PCO Extender

Overview of position

• Deploying provincial communication officers to support demand generation for polio vaccine and reduce missed children in immunization campaigns through coordination and engagement of communities and provincial authorities, and capacity building of frontline workers.
• Afghanistan and Pakistan remain the world’s only polio-endemic countries. In 2024, Afghanistan reported 25 cases of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) and 106 environmental isolates, primarily from the eastern and southern regions. As of May 2025, two WPV1 cases and 25 environmental isolations have been reported. The eastern and southern regions continue to be classified as high-risk and remain priority areas for the polio eradication program.
• Given the ongoing risk of virus circulation and the shift in campaign modality from house-to-house to site-to-site, there is an increased need for community engagement between campaign rounds. This also necessitates adapting campaign-based social mobilization strategies to align with the site-to-site modality to ensure optimal coverage.
• To address these needs, the PULL strategy has been developed, focusing specifically on high-risk areas. As part of the strategy’s implementation, the realignment of frontline workers (FLWs) has been undertaken to concentrate efforts in high-risk zones while maintaining a minimal footprint in low-risk areas.
• To further support the implementation of the PULL strategy, our client is planning to recruit Provincial Communication Officers (PCOs). They will work under the supervision of the SBC Extender/ Regional SBC Specialist/Officer. PCOs will supervise DCOs/FMVs and collaborate closely with other FLWs, partners, local authorities, stakeholders, community-based structures, and caregivers.
• The polio eradication programme is operating in polio high risk areas. Access to communities at risk is essential for the program to contain the polio virus transmission through increasing the community collective immunity. Polio outreach workers recruited from the local communities are deployed to address vaccine uptake issues and mobilise their communities. Due to the need to cover all the polio high-risk areas, including the most remote ones, our client staff members are unable to carry out such tasks. Under this contract, supervision and facilitation of community engagement activities, field level coordination and capacity building of FLWS is conducted through provincial communication officers.

Role objectives

Specific Tasks/Activities – Provincial Communication Officer:

Planning & Oversight:

• Support and oversee the action planning and performance monitoring of DCOs and FMVs to ensure alignment with program objectives.
• Ensure integrated microplanning between SBC and operations teams is regularly updated.
• Provide technical oversight to DCOs for monthly, evidence-based communication plans.
• Facilitate the timely payments of performing ICN during the campaign and engagement activities.
• Prepare budget plan and financial reports of funds utilization at the provincial level.

Social Mobilization & Community Engagement:

• Manage the planning, implementation, and monitoring of all community engagement, mobilization, and communication activities.
• Identify and engage local influencers (elders, grand-mothers, religious scholars, etc.) for campaign support.
• Design and conduct engagement initiatives with religious leaders, women’s groups, and professional networks.

Support to Female Mobilization Vaccinators (FMVs):

• Assist in deployment, training, and monitoring of FMVs in high-risk and convergence districts.
• Supervise FMVs for on-the-job training and improved health education outcomes.

Training & Capacity Building:

• Coordinate with regional trainers and provide training to ICN personnel based on assessed capacity gaps.
• Train campaign-based social mobilizers to reduce refusals and missed children.
• Review and pre-test communication and training materials.

Monitoring, Supervision & Reporting:

• Conduct field monitoring visits to assess district and cluster-level activities.
• Supervise campaign-based social mobilizers, CCSs, and SMs.
• Support rumor tracking, misinformation management, and reporting.
• Collect social data on confirmed polio cases.
• Provide structured feedback to PEMT/REMT/DoPH on RI program and social listening group monitoring.

Advocacy & Coordination:

• Coordinate advocacy efforts with provincial authorities and key line directorates.
• Work with WHO, NGOs, religious/opinion leaders, CBOs, youth and women groups.
• Represent communication activities at REOC/REMT and other subnational coordination forums.

Cold Chain & Logistics Coordination:

• Collaborate with supply committees to ensure timely vaccine/tool distribution.
• Update and share cold chain inventory reports.
• Monitor vaccine management, availability, and online dashboards.
• Ensure proper filling and submission of Daily Summary Sheets and Vials Tracking Forms.

Campaign-Specific Responsibilities:

Pre- Campaign:

• Plan and supervise pre-campaign activities e.g. community and authorities engagement, capacity building and mobilization through SM, FMVs contribution etc.
• Ensure readiness of cold chain and supply chain logistics.
• Ensure campaign inauguration at provincial level with participation of key stakeholders.

Intra Campaign:

• Monitor clusters with high missed or refusal rates; ensure swift corrective actions.
• Participate in evening meetings to capture and respond to field challenges.
• Conduct and monitor community outreach to reduce refusal and missed children's rates.

Post Campaign:

• Draft detailed reports with improvement recommendations.
• Analyze administrative and PCA data for gaps and future improvements.
• Ensure destruction and return of vaccine vials as per protocol within deadlines.

DELIVERABLE(s):

• Monthly work plans and performance reports submitted and approved.
• Integrated SBC and operations microplans developed and updated.
• Community engagement activities conducted, and influencer involvement documented.
• FMVs deployed, trained, and supervised in high-risk and convergence districts (where applicable).
• ICN and SMs trained; training sessions completed and reported.
• Field monitoring visits conducted, and reports submitted.
• Advocacy meetings held and coordination with stakeholders ensured.
• Provincial level campaign inauguration conducted.
• Cold chain inventories updated, and logistics reports shared.
• Campaign reports (pre, during, post) completed and submitted.
• Financial reports compiled and ICN/SM payments processed.

Project reporting

This role reports to the line manager.

Key competencies

Minimum qualifications and experience required:

• University degree in social science, political science, Sharia and law, medical science, public health.
• Experience in the Polio programme is given priority.
• At least three years’ experience in relevant fields
• Experience in health promotion is a plus.
• Ability to travel to health facilities in the districts and villages for monitoring and support as required.
• Fluent in the local languages of the area
• Fluency in the English language is desirable.
• Good computer skills including MS Office and use of internet.

Team management

This role has no team management responsibility.

Further information

Qualified female candidates are encouraged to apply for this role.