Position Description

EnCompass LLC is seeking a local consultant to serve as a Social Behavioral Change Communication (SBCC) Expert in Bangladesh for the Evaluation of USAID/Bangladesh Health Activity.

Background

EnCompass is implementing the four-year United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Bangladesh Upoma Activity, providing a range of analytical and advisory services in support of USAID’s design, performance monitoring, evaluation, and operational learning and adapting efforts. Under Upoma, EnCompass has been tasked to conduct a Performance Evaluation of the USAID-financed Marketing Innovations for Sustainable Health Development (MISHD) activity in Bangladesh.

Implemented by Social Marketing Company (SMC), MIHSD has the overall goal to contribute to sustained improvements in the health status of women, children, and families across 19 rural districts and 5 peri-urban districts in Bangladesh. Specifically, the objectives of the MISHD Activity are: (1) to expand access to public health products related to maternal and child health, family planning, reproductive health, and nutrition in Bangladesh; (2) to promote the effective use of these products and encouraging healthy behaviors through behavior change communication (BCC) efforts; (3) to enhance the ability of private sector healthcare providers to deliver proactive, high-quality services and referrals, while fostering strong partnerships to secure support from both public and private sector collaborators.

To achieve the program goal and objectives, interventions under MISHD are grouped into the following Intermediate Results for the life of the program:

• Intermediate Result 1: Increased access to affordable healthcare products and services.

• Intermediate Result 2: Increased adoption of healthy behavior and practices by families and communities.
• Intermediate Result 3: Enhanced engagement of private sector partner for delivery of quality health care/services.

To support the evaluation team as a local subject matter specialists, EnCompass LLC seeks a national SBCC Expert with a master's or an advanced degree in Public Health, Evaluation, or Research.

The Learning Questions (LQs) of the evaluation are:

1. Is MISHD on track to achieve the objectives outlined in the Program Description/scope in terms of:
   1. Increasing adoption of healthy practices
   2. Improving family planning services
   3. Improving maternal and child health services (e.g. antenatal and postnatal care services)
   4. Improving nutrition services (eg. micronutrient supplements for mothers, children and adolescents, growth monitoring for children etc.).

1. What can be done differently to intensify interventions that are equitable and adaptive?
2. What are the key learnings of the social marketing approach and private sector engagement? How does USAID plan to use learnings from the current Global Development Alliance (GDA) to design a future intervention?
3. How successful were the private sector ‘Star’ Providers (Blue and Gold Star Member) in delivering MCH, FP and nutrition services and supporting program activities? How can these star providers be utilized differently to scale their service and be sustainable? What are other private sector options that USAID can tap into?
4. To what extent was MISHD able to strengthen the linkage of the ‘Star’ providers (Blue, Pink, Rose and Green) to the public health system (Sustainability)? What are the learnings and challenges faced while linking ‘Star’ providers into the public system? How can this intervention be done innovatively and differently to make it sustainable?
5. To what extent did MISHD contribute to reducing the equity gap, and to responding to sudden shocks and emergencies (flash flood, landslide, cyclones, COVID 19)?

How successfully did SMC optimize the funding support from USAID? What were the resource optimization strategies and efforts taken by SMC over the years? Did these efforts benefit the health system? Can the approach be replicated to gain efficiency throughout the system?

Position Duties and Responsibilities

Essential functions:

• Support Team Leader on the design and implementation of the performance evaluation.
• Provide expert analysis on SBCC, informing the inception plan, the development of data collection tools, and the preliminary list of key respondents.
• Collect primary data such as KIIs, FGDs and surveys as instructed by Deputy Team Lead and Team Lead.
• Support the collection, analysis, and synthesis of secondary data to complement primary data findings, as delegated by the Team Leader.
• Ensure data collection methods are ethical and thorough, and the accuracy and reliability of the data collected for the evaluation.
• Conduct data analysis and participate in data analysis and interpretation sessions, contributing expertise in SBCC.
• Assist in the drafting of finding and recommendation session with USAID and IPs.
• Assist in the development of the evaluation report, as well as final presentation of findings.

Deliverables and Timing:

• Inputs for the inception report including work plan, detailed methodology, data collection tools, lists of KIIs and FGDs, outline of the final report presenting the proposed structure of the report, and timeline.
• Inputs for regular progress reports/updates to the USAID’s Activity Manager.
• Inputs for, and co-facilitation of, out-brief presentation at the end of field work/data collection on key findings and recommendations,
• Inputs for, a comprehensive draft and, after receiving feedback from USAID, final version of the report.

Period of Performance and Level of Effort (LOE): The LOE for the SBCC Expert is approximately up to 51 days. The period of performance is from on or about October 15, 2024, to March 31, 2025.

Travel: The position requires travel to Barishal, Chattogram, Dhaka, Mymensingh, and Sylhet divisions.

Position Requirements

Qualifications

Academic Qualifications

A master’s degree in international development, gender issues, conflict resolution, political science, or related field is required.

Experience and Skills:

• Master’s or higher degree in a relevant discipline such as Public Health, Research, or Evaluation
• At least 10 years as a technical expert in large scale SBCC programs in Bangladesh
• Demonstrated expertise in implementation of evaluations
• Knowledge, skills, and experience in qualitative evaluation tools preferred
• Proficiency in English required
• Expertise in gender and inclusive development issues

How to Apply

• Please complete the application and submit a cover letter and CV demonstrating how your experience aligns to the requirements above and complete the application.
• Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) programs to write your application materials or to submit answers to screening questions could disqualify your application and/or candidacy

EnCompass LLC is a progressive Equal Opportunity Employer. We promote, celebrate, and support a diverse and inclusive organizational culture and workforce. We are committed to providing all of our employees with an environment free from discrimination and harassment, where all are treated with dignity and respect. We do not tolerate, and explicitly prohibit, discrimination or harassment of any kind, at any time, in all aspects of employment. This includes recruitment, hiring, promotions, disciplinary measures, terminations, compensation, benefits, social and recreational programs, and training. EnCompass also does not tolerate retaliation against individuals who report discrimination or harassment. Our continuing commitment to the principle of Equal Opportunity Employment for all means all employment decisions are based only on the job requirements, the candidate’s qualifications, and the needs of EnCompass as a business—not on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, belief, sex (including pregnancy and related medical conditions), gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability status, veteran status, genetic information, HIV status, family/marital/parental status, or any other status protected by the laws and regulations in the jurisdictions where we work.