Digital engagement consultant | Niamey, Niger | 2023

Chemonics seeks a Short-Term Digital Engagement Consultant (remote) to support an engagement strategy for health and facility managers in Niger at the regional and district levels to improve logistics data use for decision-making. The estimated total consultancy effort is expected to be 60 days over six months (April 20 – October 20, 2023). GHSC-PSM in Niger implements an antimalarial commodity distribution pilot activity for the last-mile distribution in the Dosso and Tahoua regions. The project collects and analyses a wide range of logistical data as part of its monthly distributions.

To collect data that extends beyond the project’s needs, GHSC-PSM developed dashboards with specific logistical analyses segmented for regional and district health and facility managers to make decisions. The dashboards provide data on commodity availability and delivery. In particular, they provide 1) information on available stocks by facility or district, 2) stock-outs by category of facilities, and 3) quantities delivered by the product.

Since January 2023, GHSC-PSM has shared the dashboards via WhatsApp using a conversational chatbot. Users can download the dashboard of their choice according to their profile. This “on-demand” sharing approach contributes to developing decision-maker engagement. However, sharing on its own does not guarantee that the data will be used to improve the decision-making of healthcare managers.

The aim is to help health facility decision-makers understand and use logistics analysis to inform their processes, thereby strengthening the supply chain for health commodities, particularly antimalarials.

The engagement strategy must rely heavily on communications via WhatsApp, and SMS, including tools built into the platform such as polling, and more traditional engagements such as in-person meetings, workshops, and digital channels, including the GHSC-PSM website and social media. This engagement strategy aims to develop a ‘habit’ among users of incorporating logistics data in their decision-making through consistent and regular engagement. This strategy supports the project’s ongoing efforts to engage decision-makers in using evidence for decision-making.

WhatsApp is a widely used yet often under-utilized communication platform that can be utilized as a behavior change tool. Our engagement strategy must be based on targeted segmentation of decision-makers and leverage the power of WhatsApp to provide them with instant, relevant and engaging content. The estimated targeted audience in the regions of Dosso and Tahoua is 464 decision-makers:

– Regional Public Health Directors: 2

– NMCP Regional coordinators: 2

– District Chief Doctors: 21

– District M&E officers: 21

– Regional pharmacists: 2

– Facility Managers: 416

Objectives

• By September 2023, the number of monthly requests from decision-makers for access to logistics dashboards will be at least 50% of the total requests across all channels.
• By September 2023, at least 50% of decision-makers will report that logistics dashboard analytics have improved their understanding of logistics issues.
• By September 2023, at least 50% of decision-makers will report making at least one major decision based on data provided by the Logistics Dashboard.

We are looking for individuals who have a passion for making a difference in the lives of people around the world.

Responsibilities include:

• Work closely with the GHSC-PSM Niger M&E team and the GHSC-PSM Global Communication and Knowledge Management Team
• Develop an engagement strategy (20 days)
• Develop/configure/fine-tune communication platform and tools (20 days)
• Provide strategy management and ongoing support for content development (20 days)
• Provide monthly analytics read out to assess and improve campaign performance
• Report to the Country Director for direct supervision

Qualifications:

• At least a Bachelor’s Degree in digital marketing, social science, communication, or a related field.
• At least three years of experience leading a community of practice
• Expertise in behavior change communication (to managers/decision makers) through traditional and digital approaches via the web and WhatsApp preferred
• Demonstrated experience in developing targeted communication strategies in West Africa, Experience specifically working with a development organization or working with health-focused audiences preferred.
• Experience using What’s App for marketing, PR, or advocacy campaigns, including experience with the platform’s analytics tools, polling, and other features built into the app.
• Demonstrated experience assessing audience-specific communications needs
• An understanding of local and global social media use, the digital landscape and communications trends and how to develop a strategy that integrates them across digital channels
• Experience using analytics tools to regularly assess campaign performance and modify communications to increase the likeliness of successful results
• Experience in video editing for social media, such as YouTube tutorials
• Experience with developing storyboards and working with graphic designers on infographics and other collateral
• Experience developing professional social media
• Strong knowledge of audio recording and editing tools
• Strong writing skills (social media posts, success stories, etc.) preferred
• Business API; ideally MessageBird and respond.io
• Experience with JSON format and webhooks
• Previous work experience in a similar role is highly desirable
• Ability to work remotely with minimal supervision
• Experience in the Adobe Creative Suite preferred
• Demonstrated leadership, versatility, and integrity
• Fluency in both written and spoken French and English is highly desirable