Company Profile

 

Futures Group develops and delivers innovative, locally relevant, evidence-based solutions to improve the health and well-being of people around the world. Since 1971, we have assisted governmental and non-governmental agencies, foundations, and the private sector by designing, implementing and evaluating programs in HIV, sexual and reproductive health, population and family planning, maternal and child health, infectious diseases, and gender. Futures Group has deep expertise in policy and advocacy, research and strategic information, health markets and private sector engagement, modeling and economic analysis, patient monitoring and management/HMIS, strategic consulting, and program management.

Position: Advocacy and Policy Officer

Location:Nigeria

Position Summary

Family Health Plus (FH+) project is a three-year project operating in federal, state, and local/facility level across Nigeria. FH+ seeks to strengthen the overall health system, build provider capacity to deliver quality services, and empower users to demand quality family planning (FP) services and improve their access to long-acting FP methods. The FH+ project is led by Marie Stopes International Organization Nigeria (MSION) with Marie Stopes International (MSI) and Futures Group as key partners. FH+ plus is in partnership with the United States Agency for International Developments (USAID).

Futures Group is seeking an Advocacy and Policy Officer to support activities to build the capacity of civil society organizations in 10 states to develop and pursue policy advocacy targets. Advocacy targets will focus on task-shifting and health systems strengthening around family planning and maternal and reproductive health, with the goal of increasing the availability, sustainability and quality of family planning services, especially long-acting reversible contraceptives. The position reports directly to the FH+ Health Systems Strengthening Advisor .

Key Responsibilities

• Support the Health Systems Strengthening Advisor (HSSA) in strategic planning, development, and implementation of FH+ policy advocacy and policy activities in collaboration with CSO partners.

• Liaise with civil society organizations, family planning advocacy groups, international partners, and Government of Nigeria Ministries and Agencies at state and federal levels.

• Support HSSA and other MSION staff with technical information on a range of reproductive health and family planning advocacy and policy issues, methods, and approaches.

• Prepare reports, work plans, budgets, and dissemination materials.

• Plan and lead workshops and advocacy campaigns.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in public health or related social science

• 7-10 years of progressively responsible experience with public health projects, particularly family planning and reproductive health

• Demonstrated experience with civil society advocacy organizations and activities at state or federal level

• Thorough knowledge of the family planning landscape in Nigeria

• Experience with budgeting and budget tracking

• Mastery of written and verbal communication skills

• Familiarity with Microsoft Excel and word processing

• Experience with USAID projects is a plus

Work Environment

• Usual office working conditions free of disagreeable elements.

• Terms of Employment: Contract

• Duration of Employment one year  with possible extension

• Project duration: 2014-2016

• Position location: Abuja, Nigeria (with about 30-40% travel to states)

• Relocation costs are not available for this position

• Must be authorized to work in Nigeria

How to apply

All applications for this position should be submitted online at www.futuresgroup.com via the Careers page.  Futures Group provides equal employment to all participants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, veteran or marital status.