Officer, Sexual Reproductive Health Right

Job Description

EngenderHealth envisions a gender-equal world where all people achieve their sexual and reproductive health and rights. We believe this is essential for ensuring all people can achieve their full potential. To achieve this vision, we implement high-quality, gender-equitable programs that advance sexual and reproductive health and rights.

EngenderHealth-Ethiopia is currently planning to implement REACH (Reach, Expand and Access Community Health) project, an integrated SRHR/MHM, and WaSH intervention in Jimma and Borana zones of Oromia Region. The REACH project will be implemented by a consortium of EngenderHealth, Amref Health Africa and DKT. EngenderHealth would like to employ well-qualified and dedicated candidates as Officer, Sexual Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) for Jimma field office at the duty station of Jimma for its project which aims to fulfill SRHR/MHM, WaSH and Nutritional needs of women and young people in Borana zone. This will be a local hire position with an anticipated start date in July 2022; qualified women applicants are highly encouraged to apply.

JOB SUMMARY 

The Officer, SRHR under the supervision of the Regional Team Leader will be responsible for providing management and technical assistance in the day-to-day implementation of REACH project particularly in improving community-level awareness creation and strengthening the community to health facilities linkage on SRHR interventions (focusing on Comprehensive Contraception, ANC, institutional delivery, Comprehensive abortion care, and other reproductive health services) and WaSH interventions (focusing on sanitation marketing, menstrual hygiene management, and WaSH demand creation) under REACH Project in Borana zone of Oromia regional state. The Officer, SRHR will be primarily responsible for ensuring the achievement of specific project deliverables; confirmed referral services for SRHR/MHM and WaSH services, improved SRHR services at private health facilities, and improved demand creation and linkage for both in school and out of school communities on life skills education, entrepreneurship, and linkage with microfinance in the assigned geographic areas that are documented at health facilities. The Officer is expected to carry out routine Zonal and Woreda level specific activities planning and implementation of field level activities; coordinate and monitor/supervise the timely implementation of program/project activities and the budget utilization under the custody of the Officer. The SRHR Officer will be responsible for organizing and facilitating demand creation trainings, coordinating, and conducting regular site visits primarily for health posts and private health facilities and health posts CBCM by public health centers, and provide technical assistance including coaching to cluster Woreda facilitators and HEWs as deemed

