Programs Officer

at Iris Executive Development Center
Location Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, United Republic of
Date Posted May 9, 2022
Category Management
NGO
Job Type Full-time
Currency TZS

Description

About the job

Pathfinder Overview

Pathfinder International is a global leader in sexual andreproductive health. We place reproductive health care at the centre of allthat we do — believing that it is not only a fundamental human right, but iscritical for expanding life opportunities for women, families, communities, andnations, and paving the way for transformations in environmental stewardship,decreases in population pressures, and innovations in poverty reduction.Pathfinder provides women, men, and adolescents with a range of quality healthservices—from contraception and maternal care to HIV prevention and AIDS careand treatment. Pathfinder strives to strengthen access to family planning,advocate for sound reproductive health policies, and, through all our work,improve the rights and lives of the people we serve.

Project Summary

Pathfinder International has been working to promote systemicapproaches to primary prevention of violence while also supporting selectinterventions for secondary prevention, focusing specifically on ViolenceAgainst Children (VAC) amongst 7 to 18 years old in two districts of Zanzibar -Unguja North A and B. Recognizing that other types of violence are pervasiveand often inter-linked with SGBV, the project introduced interventions to equipparents and caregivers to reduce violence in their own homes while alsosupporting their children to report VAC/SGBV when it does occur, with the goalof protecting children from all forms of violence.

Pathfinder focused on the household and broader community, withthe aim of addressing positive masculinity and more gender-equitablerelationships, parent-child communication around sexuality and violence, andpublic acknowledgement and condemnation of VAC/SGBV. Pathfinder uses anecological model to drive normative change. In the new Phase of the projectPathfinder and its partners will focus primarily on the prevention of SVAC in thetwo districts of Zanzibar – Unguja North A and B.

Summary

The Program Officer (PO) will be responsible for implementingactivities under Pathfinder’s components of Preventing Sexual Violence AgainstChildren through household and community engagement in the Unguja North, Tanzaniaprogram to ensure that the program achieves its intended outcomes.Specifically, the PO will be responsible for ensuring the implementation of acurriculum designed to change social norms and behaviours to support the primaryprevention of sexual violence against children by improving adult protection,strengthening joint decision making and communications between children andadults and improving bystander intervention. Additionally, the PO will beresponsible for implementing an advocacy strategy that will aim to ensureproject buy-in (government and community involvement), improved reporting andresponse to SVAC cases including improved allocation of resources for the prevention of SVAC. S/he will work, primarily with, KUWAZA partners (C-SEMA andAction Aid Tanzania) and other stakeholders in providing strategic leadership,provide sound programmatic and technical inputs in the day-to-dayimplementation of the program.

Key Job Outcomes

  • Program Planning: Work closely with the Technical Advisor(line manager), country team and SVAC technical at HQ to understand programgoals and meet expectations, Contribute to ongoing assessments and analysesto better understand protection risks, to map points of service for survivorsof SVAC and vulnerable children, and to identify support structures, Analyzetrends of SVAC and develop/adjust program strategies to meet needs andContribute to program design and the preparation of concept notes and proposals
  • Technical Support on Child protection - Prevention of SexualViolence Against Children: Identify and reinforce existing support mechanismsand work closely with local counterparts to ensure community buy-in andcultural appropriateness of activities, strengthen case management and referralsystems, Work with teams and communities to develop appropriate prevention andawareness-raising/behaviour change strategies, Train SVAC staff to becomeleaders of SVAC prevention and response. Depending on skill sets and requiredroles, training may include: gender, guiding principles of addressing SVAC,SVAC case management, referral pathway development, compassionate care,facilitation skills, mobilization, project cycle management, etc., Organize andsupport training for healthcare providers, as needed and appropriate,Contribute to information-sharing and data management systems, Compile monthlyand quarterly reports, on time and with accurate data and Maintain flexibilityto take on added responsibility as and when needed
  • Coordination: Coordinate KUWAZA partners (C-Sema and ActionAid Tanzania), other stakeholders, local and international NGOs, to ensureholistic support for survivors, including participation in strengthening SVACand referral pathways, actively participating in protection/SVAC working groupsand contributing to interagency initiatives and Contribute to the positive imageand overall credibility of the organization, notably through the application ofthe organization’s Code of Conduct
  • Financial Management: Develop work plans in line withfinancial pipelines, Work with SVAC Manager, Finance team and Logistics to plan andprocure supplies within program budgets and ensure compliance with donorregulations
  • Security: Ensure compliance with security protocols andpolicies, consider security implications of all program activities, reviewingall new initiatives with national staff and community leaders
  • Reporting: Develops and presents timely project andoperations and updates on the project progress and difficulties. Documents project achievements for communicationsmaterials such as the annual reports, brochures, and website updates.
  • Brand Ambassador: Cultivates and strengthens positive,productive relationships with donors, regulatory agencies, partners, andgovernmental agencies to ensure that Pathfinder International is consistentlyviewed as an effective implementing partner in meeting and achieving projecttargets.
  • Proposals: Provides input and support to proposal teams

Required Education, Training And Experience

  • Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Public Health, InternationalDevelopment, or other relevant fields of study (A Master’s degree would be anadded advantage)
  • Three (3) years of experience in SVAC/ VAC program design andimplementation

Minimally Required Job Specific Competencies

  • Software Applications: Advanced knowledge of MS Excel,PowerPoint, Word and Outlook.
  • Languages: Proven writing and speaking skills using Kiswahiliand English language.
  • Communication and Influencing Skills: Proven ability toinfluence others through diplomacy and proven oral and written communicationskills.
  • Passion for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights:Commitment to family planning, reproductive health services, gender, maternal,child health services, and eradication of harmful traditional practices.
  • Self-Management and Teamwork: Ability to work independently oras a member of a team, ability to thrive in a matrix organization, ability tobe detail-oriented, and ability to manage stress effectively in a fast-pacedenvironment.
  • Confidentiality: Ability to maintain confidentiality on work-related matters.
  • Flexibility to travel, when necessary, to support fieldoperations

Applying Instructions

Pathfinder is committed to safeguarding and protecting the people we serve as well as our staff. We have zero-tolerance for any behaviour that inflicts harm on children, young people, adults, as well as our staff and partners, including sexual abuse, harassment, bullying, and exploitation. Everyone we hire must abide by our safeguarding and related policies, including reporting suspected or known policy violations. By applying, you acknowledge you understand you will be subjected to a variety of vetting checks intended to verify your suitability to work with us.

Interested applicants are requested to submit their application letter and CV, including contact details for 3 references whereby one should be the Human Resources Manager/Director of the previous organization you worked for. The Applications should be addressed to the

Director for Human Resources and Administration,

Pathfinder International,

PO Box 77991, Dar es Salaam

or sent via e-mail to

Tanzania-jobs@pathfinder.org stating the position being applied for in the subject line so that we do not miss your application. Electronic Applications are encouraged. Please note that only short-listed candidates will be contacted, the offer and contract will be subject to the donor’s approval.