Project Assistant / National Community Advisor Full-Time

Abt is hiring a Project Assistant / National Community Advisor.

Organization Overview

The International Development Division focuses on improving the lives and economic well-being of people in lower and middle-income countries. We command technical expertise in health, agriculture, climate change, food security and governance—as well as in international evaluation. Our multi-layered health portfolio includes policy, health promotion and disease prevention, health finance, and health systems management. In partnership with government clients and local experts, our high-quality programs in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East are known for impact and innovation.

Job Summary

Efficiencies for Clinical HIV Outcomes (ECHO) is a USD 209 million project to support the Government of Mozambique’s achievement of HIV/AIDS epidemic control and establishing a sustainable governmental response by 2023 in provinces where USAID is the primary clinical partner. The objectives of the project include strengthening the essential public health services for HIV epidemic control at national, provincial, and district level to ensure long-term sustainability of the HIV response, reaching and maintaining 95% treatment coverage and viral suppression in designated geographic regions, ensuring that Mozambique is utilizing the latest evidence for rapid escalation and maintenance of effective HIV interventions, and providing the Government of Mozambique with data, measured findings and recommendations necessary to make key service delivery decisions. This position holder is an HIV/AIDS clinician designated as Community Advisor.

The position holder provides advice, technical, administrative and comprehensive public health management assistance in support of PSS (Psychosocial Support)/Community activities concerning children, pregnant women, breastfeeding women and adults, as well as all support for the implementation of community activities.

Their responsibilities include daily programme management and development, initial and on-the-job training, clinical mentoring, monitoring, reporting and close collaboration with DPS/SDSMAS and programme managers to ensure implementation is carried out in accordance with the programme’s strategic objectives and internationally recognised best practices.

Community Advisor will report to the Community Director and will have frequent routine communications with other ECHO team members, mainly Program Managers from each province.

Position will be based in Maputo/Beira and he/she will provide guidance and be responsible for ECHO’s technical results in PSS (Psychosocial Support)/Community areas.

Community Advisor and Community Director will have a two-way relationship and will share the implementation of the technical principles guiding the program.

 Key Roles and Responsibilities

• Provide ongoing support and technical assistance to ECHO technical teams, CBO’s ECHO partners and DPS in identifying appropriate strategies for the provision of high-level community health services in Manica, Niassa, Sofala and Tete Provinces
• Ensure the implementation of Community strategies to improve early retention and overall retention of the ECHO Project
• Ensure correct implementation of the Community ATS (index case)
• Support the development of effective community reference systems for Sanitary Units and vice versa
• Support in the implementation of the Men’s Engagement Strategy, involving men champions
• Support the implementation of the mentoring mothers strategy
• Boost the activity of creating groups, Rotary Savings Groups (GPR), Community Dialogues, and Health Committees and activity
• Consistently review the success / failure of existing implementation strategies and seek new/improved strategies and methodologies to improve program performance, with special emphasis on improving demand creation and patient literacy of ART.
• Support CBOs in preparing technical reports as well as data routine monitoring
• Assist in the analysis of existing data (M&E, activity reports, etc.)
• Support the training of community actors/OBC’s and health professionals. Support continuing training through technical supervision
• Participate and support CBOs in continuous monitoring of the performance of Community actors
• Coordinate field supervision visits with donors and other teams
• Participate in different MISAU technical working groups and with other partners, and provide technical assistance for the development of national strategies, policies, procedures, guidelines, technical materials/instruments, notably on PSS/Community
• Support provincial teams in implementing established and innovative PSS measures that contribute to increasing patient adherence and retention
• Participate in meetings with community partners to ensure alignment of community activities
• Travel extensively (50% of the time) to all provinces to support implementation at district levels, and provide technical oversight of interventions on  PSS/Community and in close collaboration with provincial teams and their provincial counterparts;
• Serve as a partner and resource for Program Managers to facilitate compliance with adherence and retention-related goals and objectives
• Regularly review PSS/Community related global evidence and advise on project and MISAU strategies accordingly.

Preferred Qualifications

• University degree in psychology or relevant area
• At least 4 years of experience in community projects or interventions in HIV projects.
• Experience working on international donor funded projects will be an advantage
• Previous experience working with NGOs is an advantage.
• Experience in management with community-based organisation
• Proven ability to relate and cooperate with donors, DPS, SDSGCAS, NGOs, OBCs, communities and other stakeholders.
• Strong data usage and interpretation skills
• Demonstrated experience at senior level, attending or advising meetings / discussions / internal, donor and MISAU level.
• Demonstrated ability to monitor similar programmes and to interpret and use national programmes.
• Be Self-motivated and work based on goals/results;
• Fluency in Portuguese and excellent verbal communication in English.
• Experience managing teams and working groups;
• Computer usage skills (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint)

 Minimum Qualifications

• ( 4+ ) years of experience OR the equivalent combination of education and experience.