• JOB TITLE: Menstrual Hygiene and Health (MHH) Advisor

• REPORTS TO: Project Director

• PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT: REACH project

• DUTY STATION: Addis Ababa

COMPANY SUMMARY

EngenderHealth (EH) envisions a gender-equal world where all people achieve their sexual and reproductive health and rights. We believe this is essential for ensuring everyone can attain their full potential. To realize this vision, we implement high-quality, gender-equitable programs that advance sexual and reproductive health and rights.

EngenderHealth-Ethiopia is currently implementing the REACH (Reach, Expand, and Access Community Health) project, an integrated SRHR/MHM, and WaSH intervention in the Jimma and Borena zones of the Oromia Region. The REACH project is being implemented by a consortium of EngenderHealth and Amref Health Africa EngenderHealth would like to employ well-qualified and dedicated candidates at an Advisor level for its Menstrual Hygiene and Health intervention. The position will be based in Addis Ababa with an anticipated start date of Dec 01, 2024; qualified women candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

JOB SUMMARY
The MHH Advisor will be directly reporting to the Project Director. The Advisor will be responsible for providing technical assistance and guidance for the delivery of integrated menstrual hygiene and health interventions under the REACH project; for which he/she might be positioned 2 days a week at the regional education /health bureau to ensure the integration and ownership of the project ideas to the public system. The MHH advisor in consultation with the project team serves as a lead person in overseeing the implementation of the MHH interventions and building the capacity of the field team, ensuring the project deliverables are met; including the establishment of a functional school-based MHM outlet, support the establishment of a local reusable production center in collaboration with the zonal women and social affairs office, health office, job and skills office, and the local Technical, Vocational and Educational Training centers. The Advisor will also be sporting the field team in conducting a school facility audit for MHM interventions in close collaboration with the M&E team, identifying major barriers and gaps in establishing a market system for improving access to sanitary pads at the school level. The applicant is also expected to technically support field teams and consortium partners to liaise and establish a functional structure for MHH interventions working with zonal and district education/health offices, teachers, PTSAs, and other relevant stakeholders for MHH.

The MHH Advisor- will be primarily responsible for ensuring the achievement of specific project deliverables; reaching adolescents and girls with sanitary pads and technically supporting the establishment of a functional system for school-based sanitary pads distribution outlets in close collaboration with the field team. The Advisor is also expected to liaise and partner with regional and national MHH technical working groups, support the development of zonal-level activity planning and implementation, and coordinate and monitor the timely implementation of program/project activities. The Advisor will be responsible for organizing and facilitating sensitization events, establishing MHH outlets in schools, and ensuring the availability of safe spaces at schools for MHH. The Advisor will be also responsible for the technical support and establishment of two IGA groups on local production of reusable pads at the zonal level, both Borena and Jimma.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Participate in the overall implementation of the project consolidated annual work plan and assist in coordinating and conducting MHH-specific project planning, reviews, monitoring, and evaluations

• In consultation with the project director, other technical advisors, and the project teams, ensure the close follow-up and implementation of EngenderHealth’s standards and practices (SOPs) and ensure the integration of MHH interventions in the organizational frameworks and approaches

• Periodically update EngenderHealth program staff, Regional Health Bureaus/ Educational Bureau, the MOH counterparts, and implementing partners on best practices related to Menstrual Hygiene and Health

• Provide technical assistance in updating and developing training materials, technical guidelines/standards, and other technical work in consultation with the technical team, directors, and EH’s Global & Technical Leadership (GTL) team

• Serve as a trainer and provide technical assistance in coordination with other technical advisors, the field coordinators, and the project team in General

• Support Junior Program officers to cascade school-level demand creation interventions like peer-to-peer education, life skills education, and media engagement programs including MHM interventions

• Support MHH-specific IEC material development including the development and printing of billboards, message development and printing of brochures, and the transmission of MHH messages through Oromia Educational Radio programs

• Support financial management and entrepreneur training for menstrual health management and strengthening the establishment of a school-based MHH outlet

• Closely follow and support the establishment of a functional system for the purchase and distribution of MHM products from zonal-level whole sealers, and create a sustainable supply of sanitary products from the local market

