District TB Officer (DTO) for TB Project from Afar Zone 3 KAPTB Project

Brief introduction

REACH Ethiopia is a non-profit local organization established and registered as an Ethiopian Residents’ Charity. It strives to contribute to community development by implementing innovative and targeted project interventions to deliver quality health services for disadvantaged communities.

Since its establishment in 2013, REACH Ethiopia has been implementing projects that are targeted towards addressing challenges around TB programming at the community and Facility level in Urban and rural settings of the country like Sidama, SNNP, Addis Ababa, Dire Dawa, Harar, and parts of Oromia Regions. In recent years REACH has been introducing pioneer and innovative technologies like AI-guided portable X-rays and TB diagnostic connectivity solutions.

REACH Ethiopia, through funds received from Expertise France, is initiating to implementation of a project at Zone 3 in the Afar Region, Ethiopia in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Afar Regional Health Bureau.

Purpose of the position (general)

Under the leadership of the Zonal TB coordinator, the DTO is responsible for planning, executing, and overseeing the successful implementation and delivery of comprehensive DS and DR-TB care activities to achieve its intended goal in Afar Region Zone 3. He/she coordinates the planning, implementation, and delivery of defined and agreed upon services, delivery/practice of standards and provides oversight to all TB Care activities (Public Private Mix (PPM), DR-TB Treatment Follow-up Centers (TFC), TB Key affected and vulnerable Population (KVP), and Community TB Care (CTBC) under the AFAr Zone -3 KAP project that will be implemented in his/her assigned districts. S/he will be responsible for developing the project’s management plan and regularly reviewing activity performance; discuss issues with the project management team and develop improvement plans when necessary.

Answerability and Position in the Organization

The DTO will report to the Zonal TB coordinator of the Afar Zone -3 KAP TB project.

Major and Overall Duties and Responsibilities:

• Co-ordinates, liaises, and works very closely with the Woreda Health office in Zone 3 of the region to ensure effective implementation of the project components mainly KVP, CBTC, and Health facility TB program
• Supports alignment of the project activities to the Woredas health office, in line with RHB’s TB priorities and directions;
• Develop and schedule project work plan for Zone 3 Afar Region by specifications given to him/her;
• Helps build team’s project management capability under his/her supervision/contacts, collaborating with Zonal TB coordinator: coaching, mentoring & motivating, using appropriate project management techniques; private/public health facility TB focal persons, community TB volunteers, HEWs and Family Health Team (FHT) to ensure proper operation of the project;
• Supports overall coordination and implementation of comprehensive TB (DS and DR-TB) case finding, treatment and outcome, CTBC, contact screening, adherence; TPT in Public Health facilities including Hospitals;
• Supports Woreda TB coordinator on daily operations and coordination of activities of the project; and determination of priorities;
• Supports reviewing project plan regularly to ensure tasks and milestones are being achieved on time and preparation of project status reports (mainly on KAP and CBTC); presentations at Facility/and regional level, design agendas whenever the need arises;
• Provides skilled facilitation support to the project teams under his/her supervision so that the project achieves its predetermined goals and expectations;
• Builds and maintains effective relationships with a wide range of people and sectors in the Administration in addition to own team for better performance;
• Supports management of communications through media relations, and social media (if required);
• Keeps team members up-to-date with relevant project information; to improve efficiency
• Schedules and organizes meetings/events and maintains agenda in zone 3
• Be vigilant on changing needs of targets and keep adjusting tasks as appropriate; mainly in relation to KAP sites CBTC;
• Complies with policies (Donor, MOH/RHB) and procedures governing the project implementation and ensures that the project is operating at maximum efficiency; communicates issues/concerns to regional coordinator;
• Prepares reports regarding project operations and reports to the Zonal TB coordinator on the progress of the Afar Zone -3 KAP TB project in Zone 3 of the Afar Region;
• Supports analyses and evaluation of the effectiveness of the project and develops new methods aimed at greater success;
• Interacts with members of the community to help achieve project goals and objectives;
• Brings to the network expertise, experience, information, and commitment to facilitate an integrated approach to TB prevention and control in the district;
• Develops, strengthens, and nurtures effective working relationships and synergies cooperating with staff & partners

Knowledge management

• Identifies areas for crosscutting collaboration with RHB/City/Woredas, and relevant partners;
• Enhances and anchors the in-depth knowledge of TB (DS and DR-TB) technical areas in the technical team (own and partners’ team);
• Actively shares knowledge with district DPHP/TB/TB/HIV focal/s, including Private Health facilities and Hospitals;
• Maintains personal in-depth knowledge of TB control areas and can understand as well as manage frequently changing developments related to TB (DS and DR-TB).

Contract term: Full-time Position, Fixed-term contract

Salary Scale: As per the scale of the organization

Closing date: February 20, 2025

Qualifications and Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in the field of Health Science and Medicine, with a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in infectious disease control, preferably in TB control.
• Candidates with an MPH are a plus.
• Proven experience in health program management.
• Previous experience in TB programming, specifically working with KAPs (Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices), Treatment follow-up centers, Family Health Teams, HEWs, and Community volunteers.
• Local TB program knowledge.
• Evidence of training certificates on TB, TB/HIV/DR-TB is essential.
• Proven experience in stakeholder capacity-building skills, including facilitation, presentation, communication, and monitoring the impact of capacity-building interventions.
• Proven experience in teamwork.
• Experience in working with Pastoralist communities.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English, Afargna, and Amharic.
• Ability to organize and prioritize with an eye for detail.