Orphan and Vulnerable Children Service (OVC) Specialist – Mekdim Ethiopia National Association (MENA)
Health Care, Social Sciences and Community
Mekdim Ethiopia National Association (MENA)
Internal/External Vacancy
Organizational and Program highlights
About MENA
Mekdim Ethiopia National Association (MENA), a national association of PLWHA and AIDS Orphans in Ethiopia, was established in 1996 by a group of people living with the virus and AIDS orphans. MENA targets HIV Positive persons, elderly people living with HIV, orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC), and Most At-Risk Populations (MARPs).
Program Highlights
MENA is awarded USAID Family-Focused HIV Prevention, Care and Treatment Services in Addis Ababa City under cooperative agreement No. 72066320CA00012 for three years. The Cooperative agreement was signed for the period August 12, 2020, to August 11, 2023. The primary objective of the program is to strengthen local HIV epidemic control to achieve 95 percent of individuals living with HIV know their status, 95 percent of persons living with HIV to initiate antiretroviral therapy, and 95 percent of antiretroviral therapy clients achieve viral load suppression by 2020. The objectives and interventions are designed to impact UNAIDS 95-95-95 goals and enhance HIV mitigation services for vulnerable children focusing on case discovery and linkage to HIV treatment among undiagnosed children living with HIV, achieving better health outcomes through HIV viral load suppression, and establishing interpersonal, family and community norms to achieve HIV and violence prevention (9 to 14-year-old children).
Job Summary / Responsibilities:
The OVC Service Specialist will be responsible for leading the planning, coordinating, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating case achievement goals and benchmarks for target OVC and their families. S/he will be responsible for ensuring identification, assessment/reassessment, case plan development, and updating, case plan implementation, monitoring, and closure that adhere to established quality standards and procedures. S/he will direct the support of OVC and families to achieve health, schooling, stability, and safety goals. Education, psychosocial support, child protection, legal support, nutrition, and economic security services within the case plan achievement benchmarks.
This position will closely work in collaboration with the Family Focused HIV Prevention, Care and Treatment Services team such as Care and Treatment, Gender Specialist, Economic Strengthening Specialist, Quality Assurance Specialist, MERL team, and the like.
Specific job responsibilities will include:
- Provide technical guidance and supportive supervision to LIPs staff with regard to OVC services.
- Develops detailed monthly, quarterly, and annual technical work plans for Family-Focused HIV Prevention, Care and Treatment Services OVC activity implementation and participates in program evaluations and assessments.
- Lead the implementation of OVC comprehensive and primary prevention activities in a manner that all program components are delivered in an integrated way, through a cascade strategy.
- Support LIPs and other stakeholders in capacity-building activities with a strong focus on referral strengthening and basing government policies, strategies, and services.
- Works closely with LIPs in strengthening coordination of care system at regional and woreda levels including facilities, service providers, and community structures.
- Ensure utilization of standard guidelines, tools, and policies during Family Focused HIV Prevention, Care and Treatment Services OVC activity implementation to result in quality and standard deliverables.
- Align all interventions with relevant key government policies, guidelines and frameworks
- Conduct ongoing supportive supervisions, quality assessments and monitoring and evaluation activities
- Ensure that quality reports are prepared and submitted to the USAID and other relevant offices on time.
- Make sure that periodic review meetings among staff and when needed with key stakeholders are organized regularly and documented by LIPs.
- Guide the coordination of various programming activities, promoting synergy between interventions and efforts of different partners – government, NGO, private sector, and other CSOs.
- Leads systems strengthening efforts of local structures, community, and other relevant stakeholders toward Family-Focused HIV Prevention, Care and Treatment Services Project programming;
- Support teams to ensure relevant learning is documented, disseminated to staff, and used to inform decisions
- Engaged in and support LIPs in identifying and establishing partnerships with the private sector for sustainable delivery of programming
- Support LIPs in the development of work plans, budgets, and reports and participate in project monitoring and evaluation
- Carry out all duties and instructions respectfully, promptly, and diligently assigned by the line supervisor and the organization
- Maintain MENA interest and confidentiality of documents, information, contacts, activities, or businesses and safeguard all information of MENA regardless of its source
- Assist in all aspects of proposal writing, and award process including but not limited to reviewing proposal document and budget, reviewing grant agreement including all specified terms and conditions stated by the partner, and participating in the grant negotiation process.
- Ensure project sustainability, wider level stakeholders’ participation is ensured
- Any other duty as may be assigned that is consistent with the nature of the job and its level of responsibility.
No_ of person required: 1
Required education and experiences
- A minimum of BSC Degree in public health, nursing or social sciences or related fields, preferably a master’s in public health or Social Work.
- Five years of experience with social development, health child protection, household, social protection, education, health and nutrition, and HIV/AIDS care and support.
- Experience in the prevention of HIV/AIDS with a focus on highly vulnerable children.
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively with local government, community and public health facilities, private sector entities, and local community structures.
- Commitment to the wellbeing of children and safeguarding and child protection matters
- Experience engaging with government departments (e.g., Ministry of Health, regional health bureau, local health institutions) and partner organizations.
- Experience with USAID-funded PEPFAR OVC and or HIV/AIDS programs in Ethiopia is an added advantage.
Personal skills
- Ability to coordinate multiple assignments
- Skills in determining priorities
- Strong interpersonal skills and positive professional attitude
- Ability to represent the project in a professional manner at all times
- Excellent written and communication skills in English language
- Skills in MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, and information management systems.
Negotiable
