PROGRAM OFFICER – COMMUNITY MOBILIZATION TCCP – 2 POSITIONS

POSITION: PROGRAM OFFICER – COMMUNITY MOBILIZATION TCCP – 2 POSITIONS

Organizational Context:

CARE is a leading humanitarian organization dedicated to fighting poverty and social injustice with a special emphasis on women and girls.  CARE Tanzania is part of CARE International, whose vision is to seek a world of hope, tolerance, and social justice, where poverty has been overcome and people live in dignity and security.  CARE International is a global force and a partner of choice within a worldwide movement dedicated to ending poverty.  We are known everywhere for our unshakable commitment to the dignity of people.  CARE Tanzania and partners contribute to the empowerment of the most marginalized and vulnerable rural women and girls to exercise their rights.

Job Summary

Tanzania Capacity and Communications Project (TCCP) is a five year project whose goal is to increase the adoption of safer behaviors by Tanzanian adults and high risk populations (adult and youth) to prevent or manage HIV infection, support the up-take of family planning to reduce unmet need, and address maternal, newborn, and child health. The project is being implemented in 10 priority regions in Tanzania, including Mwanza and Simiyu regions. CARE Tanzania jointly implements this project with the Center for Communication Programs of the John Hopkins School of Public Health.

The purpose of the Program Officer- Community Mobilization position is to effectively implement the program’s BCC activities at the community level. He/she oversees the proper implementation of the community based BCC activities of the program, in collaboration with other team members.  He/she is also responsible for assisting the program manager in program initiative designing, planning, budget preparation, reporting and learning.  S/he is expected to maintain effective working relationships with other staff working with other CARE program initiatives and impact groups, key government partners and NGOs working in the same geographic areas.

Working at the district and village levels, The Program Officer – Community Mobilization is responsible for preparing and disseminating key messages related to HIV/AIDS Prevention, Family Planning and MNCH through innovative community-based communication tools and methodologies, appropriate to different audiences within target communities. S/he works with partners to design trainings, establish supportive social and peer networks and other community-based activities. S/he establishes implements and monitors peer education programs for youths, women and other members in the targeted community.

S/he is expected to maintain effective working relationships with other CARE staff working with other CARE program initiatives and impact groups, as well as JHU staff.

Key Responsibilities and Tasks

Job Responsibility #1: Program Initiative Implementation and Activity Planning and Budgeting

35 % of time

·         Facilitate participatory planning learning and action with the partners, target communities and LGAs in line with Program Initiative objectives.

·         Participate in the testing and adaptation, in collaboration with other program team of staff and partners, the program’s theory of change; 

·         Prepare and implement work plans (e.g. quarterly, monthly) and activity budgets for BCC community mobilization component in Simiyu or Geita region.

Job Responsibility #2: Community Mobilization and Resource Mobilization

15 % of time

·         Design, facilitate and document the prioritization of participatory learning and action problems with selected communities and develop action plans.

·         Apply a rights based approach, mobilizing the commitment of community leaders, elected counsellors community resource people and government extension workers (building community competence-read leadership competence-around BCC for HIV/AIDS prevention and increase in Family Planning uptake).

·         Enable the active engagement of groups that are often overlooked (e.g. adolescent girls, poorer households) in community discussions and planning processes.

·         Advice and support women in the implementation of the identified and prioritized problems.

·         Ensure that communities take a lead in their development activities, while CARE giving support and facilitating role.

·         Facilitate the implementation of action plans.

Job Responsibility #4:  Provide Capacity Building and Organizational Development (OD) technical assistance

25% of time

·         Participate in the organizational capacity assessment.  Review with groups and colleagues the OD needs and design a process of OD support for the groups/partners in the program area.  For sub-grantee partners, this includes an organizational capacity improvement plan.

·         Support the building of organizational capacity of partners and stakeholders to ensure their development and sustainability at the community level.

·         Develop sustainability strategies with respective local community groups

·         Support groups to develop, test and use materials, events, activities that enable them to raise voice on the issue of concern.

·         Strengthen local community groups’ technical resource capacity at community level.

·         Conduct participatory technical needs assessment as per intervention.

·         Translate training and technical information for use at community level.

·         Facilitate identification of innovative community resource persons and leaders for technical training.

·         Translate training and technical information materials for use at community level.

Job Responsibility #5: Alliance Building and Networking

10% of time

·         Establish effective work relationship with CBO, FBO and LGA partners on BCC activities at the regional and district levels.

·         Develop a network of contacts at the regional and district level to support strategies priorities with other organizations with similar concerns and experience (e.g. to support organizational development of CBOs, broadening the scope and impact of the Program)

Job Responsibility #6: Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning and Reporting

10% of time

·         Participate in developing a monitoring/evaluation and impact measurement system including, identifying key indicators in collaboration with main actors at community and district level.

·         Facilitate and participate in reflective learning forums (meetings, workshops, etc) internally and externally with program initiative stakeholders.