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Participate in the overall implementation of the project consolidated annual work plan and assist in coordinating and conducting baseline assessments, zonal-specific project planning, reviews, monitoring, and evaluations.
• Provide overall assistance in the development of detailed field project office annual and periodic (weekly, monthly, quarterly and Semiannual) activities and budget plans.
• Closely plan, implement, and coordinate project activities with consortium members and ensure integrated SRHR, MHM, and WaSH interventions in the project sites.
• Assist community-level demand creation agents in meeting quality standards in addressing school and out-of-school Adolescents and youth by identifying gaps. The SRHR Officer will also be responsible for providing and coordinating community engagement and counseling training, follow-up visits/mentoring, providing clear performance feedback for woreda level facilitators and technical support for adolescent and youth-focused SRH/MHM, WaSH and nutrition-sensitive interventions. The position holder will particularly focus on comprehensive contraception, ANC, Institutional Delivery, Postnatal care services, Comprehensive Abortion care, MHM, and other RH services.
• Cooperate with and Support woreda level demand creation facilitators and community-level actors in demand creation activities for SRHR/MHM/ WaSH and nutrition services and strengthen their relationship with service delivery sites.
• Assist service delivery sites and community-level actors in ensuring informed choice and voluntary decision-making process by providing/coordinating training and technical assistance on counseling and interpersonal communication, community engagement, and through the delivery of tailored IEC/BCC materials.
• Develop a zone-specific plan for REACH project, liaise and support ZHO and WoHOs to make sure that planned activities are included and harmonized with the zonal and woreda plan. Monitor zonal and woreda-specific performances against the targets and KPIs.
• Provides technical support for the implementation of a consolidated annual work plan on Family Planning, ANC, Institutional delivery, and CAC including the design and implementation of initiatives to scale up FP services and strengthen the integration of Family Planning (FP), Adolescent and youth health services (AYHS) and Maternal Health (MH).
• Address sociocultural barriers by way of engaging religious and traditional leaders and other strategies to ensure FP, ANC, Institutional delivery, and CAC uptake including engagement of pastoralist communities.
• Provide assistance in introducing a range of quality improvement tools such as Kaizen at supported health posts and follow-up and provide additional assistance (if required) at health posts where QI tools will be introduced.
• Closely work with different adolescent and youth structure supporting sectors such as women’s affairs, youth and sport, microfinance institutions, and others concerned with facilitating IGA for the AY groups.
• Collaborate with the field project office (project consortium team) and country office technical and program team to initiate and ensure successful implementation of new initiatives.
• Assist the zonal health office, Woreda health offices and community-level partners and actors and ensure the establishment of strong confirmed community to facility referral linkage accompanied by SRH/MHM and nutrition services supported with feedback as per the project plan.
• Facilitate effective partnership with stakeholders, engage with the Zonal and Woreda level RH forums and platforms to sensitize the stakeholders and address ongoing community-level operational challenges, and use all opportunities in the zone to advocate for the project to ensure ownership, enhance commitment and ensure sustainability.
• Monitor the activities of REACH supported sites and provide necessary guidance and technical assistance including support to sites and partners in training WDA/VHL, Health Extension Workers and their supervisors on relevant SRH/MHM, WaSH and nutrition issues.
• Ensure the proper implementation of project activities and monitor progress regularly with periodic supervision and review meetings in coordination with project implementing partners.
• Conduct regular community-level site visits, liaison with other partners, monitor quality of Community dialogue sessions and house to house visits to ensure high standards of counseling to link clients with service providing HFs on the provision of SRHR, MHM, and WaSH services focusing on comprehensive contraception, comprehensive abortion care, antenatal care services, skilled delivery, and other SRHR services.
• Assist in outreach interventions, particularly for pastoralist areas, community dialogue activities, home visits, and special support programs on issues related to entrepreneurship and income generation activities (IGAs).
• Ensure necessary tools for recording, reporting, and job aids to facilitate community-level activities such as community dialogue, and home visits are available and used appropriately.
• Assist in establishing/strengthening partnerships and enhancing collaboration among all local community-level stakeholders in the zone.
• Identify with other technical staff and counterparts lessons learned and potential community-level demand creation and referral linkage evidence-based best practices related to SRHR, MHM, and WaSH services focusing on comprehensive contraception, comprehensive abortion care, skilled delivery, postnatal care, antenatal care, private health service delivery, gender transformation and other related topics and participate in the documentation and dissemination of the best practices.
• Keep abreast of best practices in relevant technical areas and disseminate knowledge to project staff.
• Ensure program deliverables are appropriately entered into the project database, compile reports from Woreda facilitators and interns, produce periodic activity/event-based reports and submit weekly, monthly, quarterly, bi-annual, and annual reports of the custody zone and Woredas and share with the field project M&E officer and field coordinator.
• Carry out other EngenderHealth assignments as may be required and as directed by the field project Coordinator and guidance by the REACH Project Technical team.
• Travel up to 80% of the time and support the other zone as needed.

REQUIREMENTS

• First Degree in Public Health, Health Education, and promotion, Nursing, and related health disciplines.
• Minimum of five (5) years experience in demand creation for  SRH/MHM, WasH and nutrition services and program coordination preferably in NGO.
• Experience with and understanding of the new low-level Ministry of Health service delivery system.
• Demonstrated experience in effectively providing technical assistance in demand creation (Community engagement) training to counterparts in SRH/MHM, WaSH and other nutrition services at all levels of the system.

ESSENTIAL SOFT SKILLS

• Committed to EngenderHealth’s core organizational values of reflection, inclusion, integrity, respect, and transformation.
• Demonstrated knowledge and skills on community engagement approaches capacity building and mentorship of the low-level health structure.
• Knowledge and skills in relevant community level quality improvement /quality assurance approaches/tool in FP, ANC, Institutional Delivery, CAC and other SRH is recommended.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks and demands, establish priorities and work effectively in a deadline-driven environment.
• Outstanding ability to interact with service providers, different level experts, community-level actors and collaborators across multiple disciplines, program areas, and cultures with exceptional ability to mentor and support teams.
• Fluency in written and oral English with the ability to articulate and presents ideas, opinions, and information in a clear, concise, structured, and convincing manner for the intended audience and knowledge of the local language is an added value.

PREFERRED SKILLS, ABILITIES AND FUNCTIONS

• Good accountancy and report writing skills.
• Good knowledge and skills of community engagement approaches, catchment based clinical mentorship and SS.
• Exceptional interpersonal communication, teamwork, partnering, and consensus-building skills.

Disclaimer

The above statements describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the person(s) assigned to this job. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities as needed and assigned.

EngenderHealth provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment, without regard to race, creed, ancestry, citizenship, religion, color, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, national origin, political belief, sexual orientation, genetic information, status as a victim of domestic violence, marital status, disability or any other protected characteristic or status under applicable federal, state, and local laws.

EngenderHealth complies with applicable federal, state, and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in the United States in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

EngenderHealth is committed to safeguarding all people, particularly children, vulnerable adults, and beneficiaries of assistance from any harm that may be caused due to contact with EngenderHealth.  This includes harm arising from the conduct of staff, associates and partners, and the design and implementation of programs and activities.