Behaviour Change Communication Officers Marie Stopes Uganda

Take a front seat role in the family planning and reproductive health revolution in Uganda. Marie Stopes Uganda (MSU) is the largest and fast growing organization of its type in the country, preparing for a period of rapid expansion with support from the UK and US governments. We aim to contribute 15 points to Uganda’s contraceptive prevalence rate by 2015, saving and improving many thousands of Ugandan lives. We are looking for proactive, experienced and innovative and results oriented individuals, to ensure promotion of MSU’s wide array of family planning and sexual reproductive health services. MSU is a client-centred and results-oriented social enterprise. We deliver high quality, effective and sustainable family planning and reproductive health interventions across every district of Uganda. MSU has 25% of the market share in modem contraceptives and, in 2010, safely delivered 35,000 babies and contributed 4 points to Uganda’s contraceptive prevalence rate. MSU has enjoyed 20% year on year growth since 2007.
Leading the project management and quality service delivery in the region, this role will further our mission of ensuring every Ugandan’s right to CHILDREN BY CHOICE NOT CHANCE, and you will adhere to MSU’s core values:

mission driven |customer focused |results orientated| Pioneering| sustainable |people centered

Job Title: Behaviour Change Communication Officers -8 Posts
Reporting to the Hotline and Behaviour Change Communication Manager
Reporting to the Hotline and BCC Manager: the BCC Officer’s main role is to plan, implement and achieve periodic communication objectives in accordance to the BCC and marketing strategy and plans and within pre-agreed budgetary limits while utilising the available human resources optimally.
A key performance indicator will be the increased awareness, improved knowledge and attitudes, and up-take of FP and SRH services especially in the areas were operate. This person is expected to be able to interface comfortably with local communities and leadership, external stakeholders as well as MSU managers. It is particularly important that the post holder is able to sustain a close and collaborative partnership with operational staff in the support office and field, so that project deliverables remain a focus of operational activities. This post holder will be able to work productively with the Research, Monitoring & Evaluation, Operations and Social Franchising teams to ensure that IEC/BCC activities are evidence based and serve the objectives of the BCC strategy and indicators in MSU’s M&E framework.
Your role will be to:
1) Implement MSU’s behaviour change communication strategy and plans.
2) Conduct focused community information and sensitisation campaigns in liaison with CBO’s, NGOs Local Councils and community leaders.
3) In liaison with Community leaders and the regional coordinator, identify and recruit community health workers to work with in community mobilisation.
4) Conduct trainings for voucher community distributors and community health workers in areas of IEC/BCC, and reproductive health including family planning and advocacy.
5) Carry out brand promotions for SRH vouchers and BlueStar private healthcare network in order to create a positive image of the network and SRH services.
6) Identify community information and training needs regarding FP/SRH and implement appropriate response.
7) Network with other CBOs, NGOs and stakeholders regarding implementation of FP/SRH IEC/BCC activities.
8) Work closely with the district health teams to ensure proper and effective dissemination of information about FP/SRH to the communities through mass media and interpersonal communication channels.
9) Analyze and assess community situations in terms of IEC/ BCC, collect vital population information that will utilized in MSU’s programming and recommended more efficient and effective implementation plans.
10) Conduct concept and pre-testing of all communication materials before they are produced to ensure that they are relevant and clear to the targeted audiences.
11) Work with Research Monitoring and Evaluation team to conduct baseline surveys, mid-term and impact assessments of all communication campaigns implemented by MSU to measure impact.
12) Carry out targeted interpersonal communication activities guided by the BCC communication strategy.
13) Carry out the role of Public Relations at community level to create a positive image of the organization and expand its networks.
14) Support CHWs in education and voucher distribution activities to ensure correct and consistent dissemination of information, and right targeting of vouchers.
15) Supervise CHWs to ensure the integrity of demand generation activities according to MSU’s BCC and distribution plans.
Requirement:

Qualifications, Skills and Experience
Qualifications:
• Degree in social sciences, education, development studies, or related discipline
• Desirable: Training in health communication and/or TOT in FP/ SRH or other health services
Experience:
• High level experience in interpersonal communication.
• Experience in conducting community based mobilisation and education activities in SRH programs will be of high advantage.
Skills:
• Highly developed communication skills (including public speaking, PR and one on one)
• Highly development writing skills for reports and presentations
• Ability to manage and prioritise a demanding work load
• Ability to work under pressure
• Strong, determined, self-motivated and results oriented
• Able to work as part of a team, building consensus and driving change
• Excellent Planning and work organization
• Ability to work independently in a multi-cultural and lingual setting
• Excellent interpersonal and networking skills
Attitude /Motivation:
• Pro-choice and interested in reproductive health
• Driven to deliver on project goals to achieve MSU’s mission
• Keen interest in people and making a difference in the World
• Willingness to work outside Kampala and travel extensively in rural areas