Organization: John Snow, Inc.

Country: Zimbabwe

City: Harare, Zimbabwe

Office: John Snow, Inc. Harare, Zimbabwe

Closing date: Monday, 22 February 2021

Community of Practice Program Officer

Location: Harare, Zimbabwe

Position Category: Local hire, paid in country

Posting Date: 02/08/2021

Deadline Date: 02/22/2021

Starting Date: 03/01/2021

Description

Immunization Center Overview

Through its Immunization Center, JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc. (JSI) seeks to strengthen global, regional and country efforts to improve routine immunization (RI) systems and increase coverage at scale in a sustainable and equitable way with attention to quality. JSI is a global leader known for its focus on strengthening routine immunization as an integral part of the broader health system. JSI works at scale with Ministries of Health and partners to support the multiple interrelated components of the immunization system, and to identify, design and spread promising new program approaches to sustainably overcome long-standing challenges. The technical support that JSI provides at global, regional and particularly country levels is customized to build capacity; reduce inequity; improve the availability, quality and use of data at all levels; partner with communities and civil society; introduce new life-saving vaccines; promote behaviors favorable to immunization; strengthen communications; and professionalize supply chain management and logistics systems.

The Center influences the global technical agenda for RI system strengthening in all immunization-related efforts through advocacy with partners and participation in international forums to share JSI's technical expertise and development perspective. In addition to this global technical leadership role, the Center serves as the hub for immunization technical activity within JSI, and manages a portfolio of immunization-related projects and new business opportunities, in collaboration with other JSI Centers and the organization's bilateral and centrally-funded projects.

Position Description

The Community of Practice Program Officer (CoP PO) will be based in Harare, Zimbabwe and provide assistance to the project technical leads in organizing and managing a Community of Practice (CoP) to support the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) and other units of the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MOHCC) to carry out urban immunization activities. The CoP may include members from the EPI, technical partners, health workers and civil society organizations—among others—and aims to build capacity of members to plan, prepare, and implement urban immunization strategies and interventions and foster peer-to-peer exchange among members. The CoP PO will also support the Senior Immunization Technical Officer (senior ITO) and Immunization Technical Officer (ITO) to serve as the in-country immunization technical focal points for Gavi Partnership Engagement Framework (PEF) and Health Systems Strengthening (HSS) urban immunization activities and liaise with JSI/HQ and Gavi, as well as with other key partners (e.g. WHO, UNICEF, USAID, and others), as necessary.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Support to the Senior Immunization Technical Officer and Immunization Technical Officer in the operational coordination of JSI's Gavi PEF and HSS urban immunization activities and delivery of results, in accordance with the project work plans and other project activities, as necessary.

Establish and coordinate urban immunization Community of Practice (CoP), with technical oversight from the JSI in-country and JSI headquarters teams. Specific activities may include: Rapid insight gathering to determine key stakeholders to engage in the CoP platform; as well as best modes for communication and capacity building needs; Assist technical leads to develop goals, objectives, and desired outcomes of the CoP; establish CoP workplan; Establishment of Urban Immunization CoP based rapid insight gathering findings, including recruitment of members, organization of orientation session with CoP members, and co-creation of Terms of Reference with CoP members; Support Senior ITO and ITO to design technical content for and implement capacity building webinars and trainings on the urban immunization tools, process, findings, strategies and action plans; as well as facilitation of peer-to-peer exchanges within the CoP on lessons learned.; Assist Senior ITO and ITO to facilitate and monitor discussions on the selected CoP platform (e.g., Whatsapp), ensuring that the conversation remains relevant to intended topic & objectives; Troubleshoot any technical issues that may arise while organizing and monitoring the CoP;

Assist Senior ITO and ITO in the documentation of lessons learned from use of CoP for strengthening urban immunization services

Support Senior ITO and ITO to develop and submit documentation and briefs on project implementation for internal and external use and prepare the presentations on results of the project, to be used at relevant events.

Assist Senior ITO to collaborate with the JSI headquarters team in the preparation and implementation of work plans and budgets for the Gavi contract, and submit technical reports to the project, Gavi, and relevant partners, including monthly activity summaries and interim technical reports.

Participate in regular team meetings and maintain close contact (e.g. email, telephone, WhatsApp, Skype, etc.) with the JSI headquarters team and JSI in-country office to ensure the smooth implementation of in-country activities, work plans, budgets and expenditures.

Report to the JSI Senior Immunization Technical Officer in Harare

Program Officer will be based in the National EPI Office of the MOHCC in Harare.

Tags immunization logistics project implementation project management supply chain supply chain management trainings

Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor's or advanced degree in Community Health, Health Communication or Education and around five years of experience in the field of health communication, IT, and/or project management. Urban health or immunization experience is desirable.

Experience with designing, field-testing, conducting and managing health communication programs - preferably for child health programs and immunization;

Experience working with the Zimbabwe Ministry of Health and Child Care (MOHCC) or Ministry of Education and/or NGO public health programs; knowledge of the Zimbabwe MOHCC structure is an added advantage for this position;

Excellent interpersonal and team skills; demonstrated ability to interact professionally with culturally and linguistically diverse staff, clients, and consultants;

Ability to work independently, manage multiple tasks concurrently, and meet deadlines with attention to detail and quality;

Excellent oral and written communication, presentation, and organizational skills (both analytical and problem solving).

Ability to work comfortably in the MS Office package, specifically MSWord, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Willingness and availability to travel within Zimbabwe;

Knowledge of basic packages of computer skills is required;

Fluency in English is required and knowledge of Shona and Ndebele languages is an added advantage.

Salary commensurate with experience.