Project location: Aw-Bare, Gursum (SM), Afdem & Shinile Woredas of Somali region & Biyoawale, Wahil and Legehare Woredas of Dire Dawa city administration
Organization: Organization for Welfare and Development in Action (OWDA)
The Organization for Welfare and Development in Action (OWDA) is a nationally registered humanitarian and development organization established in December 1999, serving communities across Ethiopia. OWDA is dedicated to improving the lives of vulnerable and marginalized groups, particularly pastoral and agro-pastoral communities affected by drought, conflict, and other shocks. Its mission is to strengthen the resilience of at-risk populations, including women, children, youth, the elderly, and persons with disabilities, by supporting recovery and promoting sustainable livelihoods.
Over the years, OWDA has become one of the most active and trusted local organizations in Ethiopia, implementing more than 25 humanitarian and development projects across key sectors such as livelihood and food security, health and nutrition, WASH, education, protection, emergency shelter, reproductive health and other thematic sectors. Through strong partnerships with UN agencies, international and national NGOs, and government stakeholders, OWDA continues to deliver integrated, community-driven, and sustainable interventions that address both immediate needs and long-term development goals.
In collaboration with Jhpiego, the lead implementing partner, OWDA is rolling out the Reaching Impact Saturation and Epidemic Control (RISE) Project a one-year, multi-regional initiative aimed at strengthening maternal, newborn, and child health and nutrition (MNCHN), improving infection prevention and control (IPC) practices, and enhancing health security across Ethiopia. The project adopts a geographic clustering model to ensure efficient and context-responsive implementation across pastoralist, agrarian, and semi-urban woredas.
OWDA will be implementing the project in selected woredas across Somali region and Dire Dawa City Administration. The specific woredas include Aw-Bare, Gursum (SM), Afdem & Shinile Woredas of Somali region and Biyoawale, Wahil and Legehare Woredas of Dire Dawa city administration.
To support this effort, ANE is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Woreda MNCH Officer, to be stationed at the respective Woreda Health Offices. The officer will work closely with cluster-based technical teams located in Jigjiga town, contributing to the implementation of planned activities under a unified team-management approach.
The Woreda MNCH Officer will be responsible for strengthening maternal, newborn, and child health and nutrition (MNCHN) services, as well as infection prevention and control (IPC) practices within health facilities across the assigned woreda. Based at the Woreda Health Office, the officer will provide hands-on technical support to hospitals and health centers through on-site training, mentoring, and coaching, while working closely with the project’s Woreda Facilitator to ensure coordinated efforts between facility and community-level interventions. This role involves identifying and addressing health system bottlenecks, designing alternative service delivery strategies for hard-to-reach populations, and contributing to improved service quality and health outcomes. The officer will collaborate with cluster-based technical teams and report to the Cluster MNCH Technical Coordinator, with frequent field travel required—preferably with a valid motorbike driving license
Duties and Responsibilities
The Woreda MNCH Officer will be responsible for providing intensive technical support to health facilities (hospitals and health centers) within the woreda, focusing on Maternal, Newborn, Child Health and Nutrition (MNCHN) and Infection Prevention and Control (IPC). The officer will work in close collaboration with the Woreda Health Office and receive direct technical support from the cluster office.
Technical Support and Capacity Building
Provide on-site training, coaching, and mentoring to health facility staff on MNCHN, IPC, nutrition, and immunization.
Conduct frequent field visits to health facilities using motorbikes or other option.
Map and build a pool of mentors in each thematic area and mobilize them to support service providers with a catchment base approach.
Ensure quality of care and improved health outcomes through continuous capacity strengthening.
Identify and address service quality barriers
Identify and address bottlenecks across WHO health system building blocks focusing on service delivery, health workforce, information systems and access to essential medicines,
Support facilities in improving supply chain management, data quality, and service delivery platforms.
Strategic Planning and Implementation
Design and implement alternative service delivery strategies to reach underserved and hard-to-reach populations.
Collaborate with the Woreda Health Office to ensure equitable access to MNCHN services for vulnerable mothers and children.
Coordination and Synergy
Work harmoniously with the Woreda Facilitator to ensure complementary actions between facility-level and community-level interventions.
Facilitate joint planning and review meetings with woreda stakeholders and project staff.
Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting
Support health facilities in data collection, analysis, and use for decision-making.
Regularly report progress, challenges, and lessons learned to the Cluster MNCH Technical Coordinator.
Organize, participate and facilitate regular and ad hoc review meetings and pause and reflect sessions.
Job Requirements
Qualifications and Requirements
Educational Background: Bachelor's degree or higher in Nursing, Midwifery, Public Health, or a related clinical field.
Key training: Prior training in key areas of maternal, newborn, and child health service delivery is highly desirable for this position. Essential training includes Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI), Basic Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (BEmONC), Immunization in Practice, Cold Chain Management, and Management of Acute Malnutrition. Additional training such as on Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) and on Health Management Information Systems (HMIS) are also advantageous. Familiarity with the national MNCH approaches and the ability to effectively apply these training in real-world, context-sensitive settings will be considered a strong asset
Clinical Experience: Minimum of 5 years of hands-on experience in maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH), nutrition, and immunization services within health facility settings.
Training and Mentorship Skills: Demonstrated experience in delivering MNCH-related training, coaching, and mentoring to health care providers.
Contextual Understanding: Strong understanding of the local health system, cultural context, and language of the woreda; ability to engage effectively with government health offices and community stakeholders.
Understanding the Broader System: Experience in identifying and addressing service delivery bottlenecks across WHO health system building blocks.
Communication and Collaboration: Excellent interpersonal and teamwork skills, with the ability to work collaboratively with woreda-level and cluster-level teams.
Mobility: Willingness to travel frequently within the woreda, including remote areas; possession of a valid motorbike driving license is required or preferred.
Language Proficiency: Proficiency in the local language(s) spoken in the woreda is highly desirable.
How To Apply
Application procedure
Interested applicants should submit the following combined into one PDF file:
A cover letter clearly outlining your relevant experience and why you are interested in Woreda MNCH Officer’s position and CV outlining your qualifications and professional history including the email and telephone contacts of at least three (3) professional references.
Please send all completed applications to owdahr.recruitment@owdaeth.org, clearly indicating the title of the position and the base Woreda that you are applying for in the email subject line.
Applications should be submitted to OWDA no later than November 14, 2025.
We encourage applications from qualified women and individuals from diverse backgrounds.
Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted. We thank you for your interest and look forward to receiving your application.
