MCHN Officer – Community Behavior Change Officer US Non-profit Careers – Mercy Corps
Job Title: MCHN Officer – Community Behavior Change Officer
Organisation: Mercy Corps
Duty Station: Uganda
About US:
Mercy Corps is an international non-profit organization which implements high-quality, analytical development programmes in very difficult places. Mercy Corps has been operating in Uganda since 2006. It has and continues to implement programs in Acholi and Karamoja sub regions. Mercy Corps is taking a community-led, market driven approach to address poverty and food insecurity needs through interventions that get to the root causes and contributing factors of economic vulnerability. Donors include the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), DFID, Mastercard Foundation, WALMART Foundation, Coca Cola Africa Foundation, US Depart of State (DOS) /PEPFAR, and Nike Foundation.
Job Summary: The MCHN Officer – Community Behavior Change Officer will support the roll out of the MCA strategy to program coverage districts. CBC activities will focus on the enabling environment around the caregiver, targeting husbands, elders, community opinion leaders and other influential persons to speed progress towards positive gender and health behavior changes. The officer will be responsible for the day-to-day implementation of the CBC component of the APOLOU behavior change strategy and will have supervisory responsibility for activities in Amudat.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
Program
- Provide leadership and daily oversight for planning and implementation of CBC activities including; mentorship, support supervision and managerial support to CBCAs of Moroto and Amudat, spending approximately an equal amount of time between the two field offices.
- Sensitize and advocate for the male engagement strategy to relevant stakeholders including local government, Sub-county officials, elders, implementing partners and foster ongoing positive cooperation with these stakeholders.
- Support the CBC Manager in the development of activity plans and a reporting format for the CBC sector with special focus on Moroto and Amudat.
- Actively contribute in the development of training curriculum, project tools, and IEC materials; facilitate nutrition related trainings for CBCAs e.g. Gender, IYCF and other ENA/EHA components as well as support with staff capacity building.
- Support rollout of module trainings to male change agents, as a direct trainer and backstop supporter to CBCAs.
- Supervise the activities and performance of CBCAs in Moroto and Amudat; conduct routine team meetings, adhere to performance reviews timelines, troubleshoot challenges and standardize implementation approaches.
- Empower community members, MCAs and HBCs to lead community dialogues promoting positive maternal and child health behaviors and gender equality.
- Support in troubleshooting of challenges faced by CBCAs, standardizing implementation approaches and ensuring technical quality.
- Working closely with MCHN manager and broader MCHN team to coordinate overall activities and day-to-day operations and logistics to maximize use of resources and ensure complementary programming
- Provide oversight to the CBCAs in regards to adhering to procurement, finance and security policy and procedures, ensuring proper documentation of processes.
- Identify and document best practices to share with the team, APOLOU partner organizations and other relevant stakeholders.
Partnership Management:
- Build and maintain productive working relationship with partner organizations, working together to develop complementary monitoring, evaluation, and adaptive management structures wherever possible.
- Liaise with partners to coordinate and maximize influence at local and regional forums.
- Establish and maintain productive working relationships with sub-county and district leaders, soliciting their participation in all activities where appropriate.
- Collaboratively represent the health activities of APOLOU together with partner’s organizations like Save the Children, Whave at relevant local government and civil society organizations.
Monitoring and Evaluation:
- Provide ongoing support to CBCAs in monitoring, evaluation and learning.
- Take responsibility for data collection, data archiving, quality assurance, quality control, and communicating to MELC focal person on Moroto and Amudat activities.
- Oversee the program filing system and ensure that information is organized according to the reporting and auditing needs of the program.
- Ensure timely and consistent submission of project reports, success stories and other relevant data to the CBC manager (i.e. weekly, monthly and quarterly reports).
External Representation and Coordination:
- Ensure establishment and maintenance of relationships with communities, village councils and local government, particularly in Amudat target areas.
- Support visits from regional and HQ based staff and external visitors, such as donors and media, in collaboration with the manager when necessary
Ethics and Integrity
- All Mercy Corps staff are expected to behave ethically and demonstrate highest integrity in their professional and personal life. Mercy Corps has zero tolerance to any form of fraud, corruption, abuse, harassment or exploitation. Any breach of our policies or misconduct will lead to disciplinary action or may lead to termination.
Other:
- Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission.
- Motorcycle riding permit.
- Perform any other duties as assigned.
Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
- The ideal candidate for the Mercy Corps MCHN Officer – Community Behavior Change Officer job opportunity should possess a Bachelor’s degree in development studies, nutrition, gender, health sciences, social sciences, or other related development discipline
- At least three years of experience.
- Proven experience in conducting community mobilization, training, and networking
- Experience in capacity building with communities in Karamoja
- Knowledge in behavioral change methodologies such as care groups, Community Led Total Sanitation, and other related innovative hygiene and sanitation approaches is a plus
- Knowledge of approaches to promote gender equality, with a training in gender a plus
- Experience and skills in working with other NGOs, government partners, and local community-based organizations.
- Able to speak Nga’karimojong dialect
- Computer literacy
- Dynamic public speaking skills
- Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines while showing flexibility in day-to-day operations
- Demonstrable English writing and speaking skills
- Excellent reporting, communication and representation skills
How to Apply:
All suitably qualified and interested candidates should send their E-mail applications including a cover letter clearly stating the salary requirements, updated CV (with three professional referees), and copies of academic qualifications/certificates addressed to the Senior HR and Legal Manager, Mercy Corps Uganda to: ug-mcjobs@mercycorps.org
Deadline: 24th June 2019
: List of Current Job Vacancies / Opportunities in Uganda