• Support the recruitment, training, and formation of an IGA group to produce reusable sanitary pads in collaboration with the zonal women and social affairs office, zonal health office, zonal job and skills office, and the local Technical, Vocational, and educational office

• Support the field team in conducting a school facility audit for MHM interventions in close collaboration with the M&E team, identifying major barriers and gaps in establishing school-level MHM outlets and creating safe space for AY

• Technically support the field team in creating linkage with the school community; students and teachers, zonal and district health offices, and support safe space for menstrual hygiene and health

• Provide technical guidance and support to the project team, consortium partners, and stakeholders and ensure the MHH interventions are integrated with SRHR and WaSH activities

• Cooperate with and support the field team including field coordinators, program officers, woreda facilitators, and interns MHH demands the creation and strengthening of their relationship with the school

• Liaise and support ZHO, Education Office, and Woreda Education Offices to make sure that planned activities are included and harmonized with the zonal and woreda plan. Monitor zonal and woreda-specific performances against the targets and KPIs Facilitate effective partnership with stakeholders, engage with the Zonal and woreda-level MHH forums and platforms to sensitize the stakeholders and address ongoing community-level operational challenges, and use all opportunities in the zone to advocate about MHH to ensure ownership, enhance commitment and ensure sustainability

• Collaborate with the field project office (project consortium team) and country office technical and program team to initiate and ensure successful implementation of new initiatives

• Ensure the proper implementation of project activities and monitor progress regularly with periodic supervision and review meetings in coordination with project implementing partners

• Conduct regular community-level site visits, liaison with other partners, monitor the quality of school-level life skills and peer-to-peer education platforms, and provide inputs for the field team to course correct actions

• Identify with other technical staff and counterpart lessons learned and potential school-based MHH interventions keep abreast of best practices in relevant technical areas and disseminate knowledge

• Follow and provide technical support to ensure program deliverables are appropriately entered into the project database, analyze performance-based data produce periodic project progress updates, and submit monthly, quarterly, bi-annual, and annual reports to the project team

• Carry out other EngenderHealth assignments as may be required and as directed by the project director

• Working closely with the other technical advisors and MOH counterparts to ensure consistent application and institutionalization of MHH implementation guidelines to ensure ownership and promote innovations

• Draw up annual, quarterly, and monthly plans and produce and submit monthly updates and quarterly reports to the project director

• Synthesize data, properly document and disseminate lessons learned and best practices on menstrual hygiene and health

• Travel up to 60% of the time and support district education offices and schools as needed

Job Requirements

• Master’s in public health or other social science disciplines with a first degree in Health Science, Medicine, and other relevant social science disciplines

• Minimum of five (8) years experience in school-level interventions mainly adolescent youth health, menstrual hygiene, and health, and WaSH interventions preferably in NGO

• Experience with and understanding of the new Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, and their line regional structures

• Demonstrated experience in effectively providing technical assistance in menstrual hygiene and health at all levels of the system

ESSENTIAL SOFT SKILLS

• Committed to EngenderHealth’s core organizational values of reflection, inclusion, integrity, respect, and transformation

• Demonstrated knowledge and skill in Adolescent and Youth engagement both for the in-school and out-of-school communities

• Ability to handle multiple tasks and demands, establish priorities, and work effectively in a deadline-driven environment; accuracy and attention to detail in the performance of duties are of critical importance

• Knowledge and skill in relevant menstrual hygiene and health and understanding the existing challenges and opportunities for establishing an MHH system within the school environment

• Outstanding ability to interact with the school community; teachers, students and the student parent and teacher associations (PTSA), different level experts, and collaborators across multiple disciplines, program areas, and cultures with exceptional ability to mentor and support teams

• Fluency in written and oral English with the ability to articulate and present ideas, opinions, and information in a clear, concise, structured, and convincing manner Computer literate, with knowledge of Windows applications, including Excel spreadsheets

PREFERRED SKILLS, ABILITIES AND FUNCTIONS

• Good accountancy and report-writing skills.

• Good knowledge and skill of life skills education, AY engagement, and MHH interventions

• Good interpersonal communication and teamwork

How to Apply

If you are well qualified and interested to apply for this position please send your CV and application letter through THIS LINK

There is no need to attach your credentials at this stage.

Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply for this position