ABOUT CRS
Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. We welcome as a part of our staff and as partners people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need.
BACKGROUND
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is an international non-governmental organization supporting relief and development work in 93 countries around the world. CRS programs assist persons on the basis of need, regardless of creed, ethnicity or nationality. CRS works through local church and non-church partners to implement its programs. Therefore, strengthening and building the capacity of these partner organizations is fundamental to our approach in every country in which CRS operates.
Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. CRS has operated in Zambia since 1999, successfully implementing programs in health; HIV & AIDS; agriculture & livelihoods; nutrition and microfinance. Today, Zambia is among the agency’s top twelve priority countries, with a FY15 budget of nearly $12 million.
JOB PURPOSE
The Early Childhood Development / HIV- AIDs Officer will be responsible for providing ECD and HIV and AIDs technical assistance to the Zambia Family activity project (ZAMFAM).
NATURE AND SCOPE
The position exists to ensure CRS is able to provide support on Early Childhood Development / HIV and AIDs for the Zambia strengthening activity; a five year initiative funded by USAID through Expanded Church Response (ECR). CRS is one of the three sub recipient organizations, including Zambia Open Community Schools (ZOCs) and the Serenity Harm Reduction Program Zambia (SHARPZ) receiving funds to improve the care and resilience of vulnerable populations while supporting epidemic control.
The Officer is expected to help strengthen the capacity of partner staff on strengthening parent and caregiver’s knowledge and skills. In addition, s/he will be responsible for reviewing the current ECD curriculum, and providing technical assistance for adapting a parenting curriculum for use in the project. S/he will also be responsible for sharing current best practices in line with ECD/OVC programming and helping to ensure adherence to high quality service delivery standards.
The ECD /HIV and AIDs officer will also be responsible for strengthening the utilization of linkages / referral networks for access to ART and PMTCT services within the ZAMFAM target communities. The officer will be expected to consult with MCDMCH, MOH and ART and PMTCT service providers to identify gaps to improve access to ART / PMTCT services and Pediatric ART services for children.
S/he will assist with capacity strengthening of partners to strengthen the utilization of ART/PMTCT services by facilitating the development of a quality improvement plan, based on referral system gap assessment and CBO mapping.
S/he will support, in coordination with MOH and MCDMCH the adaptation of complete and accurate PMTCT messages for communication by CBOs. The officer will also ensure PMTCT messaging is incorporated into the ECD curriculum.
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES / KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Program Quality
- Monitor the quality and roll out of ECD Parenting curriculum through partner follow up and conduct structured regular field visits and technical assistance using various methodologies such as coaching and mentoring on identified areas that require improvement.
- Participate in overall project reviews, partner technical assistance meetings, training /capacity building activities and teamwork to improve program quality.
Project Planning and Implementation
- The officer will set clear goals and strategies for technical assistance under the ZAMFAM project. S/he will give technical guidance on ECD/ HIV and AIDs and ART in line with the approved SOW in the work plan. The incumbent will develop quarterly and monthly technical assistance plans with a view of addressing areas of weaknesses and gaps identified during partner assessments.
Review and Adapt Early Childhood Development (ECD) Parenting Curriculum
The incumbent will expected to take the lead and provide technical assistance in ECD under the ZAMFAM program as follows:
Assess CBOs providing ECD services
- Conduct review of current ECD parenting curricula available in Zambia
- Develop a parenting curriculum by incorporating CRS regional curriculum with available Zambian ECD parenting curriculum
- Strengthen capacity of ECR and ZOCs to implement parenting curriculum
- Develop a plan of action to respond to gaps and needs identified
Provision of technical assistance to ECR and ZOCs
- Take the lead to assess best practices in the areas of evidence based programming in OVC and family care
- Develop /adapt guidelines to ensure high quality service delivery and strengthen quality, evidence based programming in the areas of OVC and Family care
- Provide partners with ongoing technical guidance, updates on new approaches, and evidence based data to ensure high quality service delivery, drawing on CRS global experience and best practices
- Technical Assistance on PMTCT / Pediatric Referral Systems in ZAMFAM target communities
Conduct gap assessment in Pediatric ART Referral systems through consultations with MOH, CBOs and ZAMFAM partners to identify ART service providers in target communities
- Develop criteria for selecting ART service providers to participate in assessment
- Identify appropriate assessment tool, based on CRS expertise – globally and within Zambia
- In collaboration with ECR, work with ART service providers to identify current gaps in pediatric ART referral systems
- Take lead in producing final assessment report
- Build capacity of ART providers and CBOs to strengthen referral systems for HIV positive children
The officer will take the lead in the following with support from program team members:
- In collaboration with ECR, identify and map CBOs providing direct service delivery to vulnerable children within the ZAMFAM communities
- Identify appropriate CBOs to respond to gaps to improve access to ART treatment for children and adolescents
- Facilitate the development of a quality improvement plan, based on referral system gap assessment and CBO mapping
- Provide ZOCs and ECR with technical assistance to implement action plan
- Strengthen Utilization of Linkages / Referral Networks for Access to PMTCT services for HIV – positive pregnant women and their infants
- Hold meetings with Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) providers and CBOs to strengthen referral systems for PMTCT
- Adapt complete and accurate PMTCT messages, in coordination with MOH, for communication by CBOs through identifying information materials that already exist in Zambia and working closely with MOH to adapt
- Facilitate the transfer of final materials to ECR for use by CBOs
Budget Management
- Ensure that budget information is up to date and accurate on a monthly basis
- Review expenditures and work closely with Project Manager and Finance Team to ensure project expenditures are appropriately accounted for as provided in approved budgets
- Assist Project Manager in compiling financial forecasts on programme activities, providing progress reports on both monthly and quarterly basis
- Major challenges and problem solving
The officer will be expected to identify key challenges that affect Pediatric and PMTCT referral systems. S/he will also be expected to provide support to strengthen the utilization of referral networks and follow up mechanisms with various health service providers such as MOH, MCDMCH, hospitals, clinics and other relevant stakeholders that fall within the ZAMFAM target communities.
EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS
- Advanced Diploma in any Social Sciences, Early Childhood Development and or Public Health
WORK EXPERIENCE
- 3 -5 years relevant experience
- A minimum of two to three years progressive experience in OVC programming, ECD or Family strengthening activities that improve quality of life for children below the age of eight years.
- Knowledge of ECD, HIV/AIDs, ART and/or Pediatrics
COMPETENCIES AND SKILLS
- Technical / Project Management expertise
- Knowledge in HIV/AIDs Programming
- OVC Programming / Family strengthening activities
- Planning and organizing
- Budget management, forecasting and reporting
- Computer Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite
AGENCY-WIDE COMPETENCIES
- Serves with Integrity
- Models Stewardship
- Cultivates Constructive Relationships
- Promotes Learning
HOW TO APPLY
Interested and qualified candidates should send their cover letter (addressed to the Country Representative) & CV tocrszambiajobs@crs.org, clearly indicating the position being applied for in your subject line.
The deadline for submission of applications is Friday, August 21, 2015.
