Reports to: Program Manager STD/AIDS Control Program

About US:

The Ministry of Health (MoH) received funding from the Global fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) as well as build strong, resilient systems for health to tackle current and new emerging threats.

Job Summary:  The Program Officer – Community Engagements will strengthen the Country’s Community Health systems that will enhance the integration of TB/HIV Programs that will sustain the achievements and strengthen the Country’s Community Health systems for HIV services. The Program Officer – Community Engagements will work principally to support HIV program achieve better community Health outcomes through enhancement of stronger linkages between community and health facility structures, integration of services and promoting of efficiencies at community level.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Take lead in the design and implementation of the Integrated service delivery model, across the country that will help in fast tracking the achievement of the 1st and 3rd 95’s as well as sharing best practices and documenting results for scale.
• Take lead in strengthening coordination among line ministries, CSOs and other community stakeholders to ensure better collaboration for the delivery of a continuum of services to PLHIVs that will improve care indicators for achieving epidemic control.
• Streamline the engagements and mandate of CSOs and PLHIV networks in delivery of HIV services at national, regional and community level.
• Support capacity building of community structures as well as rollout of a comprehensive HIV training curriculum for community stakeholders who support HIV services. These include OVC officers, social workers, expert clients, VHTs, para social workers and CSOs that are instrumental in conducting home visits to do adherence and psychosocial support, appointment reminders and treatment literacy
• Support MOH in the engagement of  non-clinical  platforms  (FBOs,  CSOs,  PNFPs,  Networks  of  PLHIV/CLHIV)  in creating capacity and scaling up demand creation and services for EMTCT aimed at improving case identification, referrals and linkages, retention, adherence and VL monitoring
• Strengthen the national community technical working group as well as CSO engagements at all levels of implementation from national to community level as well as strengthening CSO capacity to better implement community programs.
• Develop strategic documents and work-plans for Community Systems and interventions in coordination with other stakeholders at all levels.
• Support the teams of community Systems for the TB/ HIV and Malaria programs to ensure high performance and achievement of all deliverables.
• Support capacity building teams at the National level and community-based organizations stakeholders.
• Support TB/HIV and Malaria programs to disseminate, institutionalize and monitor consistent application and adherence to the standards and guidelines at all levels Support TB/HIV and Malaria programs to generate evidence and analysis, prepare costed implementation plans and mobilize financial resources to scale up comprehensive community health services at all levels.
• Strengthen systems for community health workforce training to ensure efficiency and timely implementation.
• Support the HIV/TB programs establish and strengthen systems for community health workforce supervision and performance management at National, Regional and Community levels.
• Support HIV/TB programs and other stakeholders to strengthen community health information systems and reporting and community use of data for health system improvements.
• Maintain close collaboration with other in-country technical partners, CBOS, and private health sector stakeholders to leverage opportunities for collaboration, avoid duplication and ensure programmatic alignment.
• Represent the MOH at coordination meetings with development partners and stakeholders, as appropriate.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in social work and social administration or Social Science or Arts or Management or Community Psychology with a recognized bias in Social Work field such as Psychology or Community Health. A Masters degree in Public Health, Sociology, community health or related discipline.
• Five years of professional experience, 3 years of which should have been served in the health sector.
• Familiarity with the GOU’s health systems and community health system strategies.
• Advocacy experience and skills to articulate the need for community health systems strengthening.
• Proven ability to assess and manage complex activities simultaneously in a time-sensitive environment meeting competing deadlines.
• Ability to work as an effective team member in a complex and fast-paced environment juggling multiple priorities Ability to manage teams and plan for the successful and timely implementation of programs.
• Proven interpersonal skills and ability to interact professionally with diverse people and programs.
• Strong verbal and written English language skills with experience in report writing and presentations to large and diverse stakeholders.
• Computer literacy in Word, Excel, Power Point. Experience with social media as a tool for advocacy and community mobilization is desirable.

Competencies

• Excellent skills in Community Mobilization, Education and mapping.
• Proven teamwork, partnering skills (facilitating dialogue and communications across diverse sectors, institutions, and geographic administrative levels)
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
• Ability to initiate and implement activities with minimal oversight and supervision.
• Proficiency in MS Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel etc.) and the Internet.

All Applications for the above positions should be addressed to the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, P.O. Box 7272, Plot 6, Lourdel Road, Wandegeya,  KAMPALA, (and should be hand delivered to Ministry of Health Headquarters Security Registry in Room A.102, between 8.00 am — 5.00 pm working days).

Applicants should attach the following to their applications.

• Application letter
• Recent passport-size photograph.
• Detailed Curriculum Vita showing three referees.
• Copies of academic papers
• Copies of record of employment history (Appointment letters & Contract Agreements) stated in the Curriculum Vita. Any period of employment not backed up by an appointment instrument shall not be considered as relevant experience.
• Copy of National Identity Card
• Applicants who will be shortlisted for interviews shall be required to present Originals of their Academic Transcripts and Certificates and National Identity Cards at the time of sitting the Interviews.

Please note that.

• All applications should bear the title of the post being applied for.
• Applicants should include their telephone and email contacts on their application forms.
• Only successful Candidates will be contacted.