PROGRAM OFFICER / COMMUNITY MOBILISATION ADVISOR

Job Description 

PROGRAM OFFICER / COMMUNITY MOBILISATION ADVISOR

I - Mission context

Médecins du Monde (MdM) is an international humanitarian organisation whose mission is to provide medical care for the most vulnerable populations, the world over, including France. It seeks to stimulate voluntary commitment from doctors, other health care providers, and from those whose expertise in other fields is needed for its activities, to enlist all competent support required for the achievement of its projects, and to seek at all times to encourage close working relationships with populations in its care.

For more than 30 years, Médecins du Monde (MdM), a campaigning medical organization committed to international solidarity, has been caring for the most vulnerable populations at home and abroad. It has continued to highlight obstacles that exist in accessing health care and has secured sustainable improvements in health-for-all policies. Those working for this independent organization do not solely dispense care and treatment but condemn violations of human dignity and rights and fight to improve matters for populations living in precarious situations. MdM currently works in more than 40 countries across all continents where it focuses on 5 priority areas: caring for the health of migrants and displaced persons, promoting sexual and reproductive health, combating HIV and reducing the harm and risks associated with drug use, crises and conflicts and environmental health.

MdM has worked in Nepal since 1995: firstly, on Tuberculosis and HIV in western province, then on Sexual and Reproductive Health in Sindhupalchok District. Following the 2015 earthquakes, MdM implemented an emergency response program and then, a post-earthquake early recovery project in the same district.

Since 2018, MdM is working on Environmental Health. The 2018-2019 “Healthy Waste Workers in Kathmandu Valley” program aimed to improve health status of informal waste workers (IWWs) in the Valley, mitigating their occupational risks and environmental exposure, improving access to information and increasing access to health services in Teku, Shantinagar and Sisdole landfill sites. 

In continuation, the 3-years program starting in 2020, aims to improve health, wellbeing and livelihood of IWWs in Kathmandu Valley and Sisdole landfill. The strategy consists in: 1. formalization of IWWs through CSO and increasing their recognition in integrated solid waste management in urban cities, 2.  increasing risk mitigation and promotion of decent safe work opportunities in current activities and through innovation contributing to improve solid waste management in Ward 12, and 3. increasing access to quality health services for IWWs and the community through promotion of Urban Health Promotion Center in Ward 19 and in Kakani’s Rural Health Center.

II- Main aims of the post

Under the direct supervision of the General Coordinator, the Community Mobiliser Advisor position consists in proactively ensure the development of program components and activities related with the community mobilization and community-based organization strengthening. The Community Mobiliser Advisor ensures the consistency and quality of all community mobilization related activities carried out by the implementing partners, through a constant support. S/he largely contributes to the development of the communication and advocacy strategy on this topic.

Terms of Reference for this position can be subject to modification depending on the evolution of the situation in country and the needs. 

Tasks and responsibilities: 

1. Program support
2. Community engagement and advocacy
3. Reporting, monitoring and evaluation
4. Others 

1.  Program support

• Support the Program Manager, implementing partners and MdM team for the design and the good implementation of the program, specifically for outreach activities
• Ensure effective and efficient implementation of the community mobilization related activities, quality delivery by partners and all bodies involved 
• Develop relevant guidelines and reference documents according to MdM standards 
• Provide technical support on community mobilization, communication and advocacy related activities, develop appropriate materials and organize any relevant trainings in order to transfer competencies to the implementing partners 
• Develop training module and train implementing partners on community empowerment 
• Participate in the advocacy plan implementation and in communication related activities
• Support MdM team and implementing partners in mobilizing community members to participate to other relevant program related activities 
• Participate to fortnightly operational meetings and trimestral steering committees together with the Program Manager and Medical Advisor
• Perform regular field visits to ensure the quality of the project implementation

2.  Community engagement and advocacy

• Mobilize and facilitate active participation of community members to program activities, and to participate in planning, monitoring and implementation and evaluation of community development initiatives
• Build the capacity of community members to collectively engage local leaders on identified issues
• Follow-up on commitments by leaders or other stakeholders

3.  Reporting, monitoring and evaluation

• Monitor the implementation of the community mobilization related activities, according to the strategic M&E orientations and in collaboration with the Program Manager
• Support the collection and documentation of impact and success stories on monthly, quarterly, and annually bases. Document of evidence-based impact stories and participate in the evaluation process
• Contribute to any relevant report (government authorities, funding agencies, HQ, etc.) in support to the Program Manager

4.  Exploratory Mission

• Participate in any exploratory mission and field assessment in coordination with MdM team, under supervision of the General Coordinator and according to MdM guidelines
• Participate in developing strategies and design for potential programs

5.  Others

• Contribute to the development of general strategy for MdM activities
• Contribute to the development of agreement documents and proposals for grant applications, in coordination with GenCo and Admin/Finance team

III - Profile of the ideal candidate

Education

• Diploma in Social Science, or sociology, or Community Development

Professional experience

• Relevant experience in NGO/INGO, in program implementation, community mobilization, in monitoring and evaluation
• Experience in working with communities and less advantaged beneficiaries
• Experience in program planning, monitoring and evaluation: an asset

Skills and qualities required

• Proactive, well organized and ability to manage priorities, adaptable, reliable, accountable and responsive personality
• Team-working and coordination skills
• Listening and dissemination skills
• Interpersonal and verbal communication abilities, tact and diplomacy, intercultural and difference awareness
• Assertiveness, mediation and negotiation, problem-solving and decision-making skills
• Able to read, write and communicate in English at professional level
• Computer skill in Word, Excel 

Languages

• English: professional level of speaking and writing
• Nepali: professional level of speaking and writing
• Bhojpuri and Maithali: speaking skills
• French: an asset

Duration: upto 31/12/2020 (possibility of extension) 

Duty Station: Kathmandu (with frequent field movement) 

Application start date: 4th February 2020

Closing date for application: 10th February 2020

How to Apply: send an updated CV in English with 3 references and a Cover Letter to info.mdmfrance@gmail.com. Please mention on subject the reference of the position as “Community Moblization Advisor”