RMNCH-FP Program Officer – Amref Health Africa

Health Care

Amref Health Africa

Amref Health Africa (formerly African Medical Research Foundation) is the premier African-led international health development organization headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya. Founded in 1957 as the Flying Doctors of East Africa to bring critical health services to remote communities, Amref Health Africa in the intervening years has broadened its mission to include training of some 500 thousand community health workers and managing the design and implementation of health development projects in more than 30 countries across Africa. With a focus on women and children, Amref Health Africa strives to overcome the most critical health challenges facing the continent: maternal and child health, HIV & TB, malaria, clean water and sanitation and surgical and clinical outreach. Amref Health Africa has offices in Kenya, Ethiopia, South Africa, South Sudan, Senegal, Tanzania and Uganda as well as in Europe and North America. The organization employs over 1,000 people.

Although Amref Health Africa has been formally registered in Ethiopia in 1998, a full-fledged country program was started in 2002. Since then, the country program has grown from one project in Addis Ababa to over 20 projects in five regions (Addis Ababa, Afar, North Shewa, Oromiya and Southern Nation, Nationalities and People Region). Amref Health Africa Health Africa, Ethiopia is working in health development with the motto of lasting health change in Africa.

Project Summary:

Amref Health Africa, in Ethiopia, has received the 20th Modification of its CoAgr under USAID Transform HDR Activity to extend its reach to Tigray in 14 selected woredas to support the Tigray Regional Health Bureau’s efforts to restore RMNCH-FP services and make them accessible to the people residing in these districts. This cost extension modification lives for six months, until the end of September 2023. This modification, in its duration, will have major milestones like initial rapid assessment, office establishment, and staffing, identification of areas of support and co-creating interventions, and implementation of selected high-impact interventions with periodic supervision and documentation of the process. During the period, Amref Health Africa will collaborate and coordinate its efforts not only with the regional, zonal, and woreda health offices but also will work with health facilities, communities, and other humanitarian and development implementing partners to maximize efficiency.

Position Summary:

The RMNCH/FP officer will be responsible for day-to-day activity by closely working with zonal and woreda health offices to revamp the RMNCH-FP services at health posts, health centers, and primary hospitals at the intervention woredas. S/he will work under the direct supervision of the Regional Program Coordinator. This position will be based in one of the zonal towns. Afar regional states with frequent travel to facilities and health posts within the assigned woredas to monitor program implementation and oversee the quality of activities and services.

The officer will support the woreda health offices and health facilities linked with health posts to make sure children are vaccinated, supplemented with micronutrients, screened for malnutrition, and linked for further management. S/he will also work with relevant facilities, health workforce, and community members to ensure pregnant mothers receive ANC, delivery services, and PNC. The officer will organize with the woreda health offices and health facilities integrated mobile health services to kebeles where health posts are not functional. Ensure that all support provided is recorded and the services that have been provided through the project support are also recorded and reported timely. 

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Provide technical assistance to the Zonal Health Office, Woreda Health Offices, facilities, health posts, and communities through engaging in RMNCH/FP program interventions
  • Directly support the implementation of RMNCH/FP programs to improve RMNCH/FP services in all facilities under the assigned woredas.
  • Work with the regional program coordinator and baseline assessment team in data collection at facility and community levels
  • Support the implementation of newborn, child health, and nutrition interventions
  • Ensure that feedback from supportive supervision visits, review meetings and related forums are applied in the facilities for continuous improvement in RMNCH/FP interventions.
  • Support the revival of HDA, community mobilization, and sensitization on RMNCH/FP-related activities and ensure that key health prevention and promotion messages reach the community.
  • Document/record, produce, and share program implementation reports, supportive supervision as well as mentoring reports as per the standard format.
  • Performs other functions assigned by the project within the areas of expertise.
  • Collaborate with other organizations and projects/programs working on RMNCH/FP services and psychosocial support matters to ensure synergy
  • Coordinate and conduct regular field visits to provide post-training follow-up, on-site facility support, and joint supportive supervision
  • Participates in catchment area meetings, review meetings, quarter supervisions, and program monitoring.

Academic Qualification:

  • BSC degree in public health, nursing, and related fields. 

Required Experience:

  • At least 5years relevant experience.
  • Knowledge of MNCH/FP programs
  • Experience in capacity building (programmatic and technical)
  • Experience in organizing standard maternal and child health training
  • Has received training in Maternal and child health, e.g. BEmONC, FP, ICCM, CBNC, IMNCI, etc.
  • Experience in working in the Tigray region
  • Knowledge of the local language is an advantage.

Required Competencies:

  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills including influencing, negotiation cultural awareness, and ability to work well in a multicultural environment
  • Ability to manage demanding workload, multi-task, accept challenges, take initiative, and solve problem
  • Excellent spoken and written English
  • Good computer skills (particularly Excel, Word, and database)
  • Ability to meet deadlines without compromising quality
  • Flexibility to adjust to different situations and contexts, and experience in hardship areas
  • Identify with the values and mission of Amref Health Africa.

Lien