Community Engagement Specialis - Semera

JSI is a US-based public health non-profit organization dedicated to providing high-quality technical and managerial assistance programs throughout the world. In Ethiopia, JSI has been working to improve health outcomes for more than 25 years, implementing more than 60 projects and working in every region. JSI has historically managed a large portfolio of projects focusing on the quality, and equity in excess of, RMNCAH services, primary health care (PHC) including community health program, digital health, health information systems (HIS), supply chain management, public health emergency responses, and social and behavior change.

Activity Overview

JSI seeks an experienced Community Engagement Specialist for United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funded Empowered Community Activity. The goal of USAID Empowered Communities Activity (USAID ECA) is to strengthen community systems and platforms to improve health and nutrition outcomes. USAID ECA aims to address the social, cultural, political, and economic determinants that underpin health, and seeks to build partnerships with other sectors in finding solutions for better health outcomes.

Position Summary

The Community Engagement Specialist is responsible for planning, implementation, and monitoring of community engagement and empowerment strategies, interventions, and activities in ECA Implementation Areas. S/he works under the supervision of the Regional Manager and work closely with the Local Implementing Partners (LIPs), Regional Team, and central office technical team. S/he will be based in the ECA Implementation Area Office, with extensive travel within the implementation area.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Support the Regional Health Bureaus (RHBs) and other public health system in the planning, implementation and monitoring of community engagement and empowerment strategies and activities under the guidance of the Regional Manager
• Plan, implement, and monitor community engagement and empowerment interventions and activities in collaboration with LIPs and central office
• Enhance the capacity of CSOs/NSAs on community engagement and empowerment through training, support systems, and performance reviews
• Work closely with LIPs to plan, implement, and monitor community engagement interventions and activities in ECA’s Implementation areas
• In collaboration with ECA’s, lead the planning and implementation of context-fit community engagement structures and platforms such as Village Health Leader (VHL) strategy, women’s groups, men, youth, and informal social structures and platforms
• Lead the planning, execution, and monitoring of community engagement approaches and interventions such as Family Conversation, Adapted Community Action Cycle, Community Solution Fund, etc.
• 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
• Enhance the partnership between the community and the health system through participatory planning, implementation, and monitoring of health activities; community-facility forums
• Ensure marginalized and vulnerable community groups are meaningfully engaged in community platforms and health activities
• Provide and ensure proper use of various job-aids, SBC materials, guides, and tools by community engagement structures and platforms
• Conduct follow-up visits, on-job mentoring, and supportive supervision to ensure the implementation  
• Identify and document success stories, lessons, and challenges
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Activity

• Master’s degree in health fields, Social Science, or related field with training and/or experience related to community engagement and empowerment
• More than five 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
• Proven experience in the provision of technical support and capacity building Community-level experience in facilitating trainings and workshops is highly desirable
• Demonstrated experiences on capacity development of NSAs/CSOs
• Strong communication, interpersonal skills, and writing skills
• Able to promote team work and effort.
• Experience of working with local governments and civil society organizations, and senior level government officials is desired.
• Excellent English writing and communications skills required, fluency in local language is an advantage
• Computer literacy
• Able to work with minimum supervision.