Associate, Communicaiton

In Swaziland, the country with the highest HIV prevalence in the world, a consortium of multi-disciplinary stakeholders, led by the Government of Swaziland, is managing an initiative called, MaxART – Maximizing ART for Better Health and Zero New HIV Infections. MaxART includes a unique package of interventions aimed at ensuring that all individuals who need it have access to high quality HIV testing, treatment, and lifelong care.

Scaling up HIV testing and treatment access and uptake sets the stage for Swaziland to put into practice the exciting new evidence that treatment not only benefits the individual living with HIV, it can also serve as a means of prevention by reducing the risk of new HIV infections. Enabling people living with HIV to access treatment immediately after they are diagnosed with HIV may prove to be game-changing in the HIV response, but it is first essential to investigate the currently unanswered questions around what it will take to implement earlier treatment and how acceptable it will be. To do so, Swaziland is going to embark on a 3-year Treatment as Prevention (TasP) Implementation Study, working towards the country’s overarching goal of ending new HIV infections. One of the critical components to the success of this intervention is a robust communication strategy. Establishing and delivering the right messages for each target group (the community, people living with HIV, health workers, and policy makers) will be essential for success.

Currently, the MaxART team is completing a pre-study assessment in Swaziland to better understand the current knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of clients, community members, and health workers related to HIV Treatment and HIV Treatment for Prevention, which will form the basis for very important next steps around messaging and communications. The MaxART consortium is now looking for a Communications Associate to join them to lead the effort of defining a robust communication and messaging strategy for implementation of earlier HIV treatment in Swaziland.

Responsibilities: The Communications Associate will report to the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) Country Director and will be responsible for liaising and collaborating with multiple stakeholders, including all major project partners:

• Develop a communication and messaging strategy and implementation plan for the “Immediate Access to Treatment for All” Implementation Study • Develop communication and messaging strategies in line with and informed by the needs of the communities and the pre-testing and testing process • Draft the initial IEC materials, job aids, and tools required for the study and further roll-out • Develop a media and publication communication plan for the duration of the study and implement some of the relevant strategies including briefings with press and media to kick-off the initial messaging campaign and to create more awareness around appropriate messages about immediate access to HIV treatment • Build relationships with multiple stakeholders, including press and media, Government bodies, partner organizations and support in-country partners of the MaxART program, including the MOH, with technical assistance around additional and related communication needs linked to the HIV response in the country Qualifications: • Bachelors degree in relevant field including communications, public relations, linguistics, journalism, or a related field • 3- 5 years of experience in comprehensive communications position • Strategic, proactive, enthusiastic, and detail-oriented with excellent planning, organization, and prioritization skills • Proven skills in developing simple messages for complex issues to specific audiences • Demonstrated strong writing skills in a variety of styles for varied audiences • Thorough knowledge of the procedures involved in the planning and production of publications and electronic materials (print, audio-visual, and online) • Adept with computer applications including Microsoft Office, (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and facility with Adobe In Design and Photoshop is desirable Advantages: • Language skills in Siswati or similar language • Experience working in the Southern African region • Experience in the health sector Please apply here https://careers-chai.icims.com/jobs/3793/associate%2c-communications/job

How to apply:

Please apply here https://careers-chai.icims.com/jobs/3793/associate%2c-communications/job