CALL FOR APPLICATIONS FOR THE RECRUITMENT OF A RISK COMMUNICATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ADVISOR FOR THE COVID PROJECT

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS FOR THE RECRUITMENT OF A RISK COMMUNICATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ADVISOR FOR THE COVID PROJECT

Background and rationale

 With over 45 years of experience and working in more than 50 countries, Population Services International (PSI) is the world leader in nonprofit social marketing. PSI is reinventing healthcare, putting the consumer at the center, and wherever possible bringing care to the front door. We work to correct market failures, shape future health markets, and change policies and funding to better support consumer-driven health care.

 The Cameroonian Association for Social Marketing (ACMS) is a non-governmental organization under Cameroonian law and a member of the Population Services International (PSI) Network since 1996. ACMS is recognized as being one of the main actors in Cameroon in the prevention of HIV/AIDS and family planning promotion through social marketing and behavior change communication. ACMS is a complex organization with multiple projects and donors and a wide range of products and services, including a social franchising project with 372 clinics within the network.

The Cameroonian Association for Social Marketing (ACMS) through its technical partner Population Services International (PSI) has secured funding for the start-up of a project to fight against COVID-19 called COVID and funded by EPIC.

Indeed, the COVID Project implemented in the 10 regions of Cameroon aims to strengthen health systems in order to deal with COVID-19 and reduce cases of re-emergence among people aged 18 and over in countries that have adopted the Project.

At the level of Cameroon, the implementation of the COVID project will aim to increase the percentage of people vaccinated against COVID-19 within the target group.

Also, the ACMS is looking for the implementation of the activities of the said project, an experienced, dynamic and motivated Risk Communication and Community Engagement Advisor (M/F) who will have as main responsibility to carry out communication activities on risks and community engagement with local actors to inform local actors about the risk factors related to COVID-19

Type of contract: Fixed-term contract

Place of work: Yaoundé

Position level : 10th category, level B of the tertiary sector II of the National Collective Agreement for Commerce

Job Type: Intermediate

Status: Local position

Date of taking office: November 2022

Project end date: May 2023

Job description:

Under the supervision of the COVID Project Coordinator, the Risk Communication and Community Engagement Advisor will be responsible for coordinating risk communication and community engagement activities; risk communication and community engagement; the training of local actors. He will have the following main responsibilities:

A. Primary Responsibilities :

• Implement the communication and advocacy strategy to respond to the current COVID-19 outbreak and the vaccine deployment program.
• Support the development/production of COVID-19 vaccine communication and advocacy materials and activities, including health promotion events, awareness campaigns, information materials, fact sheets and brand strategy.
• Support the development and timely dissemination of COVID-19 vaccine information materials to internal and external audiences.
• Contribute to the creation and use of content to provide information to the public through digital platforms, including the website and social media platforms.
• Support the development of culturally appropriate and acceptable messages for risk communication and advocacy on COVID-19 vaccine deployment.
• Write press releases, notes to editors, and briefing notes for public dissemination through the media.
• Support the preparation of different materials for the media, such as press releases, opinion pieces, as well as regular media briefings, interviews and interactions on the COVID-19 vaccine deployment program.
• Support capacity building in risk communication on COVID-19.
• Represent ACMS in a professional manner, in order to create a positive image and enhance the credibility of the organization.
• Carry out any other activities related to the vaccination against COVID-19.

B. Tasks by responsibility :

1. Coordination of activities : 40% of the time

• Support the development of action plans, management tools, guides, as well as the adaptation of key messages or other multimedia information materials to the local context;
• Participate in the implementation of communication activities through a combination of appropriate strategies, approaches and techniques;
• Support advocacy with the main politico-administrative and socio-community decision-makers in order to obtain their commitment in the management of the epidemic;
•  Participate in capacity building for monitoring, supervision and evaluation of the progress and effectiveness of communication interventions, identify limits and make corrections;
• Contribute to the identification and analysis of risk factors related to COVID-19, social determinants interfering in the prevention and control of COVID-19 as well as that of populations at risk.

2. Communication: 40% of the time

• Contribute to the organization of risk communication and community engagement interventions;
• Support the holding of information sessions, dialogues and educational talks at the community level by relays and community leaders, as well as by other volunteers;
• Document and disseminate good practices.

3. Training : 20% of the time

• Strengthen the capacities of local actors in risk communication and community engagement.

Qualifications and professional experience required:

• Bachelor’s degree in mass communication, journalism, public relations and advertising or related fields and a minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience. Management experience is an added advantage.

Or

• Master’s degree in mass communication, journalism, public relations and advertising or related fields and a minimum of 2 years of relevant professional experience.

Professional experience required in substitution of the diploma

• Have more than 15 (fifteen) years of relevant professional experience supporting or managing strategic and health communications at national and international levels, preferably in the development sector.

Additional requirements:

• Plan and organize the work;
• Manage change;
• Work with others to achieve results;
• Create and maintain relationships;
• Develop and maintain a work environment based on respect for diversity;
• Leadership;
• Mastery of new technologies.

Plan and organize work

• Set guidelines for self to ensure work is done effectively and efficiently in accordance with ACMS core values
• Plan monthly, weekly and daily work
• Take the time necessary to complete your work
• Use time effectively
• Sense of organization and personal responsibility
• Compliance with deadlines and schedules.

Create and maintain relationships

• Work effectively and collaboratively with colleagues and partners to achieve common goals. Create and maintain principled relationships.
• Clearly communicate information and ideas.
• Establish good interpersonal relationships with others by appreciating the knowledge, roles and difference of others.

The leadership

• Ability to develop and communicate a collective vision and inspire others to achieve that vision. Encourage staff to perform to their maximum capacity.
• Be Visionary.
• Sense of initiative and ability to judge.
• To have team spirit.
• Proven ability for conflict management.

Mastery of new technologies

• Ability to use technology appropriate to the position
• Proficiency in word processing and spreadsheet software

1. Application file

1. A cover letter ;
2. A detailed curriculum vitae (CV) using the form available for this purpose on the site:  http://www.acms-cm.org  ;
3. Photocopies of diplomas required. A verification of the Diplomas will be carried out for the successful candidate;
4. Photocopies of documents that justify the experience of the candidate, (Certificate, employment, work certificate, or any other related document);

2. Place of submission of files

HOW TO APPLY:

Complete files will be sent to the following address: https://jobs.acms-cm.org

Candidates under contract with the Cameroonian public service are not eligible.

PSI is a fair employer and encourages applications from qualified individuals without regard to race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, disability, marital status, registration, political affiliation, family status or responsibilities, identity or, pregnancy, childbirth, related medical conditions or breastfeeding, genetic information, amnesty, veteran, disabled veteran, military or professional status.

ACMS is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages applications from women. Only the preselected candidates will be contacted.

ACMS reserves the right to recruit at a lower level or on the basis of a modified job profile.