Regional Immunization technical assistance

About South Ethiopia Peoples’ Development Association (SEPDA)

South Ethiopia Peoples Development Association (SEPDA) was established in 1993 with an objective of serve 23 Nationality organizations as umbrella and to contribute towards the alleviation of poverty. SEPDA is a local civil society organization, non-for-profit & non-governmental organization re-registered and licensed by FDRE Civil Society Organization Authority (ACSO) in accordance with the Charities and Societies Proc. No. 621/2009 and Ethiopian Civil Societies Organization Proc. No. 1113/2019. Likewise, SEPDA has been granted to work in former SNNPRS (Sidama National Regional State, South, West and Central Ethiopia regional states).

SEPDA as vision aspires to see improved living conditions of people through sustainable and consolidated development efforts and with mission to serve as an umbrella for Nationality Development Associations (NDAs) through building their operational and programmatic capacities and developing strong sense of partnership by addressing development gaps of the government.  

In the past 32 years, the SEPDA has mobilized resources from members, donors and development partners as well as from sources permitted by law, focusing on poverty alleviation and multifaceted response sectors in the region that are not covered by the government. some national and international donor and Partners So Far areEU, USAID, JSI, UNICEF, PSI, British Council (CSSP), GIZ/GTZ, FHI360, World learning, rain Foundation, Packard Foundation, AGRA, Glimmer of Hope, Bill & Melinda Gates foundation, Oxfam America, CCRDA, SNV, Cheshire Service Ethiopia, Rain foundation, Rotary Club, ATA etc.

Aforementioned donors and development partners support not only SEPDA but also people. By virtue of these SEPDA accomplished a number of poverty alleviation and multifaceted response sectors projects such as  health, education, potable water provision, road construction & maintenance, women and youth empowerment & NDAs capacity building, agricultural, livelihoods & natural resource management, cross-cutting projects like child labour prevention and rights, elderly care and support, pastoral area development especially for socially discriminated, vulnerable groups and prone to humanitarian crises community. In these SEPDA executed more than 1,500 projects and have benefited more than twelve (12) million people in former South Nations Nationalities and People Region.

From these projects 136 are health like building, furnishing and equipping health institutions; HIV/AIDS prevention programs, reproductive health and family planning, maternal and child health (MCH) programs, infant and young child feeding (IYCF) and nutrition, behavioral communication change (BCC) and OVC care and support projects in former SNNP Region. 

Country Office: Ethiopia 

Organization: South Ethiopia Peoples’ Development Association 

Duty Station: Central and South Ethiopia Regional States 

Category :Health Care 

Level: Supervisor

Number of Positions Available: 2 (Two) RHBs of Central Ethiopia and South Ethiopia Regions 

Salary Scale: Attractive

Terms of employment: one year Contract with possibility of extension

Application Deadline: September 25th, 2024 

Background information

Ethiopian Ministry of Health recognizes the crucial role immunization plays in reducing child morbidity and mortality and it affirms its responsibility to ensure that every child is protected from vaccine preventable diseases. part of full portfolio planning (FPP), MoH-Ethiopia has initiated various strategies and activities to identify and reach zero-dose and under immunized children with technical assistance to RHBs being one of the key strategies. MoH identified a need for ongoing technical assistance to support RHBs and ZHDs in identification and reaching of zero-dose and under immunized children focusing in woredas having high number of zero-dose children. MoH has identified over 33 woredas in South Ethiopia and Central Ethiopia regions for having high number of zero-dose children. 

SEPDA is planning to support the ministry’s effort of reducing zero-dose children through deployment of regional level TAs in the two regions and zonal level TAs in selected zones within South Ethiopia and Central Ethiopia regions. Through funding from GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance and partnership with JSI, the regional TA will provide technical assistance on routine immunization to Central and South Ethiopia RHBs (one TA to be assigned in each region). 

SEPDA is hiring a Regional Immunization TA to be based in the Regional Health Bureau (RHB) of South and Central Ethiopia Region States to provide technical assistance on immunization to the RHB. He/she will be seconded to the assigned RHB and will closely work with SEPDA and JSI immunization project team.  

Overall responsibilities of the position:

The Regional TA will provide technical assistance to the RHB to improve service quality and user experience of immunization services, including bringing a strong gender lens. Specifically, the person will provide support and technical assistance for the regional health bureau on identification of zero-dose and under immunized children, reaching and monitoring children in prioritized woredas with high numbers of zero-dose children. He/she will closely work with zonal and other regional TAs assigned by SEPDA, JSI and other partners. The regional TA will provide day-to-day and strategic support to the RHB’s EPI team for the responsibilities described below.

