JSI is a US-based public health nonprofit organization committed to delivering high-quality technical and managerial assistance programs worldwide. With over 25 years of experience in Ethiopia, JSI has implemented over 60 projects, focusing on improving health outcomes, quality, and equity in access to reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health (RMNCAH) services. JSI has actively contributed to various areas, including primary health care, community health programs, digital health, health information systems (HIS), supply chain management, public health emergency responses, and social and behavior change.

Over the past years, John Snow Research & Training Institute, Inc. (JSI) has provided technical assistance to Ethiopia's Ministry of Health (MoH) to strengthen the national and sub-national immunization systems, with a focus on identifying and reaching zero-dose and under-immunized children, reaching more eligible populations with life course vaccines especially in hard to reach populations and introduction of new vaccines. With technical support from JSI and other immunization partners, the MoH has been implementing various strategies to identify and reach zero dose and under-immunized children, provided vaccines that are administered in the second year of life and beyond childhood vaccinations (MCV 2, HPV and COVID vaccines) and introduced new vaccines that contribute to the prevention of high burden diseases in the country. Special strategies are needed to provide these services to eligible populations, including integration of services, in order to reach more communities. MoH identified a need for ongoing technical assistance at the national level to support new vaccine introduction, provision of vaccines administered in the second year of life and beyond, and reduce the number of zero dose and under-immunized children through the delivery of integrated services to improve efficiency, regularity and/or reliability of planned immunization activities and reduce gender-based barriers to utilization of immunization services. 

As part of full portfolio planning (FPP), MoH-Ethiopia has initiated various strategies and activities to identify and reach zero dose and under-immunized children with technical assistance to RHBs being one of the key strategies. MoH identified a need for ongoing technical assistance to support RHBs and ZHDs in identification and reaching of zero-dose and under-immunized children focusing in woredas having high number of zero-dose children. MoH has identified over 33 woredas in South Ethiopia and Central Ethiopia regions for having high number of zero-dose children. JSI is planning to support the ministry’s effort of reducing zero-dose children through deployment of zonal level TAs in selected zones within South Ethiopia and Central Ethiopia regions. 

The zonal TA will provide technical assistance on routine immunization to six Zones of Central Ethiopia and South Ethiopia regions namely Hadiya, Gurage and Siliite, Gamo,Gedio and Wolita. JSI is looking to hire Zonal immunization TA to be based in the ZHDs of Hadiya, Gurage and Siliite, Gamo,Gedio and Wolita. zones to provide technical assistance to the ZHDs. 

Activity Overview

The ZITA will provide technical assistance (TA) to the assigned ZHDs to Improve service quality and user experience of immunization services, including bringing a strong gender lens. ZITA will provide support and technical assistance for ZHD, WoHOs and PHCUs on identification of zero dose, reaching and monitoring children in high zero dose woredas. In each of the assigned zone, there are woredas prioritized by MoH for having a high number of zero-dose. The ZITA will give due attention in ensuring these woredas are planning and reaching the zero-doses. He/she will be seconded to the ZHDs. The ZITA will provide day-to-day and strategic support to the ZHDs EPI team for the responsibilities described below.

Specific Responsibilities 

• Work with the ZHD to identify their needs, develop a joint plan, and provide ongoing technical assistance based on those needs related with routine immunization.

• Support development of micro-planning to identify and map zero-dose children and missed communities in selected high priority woredas

• Conduct regular follow up and support in identification of how many zero-dose children are reached, in each specific priority woredas and PHCUs and provide regular feedback by analyzing local level data 

• Provide technical support including in planning and monitoring of multi-age catch up vaccination campaigns

• Provide technical support in any demand creation activities specially advocacy by designing tailored materials to the context using local data, and awareness creation to address barriers for RI, including addressing gender-related barriers

•  Provide support in any new vaccine introduction and switch (IPV2, Rotasiil, Yellow fever and scale up of Hep B BD)

• Provide technical support in micro plan, implementation, conducting rapid convince survey 

• Support planning, implementation and monitoring of COVID 19 and HPV vaccinations in the low performed Woredas and PHCUs  

• Support and monitor vaccine stock availability at woreda and health facility

• Participate in TWG meetings regularly and contribute technically and support the Zones and woredas per the gaps on the ground

• Participate on capacity building activities related with immunization service(Training, mentorship and advocacy meetings and      orientations)

• Provide ongoing technical support to ZHDs, Woredas and PHCUs through participating in supportive supervisions, review meetings 

• Actively participate in key zonal technical meetings, such as technical working group, task forces and EOC  meetings to stay informed and provide input on regional immunization efforts.

• Closely work and coordinate with regional TAs assigned by JSI . The person is also expected to collaborate with staff and TAs of other partners working in the zone

• Regularly provide update and reports on performance 

• Contribute to ZHD, RHB or MoH and  JSI-required project reports or other information requests

• Perform other assignments and responsibilities as assigned by ZHD and JSI

Job Requirements

• Master of public health (MPH) or other equivalent qualifications with first degree in health related areas

• Minimum of five years working experience in immunization and public health. Should have at least three years of experience in routine immunization experience

• Able to conduct immunization data analysis and presentation to stakeholders

• Familiar with big-catch-up and other national-level immunization initiatives 

• Demonstrated experience working within the region or Zone and familiarity with the region

• Proven ability to use adult learning techniques to facilitate training, supportive supervision, and technical assistance 

• Strong organizational, management, and communication skills to influence partners and decision-makers at the regional, zonal, and woreda level

• Demonstrated ability to be a team player, to lead teams, and to organize multiple activities simultaneously; ability to communicate and negotiate competing demands on time from managers and work effectively with distributed teams. 

• Computer skills, including Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, and familiarity with DHIS2

• Fluency in English and Amharic; Fluency in the regional language is a strong asset   

• Willingness and ability to travel up to 40% of the time to regions, zones, and woredas

How to Apply

Interested applicants who met the minimum requirements should send and apply at THIS LINK Please submit your application letter with your CV in English detailing your experience and skills that are relevant to the post.

Please do not attach copies of your transcripts, academic degrees or recommendation letters with the application. You will provide them upon request.

JSI/WEI is a child-safe organization, and the safety and well-being of children is a priority of our organization. We have robust recruitment procedures to ensure that all staff are suited to work with the children served by our programs.

JSI/WEI is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer committed to workplace divejorsity. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all qualified applicants and employees without regard to age, race, color, national origin, ancestry, creed, religion, gender, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, sexual preference, genetic information, political affiliation, or protected veteran status in any employment decisions. M/F/V/D