Nigeria: Senior Field Officer - Nigeria

Service Title: Senior Field Officer - Nigeria Period of Performance: July 1 2012 – December 31, 2012 (Tentative) Place of Performance: Various locations in Nigeria

Service Objectives:

The contractor shall be based in northern Nigeria with responsibilities in multiple states, including but not necessarily limited to Sokoto, Katsina, Kano, Borno, Niger, Kaduna, and Bauchi and will focus on ensuring quality implementation of the 2012 Nigeria Polio Eradication Emergency Plan (v13312)2012 . Contractor shall focus geographically on high risk local government areas (LGAs). The contractor shall spend 80% of his/her time at the LGA or Ward level, focusing on 5-10 (up to 20) high risk LGAs (finalized list of high risk LGAs to be provided to awardee). The contractor shall make periodic visits to the capital, Abuja, and shall spend the remainder of the time at the state and LGA levels.

Task Requirements:

The contractor will assist in mentoring Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program (FELTP) N-STOP 20-30 contractors and other contractors as needed in high risk states.

One month prior to each campaign, the contractor will assist in organizing and attending the State Taskforce Meetings in 1-2 priority states and provide feedback on the meetings to the national level including the NPHCDA Immunizations Director and the WHO EPI Team Leader. Feedback will include both verbal and written reports.

Three weeks prior to each campaign the contractor will assist in organizing (as necessary) and attend LGA Taskforce Meetings in 3-5 priority LGAs and provide feedback on the meetings to state officials including the State Immunization Officer, State Health Commissioner, WHO State Coordinator, and UNICEF staff if available.

Two weeks prior to each campaign, the contractor will conduct in depth pre-campaign supervisory visits to high risk LGAs, complete supervisory checklists, submit checklist data to the WHO state coordinator, and provide feedback on the readiness of the LGAs to initiate the campaign to state officials including the State Immunization Officer, State Health Commissioner, WHO State Coordinator, and UNICEF staff if available. The contractor will also provide feedback to the national level including the NPHCDA Immunizations Director and the WHO EPI Team Leader. Feedback will include both verbal and written reports.

The contractor will provide targeted mentoring and coaching of WHO, UNICEF, and Ministry of Health staff at the state and LGA level to improve management and oversight of polio activities. This may be tied in to the WHO management trainings and the WHO and UNICEF staffing increases which are part of the emergency plan.

The contractor will increase community support for polio vaccination through targeted advocacy activities with traditional leaders. This will include media events and interpersonal communication with opinion leaders in areas with non-compliant households.

The contractor will monitor campaigns including attending evening LGA review meetings and providing direct verbal feedback (by phone or in-person) to the LGA, state, and national levels on a daily basis during the campaigns.

The contractor will support independent monitoring by assisting with training and visiting the independent monitors in the field.

Participate in technical reviews and surveillance meetings in accordance with host country/CDC specifications. Contractor will contribute to technical reviews led by others, highlighting successes and areas in need of improvement in the following areas: supplementary immunization activity planning; vaccinator performance; campaign management; and advocacy to maximize vaccine uptake.

Provide monthly oversight-assistance and field visits to review data management systems and help staff analyze data around key activities (ex. surveillance reviews, campaign reporting, independent monitoring).

Conduct regular trainings with Nigerian Ministry of Health (MoH) and WHO staff to build data management capacity.

Minimum Qualifications and/or Certifications:

Contractor personnel supporting this Team must, at a minimum, have the following skills/experience/qualifications:

a) Advanced degree (PhD or equivalent) position in international Public Health, Epidemiology or related field required.

b) Excellent writing skills, and ability to clearly communicate information orally and in writing with management and a diverse professional staff regarding public health program operations procedures, requirements, standards, or special project activities and progress.

c) At least five years’ experience in disease eradication (e.g.: smallpox)

d) At least 10 years’ experience as a project director in Polio Eradication Initiative with a non-governmental organization (NGO)

e) At least limited Hausa language proficiency: Speaking 1+ (Elementary Proficiency, Plus); and Listening 1+ (Elementary Proficiency, Plus)