Most-at-Risk Populations (MARPs) – Project Officer
Reporting to the Technical Advisor, the successful candidate will be primarily responsible for coordinating the MARPs-focused HIV prevention program in the four ICAP-supported provinces (Limpopo, Free State, Northern Cape, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal). The incumbent will be expected to engage all relevant provincial Government officials, community-based institutions, community volunteers and target beneficiaries in the process of program implementation in order to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the services.
Duties and responsibilities:
- Work closely with the technical team to support the regional teams in the MARPs program implementation in line with overall strategy
- Monitor the MARPS information system in order to respond fully to timely and accurate donor reporting requirements
- Conduct frequent and planned support and monitoring visits to program areas
- Maintain the relationship of programs and liaise with community volunteers
- Work in close liaison with the regional teams to ensure compliance with donor requirements in procurement, financial management reporting and in line with ICAP’s internal Standard Operating Procedures and policies
- Serve as the primary point of contact for the MARPS Program
- Represent the program office at provincial level, coordination meetings and other relevant district-level meetings pertaining to the MARPS program
- Liaise with DoH at national and provincial level regarding response plans, reports and training
- Compile, share and disseminate lessons learned, promising practices and challenges.
Requirements:
- A degree in the Social Science field, Public Health or equivalent or related field
- A Master’s degree in Public Health will be an added advantage
- 3-5 years’ relevant experience in HIV/AIDS programs in areas of HIV Prevention, Care and Treatment, especially among MARPS
- Experience in supporting and working in South Africa public health programs
- Willingness to work over and above normal working hours
- Highly-motivated, self-managed and strategically-orientated
- High level of commitment to achieving program goals and objectives
- The ability to work with minimum supervision
- The ability to make appropriate and timely decisions.
Most-at-Risk Populations (MARPS) – Peer Education and Outreach Officer
Reporting to the Technical Advisor, the incumbent will lead the process used to develop standards for peer education and outreach programmes for MARPS in ICAP South Africa and will list the standards that will serve as a basis for improving the quality and effectiveness of the Programme, as peer education and outreach are important components of the MARPS Programme. Vital to this role is ensuring that interactive MARPS workshops are developed and facilitated in a variety of communities to educate youth and adults about sex, healthy relationships, sexual orientation and gender identity, recreational substance use, safer sex, and general HIV prevention and treatment. The successful candidate will be responsible for linking the psycho-social side of the program with its clinical component using the peer outreach systems.
Duties and responsibilities:
- Be responsible for the overall functioning and management of peer education work
- Advise and provide guidance for peer education and outreach efforts in support of project goals at regional, community and facility level
- Initiate contact with other stakeholders to ensure the smooth scheduling of delegations and address other Outreach issues
- Lead advocacy efforts to mobilise commitment and resources for HIV testing and prevention at regional and community levels
- Be responsible for programme advocacy, promotion, communications and liaison with educators, health professionals, community agencies, funders, NGOs CBOs and social venues
- Create an environment for change through education and action
- Ensure the development of strong partnerships with other sexual health education programs, AIDS-serving organisations, youth-driven programs, and arts-based education initiatives including participation in relevant coalition groups, committees, conferences and community forums, both local/provincial and national in scope
- Assist in reducing the stigma surrounding the MARPS community as well as the societal oppressions that relate to these health conditions and assist with skills development, healthy decision making, and harm-reduction strategies
- Provide direct supervision and support for Men Having Sex with Men (MSM) Harm Reduction Education, workshops with CBOs and NGOs in different regions, drop in programs, etc and sexual health education
- Work collaboratively with the community health centres/facilities and MSM peer educators to ensure that a curriculum is developed and delivered in a way that is representative of the MARPS Programme values and provides accurate, up-to-date and accessible information on HIV and related issues
- Serve as primary contact with health facilities and community members
- Manage the calendar of education, outreach efforts and the work in this area of volunteer educators
- Assist in developing programme materials for volunteers and clients (MSMs).
Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree in Public Health, Social Sciences, Nursing Sciences, Communications or a related field
- At least 5 years’ experience in outreach , peer education and linkages as well as in technical positions
- In-depth understanding of advocacy work, especially as it applies to public health and HIV
- Sensitivity to the political and cultural context in which the project operates
- Familiarity with MSM populations in South Africa
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English and as well as another recognised language of South Africa
- Excellent interpersonal and presentation skills
- Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain effective working relations with public and private sector entities and professional associations High standards of stewardship and accountability
- Must be committed to the transfer of knowledge
- Willingness to travel extensively throughout the region.
Kindly e-mail your application and a detailed CV, with 3 contactable employment references, to pc2508@columbia.edu for the attention of Pumza Cembi. Please indicate the job title and the region in the subject line.
Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
Closing date: 15 July 2013.