Field Officer (19 positions) - ICAP

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ICAP at Columbia University is a Non-Governmental Organization affiliated with Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health (MSPH) registered in Tanzania as MSPH Tanzania LLC since February 2005 (SO No. 12987). ICAP has been receiving funds to support HIV prevention and treatment programs in Tanzania from US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) through the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) since 2005. In collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children (MoHCDGEC), ICAP has been supporting the government on health system strengthening, providing technical support especially on HIV prevention, care, and treatment, voluntary medical male circumcision services, and facilitating HIV prevention in community settings. It is in this respect that ICAP since 2013, has been implementing an HIV-prevention program to accelerate, expand and improve the quality of comprehensive community-based HIV prevention services targeting several key and vulnerable populations (KVP). The program has employed competent, dynamic individuals with programmatic/technical understanding and public health management knowledge in implementing the program objectives.

The program is now seeking to fill multiple positions in various regional locations for a recently awarded five-year project on community-based HIV prevention addressing key populations (KP), adolescent girls and young women (AGYW), and other targeted vulnerable populations.

Job Description

Position Title: Field Officer (19 positions)

Reports to: Project Coordinator, designated region

Location: Various – Dar es Salaam (3), Tanga (2), Pwani (1), Mwanza (2), Mara (2), Simiyu (1), Kagera (3), Kigoma (3), Geita (2)

Travel: Up to 70% in intervention districts

Overall Job Function:

The incumbent will be responsible to manage the day-to-day field implementation of a community-based HIV prevention program targeting KVP in the designated region. One of the primary roles will be to coordinate and supervise community-based HIV testing and counselling

with target beneficiaries. S/he will work closely with the Project Coordinator of that particular region and be the primary liaison with healthcare worker service providers from health facilities.

Specific responsibilities and duties:

 Develop work plan for day-to-day program implementation at the district level including supervision of field activities

 Supervise the delivery of field-based HIV prevention services to beneficiaries by community outreach volunteers, including scheduling and implementing day and night mobile outreach campaigns.

 Support HIV testing and pre and post-test counseling with beneficiaries, and facilitate referrals for HIV positive clients.

 Mentor and supervise peer outreach volunteers regularly and frequently during outreach sessions and lead weekly outreach volunteer meetings;

 Ensure adequate supplies of commodities and tools to outreach volunteers and healthcare workers

 Support healthcare workers who are engaged from health facilities to provide services in mobile/community-based activities via on-site supportive supervision and mentoring

 Inform and cooperate with local government authorities and other stakeholders on current and upcoming activities for the program

 Participate in the training/orientation of healthcare workers in the selected health facilities on the community-based program

 Regularly conduct routine mapping/re-mapping of hot spots and size estimation where targeted populations are found

 Assist with identifying/screening, recruiting, and training community outreach volunteers from peer groups to implement the outreach services.

 Prepare weekly reports on outreach activities and progress

 Assist in development of the referral network between the outreach and health facility services

 Perform any other duties as assigned by the supervisor

Required qualification, Knowledge and skills:

 Required Education: Medically trained personnel (nurse, clinical officer, laboratory technician, MD, etc) who have current qualifications and training in phlebotomy and HIV testing duties. Preference given to those who also have a Degree in Social Work, Public Health, Social Sciences or similar field from a recognized academic institution.

 Required demonstrated working experience of minimum 1 year providing HIV testing and counseling services with demonstrated familiarity with MOH systems, tools and procedures for HIV testing and care management. Preference given to those who have additional experience with community-based HIV programs targeting KVP.

 Ability to maintain utmost confidentiality regarding participants’ health status and sensitive information contained in paperwork

 Ability to adapt to situations quickly and problem solve

 Ability to work independently and travel extensively to remote areas, including islands

 Flexibility to work after normal working hours and weekends at informal gatherings and entertainment centers

 Ability to interact well with all targeted KVP groups and peer outreach volunteers by facilitating a nonjudgmental, nondiscriminatory, and non-stigmatizing environment in the program, to welcome all clients regardless of their background

 Excellent written and verbal communication skills in Kiswahili and English

 Must be a Tanzanian Citizen; preference given to candidates already living in the job location region.

How to apply:

Applicants should send their cover letter and CV within 6 days from the date of this advert via email, mentioning in the subject line the Position Title and Preferred Region(s) to icap-jobs-tanzania@columbia.edu. Only short listed applicants will be contacted. Please do NOT attach any certificates when submitting online.

ICAP is an equal opportunity employer; women and people living with HIV/AIDS are encouraged to apply.