ROLE PURPOSE: The Community Strenghtening Technical Advisor takes overall responsibility of community health services in Afya Halisi project. Afya Halisi is a USAID funded five year project which aims to deliver quality, integrated services in the areas of family planning (FP), reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health (RMNCAH), nutrition, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) in the focus counties of Kitui, Migori, Kakamega and Kisumu.
The Community Strengthening TA will provide technical oversight to the community program with the aim of strengthening of the community platform for demand creation, health promotion and delivery of quality RMNCAH, Nutrition and WASH community services. With her/his duty station in Migori County, the community strengthening TA will provide technical support and leadership to service delivery teams in the 4 Afya Halisi counties and from time to time as may become necessary, provide technical support to MOH. In collaboration with project team and partners, the position will support the design and implementation of evidence based high impact interventions. He/she will be responsible for preparation of annual work plans, capacity building of project and MoH staff, quality implementation of interventions and effective coordination of the program with collaborating partners. He/she will work with other project staff and field teams to support area level advocacy for community health services.
EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS
Advanced university degree in the social/behavioral sciences, (Sociology, Anthropology, Psychology, Health Education) with emphasis on strategic communication planning for behavior development, social mobilization, participatory communication, and research.
Minimum five years of relevant professional work experience in the development, planning and management of social development programmes with practical experience in the adaptation and application of communication planning processes to specific programmes.
Experience in community mobilization and child participation within the development context. Experience working with the Kenya Community Health Strategy and KQMH is an added advantage
Demonstrable commitment to health and development and to the right of the poorest to quality health and health services, with strong experience of health programming and advocacy activities
Demonstrated experience of developing effective working relationships with senior stakeholders from government agencies, international organizations, donors, NGO, academics and opinion-leaders, including successful advocacy and influencing.
Demonstrated effectiveness in behavior change communication.
Successful use of media and other communication strategies for social development.
Proven experience in advocacy.
Strong expertise and understanding of key issues in the field of health, such as health financing, health system strengthening, the right to health and health service delivery.
Excellent communication skills, including fluency in written and spoken English and strong inter-personal and advisory skills
Experience capacity building community health Assistants, Community health volunteers
Experience strengthening community based health information system (CBHIS)
Knowledge of the local county context strongly preferred.
