
• Facilitate the sharing of experience and learning about PLANE across the country office, Region and SC movement and wider  sector including publishing in journals and giving presentations/ attending conferences.

Capacity Building

• Assess the capacity of field team, co-design, develop, implement, and evaluate innovative and effective approaches to strengthen the capacity of project staff and government in designing and implementing high-quality immunization SBC interventions. Organize capacity building sessions on SBC skill building trainings such as Human Cantered Design for Immunization, Inter-Personal Communication (IPC)Training, Community Engagement and Social and Behavior Change;
• Provide mentoring and support to community mobilization officers, partners and SC staff in SBC, encourage the development of peer networks and learning opportunities, including review meetings.
• Provide oversight to the SBC program components, including undertaking field visits to partners to oversee implementation, provide on-site feedback and supportive supervision on required improvements, and generate field visit reports with timely and appropriate follow-up on action points.
• Co-facilitate in capacity building trainings of field staff and government experts and service providers.

Networking and Representation  

• Liaise with a range of external stakeholders including MOH, RHBs, development partners active in behavior change programming, and members of technical consortia to guide development of shared immunization agendas and areas of collaboration
• Collaborating with relevant project staff to plan, participate, facilitate, and present in meetings, workshops and conferences dealing with social and behavioral aspects of immunization uptake
• Provide technical leadership on SBC related immunization policy dialogues and immunization strategy development at national and regional level
• In collaboration with the Immunization Program Director, represent the program in SBC related platforms including SBC TWGs, national and regional platforms and share updates for the program team
• Closely work with and contribute on the national technical platforms, taskforces, and working groups
• Participate in regular immunization technical working groups, review meetings, joint supervision and other national level MOH led SBC activities relevant to immunization program

General 

• Any other tasks assigned by the Immunization Program Director

SKILLS AND BEHAVIOURS (our Values in Practice)

Accountability:

• Holds him/herself accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, delivering on time, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values.
• Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities – giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.

Ambition:

• Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves (and their team), takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages others to do the same.
• shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others.
• Future orientated, thinks strategically.

Collaboration:

• Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, Members and external partners and supporters.
• Values diversity and sees it as a source of competitive strength.
• Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to

Creativity:

• Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions.
• Willing to take disciplined risks.

Integrity:

• Honest, encourages openness and transparency

KEY COMPETENCIES (Indicative / Key Competencies)

Technical competencies:

• Drives Quality Immunization Programming: Trains and mentors’ others on the application of relevant health sector and Immunization sub-theme standards
• Understanding of Impact of emergencies on immunization and health outcomes: Engages in the humanitarian aid architecture to minimize the effect of the emergency on the immunization performance
• Builds the capacity of others to implement integrated SBC in CH and Immunization programming and advocacy
• Able to link local to national and global level evidence supporting localization of change and influencing policy development

Generic Competencies

• Being the Voice of Children: Promotes evidence-based policy and public engagement that includes the voices of children and their communities
• Advancing Equality & Inclusion: Displays a commitment to ensuring everything we do considers the most deprived and marginalized children
• Building & Strengthening Partnerships: Promotes working with diverse partners as critical to delivery
• Child Rights: Promotes the rights of children in own work and in work with colleagues and peers

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

Education 

• Bachelor Degree in in public health, social psychology, health communication or other relevant behavioral science field.

Experience and Skills: 

• Minimum of 10 years of experience in technically leading, managing and implementing SBC on Immunization and child health projects
• Experience working in areas of public health programming, research, including substantial experience in social and behavior change work, with experience in underserved settings;
• Formal training in and demonstrated understanding of theories and frameworks relating to individual behavior change and broader social change, the evidence base for social and behavior change interventions and best practices, and familiarity with the current SBC and research and evaluation literature;
• Hands-on experience designing, planning, implementing, and evaluating behavioral interventions is essential
• Experience in vaccine demand-related programming highly desirable;
• Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to lead and work effectively in team situations
• Experience in coordinating with and providing technical support on immunization communication TWGs at national and regional levels for Federal Ministry of health or Regional health bureaus
• Experience in organizing and facilitating trainings and other capacity strengthening activities for national, regional and woreda level government and project staff/ participants. Trainings including Human Cantered Design for Immunization, Inter-Personal Communication (IPC)Training, Community Engagement and Social and Behavior Change;
• Good knowledge of the Ethiopian health systems and health policy
• Experience in developing good relationship working with national level technical working groups, working with government partners, with partner agencies
• Knowledge and experience of the Ethiopian health system
• Results focused, with the ability to challenge existing mind sets
• Excellent communication skills, skills in organizing group discussions and workshops, and presentation skills;
• Good computer skill (MS word, MS excel, and other data generating tools)
• Commitment to the values, missions, aims and policies of Save the Children.
• Excellent command of communicating and writing in English.

Attitudes:

• Works well with teams.
• Conscious of child protection issues
• Non-discriminatory and gender sensitive
• Willingness to work in remote, rural locations.