Community Engagement Advisor

Project HOPE is an international NGO established for more than 65 years with 500+ engaged employees and hundreds of volunteers who work in more than 25 countries, responding to the worlds most pressing global health challenges.

Code of Conduct

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POSITION TITLE: Community Engagement Advisor

REPORTS TO: Community Engagement and Advocacy Advisor

DUTY STATION: Addis Ababa

PROGRAM: USAID- Empowered Communities Activity (ECA) and Others

MINIMUM HOURS OF WORK: 40 Hours per Week

Activity Overview

Empowered Communities Activity is a four-year USAID funded activity implemented by Project HOPE led consortium that includes JSI, and seven (7) local implementing partners (LIPs) The activity covers five (5) geographic regions of Ethiopia; namely, Oromia, Amhara, Afar, South Ethiopia and central Ethiopia. The goal of this activity is to strengthen community systems and platforms to improve health and nutrition outcomes. It aims to improving community level health literacy and engagement, capacity strengthening of non-state actors (NSAs) and accountability systems as well as increasing service delivery through NSA managed health facilities.

The Project HOPE led consortium strives to achieve a higher level of engagement by the community whereby members influence and take ownership in the decision-making processes that can improve their own health status. This relies on a multifaceted approach that addresses barriers targeting Gender equity and social inclusion at various levels.

JOB SUMMARY

The community engagement Advisor will be responsible to lead the design, implementation, and monitoring of community engagement and empowerment strategies, interventions, and activities in ECA implementation areas. S/he is expected to collaborate and work closely with the government sectors, non-state actors, LIPs, and other implementing partners in the design and implementation of community engagement and empowerment strategies and interventions. Under the direct supervision of the Community Engagement and Advocacy Director, s/he will provide technical guidance for the community engagement activities at national/ regional/ area office level. This role will transition to local partners in years 3-4.

Project HOPE seeks an experienced professional to lead the design, implementation, and monitoring of community engagement and empowerment strategies, interventions, and activities at all levels of the ECA.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide technical assistance to MoH on community engagement and empowerment strategies and initiatives through different technical and coordination platforms.
• Technical lead in the planning and implementation of ECAs community engagement and empowerment activities
• Enhance the capacity of CSOs/NSAs on community engagement and empowerment through training, support systems, and performance reviews.
• Work closely with LIPs and Regional Team in planning, implementation, and monitoring of community engagement and empowerment interventions and activities in ECAs Implementation Areas
• Lead the design, implementation, and monitoring of context-fit community engagement and empowerment strategies, structures, and approaches.
• Lead the review and development of community engagement implementation guide, training materials, job-aids, and tools.
• Provide technical oversight in the planning, execution, and monitoring of community engagement approaches and interventions such as Family Conversation, Adapted Community Action Cycle, Community Solution Fund, etc.
• Provide technical oversight in the contextualization of community engagement strategies, structures, approaches, guides, and tools for pastoralist context.
• Devise and implement mechanisms and tools to enhance the partnership between the community and health system.
• Strengthen the functionality and coordination of community platforms through capacity building efforts, provision of low-literacy tools and guides, and enhancing the interaction between HEWs and community platforms.
• Ensure marginalized and vulnerable community groups are meaningfully engaged in community platforms and health activities.
• Design, pilot, and implement local innovative solutions to address implementation challenges in relation to community engagement and empowerment.
• In collaboration with LIPs and ECAs Regional Team, identify and document success stories, lessons, and challenges.
• Collaborate and Work closely with other PH and ECA `s team to ensure activity integration with in the ECA and beyond.
• Travel to regions to support field program activities and capacity building efforts.
• Perform other functions assigned by COP and Senior Management team.

MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

• Masters degree in health fields, Social Science, or related fields with training and/or experience related to community engagement and empowerment.
• More than seven years of demonstrated technical and programmatic experience on community engagement and empowerment.
• Familiarity and demonstrated experience with Ethiopian Primary Health Care system including the Community Health Program, community engagement, community structures.
• Proven experience on strategy, protocols, tools, manuals, and training materials development.
• Demonstrated experiences on capacity development of NSAs/CSOs
• Familiarity and demonstrated experience with Ethiopian Primary Health Care system including the Community Health Program in Agrarian and pastoralist contexts. Familiarity with key strategic components of HSTP II & HEP optimization roadmap.
• Experience in evidence synthesis and analysis for program and intervention design
• Experience of working with local governments, international organizations, other bilateral donor and civil society organizations, and senior level government officials is desired.
• Excellent track record of successful teamwork, good presentation/facilitation skills interpersonal and communication skills, including oral and written fluency in local language and English.
• Excellence planning, organization, and supervision skills and able to work with minimum supervision.
• Experience in practical fieldwork and supervision skills and ability to travel to project operation sites nearly half (50%) of its time.