Advocacy, Communication and Social Mobilization (ACSM) Consultancy – USAID ZAM-Health  Activity

Engagement of a consultant/firm to develop an Advocacy, Communication and Social Mobilization (ACSM) Strategy for the National TB and Leprosy Program (NTLP)

Background

The USAID Zambia Accessible Markets for Health (ZAM-Health) Project, implemented by John Snow Health Zambia, is a five-year project that aims to sustainably expand the availability and accessibility of high-quality health products and services in the private sector, improve health knowledge, and increase the adoption of healthy and health-seeking behaviors. The program will employ both supply and demand-side interventions working in partnership with the private sector (for-profit and nonprofit entities) as well as the Government of Zambia, to achieve these outcomes.

To achieve universal access to TB care, it is critical to design and implement issue based specific ACSM initiatives that create demand for services, facilitate early diagnosis and treatment. In order to achieve this, the USAID Zambia Accessible Markets for Health (ZAM-Health) Project is supporting the Ministry of Health under the National TB and Leprosy Program to develop a National TB Advocacy, Communication and Social Mobilization (ACSM) Strategy. The strategy will form the basis for strengthening engagement and forging partnerships with multiple stakeholders that will include TB Implementing Partners (IP’s), Community Based Organizations (CBOs), Private Health Providers, and key and vulnerable populations by mobilizing stakeholders and resources for TB.

Scope of Work

I. Summary

USAID ZAM-Health project is seeking a consultant/firm to develop a comprehensive National TB Advocacy, Communication and Social Mobilization (ACSM) Strategy. The strategy will form the basis for strengthening engagement and forging partnerships with multiple stakeholders that will include TB Implementing Partners (IP’s), Community Based Organizations (CBOs), Private Health Providers, and key and vulnerable populations (KVPs) by mobilizing stakeholders and resources for TB.

The strategy will include community engagement, active TB case finding, communication and monitoring and evaluation plan. Strategy development should take into account the viewpoint of multiple stakeholders including project participants and should consider the gender dimension of the proposed communication and intervention strategies.

II. Background

The objective of the consultancy is to develop a National TB Advocacy, Communication and Social Mobilization (ACSM) Strategy including the following components:

1. Advocacy: advocate for political commitment, policy change and increased funding to the TB program with focus on demand creation.
2. Communications: Based on document review and consultation with stakeholders, prepare a contextual analysis including key behaviors to be promoted, primary and supporting audiences for the strategy, current barriers to and facilitators for improved behaviors, and information gaps related to the behaviors that require additional formative research.
3. Social Mobilization: Outline social mobilization interventions that bring together community members and stakeholders to strengthen community participation. This should focus on strengthening structures that facilitate referrals among service providers, strengthen patient support, promotes treatment completion and reduce stigma and discrimination
4. M&E: Develop a Monitoring and Evaluation Plan outlining ACSM monitoring tools

III. Activities and Level of Effort

The consultant will be supported by the SBC Director, TB ACSM Advisor and the clinical team. The following are the specific activities:

• Facilitate twice-weekly meetings with MOH and partners to input in the development of the ACSM strategy along with key messages and communication products.
• Support the MOH ACSM Core team and engage in efforts to improve TB Case finding, strengthen stakeholders and opinion leader’s/influencers’ engagement around the use and application of the ACSM strategy and actions contained within.
• Develop and provide orientation and training tools related to TB case-finding, improved treatment outcomes, capacity building of health workers, sub-national, staff, and other staff working together to promote and increase case-finding and treatment outcomes.
• Develop training and orientation modules and materials to engage partners and key stakeholder groups,
• Work with the team to and support the development of communication products and materials for a wide range of participant groups – including healthcare workers – in order to promote uptake of TB services.

IV. Required Skills and Qualifications

• Previous experience developing national level ACSM strategies
• Previous experience in the SADC region
• Previous experience with the TB technical content
• Ability to use secondary data to conduct a specific contextual analysis and identify gaps that need to be filled in order to develop an ACSM strategy
• Familiarity with and ability to adapt pre-testing and communication planning tools
• Familiarity with and ability to adapt M & E tools and methodologies for gauging the effectiveness of ACSM Strategies
• Qualitative/participatory research and analysis skills. Past experience with using research data to target messages to different primary and secondary audiences through appropriate media and channels
• Collaborative working style
• Ability to produce deliverables in a results-oriented, time-sensitive environment
• Excellent communication, writing, and organizational skills

V. Deliverables

• 8 Meetings with MOH and partners to input in the development of the ACSM strategy held
• An ACSM Strategy Document including Communication Plan and M & E Plan developed and approved by MOH
• Orientation and training tools developed and approved

Activity Manager: TB ACSM Advisor

Timeframe

The consultant should submit a detailed Final draft integrated SBC strategy within 30 days.

Kindly follow the link below to apply and upload the necessary supporting documents

Please note that you do not need to apply if you don’t meet the minimum requirements. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. If you have not heard from us within three weeks after the closing date, kindly assume that your application was not successful.

Closing Date: February 3, 2023

JSH is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer committed to workplace diversity. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all qualified applicants and employees without regard to age, race, color, national origin, ancestry, creed, religion, gender, disability, marital status, gender identity, sexual orientation, sexual preference, genetic information or political affiliation.