Duty Station: Gomba, Sembabule and Wakiso, Uganda

Reports to: Cluster Prevention Team Lead

About the Company:

Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI) is an independently governed institute within the College of Health Sciences at Makerere University and has the mission “To strengthen health systems in Africa, with a strong emphasis on infectious diseases, through research and capacity development.” IDI has operations across Uganda as well as in a number of other African countries and has a staffing of over 1,000 managing multiple projects in research, clinical services, public health and training.

Job Summary:   The district DREAMS liaison’s officer main responsibility will be to engage Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYWs) in the specific district in order to identify HIV predisposing factors unique to them and bring these to the attention of the implementing partners DREAMS technical team. They will also provide guidance on implementation modalities that are proposed by the AGYWs in a bid to reduce the incidence of HIV/AIDS among them. The DREAMS champion will further participate in advocacy engagements by working with communities to protect AGYWs and promote DREAMS programming to other district AGYW stakeholder including Local government authorities for possible adoption

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Work closely with CDOs, sub county ambassadors and group peer leaders to identify and build a pool of DREAMS ambassadors up to the parish level and subsequently oversee their work.

Plan and facilitate workshops with PEPFAR DREAMS Ambassadors and provide mentorship supporting identification, reporting and follow-up of VAC and SGBV cases in assigned District.

Promote access and retention on PrEP for high risk AGYW

Foster community involvement in the DREAMS program for increased community buy in and community commitment to protect and link vulnerable AGYW at risk to DREAMS services.

Participate in advocacy and coordination platforms at district level technical meetings with the IPs to ensure voices of AGYW are heard during decision making on priorities that affect AGYW.

Work with Sub County and Parish Coordinators to ensure community safe spaces for AGYW are functional and actively maintained to support DREAMS service layering.

Support implementation and monitoring of the DREAMS program in the assigned District and documentation success stories and any service delivery issues.

Support quality improvement activities and promote DREAMS Programming as a prototype for positive youth development program at the district and any other forum as deemed necessary.

Generate public attention about the DREAMS program and factors that affect adolescent girls and young women in the community predisposing them to risk of acquiring HIV.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

Must be 18-27 years old

Should be available to work full time

Must be able to read and write in both English and the local language of the DREAMS District

A graduated beneficiary and or engaged in the DREAMS program for at least one year.

A resident in that DREAMS district.

Exhibit natural leadership skills

Good training, facilitation, and coordination skills.