• JOB TITLE: Junior Program Officer-MHM

• REPORT TO: Field Project Coordinator

• PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT: REACH Project

• DUTY STATION: Borana field project office, Yabello and Jimma field office, Jimma

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

EngenderHealth-Ethiopia is currently implementing the REACH (Reach, Expand, and Access Community Health) project, an integrated SRHR/MHM, and WaSH intervention in the Jimma and Borena zones of the Oromia Region. The REACH project is being implemented by a consortium of EngenderHealth and Amref Health Africa EngenderHealth would like to employ well-qualified and dedicated candidates as Junior Program officers for menstrual health and hygiene for both Borena and Jimma field offices at the duty station of Yabello and Jimma. This will be a local hire position with an anticipated start date of Dec 01, 2024; qualified women candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

JOB SUMMARY

The Junior Program Officer (JPO) for MHH will be directly reporting to the Field Project Coordinator. JPO will be responsible for providing technical assistance in the day-to-day implementation of the REACH project, particularly in improving school-level MHH interventions; including the support of peer-to-peer education, strengthening the establishment of a school-based MHH outlet, supporting the recruitment, training, and formation of an IGA group for the production of local reusable sanitary pads in collaboration with the zonal women and social affairs office, health office, job and skills office, and the local Technical, Vocational and Educational Training centers. JPO will also be responsible for conducting a school facility audit for MHM interventions in close collaboration with the M&E team, identifying major barriers and gaps in establishing a market system for sanitary pad purchase, storage, distribution, and financial management at the school level. As per the project concept note, the applicant is expected to technically support the school community; students and teachers, zonal and district health offices create a strong linkage with the respective health sector offices, and support safe space for menstrual hygiene and health at the target schools.

The Junior Program Officer-MHH will be primarily responsible for ensuring the achievement of specific project deliverables; reaching adolescents and girls with sanitary pads and establishing a functional system for school-based sanitary pads distribution outlets. The officer is also expected to carry out routine Zonal and Woreda level activity planning and implementation, coordinate and monitor/supervise the timely implementation of program/project activities, and budget utilization under the JPO’s custody. The JPO will be responsible for organizing and facilitating sensitization events, training and establishment of sales shops, and coordinating and conducting regular site visits primarily for schools.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Participate in the overall implementation of the project consolidated annual work plan and assist in coordinating and conducting zonal-specific project planning, reviews, monitoring, and evaluations

• Participate in overall assistance in the development of detailed field project office annual and periodic (weekly, monthly, quarterly, and Semiannual) activity planning and budget forecast

• Support target schools and ensure the school level demand creation interventions like peer-to-peer education, life skills education, and media engagement programs including MHM interventions

• Support MHH-specific IEC material development including the development and printing of billboards, message development and printing of brochures, and the transmission of MHH messages through Oromia Educational Radio programs

• Support financial management and entrepreneur training for menstrual health management and strengthening the establishment of a school-based MHH outlet

• Support the purchase and distribution of MHM products from zonal-level whole sealers, and create a sustainable supply of sanitary products from the local market

• Support the recruitment, training, and formation of an IGA group for the production of reusable sanitary pads in collaboration with the zonal women and social affairs office, zonal health office, zonal job and skills office, and the local Technical, Vocational and

• educational office

• Conduct a school facility audit for MHM interventions in close collaboration with the M&E team, identify major barriers and gaps in establishing a market system for sanitary pad purchase, storage, distribution, and financial management at the school level

• Technically support the school community; students and teachers, zonal and district health offices and create a strong linkage with the respective health sector offices and support safe space for menstrual hygiene and health at the target schools

• Closely plan, implement and coordinate project activities with consortium members and ensure the MHM interventions are integrated with SRHR and WaSH activities

• Cooperate with and Support woreda-level demand-creation facilitators and community-level actors in demand-creation activities for SRHR/MHM/ WaSH services and strengthen their relationship with schools

• Develop zone-specific MHM plan for the REACH project, liaise and support ZHO, Education Office, and Woreda Education Offices 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

• 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

• Facilitate effective partnership with stakeholders, engage with the Zonal and Woreda level MHM forums and platforms to sensitize the stakeholders and address ongoing community-level operational challenges, and use all opportunities in the zone to advocate about MHH to ensure ownership, enhance commitment, and ensure sustainability

• 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, and monitor quality of school-level life skills and peer-to-peer education platforms

• Ensure necessary tools for recording, and reporting to facilitate school-level activities such as peer-to-peer education, life skills education, and provision of safe spaces for MHH

• Assist in establishing/strengthening partnerships and enhancing collaboration among all local community-level stakeholders in the zone

• Identify with other technical staff and counterpart lessons learned and potential school-based MHH interventions 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 school focal person 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 district education offices and schools

Job Requirements

• First Degree in Public Health, Health Education and promotion, Nursing and related health disciplines

• Minimum of five (3) years experience in school-level interventions mainly adolescent youth health, menstrual hygiene, and health, and WaSH interventions preferably in an NGO.

• Experience with and understanding of the new low-level Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health structures

• Demonstrated experience in effectively providing technical assistance in demand creation mainly on menstrual hygiene and health 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 skill in Adolescent and Youth engagement both for the school and at out-of-school communities

• Knowledge and skill in relevant menstrual hygiene and health and understanding the existing challenges and opportunities for establishing an MHH system within the school environment

• Ability to handle multiple tasks and demands, establish priorities, and work effectively in a deadline-driven environment

• Outstanding ability to interact with the school community; teachers, students and the student parent and teacher associations (PTSA), different level experts, 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 present ideas, opinions, and information in a clear, concise, structured, and convincing manner.

• Knowledge of the local language (Afaan Oromo)

• Computer literate, with knowledge of Windows applications, including Excel spreadsheet

PREFERRED SKILLS, ABILITIES AND FUNCTIONS

• Good accountancy and report-writing skills

• Good knowledge and skill of life skills education, AY engagement, and MHH interventions

• Good interpersonal communication and teamwork

Required Skills

• Technical proficiency

How to Apply

If you are well qualified and interested to apply for this position please send your CV and application letter through THIS LINK

There is no need to attach your credentials at this stage.

Please note that these are two different positions for Jimma and Borena; therefore, make sure that you have selected the right vacancy announcement on the above website with regard to the duty station.

Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply for this position