Communication and Learning Consultant

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization driven by the belief that a better world is possible. In times of disaster, hardship, and crisis, across more than 40 countries, we partner with communities to implement bold solutions that help people overcome adversity and build stronger, more resilient communities from within—now and for the future.

Mercy Corps Nigeria implements a wide range of humanitarian and development programs aimed at building productive, secure, and just communities. Our work spans economic development, livelihoods and food security, adolescent girls' and boys' empowerment, financial resilience, conflict management, and humanitarian response. Across all our programming, we prioritize community engagement, inclusive development, gender equality, and partnerships with local government, the private sector, and civil society actors.

Locations: Maiduguri - Borno & Damaturu - Yobe
Employment Type: Consultancy
Contract Duration: One (1) Month (30 Days)
Proposed Consultancy Period: 15 July 2026 – 15 August 2026

Project Overview

• The NHF-funded Integrated Lifesaving WASH & Nutrition Response in Borno and Yobe aims to address acute malnutrition and WASH-related disease risks through a coordinated, multi-sectoral approach targeting over 153,000 vulnerable people.

Purpose and Objectives

• The consultant will generate high-quality visual content that documents how programs are implemented, what works, what does not, and why, through structured visual storytelling, interviews, and contextual footage.
• Mercy Corps seeks to engage a Communication and Learning Consultant to support the production of end-of-project visual documentation of Mercy Corps' implementation of the project, with a strong focus on capturing learning, evidence, and storytelling.
• The assignment will be executed across three phases:
  • Pre-Production
  • Field Production
  • Post-Production and Delivery
• The assignment will contribute to the learning plan of the program by addressing the following learning questions:

Learning Questions
Overarching Question (Integration):

• What added value does integrated WASH–Nutrition programming in fragile contexts provide compared to standalone nutrition interventions in reducing child wasting?

Example of a lower-level question to further explore the above:

• Through which pathways does integrated WASH–Nutrition deliver additional reductions in child wasting—particularly through reduced illness burden (e.g., diarrhoea and other WASH-related morbidity), improved caregiver practices (food hygiene, handwashing, safe water use), and improved nutrition service uptake/adherence—and how do these pathway changes translate into improved wasting outcomes (incidence, recovery, relapse/default)?

WASH:

• How effective are rehabilitated/constructed water points and sanitation facilities in improving access, safety, and hygiene outcomes?

Nutrition:

• How do different MAM treatment modalities (RUSF vs. Tom Brown) compare in relation to recovery outcomes and caregiver acceptance?

Operational / Enablers:

• What are the enablers and bottlenecks that influence NHF team members' ability to understand, design, implement, and manage integrated WASH and Nutrition emergency responses?

Design, Methods and Deliverables:

• Working closely with the Communications team, the consultant will leverage a mix of desk reviews and primary data collection (through videography) as a critical part of the asset-gathering process.

Desk review documents will include:

• Routine Monitoring Reports
• SOPs and Implementation Approach documents
• Proposal documents
• Program-generated stories and reports

The consultant will also work closely with the Learning and Documentation Consultant to establish a strong foundation for the assignment by aligning with Mercy Corps teams and defining a clear visual learning approach through the following key steps:

• Program Familiarization
• Field Production / Data Collection
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Development of Documentation Plan

Visual Documentation of Program Implementation:

• Program activities
• Community engagement and accountability
• Service delivery quality
• Implementation processes

Interviews and Testimonies:

• Community members/beneficiaries
• Story Development in the Field
• External stakeholders
• Internal stakeholders
• Contextual and Environmental Footage
• Photo Processing
• Video Editing:
  • Short thematic videos (1–3 minutes each)
  • Narrative development
  • Documentary video (15–20 minutes)
• Post-Production and Content Development
• Integration of Learning
• Technical Standards

Final Deliverables
Final Deliverables Package:
Photo Deliverables:

• 50–100 edited high-resolution images, fully captioned and categorized

Video Deliverables:

• One (1) documentary video (15–20 minutes)
• Six (6) to Nine (9) short thematic videos (1–3 minutes each)

Raw Files:

• All raw photos and video footage organized by location, date, and activity

Learning Products:

• Produce 3–5 high-quality infographic learning briefs. Themes will be jointly reviewed with the Mercy Corps team to ensure alignment with the learning plan.

Documentation:

• Summary note highlighting key stories and themes captured
• Signed consent forms for all participants
• Metadata and file index

Eligibility / Consultant Selection Criteria
The consultant must meet the following minimum qualifications and competencies:
Education:

• Minimum of a Bachelor's degree in Social Sciences, Development Studies, Economics, Communications, or a related field.

Experience:

• Demonstrated experience producing videography, lessons learned products, analytical reports, frameworks, and learning briefs for humanitarian or development programmes.
• Proven track record of working with international NGOs, donors, and multi-sectoral programmes, particularly in fragile and conflict-affected settings.
• Prior experience working in Northern Nigeria or similar humanitarian contexts is a strong advantage.
• 3–5 years of progressive professional experience in learning documentation, knowledge management, development communication, or research.

Technical Competencies:

• Proven capacity to design and deliver high-quality learning products, including infographics, briefing papers, and narrative reports.
• Ability to translate complex technical and monitoring data into clear and compelling narratives.
• Sound understanding of Gender, Social Inclusion, Conflict Sensitivity, and Do No Harm principles.
• Strong qualitative research and synthesis skills, including desk reviews, KIIs, and FGDs.

Communication and Language Skills:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Working knowledge of local languages (e.g., Hausa) is an added advantage.
• Ability to communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders, including programme teams and community actors.

Professional Attributes:

• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to meet tight deadlines.
• Demonstrated professionalism, confidentiality, and adherence to data protection standards.

Reporting Line:

• The Consultant will report directly to the Mercy Corps Nigeria Communication Manager and the Program Performance and Quality Director.

Consultancy Duration:

• The consultancy will be implemented over 30 days, from 15 July 2026 to 15 August 2026, working closely with the MEL, Programmes, and Communications teams.