Community Nurse Counselor (6 Positions)

DISTINCT FUTURE OF CVDA

CVDA has been re-registered and licensed by the Ethiopian Ministry of Justice, Charities and Societies Agency, on November 30, 2009 as an Ethiopian Residents charity in accordance with the Charities and Societies proclamation No. 621/2009 with registration No. 0588. As per 1113/2019 proclamation also re-registered on July 30, 2019.

CVDA has permission to work at the national level however so far operates marginal parts of Benshangule Gumuz Region, Sidama region, South Ethiopia Region, Central Ethiopia region, South west Ethiopia region, Oromiya region, Afar region and Addis Ababa City administration.

It is member of Consortium of Reproductive Health Association (CORHA), Union of Ethiopian Women Charitable Association (UEWCA), Ethiopian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative/EEITI/, Ethiopia Civil Society Coalition for Scaling up Nutrition/ECSC-SUN/ and Afar Region Health Partner Forum.

The following are CVDA’s vision, mission, goals, principles and values:

Vision

CVDA envisions a poverty-free Ethiopia where equity and equality are ensured.

Mission:

CVDA’s mission is to enhance socioeconomic development in health, education, agriculture, environment, livelihood, and WaSH, humanitarian responses, community-based peace-building, and good governance through holistic approaches and working with the community to contribute towards sustainable development and an improved standard of living in Ethiopia.

Overall goal:

CVDA’s goal is to contribute to poverty alleviation through community-based approaches by implementing programs for development, good governance, and humanitarian responses in different regions of the country.

CORE VALUES

CVDA and its operations enshrine the following values.

• Integrity: Upholding the principles of honesty and responsibility and maintaining the highest ethical standards possible.
• Courage of conviction: CVDA’s pledge is to fight against poverty and hunger and always take sides with the poorest and most disadvantaged groups and help them bring about positive changes in their lives.
• Accountability: This espouses CVDA’s ongoing commitment to be accountable for its actions and to respond periodically to questions concerning its activities or answer to those who will be affected by our decisions or actions.
• Transparency: CVDA takes decisions and implements them in a manner that follows the rules and regulations. Moreover, CVDA shall provide key stakeholders with reliable, relevant, and timely information on matters that concern them.
• Sensitivity: CVDA is sensitive to conflict, gender, resources, culture, and social values in all of its program design, implementation, monitoring, and reporting and hence it wishes to be impartial and equitable in all its actions and activities

5.5.       PRINCIPLES

CVDA adheres to the following principles:

• Real-time and change-oriented performance
• Belief that results can be achieved if the process is sound and suitable
• Trustworthiness
• Team spirit
• Ownership
• Volunteerism
• Compliance and commitment
• Do no harm
• Value for money\
• Sustainability

PROGRAMSANDACTIVITIES

1. Reproductive and Primary Health Program

2. Water supply, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) Program

3. Food Security, Livelihood Diversification and Natural Resource Conservation Program

4. Education Program

5. Emergency and Relief Program

Project Name:- Community HIV Prevention Program  

Position Title: – Community Nurse Counselor

Number of employee:-6        

Reports To:- Project Coordinator  

Job Location:- Hawassa, Shashemene, and Arba minch in  Ethiopia

Salary:  Based on organizational scale

Job Summary

The Community Nurse Counselor will provide community-based HIV prevention, screening, testing, counseling, referral, and retention services to people at increased risk of HIV. Based at Community Contact Points, the position will reach underserved populations through targeted outreach and provide HIV, STI, and hepatitis screening, testing, and referral services.

The position will refer clients to appropriate health facilities, follow up on referrals, and support continued access to care. All services must protect client privacy and confidentiality, respond to client needs, and comply with national guidelines and organizational standards. Services beyond initial screening, counseling, testing, and referral will be provided at designated health facilities.

