EPI Officer (3 Positions)

Employment Category: F Level 1

Reporting To: Program Manager

Direct Reports: N/A

Start of Contract & Duration: July 10-2025 – December 31, 2025, with Possible extension

Background

About CAAP:

Community in Action Against Poverty (CAAP) is a local organization registered by the FDRE Agency for CSOs in December 2018 (Regis # 4091), works in the Somali region and focuses on responding to emergencies, development, and promote peace. CAAP’s vision is to create a poverty-free Somali regional state where women are empowered to create a resilient, inclusive, and fair future for themselves, their families, and their communities. Since 2024, CAAP has been implementing demand generation project to improve uptake of routine immunization and HPV vaccine Erer, Warder and Geladi Woredas.

JOB SUMMARY:

The EPI Officer will lead the effective implementation of demand generation interventions for routine immunization and HPV vaccine uptake in the assigned woreda. S/he will work closely with health and education authorities, HEWs/CHWs, schools, and community stakeholders to improve coverage, address misinformation, and ensure coordination and quality in immunization outreach activities

Main Tasks and responsibilities

1. Program Implementation & Coordination

• Coordinate field implementation of EPI demand generation activities in target kebeles and schools.
• Facilitate microplanning with woreda health offices and support integration of outreach schedules with CHWs, HEWs, and schools.
• Lead implementation of community mobilization, mini-media school programs, community influencers (including traditional and religious leaders) and PTA engagement sessions.
• Support mapping of zero-dose children and out-of-school girls for targeted outreach.
• Ensure that all community mobilization and SBCC activities are conducted using updated and approved tools.

2. Monitoring, Reporting & Documentation

• Collect and consolidate daily, weekly and monthly data on RI/HPV outreach sessions, campaign events, and community feedback.
• Track vaccine uptake trends and dropout rates in collaboration with HEWs and health facilities.
• Facilitate monitoring and supervision visits, program assessments, meeting & learning workshops.
• Maintain proper documentation of activities, success stories, and case studies.
• Submit timely activity reports to the Program Manager and MEAL team.

3. Community Engagement & Advocacy

• Mobilize and support religious leaders, clan elders, teachers, and vaccinated girls as influencers in community mobilization.
• Lead rumour tracking and feedback collection to address vaccine hesitancy and misinformation, particularly around infertility and political myths.
• Ensure culturally sensitive delivery of HPV and RI messages through various community platforms.

4. Capacity Building & Support

• Provide ongoing coaching to CHWs, HEWs, school facilitators, and community volunteers.
• Assist in the delivery of refresher trainings and dissemination of SBCC materials.

5. Representation and networking

• Provide ongoing coaching to CHWs, HEWs, school facilitators, and community volunteers.
• Serves as key liaison with Zonal & woreda health & education offices, NGOs, UN & other partners
• Facilitate HEWs/CHWs/PTAs/Teacher’s meetings to discuss project implementation as well as challenges, successes, and solutions.
• Participate in zonal and woreda level coordination meetings with stakeholders
• Any other task assigned by the supervisor

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Diploma/bachelor’s degree in public health, Nursing, Health Education, or related field.
• At least 6 years of experience for a diploma or 3 years for degrees in immunization programs, SBCC, or community health.
• Experience working with pastoralist or hard-to-reach communities preferred.
• Knowledge of EPI strategies, including HPV introduction, RED/REC, and demand creation.
• Strong facilitation and interpersonal communication skills.
• Fluent in Somali and English. Amharic proficiency is essential.
• Proficient in basic MS Office and digital reporting tools (e.g., KoboToolbox, ODK).

Core Competencies:

• Strong organizational and coordination skills.
• Cultural sensitivity and commitment to gender equity and safeguarding.
• Team players with community mobilization and interpersonal strengths.
• Ability to work under pressure and travel frequently to field locations