Zonal Community TB Coordinator – Reach Ethiopia

Health Care

Reach Ethiopia

REACH Ethiopia is based in Hawassa the capital of the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region (SNNPR) in Ethiopia aiming to contribute to improved access to health care through implementation of innovative implementation projects.

Brief introduction

REACH Ethiopia is a non-profit local organization established and registered as an Ethiopian Residents Charity, with the mission to contribute to community development through innovative community-based approaches. Currently, REACH Ethiopia is implementing the USAID funded Urban TB LON project in 3 largest cities in the country; Addis Ababa, Harari and Dire Dawa in collaboration with Ministry of Health Ethiopia. Previously, REACH Ethiopia successfully implemented the community-based TB care (CBTBC) interventions and integrated health service projects in Sidama, SNNP and parts of Oromia Regions.

The Eliminate Tuberculosis is the USAID funded project designed to reduce the national TB incidence and mortality from the baseline by increasing the quality, access, utilization and sustainability of TB services in Ethiopia. The USAID Eliminate TB project sub-awarded to REACH Ethiopia by Management Sciences for Health Inc., (MSH(-the prime partner- to facilitate local capacity building in implementation of community level interventions and ensure the journey to self-reliance. The project will focus on high impact case finding and prevention strategies to strengthen referral and linkage of presumptive TB cases in the community in selected high TB load facilities’ catchment in 2 regions (Sidama, and SNNP) by using HEP and volunteers, and ensure improved case notification through reaching inaccessible population. The beneficiaries of the project will be high load facilities and key populations mapped in the regions. The project will be implemented in collaboration with the Sidama and SNNP Regional Health Bureaus, Zonal administrations and Health Departments, Woreda Health Offices, Health Extension Professionals (HEP), Public and Private health facilities, Women Health Development Armies (WHDAs), community associations, TB clubs such as former TB patients’ clubs.

REACH Ethiopia, after reviewing the gains made in community TB care in its ETBE project intervention areas: Sidama and SNNPR (Hadiya) with the prime, decision has been made to expand the intervention in Gedeo Zone modifying the approach.

Purpose of the position (general)

Under the leadership of Regional Community TB Coordinator, the Zonal Community TB Coordinator is responsible for planning, execution and for overseeing the successful implementation and delivery of CBTBC program activities to achieve its intended goal in the implementation setting (Gedeo Zone). He/she coordinates the planning, implementation and delivery of defined and agreed upon and service delivery/practice of standards and provides oversight to all Community based TB Care activities under the USAID Eliminate TB project that will be implemented in this setting.

S/he will be responsible for developing the project’s activity plan and regularly review activity performance; discuss issues with the Zonal Health Department (TB Focal) and respective woreda health offices, Regional Community TB Coordinator (REACH Ethiopia)  and develop improvement plans when necessary.

S/he will closely work with Zonal Health Department (TB Focal Person), Woreda Health Office (DPCD focal/lead) to engage community TB work force (Woreda TB Officers, HEP, WDAs, Volunteers) and ensure effective community-based TB care interventions are in place.   

 Answerability and Position in the organization

The Zonal Community TB Coordinator reports to the Regional Community TB Coordinator.

Major and overall Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Development and implementation of community-based TB case finding, contact investigation, screening, TB treatment adherence; TPT
  • Build and maintain effective relationships with a wide range of people and sectors in the Zone in addition to REACH Ethiopia Regional team;
  • Help build woreda level  CBTBC implementation and follow-up Woreda TB Officers’ capability by collaborating with zonal health department (Zonal TB Officers), coaching and mentoring others and generally encouraging the appropriate use of project management technique at woreda level;
  • Manage communications through media relations, social media etc (where feasible and appropriate);
  • Keep Zonal Health Department (DPCD/TB Officer/s) and woreda TB Officers up-to-date with relevant project information; and ensure technology is used correctly for all operations (video conferencing, presentations, e-mails, phone calls, etc.) when appropriate;
  • Complies with policies and procedures governing the project and ensures that the project is operating at maximum efficiency;
  • Prepares reports regarding project operations, and analyses and evaluates the effectiveness of the project and develops new methods aimed at greater success;
  • Together with the key stakeholders in the Region/Zone, identify key issues and priorities in line with USAID Eliminate TB project objectives;
  • Make workable plans to cope up with prevailing situations;
  • Ensure the CTBC implementation experiences from REACH Ethiopia/MSH/ETBE/ Woredas are shared to Woredas in Gedeo Zone, & document important lessons learnt for decisions
  • Undertake other responsibilities as assigned by the supervisor.

Knowledge management

  • Identifies areas for crosscutting collaboration with ZHD and relevant partners;
  • Enhances and anchors the in-depth knowledge of TB technical areas in the technical team (both for Zonal PCDC/TB Officer, Woreda TB Officer and partners team);
  • Actively shares knowledge with the Zonal DPCD/TB Officer; Woreda TB Officers; using appropriate communication channels;
  • Maintains personal in-depth knowledge on TB control areas and able to understand as well as manage a frequently changing development related to TB.

Contract term: Full time Position, Fixed term contract

Number of positions: One 

Qualifications and Requirements

  • Master’s Degree in public health or equivalent, minimum of five-year relevant work experience in TB control of which three years is a senior advisory/ supervisory / coordination role;
  • Bachelor’s Degree in public health, minimum of eight-year relevant experience in TB control of which five years is an advisory/supervisory/coordination role;
  • Proven experience in health program management of at least three years;
  • Previous experience of Community TB program, specifically working with HEP and volunteers;
  • Previous experience of  capacity building and mentorship experience for Zonal Health Department/DPCD/TB Officers/Woreda TB Officers in the SNNP;
  • Proven experience of stakeholder capacity building skill: facilitation, presentation, communication and monitoring impact of capacity building interventions;
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English, Amharic and at least one local language of the region;
  • Experience in capacity building and utilizing participatory learning methodologies;
  • Past experience with USAID projects would be an advantage;
  • Past experience in TB program management, at regional, Zonal level, besides knowing the local dynamics is a plus
  • Willingness to locate in Gedeo Zone/Dilla with frequent communication to Woredas; using different channels.

As per the scale of the organization

Lien