Job Summary
The Project Officer for Early Childhood Development (ECD) will work as a member of EGPAF Technical Team under the day-to-day management of the ECD Coordinator. The program Officer will be responsible for working closely with districts teams to support the integration of successful implementation of ECD program. He/she will assist the ECD Coordinator to plan and Implement projects activities and provide technical support to the districts teams. The project Officer will support project implementation in the field and identify potential of linkages of beneficiaries to other relevant services.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
RECRUITMENT AND TRAINING OF CHWs
1. Ensure informed consent is obtained from both CHWs and caregivers who enrol in the Kizazi Kijacho study.
2. With other Kizazi Kijacho team members, participate in CHW training and support CHWs to become proficient in project materials and appropriate communication and support to caregiver.
TECHNICAL SUPPORT AND QUALITY ASSURANCE:
3. Fully understand the Kizazi Kijacho study, its different research arms and to communicate effectively in the community about the goals and implementation of the study.
4. Ensure that the logistics are properly coordinated to support the work of the CHWs
5. Ensure that the CHWs are provided with critical supplies to conduct their work, including Kizazi Kijacho and Ministry-approved IEC materials.
6. Ensure adherence to the Kizazi kijacho protocol by each CHW and health care workers/supervisors in accordance with their assigned study arm.
MENTORSHIP AND SUPPORTIVE SUPERVISION
7. Ensure that a mentorship and supportive supervision plan is in place for all trained health care workers and CHWs
8. Provide mentorship and supportive supervision for all trained health care workers and CHWs (including observing home visit sessions, providing refresher training, routine phone calls, courtesy calls, etc.)
9. Maintain confidentiality of information shared by caregivers, CHWs and health care workers
10. Ensure that participant feedback on training and supportive supervision processes is synthesized and fed into planning for future activities such as refresher trainings, and supportive supervision activities.
COMMUNICATION
11. Take responsibility for the effective flow of communication and information between and among all stakeholders, including Kizazi kijacho team and CHWs
12. Respond to inquiries regarding the intervention as requested by the relevant country staff.
13. Ensure that the ECD coordinator and the Kizazi Kijacho global team are aware of the bottlenecks, constraints, and challenges at community level and at project level, and leverage their support to resolve these at all levels as appropriate.
DOCUMENTATION, MONITORING, & REPORTING
14. In coordination with research team and partners, ensure that the data collection tools are readily available, and information is entered correctly and promptly.
15. Ensure that all project documentation is properly completed, stored and submitted.
16. Identify best practices and generate lessons learned documents that would be applied.
17. Prepare monthly and quarterly reports and share with ECD coordinator for compilation.
18. Any other responsibilities as assigned by the ECD coordinator
Required Qualifications
Education
19. University degree (Bachelor's degree or MPH) in Nutrition, Community Development, Education, Sociology or related field. Experience in Early Child Development is an added advantage.
Experience & Skills- REQUIRED :
20. At least 5 years professional experience in community development work for international NGOs/aid organizations.
21. Demonstrated experience in supporting, mentoring and training other staff in community mobilization, health and nutrition, early childhood development, and/or social and behaviour change interventions
22. Experience coordinating or managing projects at health facilities and district level
23. Experience in collaboration with partners, government officials, community leaders, and community-based organizations;
24. Excellent skills and experience using technology for data collection, such as mobile phone or tablet based data collection
25. Strong computer skills including Microsoft Office suite, including knowledge of common statistical software packages, relational database systems, and web technologies.
26. Strong Kiswahili and English writing skills to prepare reports, promotional materials and oral presentations.
27. Innovation & creativity: demonstrated experience with contributing new ideas for solving various program/organization related issues.
DESIRED :
28. Technical experience with implementing or managing early childhood development projects at district and community levels.
29. Experience working with caregivers (including men/fathers) for improved child health, nutrition or child development.
30. Prior experience building capacity of CHWs.
31. Experience working in Dodoma region of TZ.
32. Health, nutrition and/or early childhood development technical skills
33. Highly organized and detail-oriented
34. Thinks and acts strategically
35. Strong problem-solving skills
36. Creativity and resiliency in face of challenges
37. Ready to travel to remote areas up to 70% of the time