WHYS Community Engagement Officer at Tanzania Health Promotion Support
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Background
Tanzania Health Promotion Support (THPS) is an indigenous NGO established under non-governmental organization act No 24 of 2002 in 2011. THPS works in partnership with the Government of Tanzania (GOT) through Ministries of Health (MOH) in Mainland and Zanzibar; Ministry Community Development Gender Women and Special Groups; Presidents’ Office – Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG), and the Ministry of Home Affairs with a goal of ensuring accessible high-quality health care services to Tanzanians; through the strengthening of health and community systems.
In FY24 year the Government of Tanzania (GOT) under the leadership of the Ministry of Community Development, Gender, Women and Special Groups and Ministry of Community Development and Gender in Zanzibar; in collaboration with stakeholders through funding from the US Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)/US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will conduct the second Welfare and Health of Youth and Children Survey (WHYS 24).
The WHYS2024 is based on the broader work that has been done through the Together for Girls (TfG) partnership and through funding from the US Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)/US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Through data, nationally led action, and advocacy, the survey aims to raise awareness, promote evidence-based solutions, and galvanize coordinated action across sectors to end violence against boys and girls, with a special focus on sexual violence against girls. WHYS2024 data are intended to inform a comprehensive, national multi-sector policy and programmatic response to the issue of violence against girls and boys.
WHYS 2024 will be conducted with support from the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and technical assistance through the U.S. CDC, CDC, Tanzania Office, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and Tanzania Health Promotion Support (THPS) – the lead implementing partner. Data collection will be done by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in Tanzania mainland, The Office of the Chief Government Statistician (OCGS) in Zanzibar, and Survey will be implemented in collaboration with multisectoral partners including, the National Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), the Zanzibar Institute of Health Research (ZAHRI), and Ministries of Health through national Public Health Laboratories, the National AIDS Control Program (NACP), and the Zanzibar Integrated HIV, Hepatitis, Tuberculosis and Leprosy Program (ZIHHTLP). THPS will work with NBS and OCGS as subgrantees. The number of completed survey will be 9,144, targeting 500 primary sampling units with the objective of reaching 12469 households (HH) in mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar targeting children (boys and girls) and youth aged 13 – 24 years.
THPS is therefore seeking to recruit qualified and competent candidates to fill the following positions:
WHYS Community Engagement Officer (5 positions)
Position: WHYS Community Engagement Officer (5 positions)
Reports to: Directly to WHYS Communication and Community Engagement Coordinator and
indirectly to WHYS Survey Coordinator
Supervises: Community guides (CGs)
Employment Type: Full time
Job Location: TBD
Travel: Up to 80% in intervention districts outside of job location
Duration: Six (6) months from January to June 2024
Overall Job Function:
Under the supervision of the WHYS Communication and Community Engagement Coordinator and survey coordinator, WHYS Community Engagement Officer will work with survey team to coordinate all community engagement activities at different levels in support of the implementation of the WHYS 2024.
Specific Responsibilities and Duties:
• In liaison with the WHYS communication and community engagement coordinator, plan and be responsible for overseeing all field related community engagement procedures and activities prior to a survey team entering an EA, during survey data collection, and after survey teams depart from the EA.
• Lead with the identification and recruitment of community guides (CGs) from all selected survey Enumeration Areas (EAs).
• Identify and work with key local leaders and inform them about WHYS 2024 project to facilitate smooth community entry and exit meetings for all survey teams.
• To work with Community Guides in providing support to survey teams in mapping, listing of EAs, and pre-screening for eligible households.
• Ensure targeted households are mobilized about their participation in the survey prior to data collection.
• Provide feedback to data collection team on myth, misinformation and work with data collection to develop and communicate mitigation plan.
• Work with data collection team to ensure they inform them about boundaries and landmarks of selected EA and support smooth household entry.
• Perform any other tasks as assigned by THPS.
Qualifications, Knowledge, and Skills:
• Required Education: Bachelor’s degree in Community Development, Sociology or Social Work or equivalent from a reputable academic institution
• Required Technical Experience:
✓ At least three years’ work experience in community development and or community engagement or mobilization position
✓ Experience in the use of community participatory methodologies in health promotion
✓ Experience in training, advocacy for change and ability to work with local leaders at the community level.
✓ Fluent in English and Kiswahili and or any other locally spoken languages
✓ Proven leadership, management, inter-personal communication, and analytical skills
✓ Strong experience on working cultural diversities.
✓ Community negotiation skills
✓ Excellent written and verbal communication skills with Familiarity with Tanzanian context; and fluency in Kiswahili and English required.
✓ Strong computer skills (MS Excel, Access, Word, and PowerPoint at minimum
✓ Ability to lead and work with a diverse team
✓ Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and strong problem-solving skills.
✓ Flexible to work after normal working hours and on weekends with significant travel outside of duty station.
✓ Self-motivated and able to work under challenging situations
How to apply:
Interested applicants should send an email recruitment@thps.or.tz attaching their application cover
letter one page maximum and CV four pages maximum by 26/11/2023 with a position title as a subject
line, for example: “WHYS Field Supervisors”. Only short-listed applicants will be contacted. Please
do not attach any certificates when submitting online. THPS is an equal opportunity employer; women,
people living with HIV/AIDS and people living with disability are encouraged to apply.