Regional Economic Strengthening Officer x 2

Title

Regional Economic Strengthening Officer x 2

Location

Gweru ; Gwanda

Type of Contract

Fixed Term Contract

Deadline

24/08/2023 (Expired)

About

Zimbabwe Health Interventions (ZHI) is a not-for-profit human development organisation which is registered as a Private Voluntary Organisation (PVO 17/22). ZHI’s mission is to develop and deliver innovative and sustainable high-impact, integrated health interventions to the communities we serve, while working with and strengthening existing institutions.

The Re-Ignite Innovate Sustain and Empower (RISE) program aims to disrupt the main drivers of HIV risk for adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in Zimbabwe using a proven approach called Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored, and Safe women (DREAMS). The program goal is to contribute to the reduction of new HIV infections amongst AGYW 10-24 by 2026 in Zimbabwe by strengthening HIV and sexual violence prevention. The program is currently being in eleven priority high HIV burden districts in Zimbabwe (Beitbridge, Bulawayo, Bulilima, Gwanda, Gweru, Insiza, Mangwe, Matobo, Mazowe, Gokwe South and Mberengwa). These districts are in the following provinces: Mashonaland Central, Midlands, Bulawayo, and Matabeleland South provinces. ZHI’s primary role is to deliver a comprehensive curriculum on HIV prevention, gender norms and social asset building targeted at AGYW in school, out of school and their sexual partners at community level. ZHI’s core thrust in the DREAMS-RISE Program is to keep girls and young women HIV Free through supporting them to: • Stay in school • Prevent early pregnancies • Prevent sexual violence• Access Post violence care • Reduce child marriage. DREAMS-RISE provides a comprehensive, multi-sectoral package of core interventions to address key factors that make girls and young women particularly vulnerable to HIV. These include structural factors, such as gender-based violence, exclusion from economic opportunities, and a lack of access to secondary school. DREAMS layers multiple interventions at once so that AGYW are surrounded with critical support to keep them safe from HIV and other risks.

Basic Function

The Regional Economic Strengthening Officer (RESO) is responsible for providing overall leadership, technical guidance, and direction towards implementation, monitoring, and reporting of all economic strengthening (ES) interventions under the DREAMS-RISE program in the assigned districts, including documentation of success/human impact stories. With support from the Senior Technical Officer (STO) - ES, the RESO is responsible for coordinating training for DREAMS-RISE program staff, sub-awardees, and community volunteers to operationalize the economic strengthening/livelihoods interventions. In addition, and with support from the STO-ES, s/he will support district teams, community cadres, and sub-awardees to manage all internal savings and lending (ISAL) activities, facilitate financial literacy trainings for beneficiaries, support beneficiaries to identify viable further pathways and market opportunities, and facilitate linkages, as well as identify and foster private sector engagement processes at the district levels.

Job Description

Provide overall leadership, technical guidance, and direction towards implementation of all ES interventions in the districts of jurisdiction; Work closely with the Community Prevention Facilitators (CPF) and community cadres to ensure all critical and relevant ES interventions are implemented in accordance with the approved budget, timeframe, and scope to achieve the desired program outcome; Translate the ES program technical guidance to the district teams and community cadres and ensure program activities are implemented in accordance with the approved USAID/PEPFAR and national guidelines to assure implementation fidelity across the districts; Provide stewardship in the proper utilization of all program resources (i.e., financial, and material resources) towards implementation and achievement of program results, including timely payments to beneficiaries and liquidation of all ES activity advances in the districts of jurisdiction; In close collaboration with the Strategic Information and Evaluation (SIE) team, ensure regular monitoring and reporting of ES interventions under the DREAMS-RISE program in the assigned districts; Participate in the weekly performance optimization team (POT) meetings with all the district teams to monitor program performance, discuss implementation challenges, guide the team in developing remedial actions for poorly performing ES indicators, and monitor implementation of the same; With support from the STO-ES, Regional Coordinator (RC) and the District Program Coordinators (DPCs), mentor, coach, and supervise CPFs and community cadres to strengthen their capacity towards implementation of ES interventions; Provide weekly performance update reports of the districts to the program leadership; Strengthen private sector engagement platforms at the district level by developing and nurturing partnerships and relationships with local businesses for purposes of securing training, internship, and employment opportunities for eligible program beneficiaries; Develop, nurture, and manage effective program relationships with key Government of Zimbabwe line ministries and departments, other like-minded USAID implementing partners, community leadership and other relevant stakeholders across the districts to assure successful implementation of the ES interventions.

Knowledge, Skills and abilities

This position requires independence and initiative to work with multiple teams and partners. It requires regular reflection, critical analysis and openness to critical feedback and peer reviews; In-depth understanding of a comprehensive field of knowledge (Economic Strengthening/Livelihoods) to facilitate provision of technical support and guidance; Demonstrable ability to communicate at a high level, both verbally and in writing, and capacity to effectively interact with a multiplicity of stakeholders including senior leadership; Taking remedial actions in a timely manner when needed. It requires regular engagement with and exchange knowledge and experience with other ZHI Coordinators and National Technical Team; High-level people skills especially; diplomacy, team cohesion, mentoring, coaching, and motivating skills to achieve team and individual results; Ability to deliver high quality results within limited time and resources; Self-motivation, responsiveness, and ability to think creatively.

Qualifications and experience

Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in a discipline related to agriculture/agriculture economics, commerce, economics, business management and public administration or related field of study; At least 3 years of progressive work experience with a reputable NGO or donor agency; Extensive experience with and knowledge of best practice interventions and approaches designed to improve household economic status and expand livelihoods options and opportunities; Experience managing complex development projects. During this period, s/he must have been involved in the design, implementation, monitoring, and reporting of evidence-based economic/livelihood activities targeting vulnerable groups; Must have excellent interpersonal and communication skills; Must be fluent in English (both written and spoken); Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with strict timelines; Computer proficiency and familiarity with a range of software applications including word processing, spreadsheets, and databases.

Application Procedures

Step 1: click here to complete the job application form.
Step 2: Submit your CV and application letter via email to recruitment@zhi.org.zw clearly indicating the position you are applying for on the subject of the email.

Statement

During the application process, ZHI will not charge any fee nor will it require any payment for an application to be considered. ZHI is an equal opportunity employer and employs personnel without regard to race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, language, citizenship, creed, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, physical handicap or financial ability.