Communication Specialist – Zambia National Public Health Institute

MINISTRY OF HEALTH

ZAMBIA NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH INSTITUTE

ZAMBIA COVID-19 EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND HEALTH SYSTEMS PREPAREDNESS

PROJECT ID (P174185)

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

PROJECT BACKGROUND

The Zambia National Public Health Institute (ZNPHI) was established with a legal mandate to prevent disease transmission, implement surveillance, and prepare to effectively respond to health threats and outbreaks. The World Bank, in partnership with the Global Financing Facility (GFF), has provided US$49 million to the Government of Zambia for the COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness Project. The project will be implemented through the Project Implementation Unit (PIU) housed in the ZNPHI.

The Project Development Objective (PDO) is to prevent, detect and respond to the threat posed by COVID-19 in Zambia and strengthen national public health systems for preparedness. The Project has three strategic components: (i) Emergency Public Health Response to COVID-19; (ii) Resilient Health Service Delivery; and, (iii) Project Management, Operational Research, and Governance and Accountability. Each component has complementary actions defined under sub-components for each implementing entity.

The ZNPHI now wishes to engage the services of a suitably qualified candidate to fill the vacant post of Communication Specialist and Financial Management Specialist under the COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness Project (ZCERHSP).

a. Duty Station: ZNPHI
b. Reports to: ZCERHSP Project Manager
C. Title: Communication Specialist (1 Post

Objectives of the Assignment

The Communication Specialist will be responsible for supporting MoH and ZNPHI to develop, coordinate and implement project-specific Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) plan responding to communication activities included under the Zambia COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness Project (P174185) and the Additional Financing for the Zambia COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness Project (P176400). S/He will support implementation the COVID-19 emergency activities, maintenance of essential health services, increasing the acceptance and demand for vaccines, and vaccine roll out to priority groups, especially the vulnerable populations, the elderly, people with disabilities. S/He will take the lead in identifying and implementing appropriate behavioral risk communication activities under the Project, using effective behavioral change communication and community engagement methodologies.

Duties and Accountabilities.

Under the broad guidance of the Project Manager, the Communication Specialist will assume primary responsibility for developing and implementing a project specific RCCE Plan; with a focus on behavioral change communication. The communications and community engagement efforts and strategies will be tailored to the specific needs of the vulnerable and hard-to-reach population. S/He will be responsible for conceptualizing, planning, organizing, and executing behavioral change activities stipulated in the COVID-19 Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) strategy and creating and managing content for the COVID-19 digital platform. The Communication Specialist will also be responsible for developing partnerships with other relevant organizations and stakeholders to disseminate information and create awareness about topical COVID-19 and related SGBV issues and the Project interventions and activities in a simplified manner. S/He will coordinate the development of IEC content for a wide variety of communications vehicles, including electronic and print publications, the intranet, video, social media, newsletters, roller stands, posters, blogs, Project website and other emerging electronic media. Working with the M&E Specialist, the Communication Specialist will undertake a Knowledge, Attitude and Practices (KAP) study on the COVID-19 response; whose results will feed into the activity planning process.

Contract Appointment

This will be a fulltime position for a period of 18 months.

Qualifications

The Communication Specialist will be an experienced individual with demonstrated capabilities in behavioral change and risk communication. A motivated person and proactive with the right combination of talent, energy, and a commitment to technical excellence. S/He will be expected to have the following minimum qualifications:

• A university degree in Journalism, Mass communications, Social Science, Public Health, Communications, or any other relevant University degrees.
• Advanced knowledge and application of communication principles and practices is desirable.
• Strong interest and/or proven experience in the development and implementation of risk
  communications strategies and plans
• Sound understanding of the National COVID-19 Response and Vaccination Programs and
  other preventive measures.
• Training in public health education, health communication or health promotion is highly
  desirable.
• Experience working with the Ministry of Health in implementing similar programs would be
  an advantage.

Required Competences

• Proven experience in behavioral risk communication, health promotion community engagement, or related social science; with demonstrated capabilities in community engagement, developing and implementing behavioral change communication strategies, access to health services, health promotion and communicating via edutainment.
• Proven ability to develop approaches and IEC materials for diverse target audiences, including messaging on health-related discoveries, vaccinations, and other culturally sensitive issues.
• Demonstrated experience in implementing visibility communications.
• Experience in writing project success stories, lessons learnt and best practices.
• Demonstrated and extensive social media experience.
• Proven training and capacity building skills for a range of stakeholders.
• Working knowledge of MS Office; photo and video-editing software is an asset
• Excellent oral and written communication skills with the ability to present complex material
  in a simple, understandable way.
• Strong analytical and creative skills.
• Possess initiative, reliability, and honesty.
• Ability to work effectively as a team player in a dynamic environment.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, persuasive and relationship building skills including dealing
  both directly and indirectly with government officials and other development partners/stakeholders at various levels.
• Demonstrated ability to work productively in a diverse, fast-paced environment, and to
  work under pressure to tight deadlines.

Interested candidates should obtain detailed Terms of Reference from this link:
http://znphi.co.zm/news/employment-opportunity and further information from address below
during office hours i.e. 08.00 to 13.00 hours and 14.00 hours to 17.00 hours.

Application letters addressed to the Permanent Secretary (Administration), Ministry of Health, should include certified copies of academic / professional certificates and detailed Curriculum Vitae with three traceable references. Applications must be deposited in the Tender Box at the Ministry of Health, Ndeke House, Haile Selassie Road, ground floor of Ndeke House or submitted electronically.

The Closing Date for applications is 27th May 2022 at or before10:30 hours local time.

Envelopes should clearly “indicate the position applied for” under the Zambia COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness Project (P174185).

If submitted in electronic copies, the applications must be submitted to the email addresses
indicated below by the above stated closing date and time.