Social and Behavior Change Advisor

Job Description

Job Title: Social Behavior Change Advisor, Development Food Security Activity, Madagascar

Area of Interest: SBC, Program Quality

Location: International – Antananarivo or Toliara, Madagascar

Reports to: Food Security Technical Coordinator, Development Food Security Activity, Madagascar

This position is contingent upon grant and candidate approvals by the donor.

About CRS

Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. We welcome as a part of our staff and as partners people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need.

Background

Catholic Relief Services (CRS)/Madagascar is preparing a response to the 2019 USAID Food for Peace (FFP) Development Food Security Activity (DFSA) Request for Applications (RFA). The proposed program will address chronic food and nutrition insecurity and vulnerability in Southern Madagascar. The estimated timeframe for this program is October 2019 – September 2024.

The overall goal of the proposed program will be to measurably reduce food and nutrition insecurity and vulnerability in targeted communes in the Regions of Atsimo Andrefana and Androy. The proposed program will take a multi-sectoral approach to reducing chronic food and nutrition insecurity, with a particular focus on enhancing resiliency and increasing individual, household and community capacities to manage and mitigate risk.

Job Summary

CRS/Madagascar seeks qualified candidates for the position of Social Behavior Change (SBC) Advisor.

The purpose of this position is to design, manage, strengthen, monitor and provide strategic direction to an evidenced-based social and behavior change framework for the DFSA, ensuring a holistic and robust approach to promote sustainable behavior change among participants and stakeholders for reducing food and nutrition insecurity. The SBC advisor will lead the development and implementation of an integrated SBC strategy across project sectors and throughout the entire implementation period. The SBC Advisor will ensure that the SBC framework is developed on the basis of participants’ and stakeholders’ knowledge, attitudes and practices and that SBC approaches promote community participation and problem-solving and increase community capacities.

The SBC Advisor will work closely staff and partners to develop high-quality and contextually appropriate SBC approaches and tools and to integrate and harmonize SBC strategies across sectors. S/he will work with staff and partners to build capacity in SBC. S/he will provide technical support and leadership to SBC integration throughout CRS’ programs and operations. The SBC Advisor will also lead on formative research and learning initiatives related to SBC approaches and integration. The DFSA SBC Advisor will be responsible for supervising SBC staff and for coordinating and supervising SBC initiatives across sectors. In addition, the SBC Advisor will support communication related to project activities and learning.

Specific Job Responsibilities

Project Refinement, Implementation, Organizational Learning and Reporting

• Lead the design of formative research with project participants and stakeholders to identify, develop and refine contextualized SBC strategies promoting food and nutrition security (situation assessments, knowledge, attitudes and practice assessments, barrier analyses, etc …)
• Develop SBC strategies promoting food and nutrition security and integrated with all project activities (agriculture/livelihoods, nutrition and health, savings and credit cooperatives), drawing on proven approaches and results of studies, baseline data and formative research.
• Collaborate with project team members to ensure the optimal integration of SBC strategies in all activities, coherent activity planning and efficient implementation.
• Ensure that SBC related-indicators are covered in the DFSA MEAL system.
• Lead pilot tests and develop support materials and guidance to refine SBC strategies and their implementation over the implementation of the project.
• Contribute to the design of contextually appropriate and effective participant and stakeholder complaints and feedback mechanisms and provide support for their implementation.
• Lead SBC learning activities and document learning; prepare reports, presentations, short articles for publication to disseminate learning.
• Prepare input on SBC results and learning for project reports.
• Assist technical teams and MEAL staff in writing reports and program documents in French and Malagasy.
• Produce multi-media communication resources for the project’s SBC strategy, including communication materials appropriate for participants with limited literacy.
• Support the organization of special events and activities to optimize SBC (World Food Day, Nutrition Day, Fairs and learning events related to health and nutrition, food security and prevention and risk and disaster management).

Partnership/Capacity Building

• Assess the technical capacity of staff and partners and provide training, coaching, mentoring and technical guidance for the implementation of the SBC strategy; develop capacity building plans and strategies for staff and partners staff to advance knowledge and skills in SBC.
• Collaborate with staff and partners to identify opportunities for enhancing SBC strategies and their implementation; identify relevant stakeholders and build partnerships to address gaps and improve SBC strategies.
• Provide technical support to partners in developing effective SBC strategies.
• Supervise and mentor staff through a matrix management system.
• Represent CRS with key stakeholders in strategic activities such as coordination platforms, policy meetings and thematic committees / technical groups.
• Support CRS staff across the country program to improve SBC strategies and coordinate their harmonization with DFSA programming.
• Ensure the implementation of the DFSA Branding Strategy and Marking Plan in compliance with USAID regulations.
• Manage the archives of project SBC resources and ensure the classification and proper use of photos and other documents.

