Bangladesh: Social and Behavior Change Communication Consultant (Bangladesh)

Plan International’s Global Strategy aims to transform the lives of 100 million girls worldwide over the next decade. In Bangladesh we aim to transform the lives of 12 million girls by ensuring that they remain in school, develop high aspirations, voice their opinions and views, take decisions on matters that affect their bodies and their lives including whom, if and when to marry and have children. Achieving the LEARN, LEAD, DECIDE and THRIVE agenda will mean using the totality of our advocacy, lobbying and communication skills and tools to influence key stakeholders from local to national levels. We, together with girls and young men and women, must be able to influence policies, programmes and planning including those on sexual and reproductive health and rights in favour of girls and gender equality.

Project Goal: The goal of A2H is to improve adolescents’ sexual and family planning knowledge, access, and use of related services for married and unmarried adolescents.

There are three main objectives based on a foundational belief that improving Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (ASRH) knowledge and access at the supply and demand sides of service within a broader enabling environment will lead to increased demand for ASRH, Family Planning (FP), and associated health care services, as well as positive changes related to delaying age at marriage, healthy birth spacing, and strengthened adolescent-friendly Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) services at formal and informal health care centers. Specific objectives include:

• Deliver ASRH, FP, nutrition, and foundational life skills programming to married and unmarried adolescents, in age cohorts 10-14 and 15-19, via in-school and out of school programs.
• Strengthen adolescent-friendly SRH and FP services in government and NGO-operated health service sites and with formal and informal providers.
• Engage key community gatekeepers in the intervention areas to become resources and advocates to prevent child marriage, delay the age at first birth, and increase the utilization of improved SRH and FP services and resources.

The consultant will work under direct supervision of the Project Director to oversee quality implementation and monitoring of Social and Behavioral Change Communications (SBCC) activities, material development and training related to adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights.

The consultant should have sound knowledge on national SBCC activity related to A-SRHR in Bangladesh. S/he has quick adaptation ability with rapid change of govt. strategies and policies regarding SRHR. S/he is capable of developing A-SRHR training packages, materials and guidelines considering the diversity of problems in community level aligning with programme needs. S/he will be able to guide project and partner staff on quality implementation of project’s SBCC activities. S/he is capable of dealing with partner NGO staffs in any complexity of problems. S/he is able to work under pressure and multi-task at the same time, and willing to work extra-hour when needed. S/he should have analytical skill for interpreting field issues and identify factors to address those issues.

Key responsibilities of the position:

• Provide technical and supportive supervision support to Plan International and partner organization staff members on implementation of all SBCC activities related to the project.
• Oversee implementation of adolescent friendly health services, life skills, gender and safeguarding of children and young people trainings for staff members and service providers.
• Finalize all project guidelines related to SBCC interventions.
• Develop monitoring and rapid assessment tools for A-SRHR SBCC activities with support from M&E project focal and ensure implementation of these tools.
• Support quarterly and annual report writing to fulfill USAID reporting requirements. Support Documentation, Communication and Knowledge Management (DCKM) Specialist to capture best practices and success stories.
• Ensure the timely and quality completion of program technical deliverables and reports in accordance with USAID guidelines.
• Review of annual and quarterly program work plan and tracking of activities.
• Liaise and coordinate with other related projects and activities ongoing in Bangladesh, including Plan’s ongoing programs.
• Ensure USAID Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance and other programmatic compliance at partners and field level.
• Ensure Plan International’s policy on Safeguarding Children and Young People is adhered to during project implementation.

Deliverables:

• Review and finalize all guidelines and SBCC-related Standard Operating Procedures.
• Training plan and training reports on Adolescent Friendly Health Services, life skills, gender and safeguarding of children and young people for staff members and service providers.
• Draft activity narrative on SBCC activities for two quarterly and one annual report of the project.
• Complete an SBCC materials inventory report and draft impact assessment report of SBCC tools used in project.
• Develop an SBCC monitoring tool for use at the field level.

Knowledge and Experience:

• Master’s degree in social communications, public health or a related field preferred.
• Significant experience in SBCC related to adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights in South East Asia. Experience in Bangladesh will be highly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience working in Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health programming.
• Experience with USAID-funded projects (ideally, in a senior technical position) highly preferred.
• Good understanding of the development issues related to A-SRHR and the role of the NGO sector.
• Experience of working and collaborating with diverse sets of stakeholders, such as local NGOs, government officials, donor representatives, and international staff.

Skills

• Demonstrated ability to design and implement strategies that employ evidence-based approaches to SBCC to meet project targets, especially under rigorous timelines.
• Strong speaking and writing skills in English and Bangla.
• Able to analyse an issue, identify strategic and gender aspects, formulate key messages for relevant audiences and deliver through various mediums.
• Strong presentation skills – able to tell stories.
• Excellent comprehension and listening skills.
• Ability to build effective internal and external relationships and work in teams.
• Must be able to respond rapidly to developing situations.

Plan International USA has two offices, located in Washington, DC and Warwick, Rhode Island. It is part of the global federation, Plan International, which is comprised of collaborative partnerships between 21 national offices and 51 country offices. Plan International USA is registered 501(c) (3) and has an independent Board of Directors. Members of the Board of Directors of Plan International USA also participate in global federation governance through membership on the federation’s Members’ Assembly and International Board.

Please apply through our website at https://jobs.plan-international.org/job/Social-and-Behavior-Change-Communication-Consultant/487822501/?locale=en_GB