Malaria Consortium (MC) is one of the world’s leading non-profit organizations dedicated to the comprehensive control of malaria and other communicable diseases in Africa and Southeast Asia. Malaria Consortium works with communities, government and non-government agencies, academic institutions, and local and international organizations, to ensure good evidence supports delivery of effective services, providing technical support for monitoring and evaluation of programmes and activities for evidence-based decision-making and strategic planning. The organization works to improve not only the health of the individual, but also the capacity of National health systems, which helps to relieve poverty and support improved economic prosperity.
In Nigeria, twenty – one (21) states across the Sahel and non–Sahelian zone have seasonal malaria transmission, with most of the disease burden occurring during a distinct rainy season. Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) is a key approach to prevent malaria among children aged 3 to 59 months in such areas where malaria transmission is highly seasonal. SMC involves the administration of monthly treatment courses of a combination of antimalarial drugs (over 4 or 5 monthly cycles depending on the duration of the malaria transmission season specific to a given geographical area) with the objective of maintaining therapeutic antimalarial drug concentrations in the blood throughout the period of transmission (rainy season) to prevent malaria.
The SMC campaign will commence with microplanning in March and the implementation is scheduled to be from May 2025 – November 2025. The Malaria Consortium SMC Project is currently funded by a grant from Global Fund and the Open Philanthropy Project Fund (PF). This term of reference (ToR) is however focused on 2025 SMC delivery Borno (27 LGAs).
We are recruiting to fill the position below:
Job Title: SBCC Consultant
Location: Borno
Purpose of the assignment
The purpose of this consultancy is to support MC in the planning and implementation of the 2025 SMC campaign in Borno state by providing technical assistance and oversight on SMC activities to the State Malaria Elimination Programmed (SMEP) during the SMC campaigns.
They will serve as members of the State SMC SBCC team to provide state-level technical assistance and oversight on demand creation-related activities for the successful coordination of the 2025 SMC campaigns.
Working with the relevant State agencies (SMEP/PHCDA), the consultants will serve as SBCC focal points and support SMC key activities including adaptation of SBCC materials, planning for engagement activities, development of SBCC materials and tools, facilitation, capacity-building of SBCC related personnel, monitoring, and reporting on overall SBCC activities in Borno state.
Scope of Assignment
The technical support would cover all the LGAs of Borno state. The activity will commence with the development of advocacy plans and conclude after the last cycle of distribution for the year with the submission of a report.
Methodology
The technical support would be via a combination of physical or virtual participation in planning and implementation activities including off site trainings, on the job training, supervision, and monitoring. The TA will work in sync with other State and LGA staff and Government officials but would oversee SBCC related activities with support from the State Project Manager (SPM). Data collection and reporting would be via the standard SMC campaign forms, platforms, tools, and MC standard reporting template.
Specific objectives
SBCC Consultants:
Context-Specific Demand Creation Materials:
Develop and adapt demand creation materials that address malaria risks in IDP camps, conflict-affected areas, and flood-prone zones to ensure effective malaria prevention.
Emphasize SMC adherence and other malaria preventive and control measures while integrating security-conscious communication methods to reach vulnerable populations safely.
Incorporate tailored social and behavior change communication strategies to address Advocacy and Stakeholder Engagement:
Develop targeted advocacy strategies that focus on local security agencies, humanitarian organizations, IDP camp coordinators, traditional rulers, and religious leaders to promote SMC uptake.
Strengthen collaboration with community leaders, emergency response teams, and relief organizations to foster safe, inclusive, and sustainable malaria prevention initiatives.
Training and Capacity Building:
Facilitate state-level Training of Trainers (ToT) and cascade training
Ensure SBC personnel receive adequate training to support local mobilization efforts.
Media Engagement and Information Dissemination:
Develop and execute localized media plans, leveraging state-specific communication channels that reach the target audience.
Engage TV/radio, print, and digital platforms to ensure effective dissemination of malaria prevention and SMC adherence messages.
Community-Level SBCC Personnel Selection and Deployment:
Guide LGA teams in selecting and training Town Announcers, Community Leaders, and other SBC personnel, ensuring alignment with local realities in each state.
Oversee deployment and effectiveness of mobilizers during the SMC campaign, providing technical support where needed.
Influencer and Key Stakeholder Identification:
Identify and engage state-specific SMC ambassadors.
Leverage their networks to drive demand creation and community participation in SMC activities.
Monitoring and Evaluation of SBCC Activities:
Track and monitor community engagement activities using state-specific SBCC monitoring tools.
Use state-specific SBCC monitoring templates to collect data on outreach efforts and impact.
State and LGA-Level Engagements:
Provide technical support for state / LGA flag-off ceremonies, community launch events, and media engagements, adapting approaches to local security and accessibility conditions.
Ensure participation of key stakeholders in driving community awareness and SMC demand.
Post-Campaign SBCC Planning and Reinforcement:
Develop strategies to sustain SMC adherence post-campaign, ensuring complete full 3-day SPAQ regimen.
Utilize existing data to refine outreach approaches for future campaigns.
Reporting and Documentation:
Prepare a comprehensive SBCC activity report highlighting state-specific challenges, successes, and recommendations for improved malaria prevention.
Submit a detailed consultancy report within seven days post-campaign, outlining SBCC interventions, challenges, and impact.
Populate and submit all required SBCC monitoring templates to track media and community engagement efforts.
Type of personnel required: SBCC Consultants
Minimum of First Degree in Social Sciences or related fields and at least 3 years post-graduation experience.
Excellent leadership qualities.
Previous training and experience in SMC or similar campaigns (LLINs, Polio Immunization, etc.) campaigns.
Previous experience supporting the development of behavior change campaigns that delivered results.
Previous experience supporting the development of behavior change campaigns that delivered results.
Knowledge of malaria and its prevention, diagnosis and treatment is required.
Previous experience working in a National and/or State Ministry of Health preferred.
Experience with a flexible approach to managing and prioritizing significant workloads and multiple tasks, in a fast-paced environment, with tight deadlines is required.
Excellent training and supervisory skills
Excellent technical writing and presentation skills
A proven ability to work as part of a team and independently.
Excellent experience in using Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Ability to work under stressful conditions and to remain flexible and calm under pressure.
Experience of proactively identifying and addressing bottlenecks/issues desired.
Experience of establishing strong working relationships with team members and state personnel.
Experience and understanding of demand creation issues related to campaign distribution of SPAQ.
Expected Output / deliverables
Deliverables SBCC Consultants:
SBCC campaign workplan
Adapted demand creation materials within 2 days from the workplan development meeting with MC state team and SMEP SBCC team.
Advocacy plan prepared and shared with MC LGA Field Assistants and SPM for consolidation with activity report.
Weekly update reports to the State SPM to collate as weekly updates.
Demand creation report during the SMC campaign submitted to the SPM at the end of the exercise in a state.
Detailed demand creation specific microplanning and SMC campaign report prepared and submitted to State SPM for consolidation and onward submission.
Detailed consultancy report on MC report template, clearly highlighting specific tasks/role during the activity submitted at least 7days after completion of the activity.
Application Closing Date
2nd June, 2025; 5:00PM.
Link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScLILhBl224m3DiqOimrgi1YLabqIPkRFb0pJXPcJmtJGym1w/viewform