Management, Finance and Compliance with Donors

Supervision and Coaching/Mentoring

• The DFSA SBC Advisor will participate in the hiring and supervision either directly or indirectly of staff. Additionally, s/he will provide support in mentoring staff.

Competencies

These are rooted in the mission, values and principles of CRS and used by each program manager to fulfill his or her responsibilities and to achieve the desired results.

1. Sets clear goals and manages progress toward them.
2. Collaborates effectively with staff and stakeholders.
3. Manages financial resources with integrity.
4. Applies program quality standards to project design and organizational learning.

Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS staff)

These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.

• Integrity
• Accountability and Stewardship
• Build Relationships
• Develops Talent
• Continuous Improvement and Innovation
• Strategic Mindset

Key Working Relationships:

Internal-CRS/Madagascar

Country Representative, Head of Programs, Head of Operations, Chief of Party, Food Security Technical Coordinator, Monitoring and Evaluation Advisor, Strategic Learning Advisor, Social Behavior Change Advisor, Project Technical Leads (e.g. MEAL, Health and Agriculture, etc.), Project Managers, Project Officers.

External

South Africa Regional Office staff (Regional Technical Advisors/Deputy Regional Directors) and CRS/HQ staff including HQ-based SBC Advisors.

External

USAID, government officials, international and local partners.

Qualifications and Skills

• A master’s degree in a relevant academic area plus five years of relevant experience.
• SBC experience related to nutrition, agriculture and livelihoods, WASH, gender, youth.
• Minimum five years of progressive management and technical responsibility, including supervising and mentoring team members, preferably with an international NGO; the candidate must have experience in leading SBC strategy design and implementation.
• Experience working with large donors, USAID/FFP and/or USAID/FTF preferred.
• In-depth understanding of gender, age and other socio-cultural factors along with familiarity with community mobilization and participation principles and approaches in the context of food and nutrition security programming.
• Demonstrated capacity to lead the collection, analysis and use of data and information from a broad range of sources in order to ensure the development of effective SBC approaches, messages and tools throughout the project’s implementation.
• Demonstrated experience in leading participatory analytical processes and learning required.
• Demonstrated capacity to understand and advise on critical technical and operational issues related to SBC: health and nutrition, WASH, inclusive governance, social cohesion, education, job skills, employment creation, etc.
• Demonstrated capacity in developing SBC strategies in contexts of low literacy.
• Demonstrated ability to transfer knowledge to diverse audiences (capacity strengthening) through training, mentoring, and other formal and non-formal methods, using adult learning methodologies.
• Detail-oriented and excellent time management skills with the ability to meet deadlines and deliver required results in a timely and quality manner.
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented and results-oriented
• Prior experience working with MEAL development and integration in programming to capture SBC information to monitor change and outcomes.
• Experience with facilitation, capacity strengthening and partnership building through formal and informal training, with the capacity to empower staff through opportunities for professional growth and development.
• Ability to self-manage and succeed in matrix management model, with demonstrated proactive and flexible nature in resolving problems and leading a productive, committed team.
• Cultural sensitivity, patience, flexibility and ability to work well in a multi-sectoral and multi-cultural team and to work closely, understand and support local Church partners.
• Knowledge of CRS’s program quality and MEAL standards and of Catholic Social Teaching preferred.
• Flexibility to work both in a team and independently.
• Demonstrated personal accountability and driven to serve others.
• Ability to work in a challenging and stressful environment with unexpected challenges.
• Excellent presentation and facilitation skills.
• Experience working in a variety of developing environments preferred; knowledge of the Madagascar context valued.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite, including Word, Excel and Outlook required.

Required Languages: Excellent English, French and Malagasy language oral and written communication skills required.

Travel Required : Ability to travel for up to 50% level of effort as needed.

NOTE: Applications will be accepted until this position is filled.

About the Organization

Catholic Relief Services was founded in 1943 by the Catholic Bishops of the United States. Our mission is to assist the poor and disadvantaged, leveraging the teachings of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to alleviate human suffering, promote development of all people, and to foster charity and justice throughout the world. Working through local offices and an extensive network of partners, CRS operates on five continents and in 98 countries. We aid the poor by first providing direct assistance where needed, then encouraging people to help with their own development. Together, these approaches foster secure, productive, just communities that enable people to realize their potential. As the official international relief and development agency of the U.S. Catholic community, CRS is also committed to educating the people of the United States to fulfill their moral responsibilities toward our global brothers and sisters by helping the poor, working to remove the causes of poverty, and promoting social justice.