Main role:

The primary function of CESA SBCC officer facilitating positive health behavior change within the community.

Specific Responsibilities:

• Program Planning and Development: Collaborating with program managers and stakeholders to ensure that reproductive health programs are designed to be inclusive and responsive to the needs of diverse populations, particularly women, youth, and marginalized communities. This may involve conducting gender and social inclusion analyses, identifying gaps, and developing strategies to address them.
• Policy and Advocacy: Advocating for policies and programs that promote gender equality, youth empowerment, and social inclusion in reproductive health. This may involve engaging with government agencies, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders to influence policy dialogue, shape programmatic approaches, and advocate for the rights and needs of marginalized groups.
• Capacity Building and Training: Providing training and capacity-building initiatives to program staff, healthcare providers, and community workers on gender-responsive and socially inclusive approaches in reproductive health. This may include sensitizing them to gender and social barriers, promoting cultural competency, and enhancing their ability to provide inclusive, non-discriminatory services.
• Community Engagement and Mobilization: Facilitating community-level engagement and mobilization activities to raise awareness, challenge social norms, and promote positive attitudes towards reproductive health, gender equality, and youth empowerment. This may involve organizing community dialogues, supporting community-led initiatives, and fostering partnerships with community-based organizations.
• Monitoring and Evaluation: Monitoring the implementation and impact of reproductive health interventions on gender equality, youth empowerment, and social inclusion. This may involve designing and implementing monitoring and evaluation frameworks that capture relevant indicators and data disaggregated by gender, age, and other socio-demographic characteristics. The GYSI officer may also use this information to inform program adaptation and improvement.
• Research and Knowledge Generation: Conducting or supporting research initiatives that generate evidence on the reproductive health needs, experiences, and outcomes of marginalized populations. This can contribute to the development of evidence-based interventions and inform policy and programmatic decision-making.
• Collaboration and Networking: Collaborating with diverse stakeholders, including government agencies, civil society organizations, and international partners, to promote coordination, knowledge exchange, and joint advocacy efforts. This may involve participating in working groups, task forces, and networks focused on gender, youth, and social inclusion in reproductive health.
• Gender-Responsive Approaches: Promote gender-responsive approaches that recognize and address the unique needs, roles, and experiences of women, girls, and gender minorities. This includes ensuring access to comprehensive reproductive health services, such as family planning, maternal healthcare, and prevention/treatment of gender-specific health issues.
• Youth-Friendly Services: Develop and implement youth-friendly reproductive health services that are accessible, non-judgmental, and tailored to the specific needs of young people. This may involve training healthcare providers to communicate effectively with youth, providing age-appropriate information, and creating safe and welcoming healthcare environments.
• Meaningful Participation: Ensure meaningful participation of marginalized groups, including women, youth, and socially excluded populations, in the design, implementation, and evaluation of reproductive health programs. This can be achieved through involving community members in decision-making processes, engaging marginalized groups as peer educators or advocates, and establishing feedback mechanisms to capture their input.
• Addressing Social Norms and Stigma: Address harmful social norms, cultural practices, and stigma that hinder access to reproductive health services for marginalized groups. This can involve community mobilization, awareness campaigns, and behavior change communication strategies to challenge discriminatory beliefs and practices and promote acceptance and support.
• Capacity Building: Conduct capacity-building initiatives to enhance the skills and knowledge of healthcare providers, program staff, and community workers on issues related to gender, youth, and social inclusion. This can include training on cultural sensitivity, communication skills, and the provision of inclusive and non-discriminatory services.
• Intersectionality: Recognize and address the intersecting forms of discrimination and marginalization faced by individuals who belong to multiple marginalized groups. This involves understanding the complex interplay of factors such as gender, age, socioeconomic status, disability, and ethnicity, and tailoring interventions to meet the specific needs of individuals with diverse identities.
• Partnerships and Collaboration: Collaborate with local organizations, community leaders, and stakeholders working on gender, youth, and social inclusion to leverage resources, share expertise, and coordinate efforts. This can enhance program effectiveness and sustainability by drawing on local knowledge, networks, and community support.
• Data Disaggregation: Collect and analyze data disaggregated by gender, age, and other relevant socio-demographic characteristics to identify disparities and inform evidence-based decision-making. Disaggregated data can help identify gaps in access, utilization, and outcomes of reproductive health services among marginalized groups, enabling targeted interventions.
• Culturally Sensitive Approaches: Tailor reproductive health programs to the cultural norms, beliefs, and practices of marginalized groups in remote or underserved areas. This includes ensuring that information, education, and communication materials are culturally appropriate and that services are delivered in a non-judgmental and respectful manner.

Recruitment Contract: 1 Year with possibility of extension based on availability of grant

Recruitment date: As soon as possible

Sex: Both (Female candidates are encouraged)

Job Requirements

Educational background

• Minimum BSC degree in gender studies or related social science preferably with background in public health or health-related fields or Diploma with more than 2 years related work experience
• Experience in NGO working environment will be an asset

Competencies and skills

• Ability to exercise sound judgment, to remain flexible to a changing environment, and to make decisions independently.
• Ability to work well within a cross-cultural team.
• Strong communication skills, both oral and written
• Fluency in English, Amharic and local language
• Basic Microsoft computer application skill