ADVOCACY OFFICER AT THAMINI UHAI & ENGENDER HEALTH , JULY 2017

Advocacy Officer; Maternal and Reproductive Health

Thamini Uhai and EngenderHealth

The Kigoma Maternal and Reproductive Health Initiative works to prevent maternal mortality in Kigoma, Tanzania. Our approach includes: preventing unintended pregnancies by providing contraceptives to every women and girl who wants it, encouraging all women to deliver their babies in a health facility with a skilled provider, and ensuring that all women with a life-threatening condition can quickly access good-quality emergency obstetric and newborn care (EmONC), including cesarean sections and post-abortion care (PAC).

Since 2008, the Initiative has upgraded and/or equipped 12 health centers, 26 dispensaries and 3 hospitals and trained and supported more than 600 health providers in Kigoma to provide comprehensive EmONC, family planning and post-abortion care services to rural communities in the region. The Initiative also strengthens referral systems and works to increase demand for good-quality services through multimedia communication campaigns and by partnering with community health workers. Thamini Uhai (formerly World Lung Foundation Tanzania) and EngenderHealth partner work with the Government of Tanzania in the implementation of all activities with Thamini Uhai focusing on the maternal health services and EngenderHealth focusing on the family-planning and post abortion activities.

Despite huge accomplishments in expanding women's access to good-quality EmONC, family planning and PAC, sustainability of service delivery has been a challenge for the Initiative due to lack of essential drugs and supplies, a critical shortage of health providers in the facilities that we support, government budgetary limitations, among others. As part of the anticipated phase out of the program in April 2019, the Initiative intends to transition support for the provision of these essential services to women and families to the local government in Kigoma following the program's end. To do so effectively, the Kigoma Maternal and Reproductive Health Initiative is seeking a motivated and experienced candidate to join a strong and creative team of professionals to manage and implement an advocacy for sustainability campaign which will aim to do budget advocacy successfully at the local, regional and national level

Position: Advocacy Officer

Duty station: Kigoma , with some travels to Dar es Salaam and Dodoma according to program needs.

Reporting to: Executive Director-Thamini Uhai

Purpose of the role: In collaboration with Bloomberg Philanthropies and H&B Agerup partners, contribute to the development and implemention of a strategic advocacy plan that will contribute to the sustainability of service delivery in Kigoma. The key focus will be to ensure that the region comes up with a workable sustainability plan. The officer will also monitor, document and evaluate the success of advocacy efforts.

The Advocacy Officer will be further responsible for leading exploration of potential inroads to sustainability through understanding of the Maternal and Reproductive Health (MRH) financing and budget advocacy for Kigoma, Tanzania. Responsibilities will be directly aimed at exploring best course forward to advocate for increased MRH budget appropriations/allocations for Kigoma. The role may involve carrying out secondary research such as budget tracking, but will focus primarily on mapping the process and the players figured out to inform advocacy for sustainability.

Education and Experience:

Masters of Public Health, Public Administration, Economics, Social Sciences or related degree from a recognized institution.

A minimum working experience of 10 years in development projects supporting and/or working with the government or the government itself. Experience in transitioning a donor-funded program over to government will  e an added advantage.

Experience in the following needed: health or education related advocacy work showing evidence of proven wins; work with local, district, regional and national-level government officials; experience in participating in development of budgets in the districts, analyzing them and/or disbursement of funds from the central government to the district; experience with the media (print, television, radio and social).

Experience in the following areas preferred: Influencing translation and implementation of policy at various levels; strengthening health system in delivering maternal and reproductive health service including Reproductive Maternal Newborn and Child

Health(RMNCH) priority setting and budgeting; maternal and reproductive health; monitoring and evaluation; community-based health programs.

Knowledge and understanding of the Tanzanian health system structure and health financing processes including budget cycles at national and subnational levels highly preferred.

Strong experience in using and communicating evidence effectively to different stakeholders to better inform MAH planning, decision making, advocacy and accountability efforts.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Fluent in English and Kiswahili

Good interpersonal skills and ability to develop working relationships with a wide range of people including government officials, staff, donors, partners and other NGO colleagues

Ability to solve problems and make decisions

Excellent organizational skills

Demonstrated motivation, positive attitude, team spirit, and initiative

Ability to manage multiple tasks at the same time in a demanding work environment

Must be able to work in a diverse team environment and able to work a flexible work schedule

Well organized with good attention to detail and willingness to do comprehensive work.

Willingness and ability to travel frequently in rural Kigoma and Dodoma

Strong computer knowledge in MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

Compensation:

Salary will be set according to education, experience, and previous compensation history.

How to apply:

Email a cover letter and your Curriculum Vitae ONLY, along with the names, email addresses and phone numbers of three professional references, with title in the subject line: "Advocacy Officer Application" toinfo@thaminiuhai.or.tz

Only complete applications will be considered. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and will be required to bring their original certificates during the interview.

Closing date: 7th August 2017

Thamini Uhai and EngenderHealth are equal opportunity employers.

Source: Mwananchi 26 July 2017