Youth Officer

AIDS Healthcare Foundation is a global not-for-profit organization that provides cutting-edge medicine and advocacy to more than 2.5 million patients in 48 countries globally, 14 of these countries being in Africa, and is headquartered in Los Angeles, California, USA.

Since 1987, AHF has cared for thousands of people living with HIV and AIDS worldwide. As we create and implement unparalleled programs in new communities globally, we expand the delivery of healthcare and influence over strategies with the sole aim of saving more lives.

Currently, AHF-Ethiopia is supporting 20 high-load public health facilities, one NGO, and one AHF-owned clinic providing standardized comprehensive HIV care and prevention service for more than 72,000 clients in Addis Ababa, Oromia, Amhara, and Sidama Regions. Besides, we provide free HIV testing and counseling services to More Than 100,000 individuals every year.

To deliver the said services effectively and efficiently, AHF-Ethiopia wishes to recruit a dynamic, skilled, committed, self-driven, and result-oriented professionals to fill required positions.

Position Summary:

The Youth Officer works closely with the AHF HIV Prevention team in the design and implementation of interventions for Girls Act and Young People program activities. This post holder will take the lead in enabling the program to empower and develop the knowledge and skills of adolescents and youth, which will involve working through and with youth groups, providing them with opportunities, and capacitating and promoting youth leadership and reproductive health. S/he will also promote activities aimed at preparing youth for their role as young adults, parents, and leaders who will bring lasting and positive changes to their communities.

The employee will play a key role in building protective and enabling environments for program participants by supporting them through peers or Youth Groups/Clubs to deal with risks and respond to specific threats of HIV to adolescents and youth and also having access to and using the necessary health services for themselves and helping others. He or she will also be responsible for identifying marketing activities in collaboration with the prevention and medical team and work intimately to support any advocacy events in the year.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Take the lead role in the implementation of AHF Ethiopia’s Youth Program support activities that are being implemented in AHF programs. S/he makes sure that the interventions are fully integrated and coordinated in the existing programs.
• Develop annual budgeted youth program, coordinate the plan implementation and monitor
• Work closely with Prevention Department Team to design/revise a training curriculum for Youth Program (Girls Act and Young People Programs) and its ongoing updating of the document when need arise.
• Following AHF program expansion regions and site select intervention areas, conduct baseline assessment and identify potential stakeholders in those areas.
• Based on base line assessment finding / information, develop short operational plan of the year.
• Establish site level (SC, THO) technical working group for the smooth implementation of the program, develop TOR for the technical working group where youth program implementation exists.
• Ensure selection criteria for participants (peer educators and participants) is consistently used for enrollment to the program and conduct regular meetings to review the progress of the program
• Ensure selection of program participants based on the pre-defined selection criteria, attended peer education session and received all minimum service packages.
• In collaboration with Prevention Department team and site level technical working group, select, train, monitor and supervise the peer educators/peer mentors
• Facilitate the cascading of TOT training for peer mentors/educators and ensure subsequent sessions are undertaken as per the predetermined standards.
• Provide supervision at implementation sites to ensure the peer education for Youth Program (GA and YPP) participants are per the standards and provide comments when appropriate.
• Coordinate school and out-of-school safe spaces in our supported health facilities.
• Establish AHF supported Health Facility based community level youth program (Girls Act & Young People) implementation and coordinate AHF site level staff to provide all support for the program.
• Ensure all the documentation of the program implementation is well captured at all safe spaces/ health facilities.
• Develop a selection criterion for AHF Scholarship and scholastic material program, work with government to identify those in a very critical need and enroll on to the program on yearly based.
• Coordinate provision of vocational training for at risk girls on the selected business areas, work with concerned government sectors to create a job opportunity using start up capital / Support AHF will provide.
• Plan, organize and monitor required program logistics and meeting facilities whenever necessary.
• In collaboration with AHF-social media focal person, facilitate /Create, monitor and implement program related to social media portfolio for youth program.
• Initiate development and disseminate educational and informative materials relevant to the youth based on an ongoing need from youth programs and peers.
• Assist in community mobilization and behavioral change campaigns to bring about positive changes in primary HIV prevention, care and treatment practices and safe behaviors transitioning into adulthood
• Promote youth leadership program in school and out of school settings on which youth exercise leadership, communications and find solutions for community problems.
• Identify advocacy issues of young people and girls and work with Prevention and Advocacy coordinator and Prevention Team in bringing policy changes that can create an enabling environment to keep their health and realize their vision
• Promote the youth program (Girls Act and Young People) through appropriate marketing strategies of AHF.
• Represent AHF-Ethiopia in matters related to youth program (GA & YPP) at national and regional meetings, dissemination workshops, etc.
• Participate in AHF’s research activities and compile evidence to identify appropriate, cost-effective youth program (GA & YPP) components and put into practice in the preparation of programs
• Collect the weekly reporting data and attendance based on the standard report capturing tool, develop best practices, success stories and lessons learned, and report to immediate supervisor(s) and ME team on regular basis
• Execute other activities related to the position given by the Prevention Program & AU Advocacy Liaison Manager or Country Program Manager

Education, Qualification, and Experience:

• Minimum of Bachelor of Science in Public Health, Nursing or related fields from a recognized university; further education such as MPH, Reproductive Health or Epidemiology would be an advantage. Having additional education in Psychology, Sociology or Social Work is desirable
• At least five (05) years’ NGO experience with a strong exposure to HIV programs particularly targeting children, adolescent, youth, and community development related programs.
• Training on youth programs (youth friendly service, youth advocacy…) are mandatory and HIV related training is an advantage.
• Experience and knowledge on other HIV prevention, treatment, care & support programs, and exposure to related advocacy activities would be an advantage
• Proficient in computer and internet skills, including word processing, database and presentation software; experience with MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.
• Excellent written, verbal and communication skills with good command of English & Amharic languages, including public speaking experience & training facilitation skills
• Excellent interpersonal communication: cross-cultural, organizational, and professional
• Must be highly organized with effective time-management skills, meeting deadlines maintaining quality, nd giving attention to details
• Ability to take initiative, be flexible, and work independently and with good team spirit
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously and coordinate activities in multiple locations