Uganda: Care Behavior Change Assistants (7 positions based in Kotido or Kaabong), Uganda Nationals

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:

The primary focus of CBCAs will be to promote behavior change for maternal and child health and nutrition at household level. This will be done through the care group approach. Care groups are an evidence-based peer-to-peer nutrition learning platform comprised of caregivers and led by village health teams. Care groups conduct ongoing sensitization to promote positive maternal child health and nutrition practices. Care Group CBCAs will be responsible for the formation and start up of care groups, followed by implementation of ongoing health sensitization activities through the care group platform. This includes, but is not limited to supervision of village health teams (promoters), quality control of health promotion activities, spot checks of leader mother activities, and ongoing sensitization with local leadership. The CBCA will also be expected to contribute to content development where necessary, adopt best practices when identified, and coordinate with other NGOs, particularly GHG partner World Vision, to ensure standardized implementation of nutrition promotion activities and to avoid duplication of services.

CBCAs will work closely with community leaders, including but not limited to, community elders, sub-county leadership, role model caregivers and village health teams. The ability to communicate effectively, respectfully and enthusiastically with community structures will be one of the position’s three success factors. The second will be the degree to which CBCAs drive results, producing scheduled outputs at deadline and to expected quality. The third success factor will be the degree to which CBCAs effectively gather activity monitoring and evaluation data and utilize data to inform activity implementation and program learning.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Program

• Sensitize community leadership on behaviour change approaches and conduct identification exercises
• Mobilize communities to form care groups, using a standardized approach
• Organize and lead trainings for village health team/promoters and
• Supervise ongoing implementation of care group maternal and child health and nutrition promotion activities, ensuring quality control
• Coordinate with other health teams to ensure complementary approaches, monitor implementation of project activities and document best practice and success stories
• Collaborate with CBCA colleagues to ensure team success, including but not limited to logistics coordination, temporary support during leave, etc. as advised by team leader

Monitoring and Evaluation:

• Take responsibility for data gathering, data validation, quality control and timely data submission including gender and age disaggregated data
• Support and mentor community partners on data collection and use
• Troubleshoot monitoring and evaluation challenges for proactive problem solving with support of team leader and M&E team
• Utilize qualitative and quantitative data to inform program implementation, actively documenting best practices and lessons learned to share with team during routine monitoring, coordination meetings and other learning opportunities

External Representation and Coordination:

• Ensure establishment and maintenance of relationships with communities, village councils and local government in Kotido and Kaabong target areas
• Coordination of field activities with other NGO and local government partners to avoid duplication of services and support an enabling environment for health promotion
• When needed, support visits from district and sub-county government, regional and HQ based staff and external visitors, such as donors and media, in collaboration with CoP and DCoP
• Support GHG activities with key stakeholders, ensuring collaboration with counterparts in partner organization World Vision in relevant meetings, internal and external.

Other:

• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission;
• Motorcycle riding permit
• Other duties as assigned.
  KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
  

· Preferably a Diploma (Degree is an added advantage) in development studies, nutrition, gender, health sciences, social sciences, or other related development discipline,

· Relevant advanced experience (5+ years) may be considered in lieu of a degree.

· Proven experience in conducting community mobilization, training, and networking

· Experience in capacity building with communities in Karamoja.

· Knowledge in behavioral change methodologies such as care groups, Community Led Total Sanitation, and other related innovative hygiene and sanitation approaches is a plus

· Knowledge of approaches to promote gender equality, with a training in gender a plus

· Experience and skills in working with other NGOs, government partners, and local community-based organizations.

Applications: Submit your E-mailed application including a cover letter clearly stating your salary requirements, CV (with 3 referees), and copies of academic qualifications/certificates through the Human Resource Manager to mcjobs@ug.mercycorps.org. Deadline for Submission:Close of business on Friday July 17, 2015.Only short-listed candidates will be contacted by Mercy Corps. Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer; female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.