Project Officer – Community Level

Background

Since its establishment in 1997, Willows International (WI) has developed a client management system—known as the Willows Box System—that strengthens the performance of community-level health care providers. The system enables tailored, timely delivery of information, services, referrals, and follow-ups, particularly focusing on women’s reproductive choices. To date, over two million women and their partners have benefited from WI’s support in making informed decisions about family planning and sexual and reproductive health (FP/SRH). Our mission is to help women realize their reproductive health goals.

In Ethiopia, Willows International (WI) is collaborating with the Ministry of Health (MoH) to implement a project aimed at optimizing the Health Extension Workers (HEWs) program to improve family planning and reproductive health outcomes. The initiative focuses on strengthening client management and follow-up systems and enhancing the effectiveness of HEWs in the three targeted regions: Oromia, Amhara, and Sidama. WI’s support involves standardizing, customizing, and institutionalizing the Willows Box System within the MoH’s Health Extension Program framework to ensure delivery of tailored information, education, counseling and services to clients. This approach will reinforce positive behavior changes, promote systematic client follow-up, and strengthen referral linkages between the community and health facilities.

Position Summary

The Project Officer (PO) will be responsible for ensuring high-quality and timely implementation of WI program activities in the assigned region. Working closely with the Senior Program Manager and the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Manager, the PO will strengthen project implementation, supervision and monitoring systems, support capacity building efforts to HEWs and their supervisors, and ensure data quality and program accountability.

The PO will also support budget management, documentation of best practices, and coordination with regional and district health offices to ensure program alignment with WI and MoH standards.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

• Work closely with the Senior Program Manager and MEL Manager to implement a robust project implementation, monitoring and supervision system, including regular data quality checks and district-level data analysis to inform timely actions.
• Provide FP/SRHR-related technical support to regional, zonal, and district health teams, and ensure HEWs receive training and supervision to effectively implement the Willows Box System.
• Lead the planning and coordination of training sessions, mentorship, supervision visits, and program review meetings in the assigned district.
• Conduct intensive field monitoring visits and provide on-the-spot technical support to HEWs and HEW supervisors.
• Ensure timely data entry into the Willows database and conduct routine performance analysis to track progress toward deliverables.
• Organize joint supportive supervision visits with local health officials and ensure consistent feedback and follow-up with HEWs.
• Facilitate monthly and quarterly review meetings with CHW supervisors to evaluate implementation progress and share lessons learned.
• Monitor and manage program expenditures in alignment with approved budgets and donor guidelines.
• Support the preparation and review of district-level budget forecasts and report any financial variances promptly.
• Prepare monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, and annual reports, and document lessons learned and best practices for program adaptation and scale-up.
• Perform other programmatic and administrative tasks as assigned by the Senior Program Manager or Country Director.

 

Job Description: Project Officer – Community Level

Location: Oromia, Amhara, or Sidama Regions, Ethiopia
Reports to: Senior Program Manager, Willows International Ethiopia
Travel: Up to 75% travel to program sites

Job Type: Full Time

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in public health, Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Demography, Health Sciences, or a related field.
• Minimum five years of relevant professional experience, preferably in FP/SRHR program implementation and management.
• Strong technical knowledge of family planning and reproductive health programs.
• Demonstrated experience in training, supportive supervision, and mentorship.
• Excellent documentation and report writing skills.
• High level of initiative, integrity, and commitment to Reproductive Health and Rights and quality community health delivery.
• Fluency in English and Amharic is required; fluency in Oromiffa is required for those assigned to Oromia Region.

Skills and Competencies

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent interpersonal communication and negotiation abilities.
• Experience in health, preferably reproductive health program monitoring and performance evaluation.
• Competence in data collection, data entry, and analysis with keen attention to detail.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Effective team-building and performance coaching skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a team.
• Strong time management and organizational skills.

Work conditions and place

• The position is based in one of WI Ethiopia’s operational regions: Oromia, Amhara, or Sidama.
• Full-time position with frequent travel to health posts and community sites for supervision and mentorship.