Pastoralist Concern (PC) is a pastoralist initiated, inspired and led Civil Society Organization (CSO) founded in 1995 with commitment to Ethiopian pastoralist development and advocacy. With pastoralist background, we have in-depth understanding on pastoralism and its dynamics not from blue prints but from living the life. PC’s vision is “to see improved and sustainable livelihood of the pastoralist communities of Ethiopia and further realize strong co-operations with neighboring countries’ pastoralist communities.

Project overview

Pastoralist concern/PC/ has a partnership with Engender Health with the purpose of improving health and nutrition out comes in the pastoral geographies of Ethiopia, through increased access and utilization of quality reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent and youth health and nutrition/RMNCAH-N/ services with the donation USAID/Ethiopia Lowlands Health Activity supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

Job Summary

Under the direct supervision of the head office health and nutrition coordinator and technical guidance of the GYSI Officer, the SBCC/ CESA/ Officer is responsible for the coordination and support of implementation of the Project’s related with LHA and behavior change communication activities in the region.

 Responsibilities

The post holder will also be responsible to provide on-going support to field-based staff to ensure community mobilization /engagement and demand creation activities of the LHA project are implemented, monitored, supervised and reported. S/he will be responsible to support assessments designed to understand specific barriers to or facilitators for care seeking, and closely work with the project team in the development of strategies to address barriers. S/he will contribute to the development and review of IEC/BCC messages / materials in collaboration with other project staff and relevant stakeholders. S/he will contribute to the documentation of lessons, evaluation and documentation of the impact of BCC activities in collaboration with other stakeholders.

Leadership

• Provides high quality Community Engagement /SBCC related support to the LHA project in his/her assigned region;
• Contributes to the development and implementation of SBCC strategies to address key challenges and barriers to care seeking;
• Represents LHA at regional Technical Working Groups, and in professional circles through meetings, conferences and presentations in the areas of SBCC when delegated by the program manager or SBCC Advisor;
• Mentors field-based project team Particularly the Woreda Facilitators in strategies to improve community engagement and demand for services;
• Maintains excellent relationship with the regional, zonal health bureaus and woreda health offices.

Program Management & Implementation

• The SBCC Officer will be responsible to guide and support field-based team along with Woreda Facilitator to effectively implement the community engagement /demand creation and SBCC activities of the project in all the target woredas;
• With technical guidance from the GYSI Officer, leads and coordinates the implementation of the RMNCHA-N service demand creation strategies in the location.
• Closely works with key RHB and other partners’ staff to identify and develop locally relevant and feasible SBCC strategies for RMNCHA-N services;
• Ensures field-based staff understands the community engagement /SBCC strategies and activities, and has properly integrated it in their routine support to health facilities Supports the orientation and training of field-based staff and health staff in project facilities strategies related to community engagement /SBCC;
• Participates in joint supportive supervision to project facilities to support the project team implement the community engagement /SBCC activities as per the agreed standard and quality; uses supervision data to mentor field staff as well as health care providers;
• Contributes to the development and review SBCC messages / materials;
  Supports development and review of relevant training materials and job aids.
• Organizes and executes community review meetings, campaigns, experience sharing /exchange visits and other similar fora that help replicate good practices and lessons;
• Participate in advocacy activities, forums and networks aimed at raising the profile of community engagement, SBCC and /or MNH issues as assigned
• Keeps self-abreast of national and regional strategies related to community engagement /community mobilization and SBCC; uses the knowledge to inform and adapt project strategies;
• Closely works with the M&E officer and GYSI Officer to design appropriate tools to capture data (both qualitative and quantitative); leads the process documentation for the community engagement and group RMNCAH-N activities;
• Analyses data and produce regular field reports to inform periodic reports;
  Closely works with the M&E Officer in ensuring all relevant project documents are electronically stored /maintained in an agreed file format and location, in an easily retrievable way;
• Contributes to the documentation of program learning initiatives (including developing case stories) in his/her assigned region;
• Keeps up-to-date on project activities related to community engagement and group ANC so as to respond to requests for assistance from technical staff and provide input on monitoring and evaluation systems and processes.

Job Requirements

Knowledge Management and Sharing

• Undertakes regular documentation of activities including lessons learned and success stories; support periodic documentation of the community engagement and group ANC activities to inform regional and national platforms;
• Produces routine and ad hoc reports and shares them internally as appropriate for program decision;
• Assists the Program Manager in preparing Project status reports required for management, donors and other partners;
• Participates in Regional level community engagement /SBCC and other technical meetings representing the Project when assigned by the Program Manager;
• Facilitates learning through presentations and other means on community engagement /SBCC.
• Participate in joint field visits, review meetings and planning meetings.
• Performs any other related tasks assigned by his or her supervisor or delegated person.

Education & Qualifications:

• Degree in the field Public Health, Health Education, Social Sciences, Communications or related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in similar position/s; preferably in managing M&E aspects of health programs; at least two years in an NGO environment.
• Familiarity of the national community engagement and SBCC strategies; familiarity with the Health Extension Program and the Women/Health Development Army network;
• Understanding of the Ethiopian health system is a plus.

Required Skills & Abilities:

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to work in a multi-disciplinary team setup; ability to work independently using established procedures; strong negotiation and analytical skills; ability to multitask and work under pressure and tight deadlines
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with Regional and Zonal Health Bureaus;
• Computer literacy in all the Microsoft office applications and internet literacy are required.
• Experience in conducting /supporting qualitative assessments.
• Proven ability to analyze data and write reports that are of high quality
• Exposure to RMNCAH-N project is an asset
• Fluency in English, Amharic and the local language is mandatory