Key Responsibilities

Community Outreach, Demand Creation, and Mobilization

• Map hotspots and plan outreach activities to identify underserved and high-risk populations.
• Mobilize communities and promote the use of HIV prevention and other health services.
• Promote HIV testing, HIV self-testing, condom use, and referrals for PrEP, ART, STI care, hepatitis services, family planning, and other appropriate services.
• Work with peer educators, community leaders, health facilities, and partners to strengthen referral systems.

HIV Risk Assessment and Counseling

• Assess clients’ HIV risk using approved national tools.
• Provide pre-test information and post-test counseling.
• Counsel clients on reducing risks associated with unsafe sex, substance use, and alcohol use.
• Support clients in developing practical risk-reduction plans.
• Provide condom education, demonstrations, promotion, and distribution

First-Level HIV Screening, Testing, and Referral Services

• Provide community-based HIV screening, testing, counseling, and referral services at hotspots and Community Contact Points.
• Conduct community- and home-based HIV testing for eligible clients at increased risk.
• Perform rapid HIV testing in accordance with the national testing algorithm and quality standards.
• Promote and distribute HIV self-testing kits to eligible clients.
• Apply targeted, risk-based approaches to identify potential HIV cases.
• Screen clients for STI symptoms and refer them for diagnosis and treatment.
• Assess hepatitis risk and refer clients for screening and care.
• Promote regular HIV testing and other preventive health services.
• Follow infection prevention and control procedures.
• Protect client privacy and confidentiality at all times.
• Plan and request supplies required for screening, testing, counseling, and referral services.

Referral, Linkage, and Retention Services

• Immediately refer clients with reactive or positive HIV screening results for confirmatory testing and ART initiation.
• Refer eligible HIV-negative clients for PrEP and other HIV prevention services.
• Refer clients for TB, STI, hepatitis, family planning, and other approved services.
• Complete referral documentation accurately and promptly.
• Follow up with clients to confirm that they received referred services and help address access barriers.
• Coordinate with health facilities and partners to strengthen referral and feedback systems.
• Confirm ART initiation, PrEP enrollment, and completion of other referrals.
• Provide adherence support, appointment reminders, and follow-up for clients who miss appointments.
• Keep client contact information accurate and up to date to support continued care.

Commodity Management

• Forecast commodity needs based on service utilization and targets.
• Receive, store, count, and manage supplies appropriately.
• Distribute approved commodities using the first-in, first-out (FIFO) principle.
• Transfer stock when necessary to prevent shortages and expiry.
• Monitor stock levels and submit timely supply reports.

Documentation, Reporting, and Quality Improvement

• Record all Community Contact Point services using approved tools, including CommCare, UDS forms, testing records, and referral registers.
• Maintain complete, accurate, and timely records of outreach, screening, testing, referrals, linkage, and follow-up activities.
• Submit all required reports on time.
• Review referral and linkage outcomes to identify opportunities for service improvement.
• Participate in supervision, mentoring, data quality assessments, and quality-improvement activities.
• Comply with national guidelines, standard operating procedures, organizational policies, safeguarding standards, and infection prevention requirements.

Other Responsibilities

• Work with nearby key-population-friendly clinics and health offices on planning, review, and reporting.
• Maintain effective working relationships with government offices and public health facilities.
• Support outreach campaigns and special service events.
• Demonstrate professionalism and protect client confidentiality and rights.
• Perform other related duties assigned by the supervisor.

Minimum Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing or training as a Public Health Officer from a recognized institution.
• Three to five years of clinical experience working with at-risk populations.
• Experience working in a MULU Key Population Activity DIC is an advantage.
• Experience working in NGO-supported HIV or other health programs.
• Experience working in private clinics or public key-population-prevention clinics.
• Experience using clinical records and reporting systems, including CommCare and DHIS2.
• A valid and current professional nursing license.

Relevant Skills and Areas of Expertise

• Clinical nursing
• Public health
• Psychology
• Counseling
• Social work
• Health sciences
• Nursing