Job Summary

Start Date: Immediately

Contract duration: 6 months with the possibility of extension

Context of the mission

Médecins du Monde (MDM) is an International Non-Governmental Organization (INGO) involved in humanitarian interventions, operating in Ethiopia since 1986 in different types of health projects from long-term interventions to emergency response.

In January – February 2019, MdM France (MdM-F) and MdM Germany (MdM- Ge) conducted a joint-Fact Finding Mission in the Somali region. The goal of this mission was to assess the humanitarian needs caused by ongoing drought and conflict and evaluate intervention options for MdM. The assessment covered three zones: Gerbo, Qubi and Lagahida. After successful submission of the project proposal to the German Federal Foreign Office (GFFO), the 24-month project has been launched 1 July 2019.

The project aims primarily to improve access to and the quality of health services with a focus on life-saving Mother and Child Health (MCH) interventions. The proposed activities include ensuring high-quality basic emergency obstetric and newborn care (BEmONC) at the Gerbo health centre; improving MCH services at Molayko health centre. The focus will be on capacity-building, training and mentoring, equipment and medical supplies, and community sensitization. In relation to improving prevention, monitoring and control of epidemics in this region, such as acute watery diarrhoea (AWD) and measles, the focus is also on support of infection prevention and control (IPC)/medical waste management in the 2 health centres (HC) and capacity-building in vaccination routine/outreach, cold chain management for staff at the healthcare facilities (both the 2 health centres and the 7 health posts). The screening, identification, management and treatment of acute malnutrition (moderate and severe) will also be improved, using community management of acute malnutrition (CMAM) approach, both at healthcare facilities and through targeted outreach activities in communities. WASH activities will be integrated into the health and nutrition activities, e.g. by ensuring availability of hand-washing stations and drinking water supplies in the 2 supported health centres. MdM F and MdM Ge will implement this new project jointly, with MdM F being the lead in the first year and a coordinated handover to MdM Ge during the project period.

Essential Duties

The posotion is tasked to take a lead in social mobilization activities in the target areas. The Community Mobilizer will be responsible for facilitating the implementation of community-based activities at the community level to ensure that communities are empowered, and they contribute to mother and child wellbeing outcomes as per national and MdM standards. More specifically, and in order to improve access and utilization of MCH by community, the implementation of community-based activities in Gerbo woreda will focus on demand creation for mother and child services (MCH).

Key activity areas will include:

• Responsible to design, plan and implement outreach/community mobilization activities in target area
• Mobilize and facilitate the engagements of community stakeholders through appropriate outreach mechanisms;
• Support and facilitate the partnership in the implementation of planned outreach activities for nutrition

Hierarchical & Functional links

The Community Mobilizer will be based in Gerbo town, Nogob zone, Somali region. S/he will be under the direct supervision of and report to the MdM Midwife working in Molayko health centre (HC).

Responsibilities

Community strategy:

• In close collaboration with other MdM team members, contribute to design the community strategy and action plan for outreach activities
• Promote and install sense of ownership among the beneficiaries through community engagement activities or design appropriate activities for the enhanced beneficiaries’ involvement;
• Keep the key community stakeholders updated about the project

Outreach activities:

• Plan for weekly/monthly outreach and adjust to a flexible activity scheduling;
• Organize and participate in all project events related to mother and child health (vaccination campaigns; screening of children under 5, mobilization during campaigns, consultations with communities, etc.);
• Organize awareness rising and sensitization sessions on the importance of ANC delivery by skilled birth attendants, PNC and family planning;
• In close collaboration with the MdM midwife working in Molayko, sensitize community members on key issues of interest;
• Mobilize and facilitate active participation of community members, including women
• Support Health, Nutrition and WASH technical officers in planning of social mobilization and training activities as needed.

Coordination:

• Coordinate and establish network for the social mobilization, when required and as deemed necessary, with other humanitarian actors operating in the same area;
• Represent community level meeting, workshop, training on behalf of MdM and share report.

Monitoring and reporting:

• Plan for and establish effective beneficiary communication and feedback system to assess the performance of the project activities;
• Submit a monthly report to MdM project midwife (Molayko).

Job Requirements

Expected profile

• Diploma in Health Education
• At least one year of experience and trained in the area of social mobilization
• Excellent written and spoken English language and Somali language will be a plus
• Experience in social mobilization, community organizing, within Health in the Somali region.
• Work experience on Covid_19 is an asset.
• Excellent communication / facilitation skills
• Understanding of gender equality and inclusion
• Ability to access and analyze social dimension to adapt according to the context
• Ability to classify and manage priorities - High autonomous is required

How to Apply

Interested candidates who meet the above criteria should fill the form at the following link https://forms.gle/NS6RZ4Hsx4GAkMXFA and send their application CV with motivation letter thorough jobapplication.mdmethiopia@gmail.com 

NB: only shortlisted candidates shall be contacted. 

Women is strongly encouraged to apply