The WHO Country office Zambia is seeking to hire a National Professional Officer (NPO) to support the implementation of the Institutionalization of SBI data collection and use for interventions in one country as model for the region. The aim is to establish sustainable capacity in WHO and MOHs Zambia for the integration of social and behavioural data into all health areas and in particular inas part of preparedness, as a core element of mainstreaming behavioural science into public health. Learning from countries which developed a standardized way to collect social and behavioural data in the COVID-19 pandemic, this workstream aims to use the lessons learned to pilot the establishment of a permanent social and behavioural data function to inform public health policies around emergencies.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

 Co-facilitate one project ideation workshop during project kick-off phase.

 Support the development of a project workplan containing detailed activities, milestones and project outputs based on workshop outputs.

 Establish a mechanism for the regular collection of social and behavioural (SBI) data by local behavioural data collection services around priority health topics for the country, including vaccine uptake. Supervise and monitor the implementation of the mechanism.

 Support the planning and delivery of a training workshop for local partners (MoH/ WHO country office decision makers) on the use of social and behavioural data for policy and programme design

 Monitor the inclusion of behavioural data into existing key databases, dashboards, surveillance systems (such as the Collective Service).Prepare briefings and updates targeted at key stakeholders in the region

 Support advocacy efforts for social and behavioural data to be an integrated and systemic component of the National Health Research agenda

 Advocate for inclusion of social and behavioural data collection in public health emergencies, COVID19, Cholera, and other public health issues such as immunization, measles, malaria, tuberculosis, HIV and AIDS youth risk taking behaviours, Non communicable diseases, Maternal and Child Health among other.

 Propose potential BI-interventions based on insights gathered.

 Support the design, implementation and evaluation of one small pilot intervention informed by the social and behavioural data collected

 Support the development and write-up of a relevant pilot project research protocol and submit for national ethics and WHO ERC approvals.

 Produce quarterly and annual reports and document the lessons learned.

 Facilitate trainings and advocacy sessions to create demand for social and behavioural insights among decision makers, management, technical staff and other stakeholders.

 Create a database of researchers and service providers for qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis.

 Document the BI work through publication in grey literature.

 Contribute to the write-up of scientific articles or a case study with lessons learned for publication in a peer reviewed journal.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: A university degree in behavioral and social sciences - psychology, sociology, anthropology or public health field.

Desirable: Knowledge of or qualification in social health related discipline, such as health promotion or risk communication and community engagement.

Experience

Essential

At least 5 years in Public health related topics.

Demonstrated experience in applied research and in the use of a variety of research methods in public health.

At least 5 years of experience applying behavioral sciences, or related theories and knowledge, to policy making and/or to programmes design and implementation.

At least 5 years of experience with project management, including multi-stakeholder research projects.

Demonstrated experience applying behavioural insights to public health

Experience conducting rapid reviews of evidence and literature.

Experience in programme design and implementation.

Desirable

Experience in programme design and implementation.

Proven experience with writing protocols for conducting scientific research.

Experience organizing and delivering adult trainings.

Experience in planning, implementing, monitoring/evaluation of main disease control programs

Essential knowledge and Skills

Ability to think analytically, communicate effectively, and execute efficiently.

Intermediate research and analytical skills as demonstrated by peer-reviewed publications in the area of behavioural sciences or public health.