DAI seeks a Behavior Change Communications Specialist for a short-term field assignment the USAID Liberia Food and Enterprise Development (FED) project. The assignment is expected to begin in January 2015 and has an 80 day level of effort.
Background:
The Food and Enterprise Development (FED) program is a USAID - funded project that aims to increase agricultural productivity and profitability through targeted support in the rice, cassava, vegetable and goat value chains. In addition, the program aims at improving human nutrition and strengthening food security. FED interventions are focused on 4 core counties of Grand Bassa, Bong, Nimba and Lofa as well as 2 secondary counties of Margibi and Montserrado. By using value chain approaches, FED works with other diverse public, private and development partners to ensure inclusiveness of the above interventions and with a particular focus on impacting the beneficial participation of women and youth. The FED project is implemented across the following component objectives:
- Component 1: Increase agricultural productivity and profitability and improve human nutrition;
- Component 2: Stimulate private enterprise growth and investment; and
- Component 3: Build local technical and managerial human resources to sustain and expand accomplishments achieved under objectives one and two.
Objectives:
USAID FED has developed nutrition messaging in alignment with the Essential Nutrition Action (ENA) messages approved by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MOHSW) and focused on agriculture. These messages have been integrated into existing extension and training material used by the Nutrition Officer and extension field staff. Nutrition messaging has also been incorporated as an aspect of delivery of training workshops on an ongoing basis. This approach is similar to that applied by other agencies participating in nutrition messaging within Liberia.
Recent internal analysis of the key problems facing nutrition has shown that influencing behavior change is a critical element in impacting diet diversification by households receiving nutrition messaging. The Behavior Change Specialist will support the component lead to develop nutrition messaging and strategies that will impact more on behavior change and that will reach a wider outreach of households. This will ensure that messaging delivered by USAID FED is consistent with requirements of the MOHSW and the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA), is more effective towards encouraging direct and indirect beneficiaries to diversify household diets and contribute significantly to improved human nutrition.
Tasks:
- Review and revise existing nutrition messages in close collaboration with the extension unit and Component 1 lead to ensure that aspects of behavior change are evident
- Liaise with MOHSW and MOA towards approval of reviewed and revised nutrition messages
- Develop Scope of Work, strategy and work plan towards implementation of a study on nutrition trends in USAID FED supported core counties (Bong, Nimba, Lofa and Grand Bassa)
- Supervise the implementation of the study on nutrition trends in close liaison with MOHSW and MOA and provide recommendations to partners based on the findings. This study will focus on community practices and norms on diet, food consumption and bottlenecks that hamper diet diversification.
- Liaise with MOHSW and other development partners on the finding of the study and proposed recommendations towards improving awareness creation
- Support the component lead to develop a nutrition strategy and targeted messaging that is sensitive to the finds and recommendations arising from the study. This will include design of messages, activities and proposed dissemination methods.
- Provide training on effective nutrition messaging to County Offices and in particular, extension officers working directly with beneficiaries.
- In collaboration with the extension unit, develop inputs towards radio programs that effectively carry messaging that address behavior change
Deliverables:
- Revised existing nutrition messages for dissemination through fliers and posters
- Approval received from MOHSW and MOA on revisions
- Scope of work, strategy and work plan for nutrition study within the 4 core counties developed
- Study on nutrition trends conducted across the 4 core counties
- Report detailing observations, findings and recommendations produced and shared with partners
- Nutrition strategy and targeted messaging developed to guide USAI FED FY15-FY16 focus
- Training on effective nutrition messaging conducted for field extension staff
- Inputs for radio messaging developed
Requirements:
- Master’s degree in Communication, Public Health or relevant field
- Minimum of 6 years of related experience and training in behavior change communications
- Experience in USAID funded projects (in health and/or agriculture) desirable
- Demonstrated understanding of factors affecting behavior and practices of local communities towards nutrition and health
- Proven track record in designing and implementing innovative and results oriented behavior change programs in developing countries
- Demonstrated expertise in strategic communication and practices
- Prior working experience in developing countries (especially Liberia) preferred
Reporting:The Behavior Change Communication Specialist will report to the Chief of Party or her designee
This assignment is expected to begin in January 2015. Interested applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible for consideration for this opportunity.
HOW TO APPLY:
Interested candidates are encouraged to apply to DAI directly at:http://ch.tbe.taleo.net/CH13/ats/careers/requisition.jsp;jsessionid=0D12...