·         Implement forward accountability mechanisms to monitor and assess our program quality and impact with those we work with.

·         Prepare reports on program initiatives assigned, and document lessons and experience.

·         Directly connected to national targets (e.g from the MKUKUTA).

·         Share experiences at region and district level.

·         Keep up to date with developments in assigned technical/functional area, including best practice examples and ensure ongoing personal development and learning.

Job Responsibility #7:  Promote Gender Equality (including)

All of time

·         Practice a behaviour that is consistent with CARE’s core values and promotion of gender and diversity goals.

·         Provide support in conducting gender analysis and facilitate gender mainstreaming in all program activities.

·         Create gender awareness and facilitate women participation in all program activities.

Job Responsibility #8:  Perform Other Duties as Assigned (including)

5% of time

·         When applicable, participate in emergency response and recovery efforts in the event of an emergency in his/her program area.

Problem Solving

Level 1 and 2, primarily 2 because many of the job responsibilities are clearly defined. However, interpolative skills are required given his/her interactions with the community and behavioral change interventions of the program initiative.

Qualifications (Know-How)

Education/Training

Required

·         Bachelor’s degree in community development, social work, education or related field.

Desired

·         Advanced Degree in community development or related field.

Experience

Required

·         At least two years of previous work in community development.

·         Practical experience in application of participatory approaches and tools.

·         Skills and experience in building partnership and commitment to program initiative’s objectives.

Desired

·         Experience of working with local partners including government authorities is an asset;

·         Experience in implementing community BCC activities.

Technical Skills

 Required

·         Personal integrity living up to CARE Tanzania’s core values of commitment, accountability, respect, effectiveness and diversity;

·         Ability to work and communicate with a range of stakeholders including policymakers and government officials, NGOs, community representatives;

·         Strong ability to engage with communities and capability in being proactive to organize community activities using community mobilization methodologies and practices

·         Knowledge and understanding of gender analysis in rural communities

·         A high level of individual initiative, planning and good judgment. High competency in database and using/applying analytical software;

·         Conversant with adult learning methodology with excellent ability to build capacity;

·         Demonstrated ability to make judgment calls and decisions with respect to monitoring and evaluation activities, within delegated authority, that impact significantly;

·         Good monitoring skills

·         Concentration, accuracy and attention to details are required. 

·         Excellent written and oral communication skills, with a fluent writing style and good knowledge and practical use of both English and Kiswahili Solid report-writing skills

·         Solid report-writing skills

·         Computer literacy with excellent knowledge of Microsoft Suite;

·         Ensuring that gender and power dynamics related to procurement are taken into consideration;

·         Firm belief in teamwork, gender equality, sensitivity to HIV/AIDS and participatory approach and sustainable development.

·         Ability to thrive in team environments, with a strong understanding of diversity and other cultures

·         Ability to drive a motorcycle with a valid Driving license

Competencies

·         Excellence: Sets high standards of performance for self and/or others; successfully completes assignments; sets standards of excellence rather than having standards imposed; ensures interactions and transactions are ethical and convey integrity.

·         Respect: Behaves in a manner that reflects a true belief in and appreciation for the dignity and potential of all human beings. Gaining other people’s confidence and setting an environment of trust and openness.

·         Diversity: Promotes, values and respects each individual’s unique qualities, background, race, culture, age, gender, disability, values, lifestyle, perspectives or interests; creates and maintains a work environment that promotes diversity.

·         Integrity: Maintains social, ethical, and organizational norms; firmly adheres to codes of conduct and ethical principles inherent to CARE.

·         Planning and Organizing: Establishes courses of action for self and others to ensure that work is completed efficiently and effectively in accordance with CARE’s core values.

·         Communicating with Impact: Diplomatically, logically and clearly conveying information and ideas through a variety of media to individuals or groups in a manner that engages the recipient / audience and helps them understand and retain their message.

·         Adaptability: Effectively manages changing environments in the organization; maintains effectiveness when dealing with multiple and conflicting priorities across different cultural settings or during emergency and crisis situations.

·         Initiating Action: Takes prompt action to accomplish objectives; takes decisive action to achieve goals in times of uncertainty or in fluid contexts; is proactive.

·         Building Commitment: Uses appropriate interpersonal styles and techniques to gain acceptance of ideas or plans; modifies one’s own behavior to accommodate tasks, situations, and individuals involved.

·         Contribute to Team Success: Actively participates as a member of a team or work unit to move the team/unit toward the completion of shared goals.

·         Strengthening Partnerships: Identifying and utilizing opportunities within and outside of CARE Tanzania to develop effective strategic relationships between one’s area and other areas/departments/units or external organizations to achieve CARE’s objectives.

Our diversity is our strength; we encourage people from all backgrounds and experiences, particularly women, to apply

MODE OF APPLICATION: Apply through hrm@co.care.org to Country Director by 24 April 2014 with a motivation letter, detailed CV including 3 Referees