LGA Facilitator At CTG (Committed To Good)

CTG Overview

CTG staff and support humanitarian projects in fragile and conflict-affected countries around the world, providing a rapid and cost-effective service for development and humanitarian missions. With past performance in 17 countries – from the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and Asia, we have placed more than 20,000 staff all over the world since operations began in 2006.

CTG recruits, deploys and manages the right people with the right skills to implement humanitarian and development projects, from cleaners to obstetricians, and mechanics to infection specialists, we’re skilled in emergency response to crises such as the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. Key to successful project delivery is the ability to mobilise at speed; CTG can source and deploy anyone, anywhere, in less than 2 weeks and have done so in 48 hours on a number of occasions.

Through our efficient and agile HR, logistical and operational services, CTG saves multilateral organisations time and money. We handle all our clients’ HR related issues, so they are free to focus on their core services.

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Overview of Position

In 2020, Nigeria was declared WPV-free for having gone without any WPV cases for over four years. However, Nigeria is experiencing outbreaks of cVDPV2 due to low Routine Immunization coverage and population immunity. In 2018, Nigeria experienced a major outbreak leading to about 34 cases. The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) in collaboration with partners has ensured the overall planning, implementation, and monitoring of the Polio eradication program in 19 northern states and a few Southern states where the spread was recorded. As of 2018, the number of cases reduced to 18, but about 4.3 million children are still unimmunized (18%, MICS/NICS 2021)

Routine Immunization performance in Nigeria has remained suboptimal for over 10 years; according to the National Demographic Health Surveys (NDHS) of 2003,2008,2013, and 2018, communication and social mobilization are critical components in Routine Immunization and Supplementary Immunization campaigns for Polio vaccination and other vaccines. The Volunteer Community Mobilizers (VCM) network is one of the strongest community structures that support 12 high-risk states in Northern Nigeria, working closely with stakeholders, caregivers, and communities to promote vaccination. These volunteers organize community dialogues, and compound meetings, track newborns and children under five years for polio vaccination and refer pregnant women to Health Facilities for Antenatal Care. The network is supervised by a network of Facilitators at the LGA and State levels.

The engagement of State and LGA Facilitators across these states has ensured no Wild polio case has been reported for the past 3 years, after the last polio case was reported in August 2016 from Borno state. Enhanced awareness of the community about the Polio campaign remained at 94%.

Strengthened monitoring of the program and routine monitoring of the program is jointly done by all polio partners. Support rapid survey implementation to generate additional data, national level review, planning, and capacity building events for VCM network members and a data quality assurance mechanism in place.

The LGA Facilitators will be located at the State and LGA with frequent trips to wards and settlements to provide that essential link between the community structures in the assigned LGA of implementation, serving to coordinate and supervise Polio/RI activities at the LGA level. He/ She will supervise the day-to-day implementation of Polio/RI activities across our client-supported implementation sites. He/ She will also supervise the daily operations of the Volunteer Community Mobilizers (VCM) network, with a specific focus on ensuring quality implementation and data reporting. The LGA facilitator will also play a prominent role in reporting on the changing humanitarian situation (Borno/ Yobe States) within their LGAs and will enable our client and partners to adapt in a timely and appropriate response to the changing situation. In the context of increasing insecurity with limited travel to implementation sites by our client staff, LGA facilitators’ presence in the field provides a much-needed means for program monitoring to ensure the maintenance of the quality of implementation according to national and international protocols as well as an independent layer of accountability.

