Summary
Date Posted: Friday, May 13, 2022 , Base Salary: Not Disclosed

JOB DETAILS:
JOB TITLE Project Officer
REPORTING TO NTD Programme Manager
DIRECTORATE/UNIT WASH & NTDs Programme
NUMBER OF VACANCIES Two
DURATION Two (2) Years renewable
PHYSICAL LOCATION Western Kenya

Amref Health Africa was founded in 1957 and has since grown to become the largest African-based international health development organization, currently implementing more than 120 programs, directly reaching more than 12 million people across 35 African countries. Headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, Amref Health Africa has offices in ten countries in Africa and an additional eleven advocacy and fundraising offices in Europe and North America. In the spirit of Ubuntu, partnership and networking are key elements of our approach. Amref has a staff complement of over 1,500.

Amref Health Africa is driven by its vision of ‘Lasting health change in Africa’ and its mission ‘To increase sustainable health access to communities in Africa through solutions in human resources for health, health service delivery, and investments in health’.

OVERVIEW OF DEWORMING INNOVATION FUND PROGRAMME (DIF)
The Deworming Innovation Fund (DIF) goal is the subnational interruption of transmission of Soil Transmitted Helminthiasis (STH) and Schistosomiasis (SCH) in four western Counties – Bungoma,
Kakamega, Trans-Nzoia and Vihiga by the year 2025. This will be through achieving <2% prevalence for STH and SCH among at-risk populations, validated by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) testing.

The key objectives to achieve this goal are:

• Objective 1: High Mass Drug Administration (MDA) coverage for Soil Transmitted Helminthiasis and (STH) and Schistosomiasis (SCH)
• Objective 2: Improved decision-making, coordination and planning between WASH and NTD programs at National and at Sub-national level.
• Objective 3: Increased demand for and awareness of deworming services among relevant different populations

The following strategies will be implemented to achieve the Program’s goal:
a. Mapping for schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis
b. Expand and Increased Mass Drug Administration coverage
c. Increased BCC and NTD-WASH interventions
d. Increased advocacy, coordination and partnerships
e. Strengthen systems for monitoring, evaluation, surveillance and research

Through the achievement of the above objectives, it is expected that in five years, the target counties will have targeted implementation units achieving elimination criteria (≤ 2% prevalence for STH and SCH as measured by qPCR) and change in prevalence and intensity of STH and SCH among sampled individuals compared to baseline mapping.

MAIN PURPOSE
To support implementation of the national and county level teams in the implementation of programs within the DIF project moving towards the elimination soil transmitted helminths and schistosomiasis in the four counties western counties of Bungoma, Trans Nzoia, Kakamega and Vihiga.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES
• Oversee the implementation of planned activities to ensure targets and results are achieved in a timely manner per approved work plan;
• Support strengthening national and county capacity and building partnerships for the control, elimination and eradication of STH/SCH by conducting orientation meetings with policy makers, line Ministries and other stakeholders on intersectoral collaboration at National and County level;
• Enhance awareness and advocate for the control of NTDs as well as creation of awareness ensuring high visibility of NTDs by producing advocacy tools for NTDs, conducting NTD media sensitization and advocacy as well as orientation of community opinion leaders on the importance of prevention, control and elimination of STH/SCH;
• Provide technical support to the STH/SCH project and Mass Drugs Administration (MDA) campaigns to effectively tackle the Pharmaco-therapy-NTDs targeted for elimination and control;
• Provide technical support to scale up national strategies and capacity to increase access to mass treatment of NTDs through regular sensitization meetings with decision makers at National, County and community levels on integrated NTDs control and elimination;
• Provide technical support and build the capacity for surveillance and progress monitoring towards the attainment of control, elimination and eradication targets;
• Facilitate building and strengthening of coordination structures and mechanisms at all levels in the Country through National and County and/or technical working groups on NTDs meetings;
• Building and strengthening human capacity for integrated/coordinated NTD programme implementation;
• Development of strong management systems for timely reporting through strengthening community involvement and participation;
• Strengthening integration and collaboration within the NTD programme and with other government agencies as well as community based programmes by fostering integration of the NTDs programs within the health systems;
• Strengthening collaboration with other community-based health programs including KEPI, School health programs and conducting mapping and regular updates of the inventory of NTD partners;
• Broadening the NTD partnership base and improving on resource mobilization and management by popularizing the NTD master plan to stakeholders, development partners for mobilization of resources and commitment;
• Establish and maintain effective project reporting, evaluation, and communication systems through submission of timely, accurate and professional reports that meet donor requirements;
• Represent Amref in county meetings, conferences, donor & steering committee meetings;
• Compile success stories and best practices for show casing around NTD control and elimination efforts at the county and national level;
• Contribute to drafting of proposals and strategy documents for resource mobilization and partnerships;
• Manage and maintain relationships and partnerships with government, public sector, private sector, and donors;
• Work with the Ministry of Health and partners on how to interpret and use data/findings to guide decision making;

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS Education and Knowledge
• Bachelor’s degree in public health, medicine, or related field.
• Postgraduate training will be an added advantage.

Experience
• Minimum five (5) years’ relevant work experience, including program/project management experience in the WASH & NTD programming.
• Demonstrated management and leadership skills working on large programs with rigorous financial management procedures and processes;
• Ability to work well with others and to communicate effectively.
• Ability to coordinate diverse activities while maintaining attention to detail.
• Technical knowledge in WASH and Behavior change communication and/or one or more of the five leading Pharmaco-therapy NTDs.
• Experience in intervention projects with strong community involvement.
• Hands on experience in project development, proposal writing and grant management
• Experience in project monitoring and evaluation.
• Knowledge of the Government health system.

Skills and competencies
• Ability to build strong working relationships for partnerships.
• Excellent networking and advocacy skills.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills working with cross cultural and multi diverse teams.
• Highly organized and able to set priorities and handle multiple competing time and resource demands.

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: 60

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Job application procedure
Interested? Please visit our website www.amref.org  to make your application. You will be directed to our online portal where you will need to create an account successfully in order for you to be able to submit your application. Your application should include a cover letter detailing why you are the best fit for this position and your CV with relevant skills and experience. Please note that you will receive an email confirmation for creation of account and an acknowledgment email upon submitting your application. Deadline for submission: 20 May 2022. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Duly note that Amref Health Africa does not require applicants to pay any fee at whatever stage of the recruitment and selection process.

Amref Health Africa is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment. Amref Health Africa is an equal opportunity employer and has a nonsmoking environment policy.

All Jobs

QUICK ALERT SUBSCRIPTION