Job Description

1. Work with the RHB to analyze their situation and identify the needs relating to Zero dose children and under vaccinated children, with particular focus to prioritized woredas having high number of zero-dose
2. Develop an integrated RI plan to address the identified needs in consultation with the RHBs and other partners. 
3. Provide technical support to catch up vaccination planning, implementation and monitoring through community-based approaches
4. Ensure all the priority woredas have Micro-planning
5. Provide technical assistance to data analysis to monitor the zero-dose children reached in each priority woredas and provide regular feedback.
6. provide technical support in any demand creation activities specially advocacy by designing tailored materials to the context using local data, and awareness creation to address barriers for RI, including gender-related barriers
7.  Provide support for the planning, implementation and monitoring of any new vaccine introduction and switch (IPV2, Rotasiil, Yellow fever and scale up of Hep B BD)
8. Support planning, implementation and monitoring of COVID 19 and HPV vaccinations in the low performed areas and other places  
9. Support and monitor vaccine stock availability in woredas and health facilities, with particular attention to priority woredas 
10. Support the preparation and cofacilitation of TWG meetings regularly 
11. Cofacilitate capacity building activities related with immunization service through trainings, mentorship and advocacy meetings 
12. Provide ongoing technical support to RHB and sub-regional level in monitoring of immunization service delivery and catch up through supportive supervisory visits, review meetings and use of immunization data for timely decision making.
13. Closely work and coordinate with zonal TAs of this project and other regional TAs assigned by JSI. The person is also expected to collaborate with staff and TAs of other partners working in the region
14. Documentation of lessons learned and sharing
15. Regularly provide update and reports on performance 
16. Contribute to RHB, MoH, SEPDA and JSI-required project reports or other information required
17. Perform other assignments and responsibilities as assigned by RHB and/or SEPDA/JSI

Qualifications:

• Master of public health (MPH) or other equivalent qualifications with first degree in health-related areas
• Minimum of eight years working experience in immunization and public health. Should have at least five years of experience on routine immunization and other RMNCH experience 
• Experience in immunization data analysis is needed
• Demonstrated experience working within the region and familiarity with the region
• Proven ability to use adult learning techniques to facilitate trainings, supportive supervision and technical assistance 
• Strong organizational, management and communication skills to collaborate partners and decision makers at the national, regional, zonal and woreda level
• Demonstrated ability to be a team player, to lead teams, and to organize multiple activities simultaneously; ability to communicate and negotiate competing demands on time from managers and work effectively with distributed teams. 
• Computer skills, including Microsoft Word, Excel, and Power point, and familiarity with DHIS2
• Fluency in English; Fluency in the regional language is a strong asset 
• Willingness and ability to travel up to 40% of the time to regions, zones, and Woredas

Required Skills

• Communication and Supervisory

Join Accountability

• Zonal Immunization technical assistance (ZITA) has dual supervision. The ZITA day-to-day activities, he/she reports to the zonal health department RMNCH directors. For operational related activities, he/she will report to SEPDA’s regional project manager
• SEPDA provides all project staffs with an attractive salary & benefits package.
• SEPDA provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees & qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, ancestry, national origin, age, handicap, disability, marital status, or status as a veteran. SEPDA complies with all applicable laws governing nondiscrimination in employment 

How To Apply

Interested applicants who meet the minimum requirements should submit your application letter with your cover letter and CV in English detailing your experience and skills that are relevant to the post SEPDA Main Office, Hawassa No. 02 in person or P.O.Box 812

Please do not attach copies of your transcripts, academic degrees or recommendation letters with the application. You will provide them upon request. 

SEPDA abides safeguarding of child and women organization, and the safety and well-being of children and women are areas priority of our organization. We have robust recruitment procedures to ensure that all staffs are suited to work with the children served by our programs.

SEPDA is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer committed to workplace diversity. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all qualified applicants and employees without regard to age, race, color, national origin, ancestry, creed, religion, gender, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, sexual preference, genetic information, political affiliation, or protected veteran status in any employment decisions. 

Contact Address: SEPDA Main Office                                   

Hawassa, Misrak Sub-city   Tesso Kebele in front of DAGIM Gymnasium Hotel   

Phone:       +251 916866262 (Mob.) 

                  +251 973621368 (Mob)

                  +251 943956089 (Mob)

                  +251 943954819 (Mob)

                  +251 916828764 (Mob)

                  +251462209608   

                  +251462210878                                                     

Fax:       +251462203043                                             

Email: tshigute@gmail.com     

         yonasdinbore@gmail.com

           lulahussen99@gmail.com

            eyobtaye79@yahoo.com             

              sepda@ethionet.et

 Website: www.sepda.net

 Po;Box 812 

Hawassa, Ethiopia