Job Description
Background:
Breakthrough ACTION is a cooperative agreement funded by the United States Agency for
International Development (USAID) to lead its social and behavior change programming around
the world. Led by the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs (CCP), Breakthrough
ACTION partners include Save the Children, ideas42, Think Place, Camber Collective, the
International Center for Research on Women (ICRW), and Viamo.
CCP is recruiting a Social and Behavior Change (SBC) Advisor for a USAID/Kenya funded buy-in of the Breakthrough ACTION Kenya project. This buy-in aims to support the implementation of high-quality social behavior change activities that will improve Adolescent and Youth Sexual
and Reproductive Health (AYSRH) and Maternal Neonatal and Child Health (MNCH) outcomes.
The activity will work with Government of Kenya Departments such as the Health Prevention
and Promotion Division, Department of Primary Health Care and Department of Family Health
(DFH) in the development, review and dissemination of SBC packages. The project will
strengthen the institutional and technical capacity of the DFH to design, implement, evaluate,
and coordinate effective and evidence based technical and social and behavior change (SBC)
programs.
General Summary:
The Breakthrough ACTION Kenya Social and Behavior Change (SBC) Advisor for AYSRH/MNCH will provide technical and programmatic leadership for all AYSRH and MNCH SBC activities.
S/He will directly assist the Chief of Party in the design, implementation and monitoring of SBC
interventions while ensuring they are in accordance with the required quality. The Social and
Behavior Change (SBC) Advisor will work in close consultation with other Breakthrough ACTION Kenya technical leads during implementation of the SBC activities.
The Social and Behavior Change (SBC) Advisor for AYSRH/MNCH will possess both deep applied experience in SBC and demonstrated abilities in leadership; strategic thinking; application of best practices, gender integration and innovations in SBC. S/he will have experience in community mobilization, advocacy, mass media, provider behavior, M&E and among other interventions. S/he will integrate learnings from global best practices and promote learning within the project and with other USAID partners working in Kenya. The Social and Behavior Change (SBC) Advisor for AYSRH/MNCH will proactively engage and convene with a broad range of donors and implementers in advancing the practice of SBC in Kenya. S/he will establish and nurture strategic relationships with national and county level MOH in order to meet project objectives. The SBC Advisor will be required to travel to the project area in Western Kenya and internationally as needed.
Key Responsibilities & Tasks:
Technical Leadership and Innovation
● Provide cutting edge leadership and innovation in the implementation of the
Breakthrough ACTION Kenya SBC for AYSRH and MNCH portfolio
● Oversee the integration and use of non-communication SBC approaches such as human-
centered design and behavioral economics, digital strategies, and gender and youth-
focused strategies into the program
● Provide leadership and oversee the county-based capacity building team
● Recommend processes and mechanisms to improve efficiency and impact
● Lead shifts in strategic approaches as needed based on the reports and data
● Ensure that gender is at the forefront of all SBC activities, including design, planning,
implementation, and monitoring
Management and Oversight
● Oversee team of technical staff and technical partners.
● Conduct staff appraisals and develop capacity strengthening plans
● Represent the project at relevant forums at national level; and provide support to the
community engagement team to undertake similar roles effectively at regional and
lower levels
● Lead SBC technical contributions for the development of the project’s strategic
documents including work plan and quarterly, semi-annual and annual reports
● Compile program reports as required
● Seek, select, engage, and monitor qualified consultants and agencies to provide
technical assistance in support of the project
● Any other relevant duties as assigned by the Chief of Party or as agreed/assigned during
meetings with the broader project team
Monitoring and evaluation
● Monitor project implementation processes, coordinate evaluations, share learning’s and
document best practices; ensure project learning and achievements are documented.
● Prepare and submit periodic narrative and financial reports in a timely manner
according to Breakthrough ACTION Kenya’s procedures
● Monitor and evaluate project implementation and coordinate with the National and
County Health offices
Partnership and coordination
● Manage partnerships with key stakeholders and ensure communication channels and
systems are in place to understand the needs and feedback from other implementing
partners and stakeholders in Kenya
● Develop partnerships with relevant institutions to strengthen/implement project
activities
● Liaise with key line Ministries and Departments
● Draft reports related< to progress against targets and provide other programmatically
relevant information in a timely fashion
● Coordinate with other senior staff to ensure strategic project management
● Attend meetings and represent the SBC initiatives of the project in all relevant levels of
government officials, partners, donor, NGO and private sector representatives
Capacity strengthening and training
● Provide mentorship to the Ministry of Health, partner and project technical teams
● Co-facilitate training workshops, including agenda, curriculum, manuals and materials
necessary to appropriately train individuals
● Provide support to and build the capacity of partner organizations and existing
traditional structures to design and implement community engagement activities
● Ensure all project staff have the technical knowledge to complete their job duties
● Provide training opportunities to project staff as appropriate
● Train and oversee staff on the project manuals and technical information
● Carry out field visits as needed and work with staff in a collaborative manner to increase
their technical capacity
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
● Hands-on experience in designing, planning, implementing and evaluating MNCH/FP/RH
ASRH SBC programs in developing countries.
● Demonstrated leadership qualities, depth and breadth of management expertise and
technical experience.
● Excellent communication and negotiation skills.
● Experience in successfully engaging professional associations.
● High level of interpersonal, technical, and analytical skills including a demonstrated
ability to interact effectively and collaboratively with a broad range of public and private
sector counterparts and other key stakeholders.
● Excellent skills and experience in collaborative working relationships with senior level
government leadership.
● Experience with integration of gender and youth analysis into health projects and
services.
● Required oral and written fluency in English.
● Required high proficiency in Swahili.
Minimum Qualifications:
● A Master’s degree in Social Sciences, Public Health, Behavioural Sciences,
Communications, or related field.
● A minimum of ten (10) years’ professional experience in delivering Social Behavior
Change programs with progressively increased responsibility working for health
technical assistance programs or other health related services.
● This is a local post open to Kenyan nationals.