Social & Behaviour Change Advisor Full-Time

Open to Canadian Citizens and Permanent Residents of Canada only

Due to funder restrictions, support for accompanying partners/dependents is not available for this placement.

The Volunteer’s Role

This is an exciting opportunity for you to contribute to a regional nutrition program led by CARE Canada!

CARE’s Southern African Nutrition Initiative (SANI) aims to improve the nutritional status of women of reproductive age and children under 5, while working with local health authorities and communities in Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia. Specifically, SANI is expected to contribute to the improved health of approximately 230,000 individuals directly, and over 345,000 individuals indirectly.

As the Social Behaviour Change Advisor, you will work closely with the SANI Mozambique team to develop context-specific behaviour change and communication strategies related to nutrition norms to improve household nutrition practices. Your work will involve supporting staff to do community-based assessments, and developing behaviour change strategies with target groups to ensure that nutrition-focused education activities are designed with, and for, the community in which they will be implemented. This work will draw upon your experience using participatory appraisal tools and approaches, as well as conducting qualitative research to inform program interventions, preferably in rural, low-resource settings. You also have the skills and experience to work with staff to pull together a community-level nutrition analysis, and develop associated learning products for a range of stakeholders.

As a volunteer, you will:

• Map, review and monitor food and nutrition security priorities, policies and objectives;
• Review the National Nutrition Policy and Strategic Plan and assess their implications on the SANI project;
• Coordinate the development of a nutrition research agenda and oversee its implementation;
• Provide nutrition policy direction and guidance to key stakeholders;
• Identify issues of nutrition at national and district levels, as well as best practices from SANI.

Essential Academic Qualifications:

• Review baseline research report;
• Develop draft SANI-specific MIYC SBCC strategy;
• Support staff to conduct community-level nutrition analysis;
• Collate assessment findings and pull together project-level analysis on nutrition status & norms for target communities;
• Finalize and train colleagues on SBCC strategy and monitoring plan for community-based nutrition activities for Mozambique using community nutrition reports

Essential Professional Background:

• Experience in developing social and behavior change communications (SBCC) strategies;
• Experience designing behavioral interventions/SBCC messages and interventions towards health objectives;
• Use of epidemiological and other health-related data in SBCC program design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation;
• Nutrition/health related qualitative research.

About Our Partner

CARE Mozambique

CARE began operations in Mozambique in 1984 with emergency assistance and food distribution for people who were affected by the protracted war between government and rebel forces.

From 1990 to 1994, CARE expanded its project portfolio to include disaster recovery and development activities. Following the end of the war in 1992, we focus on implementing long-term development projects, including local water management, sanitation and hygiene, food security and nutrition, early childhood care and development, women´s economic empowerment (including microfinance), and strengthening local civil society action. As part of our historic focus on emergency response, we are now engaging more on disaster risk reduction and climate change in Mozambique.

In CARE’s six year country strategy (2014-2020) for Mozambique, CARE seeks to fight poverty and improve food and nutrition security by empowering women and girls to exercise their rights. This new strategy draws from CARE’s previous innovations and builds on them – emphasizing in particular CARE’s expanded role as a facilitator and development partner with Mozambican colleagues from civil society who are likewise dedicated to transformative, rights-based development in collaboration with the private sector and government.

It is important to note that women are often the most vulnerable to shocks and the most marginalized. Hence, they often suffer the most from natural emergencies and not able to participate as fully in development efforts unless deliberate, strategic actions are taken. This has long-term implications for overall development and ability to reduce poverty if those most marginalized do not participate in the processes.

Terms and Conditions

Cuso International terms and conditions allow you to lead a modest and healthy lifestyle while being effective in your placement. This support package will cover basic living expenses for one volunteer and is not intended to cover home-based expenses (ex. loans, support payments, etc.) or luxury items such as imported items in placement or international personal travel.

Support Package

• Modest monthly living allowance (varies depending country),
• Accommodation while in placement,
• Return airfare and visa/work permit costs,
• Cost of required vaccinations, antimalarial medication and health insurance;
• Pre-departure training and in-country orientation;
• Travel and accommodation for reintegration debriefing weekend;
• Access to Employee Assistance Program while in placement and upon return;
• Cuso International assessment day (Candidates must cover the first $200 of the most cost-effective travel expenses and all accommodation costs);
• ravel and accommodation for the five-day pre-departure training course and for in-country orientation;
• Bonus: Additional return flight home or cash in lieu after 12 months of service for volunteers who extend for another 6 months,

Residency and Citizenship

Residency

The majority of Cuso International volunteer applicants are residing in Canada at the time of application and during the pre-departure process. Occasionally we received applications from volunteer applicants who are residing outside of Canada at the time of application. In both instances, between your application date and placement start date, we must be able to contact you and you must be able to contact us easily and promptly throughout the process.

We may require your passport and would need to be aware of your current place of residence and any travel plans you may have during this time. You will also require unrestricted access to Canada during this time for assessment and training, as applicable.

Citizenship

Leaving your country of residence can have significant effects on your citizenship status in that country. It is your responsibility to research the consequences of travelling to Canada during the pre-departure process if you are living outside of Canada and of leaving your country of residence for a placement with the immigration authority where you live.

By applying to this placement, you accept full responsibility for any consequences related to your citizenship, residency and immigration status or penalties as a result of travel to an assessment day, training course, international placement or other Cuso International related travel.

You  must  check the implications that apply to you, but examples include:

• Canadian permanent residents may need to make arrangements with immigration authorities before travelling. These arrangements allow them to travel without risk to their status in Canada. Without them, residency status may be withdrawn.
• Citizens of other countries, including those visiting Canada on a visa, may have travel restrictions.