Role Objectives

LGA Facilitator

Supervise a team of Volunteer Ward Supervisors (VWS), Polio Survivor Group (PSG), and Volunteer Community Mobilizers (VCM) in his/her area(s) through regular monitoring, capacity building, and supportive supervision.
Work within specified LGA(s), ward, and settlement to ensure deeper ward/settlement analysis, planning, and implementation of strategic communications interventions. The Specific communication interventions to be implemented in each area will be informed by local knowledge, social data, and unique characteristics of the wards/settlements.
Consult with our client SBC and State Facilitator to mobilize and ensure the effective organization and functioning of the LGA Social Mobilization Task Team.
Support LGA Health Educators in meetings of the LGA Social Mobilization team to plan, implement, and report on communication interventions supporting the Polio and Non-Polio SIA programs and targeting high-risk wards within the State.
Conduct regular community mapping exercises to identify vulnerable groups, hard-to-reach communities, Strategic communication and mobilization delivery points and channels for messaging, advocacy, and public education (Microplanning).
Identify training needs/gaps of various groups and seek support from our client SBC and State Facilitator to implement capacity-building activities to fill knowledge gaps and address deficiencies.
Identify and engage key local influencers such as District heads, Religious Leaders, women groups, Town announcers, Traditional dancers, Pharmacists, and socio-cultural groups and support the planning and implementation of such activities such as Majigis, mop-up activities, use of local town announcers and special events, to create high levels of public awareness, to resolve non-compliance and reduce missed children.
Monitor the relevance and use of IEC materials and make specific recommendations to our client SBC and State Lead on their adaptability to local reality.
Spend adequate time working with various community groups and monitor all SBC activities so that our client’s support to local level interventions and their impact can be documented across all our client programs (Health/Polio; WASH, Education, Nutrition, Child Protection).
Track the delivery and efficient utilization of campaign social mobilization funds at the LGA level. Report on how funds are spent to support various communication activities and facilitate, in coordination with our client SBC and State Facilitator, the effective use Of Social Mobilization funds (channelled through the Government departments) at the State, LGA, and Ward for Polio and Non-Polio SIAs.
Monitor and report, every month, factual and complete disbursement honorariums to Volunteer Community Mobilizers, Polio Survivors Group, and Volunteer Ward Supervisors, reporting immediately any misappropriation of funds to the our client Programme Manager (Polio) and State Facilitator.
Actively participate in all State-level pre-campaign trainings as appropriate.
Support all SBC activities in respective LGA/Wards/Settlements to promote child survival and protection.
Support different sectors to mark and celebrate global and national days, e.g., Global Hand Washing Day, Day of the African Child, etc.
Respond appropriately to health emergencies and disease outbreaks through the risk communication and community engagement committees at the LGA level.

Expected Output:

A detailed work plan at the beginning of the contract and monthly work plans thereafter.
Sharing and uploading of data to ODK and other data tools at agreed timelines.
Monthly report of activities, outcomes, mission reports, and support to other reporting as requested.
One end-of-contract report, including detailed handover notes, delivered to SBC and the State Facilitator.

Expected Results:

Nigeria Community Engagement plan implemented at all levels by all stakeholders.
Facilitation of implementation of State and LGA Social Mobilization and High-Risk Operational Plans (HROP).
Volunteer Ward Supervisors, PSGs (where applicable), and Volunteer Community Mobilizers are supervised, mentored, and capacity strengthened through solid teamwork and leadership.
Vaccination barriers are identified, analyzed, and overcome by social mobilization groups and key influencers, and the number of missed children and non-compliance is reduced.
LGA Communication packages on health, polio, routine immunization, WASH, education and nutrition, and child protection are developed and implemented.
Polio and RI, and non-polio SIAs Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) reports are available at the State, Field Office, and Abuja levels.
Contribution to other reports made and shared as requested.

The primary outcomes will be:

Quality implementation of all Polio and non-polio IPDs/Supplemental Immunization Activities reduces (to almost zero) missed children (non-compliant or absent) and zero-dose children.
Increased commitment from LGA officials, Traditional Leaders, and Religious Leaders through frequent LGA Facilitator feedback and engagement on all SBC activities for our client programs.
Social mobilization working groups and committees at LGAs hold regular meetings and use social mobilization data to plan, monitor, and implement SBC interventions in polio, routine immunization, health, nutrition, education, WASH, and child protection.
Improved use of social and Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) data in communication strategy development and planning by the LGA team, including Social Mobilization Working Group members through technical inputs

Project Reporting

This role reports to the line manager.

Key Competencies

Fluency in English; knowledge of the local language of the duty station is an asset.
University Degree in social sciences, communication, public health, community nutrition, community development, or related technical field.
At least 3-5 years of progressively responsible professional work experience at the State/ LGA level in program planning, management, monitoring, and evaluation in immunization programs.
Experience in social mobilization, advocacy, and communication in health-related programs, polio eradication campaigns, IEC materials development, training/capacity building, and team building.
Current knowledge of development issues, strategies as well as programming policies and procedures in international development cooperation
Proven ability to conceptualize, innovate, plan, and execute ideas and impart knowledge and tech skills.
Demonstrated ability to work in multi-cultural environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships both within and outside the organization

Team Management