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Community Engagement Project Officers (CEPOs)
Location
Misungwi Mwanza
Description
Background
The Regional MNCH Strengthening in Tanzania (RMNCH) project, also known as Mama na Mtoto, aims to contribute to the reduction of maternal, child and newborn deaths in Lake Zone of Tanzania through strengthening systems for health service delivery and increasing demand for health services from community to regional levels. The project is being implemented in Misungwi and Kwimba Districts of Mwanza Region. Activities include: (1) provision of technical assistance to and capacity building for regional and local level health management teams and health service providers on improved planning and delivery of health services; (2) training health providers and community health agents (CHA) on delivering culturally-appropriate health services that meet international quality standards; (3) equipping and supplying health facilities with the essentials they need to deliver key MNCH services; and (4) working with community leaders and local committees to improve health-seeking behaviour around MNCH, including promotion of male involvement.
ama na Mtoto is being implemented by a coalition of partners led by the University of Calgary and including Agriteam Canada Consulting Ltd., the Canadian Paediatric Society, Save the Mothers, Mbarara University of Science and Technology and the Catholic University of Health and Allied Science (CUHAS Bugando), in partnership with Mwanza Regional and Misungwi and Kwimba Council Health Management Teams (CHMTs). Funding for this project is provided by Global Affairs Canada. The project has a main office in Misungwi with a satellite office located within the CUHAS campus in Mwanza. Project Officers will be based at KWIMBA office, and will spend a significant amount of their time at the community level within Kwimba districts.
Thematic Focus and Scope of Work
Community Engagement Project Officers (CEPOs) will be responsible for implementing the community engagement component of the project, under the guidance and supervision of the Community Engagement Coordinator (CEC). The Project Officers will be key members of the Field Office Team and are expected to contribute to an office environment characterized by a high-performance, results-based culture. Regular travel will be required for each Coordinator position.
The CEPOs will be expected to engage with CHMT members, health facility staff, Community Health Workers (CHWs), community leaders such as ward and village executive officers, as well as with project and partner technical specialists and stakeholders. They will support CHW programming, including training, monitoring and supportive supervision of CHWs. The CEPOs will work closely with CHW supervisors to implement strategies to promote healthy MNCH practices at the community level through grassroots engagement and mobilization. Strong Sukuma language capacity is a requirement for these positions. The CEPOs will also collaborate with the Mama na Mtoto Gender and Health Equity Coordinator to ensure that community programming is responsive to the needs of women and men, engages men and boys on reproductive and child health issues, and reaches those most at risk and with the least access to health services and information.
General Responsibilities
The general responsibilities for the CEPOs include but are not limited to the following:
- Implement the planned community engagement activities within the Officer’s geographic area, under the guidance and supervision of the Community Engagement Coordinator, and in accordance with the project annual work plan and project implementation plan.
- Organize and implement meetings and trainings with health facility staff and CHW supervisors.
- Work closely and collaboratively with CHWs, CHW supervisors, community leaders, community groups, and community members on issues related to maternal, neonatal and child health, promoting local ownership and local action on their health concerns.
- Facilitate the planning and implementation of health and development activities through communication with local communities, providing information, organizing community-based training, and coordinating/supporting CHW meetings.
- Participate in the selection, orientation, training and refresher training of CHWs, community leaders, and community groups.
- Assist in the production of workshop handbooks and tools for community members in Kiswahili.
- Contribute to annual work planning processes, including detailed planning of community engagement and innovation activities within the Officer’s geographic area and according to the Project Implementation Plan.
- Contribute to project monitoring and evaluation activities through collection of data for routine project monitoring, using project data collection.
- Contribute to timely and accurate preparation of project progress reports using results-based management approaches;
- Contribute to maintenance of proper and up-to-date project documentation and records;
- Establish and maintain effective liaison between community leaders, health centre staff, project staff and the MnM field office.
- Liaise, consult and coordinate training activities in his/her area of operation.
- Any other duties assigned by the immediate supervisor.
The CEPOs responsibilities include frequent day trips to communities within Kwimba District. No relocation or transportation benefits are included in the remuneration package – applicants already residing in the Kwimba/Mwanza area are therefore preferred.
Education and Experience
Successful CEPO candidates must demonstrate their ability to understand the specific issue areas and undertake the general tasks described above. Candidates should also have the following education and experience:
- Post-secondary education (degree preferred) in Community Development, Public Health, Sociology, Health Promotion, Social Work or another relevant field;
- Skills in relationship-building, team-work, collaboration and using participatory methodologies;
- At least 2 years’ prior experience working on community engagement for health/development;
- Familiarity with maternal, newborn and child health issues (previous work on community health and MNCH preferred);
- Familiarity with gender equality issues, in particular how they affect MNCH status;
- Strong communication skills in Kiswahili and Sukuma, with ability to communicate in English.
- Must be comfortable and willing to work in rural areas and be sensitive to the experience and needs of rural Tanzanian
- Must be able to work independently and in a small multi-cultural team environment;
- Must thrive in a busy and demanding work environment;
- Flexibility – CEPOs may be required to work extra hours, holidays and weekends at times;
- Candidates must be willing to travel by motorcycle (preferably able to drive a motorcycle or willing to learn to drive a motorcycle and obtain a motorcycle license);
- Experience with engaging men and boys in reproductive health programming is an asset;
- Previous experience working on donor-funded projects, especially health projects, is an asset.
How to Apply
Please send a cover letter explaining how you meet the qualifications for the job (education and experience), as well as a current and up-to-date resume to [email protected] by the deadline. Please include the following subject line (including your own name) in your email: Project Officer, Community Engagement – [YOUR NAME]. Your cover letter must clearly state your level of capacity in the Sukuma language.
Deadline for application: [26/January 2018]
Only those candidates shortlisted for interview will be contacted.
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