Join us!
Delivering Innovation in Self-Care (DISC) is a five-year intervention funded by the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) that works with consumers, healthcare providers, governments and health systems in Nigeria and Uganda to catalyze voluntary self-injection of DMPA-SC contraceptives and promote additional forms of self-care. The investment aims to better understand the conditions under which consumers and providers will demand self-care interventions, and the feasibility of delivering high quality, cost-effective, self-care services at scale.
Sexual behavior and reproduction are conditioned by power dynamics and predominant societal ideas around gender-specific lifestyle priorities. Prevalent notions about an individual’s level of autonomy over their healthcare decisions in turn affect their consumer behavior and whether they, their partner(s) or their peers are (or should be) interested in using contraceptive self-care products such as DMPA-SC. We are looking for a Gender Advisor Consultant (either an individual or a firm) who can support the project to develop an overarching Gender Strategy that will shape all aspects of project implementation by understanding and addressing the multifaceted ways in which gender norms influence people’s sexual behavior and healthcare decisions and can affect whether, how, and why people choose self-care products and services. The Gender Advisor Consultant will develop a strategy that both looks broadly at gender-related factors that influence self-care in Sub-Saharan Africa, and more specifically focuses on gender issues pertaining to self-injection of DMPA-SC contraceptives.
This role is expected to be remote during the COVID-19 pandemic, with potential for travel to Sub-Saharan Africa once international travel becomes safe. The Gender Advisor Consultant will be expected to catch up quickly on the project’s progress to date and lead the gender strategy formation process, in close consultation with project leadership and technical staff. The role will report to the DISC Deputy Director.
Sound like you? Read on.
Your contribution
In partnership with remotely based and field-based project leadership and technical staff, develop a DISC gender strategy that underscores ways in which the project can be gender transformative in its approach to encouraging women to self-inject DMPA-SC
Advise on best approach for incorporating gender strategy into DISC communications, campaign design, and training of health providers
Shape DISC’s gender strategy by applying best practices and insights learned from other interventions regarding the intersection between gender norms, self-care and SRH in DISC countries (currently Nigeria and Uganda)
Create a structured approach to assessing gendered elements within DISC marketing campaign messaging, to ensure that DISC’s Marketing Agencies are “on message” in terms of both adapting to local gender norms while maintaining a gender transformative stance
Present findings and lead brown bag or other DISC team discussions on relevant gender-related insights pertaining to DMPA-SC self-injection or self-care more broadly
Highlight and advise on gender-related risks, e.g. potential danger of gender-based violence against women accessing DISC messaging or services.
Facilitate a gender workshop for relevant PSI sexual and reproductive health (SRH) projects – TBD
What are we looking for?
The candidate or firm we select will embody PSI’s corporate values:
Results Oriented: You use evidence to make decisions and guide your work to achieving measurable results. You set clear goalposts in advance and explain clearly if you need to move them. **
Pragmatism: You’ll strive to deliver the best possible result with the resources available. You won’t be paralyzed by a need to make things perfect.
Honesty: You own your mistakes and are open about your shortcomings – you know it’s the only way you’ll learn and improve.
Collaboration: You’ll quickly establish a mental map of whom you can rely on for what, on your team, at headquarters, and in our country offices – if you try to do it all yourself, you won’t succeed.
Trust: You accept limits to your sphere of control and give colleagues the benefit of the doubt.
The basics
At least 10 years of specialized experience focused on gender for global health interventions; deep expertise in global gender inequities and gender stereotypes that impact health system functioning
Previous experience with SRH and/or Social Marketing projects required; preference for expertise with contraception and self-care
Deep professional experience in Sub-Saharan African countries, including Nigeria, Uganda and/or similar contexts is desirable
Strong data analytics and measurement capabilities, with a comprehensive understanding and gender aspects of project monitoring & evaluation, including using gender indicators for social behavior change communications (SBCC)
Familiarity with gender strategies and priorities of key global health donors, e.g. CIFF, BMGF, etc., as well as gender priorities within the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)
Demonstrated cross-cultural sensitivity and ability to communicate effectively across cultural boundaries
An exceptional focus on results, with a high degree of personal initiative
Fluency in English
Relevant degree, e.g. graduate degree in public health or social sciences preferred.
What would get us excited?
Virtual Collaboration Guru. You excel at working a part of a geographically dispersed team, making effective and innovative use of digital forums to proactively communicate and coordinate with project teams remotely.
Women’s Rights and Self-Care Advocate. You are passionate about making people’s healthcare experience as ‘frictionless’ as possible by equipping them with everything they need to meet their own healthcare needs, thereby empowering users and reducing strain on formal healthcare systems.
User-centered mindset. You embrace user-centered design processes, always keeping the end user’s needs and desires top of mind.
Apply via :
careers-psi.icims.com
