Health Promotion and Community Engagement Assistant

The International Rescue Committee responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, IRC offers life-saving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in more than 40 countries and in 22 U.S. cities, IRC restores safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted by conflict or disaster. IRC leads the way from harm to home.

CONTEXTUAL BACKGROUND

The IRC has been present in Nigeria since 2012 when the organization responded to flooding in Kogi state. In February 2014 the IRC moved into Adamawa State in NE Nigeria to provide humanitarian interventions through a multi-sectoral, integrated approach for conflict affected populations. IRC Nigeria now operates a country office in Abuja and field offices in Mubi and Yola of Adamawa State, Maiduguri and Monguno of Borno state and Damaturu of Yobe State. Currently, IRC Nigeria implements programs primary health care, nutrition, environmental health, women’s protection and empowerment, protection, child protection, education, food security & livelihoods.

Job Overview/Summary

The community Mobilization assistant’s is responsible for the following major roles; the implementation of educational and promotional activities as well as conducting all community engagement activities related to Reproductive Health/Reproductive Health and emergency programming in Numan LGA. He/she will supervise and work closely with a network of community structures (volunteers, WDCs, CHIPS Agents). Design and lead efforts to improve community awareness and acceptance of reproductive health services. Implement community engagement efforts to improve women, girls, men and boys’ access to and use of reproductive health services.

Major Responsibilities

Program Management, Technical Quality, and Strategy

• Conducts assessments and surveys in the community to identify trends and needs.
• Participation in the design, plan, and input to the work-plans, based on identified trends and needs.
• Implementation of community mobilization activities to specifically access “hard to reach” and vulnerable beneficiaries.
• Organize culturally sensitive educational and promotional activities to raise awareness on RH topics/services, including Family Planning, Mother and Neonatal health, Antenatal Care, and Postnatal Care, Awareness of STIs and infection prevention, Referral, emergencies and guidance for survivors of sexual assault.
• Contribute to the development of a variety of health education materials and tools to fit the context.
• Mobilize the community, women and girls, women’s groups, community groups etc. to increase awareness and service utilization, together with RH and GBV teams.
• Liaise with midwives and community health workers to track and monitor women/clients targeted by the program.
• Ensure the safe and confidential referral of identified survivors of sexual assault to GBV services.
• Organize meetings with community representatives, and target groups as needed.
• Engage community leaders, stake holders and influential members of the community in creating awareness and community support for Reproductive Health.
• Participate in the recruitment of community health volunteers, traditional birth attendants, Peer educators and Men champions.
• Training of community health volunteers and ward development committees on outbreak response.
• Supervise community volunteers and traditional birth attendants during planned community activities.
• Identify advocacy concerns, Initiate, and coordinate advocacy actions.

Program Development

• Keep record of all the health education/promotional sessions (disaggregated by gender/ age/ IDP/Host etc.).
• Compile weekly summary of community mobilization activities.
• Responsible for compiling timely monthly community mobilization activity reports and data compilation
• Ensure that all distribution of community mobilization items is done in a timely manner according to distribution plan with relevant supporting documentations.
• Keep a record of distributed/used materials and provides a monthly stock report.
• Any other assigned task by supervisors.

Staff Performance Management, Learning & Development:

• Required for all positions with supervisory responsibility, if special considerations are needed (e.g. remote management), make this additive to the base language here.

• Research, Learning and Analysis

Coordination & Representation

• Attend all relevant community level meetings in relation to the health program as may be required and feed in the IRC priorities during meetings.
• Facilitate field visits for internal and external community level stakeholders, when required.

Key Working Relationships

Position Reports to:Health Clinical Officer

Indirect/Technical Reporting: Senior Health Officer

Position directly Supervises: MoH Staff

Key Internal Contacts:

Country Program:WPE case management assistant, EH/WaSH Officer.

Region/Global:

Key External Contacts:ADSPHCDA, LGA and Community Stakeholders.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education:

• Registered Nurse/midwife or CHEW. Additional qualifications in community engagement are a plus.

Work Experience:

• Two years’ experience of working as a community mobilizer٫ or other similar position.
• Significant experience of stakeholders’ engagement.
• Experience with office management software like MS Office (MS Excel and MS Word, specifically)
• Strong organization skills with a problem-solving attitude
• Very good in time management and ability to work under pressure with high level of flexibility.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with close attention to detail.

Demonstrated Technical Skills:

• Good communication skills.
• Sensitivity to cultural differences and understanding of the social, political and ethical issues surrounding program delivery
• Ability to work well with others and to respect staff, subcontractors, consultants and recipients of assistance.
• Ability to manage tight deadlines and deliver on commitments.
• Good sense of integrity, service and accountability
• Work closely with the Health Clinical Officer and SHO in management of the grant budget
• Raise IFs as required after discussion with colleagues and follow up till delivery of items.

Demonstrated Managerial/Leadership Competencies:

• Oversee the implementation of quality PHC/SRH and emergency program activities at all IRC supported health facilities in Numan LGA.
• Routinely monitor MoH staff performance according to Primary health care guideline and provide feedback and guidance.
• Develop ongoing education programs for MoH staff and conduct training and on-the-job training for health.
• Support planning and implementing of the project activities and outputs at the field level to ensure the project achieves its objective of improving access to quality health services
• Track the performance of the project activities and targets against the expected results and advise on implementation process to ensure the project is progressing towards attaining its targets in each LGA.
• Identifying program gaps in the supported health facilities services with immediate solution for further necessary steps to address those gaps.
• Provide capacity building and on-job coaching to Facility staff on Antenatal care, delivery care, postnatal care, family planning counseling, STI counseling and treatment and post-abortion care in supported facilities.
• Support collection of stories and photographs that demonstrate the positive impact of the project.

Languages:

• Fluent in written/spoken English.
• Ability to speak local languages Hausa will be added advantage.

Computer/Other Tech Requirements:

Full professional competency in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.Add position-specific (e.g. accounting software, statistical software, etc.).

Competency in the use of software (e.g. Commcare, Kobo collect)

Ability to Travel: % of time if applicable

Standard of Professional Conduct: IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – our Code of Conduct.  These are Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality.  In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Harassment-Free Workplace, Fiscal Integrity, Anti-Retaliation, Combating Trafficking in Persons and several others.

Commitment to Gender, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: IRC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful, and safe work environment where all persons are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. The IRC expressly prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying of IRC Persons in any work setting.

Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances.

Employment Gaps: We welcome applicants with varied career paths and recognize that a gap in employment does not define a candidate’s potential. We value transferrable skills and are committed to investing in the growth and development of our team members. We encourage applicants to highlight any relevant skills or experiences they have acquired, even if they were not gained in a traditional work setting.

Compensation and Benefits: IRC strives to provide externally competitive and internally equitable Compensation and Benefits programs that attracts, motivates, and retains employees that deliver strong performance while demonstrating the IRC Way Standards for Professional Conduct.

Equal Opportunity Employer: IRC is an equal opportunity employer and we value diversity and inclusion. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, nationality, ethnicity or tribe, gender, age, religion, caste, sexual orientation, differently abled, geographic origin, marital status, veteran status and cultural background (or any other characteristic protected by law). We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.