Senior Technical Officer -Economic Strengthening

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Title

Senior Technical Officer-Economic Strengthening

Location

Harare

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 Senior Technical Officer (STO) - Economic Strengthening is responsible for technical oversight of the Economic Strengthening component of the DREAMS-RISE Program. This includes design, implementation and monitoring of sound technical strategies and interventions targeting vulnerable adolescent girls and young women (AGYW), OVC and OVC caregivers as well as ensuring integration and synergies with the other key program areas, focused on AGYW and HIV Prevention. With support from the Technical Director, the STO is responsible for coordinating trainings for DREAMS-RISE program staff and local partners to operationalize the economic strengthening/livelihoods strategy. He/she will coordinate and lead the implementation of the Economic Strengthening Strategy in line with program goals and donor requirements and guidance. She will oversee support to ZHI district staff and sub-partners to conduct opportunity analysis, identification of pro-poor high-growth value chains, building financial literacy skills of identified AGYW and their families, incorporating basic market principles, facilitate skills trainings, manage group savings programs, AGYW economic assessments, support to AGYW to select informed pathways. She/he will oversee public private sector engagements and link identified most vulnerable AGYW In close collaboration with relevant program staff, the STO-Economic Strengthening provides overall technical oversight and guidance to Economic Strengthening service delivery within the DREAMS-RISE program.

Job Description

With overall support from the Technical Director, the STO serves as the lead technical expert on delivery of Economic Strengthening services to most vulnerable girls and young women, OVC and OVC caregivers; Works closely with district teams to supervise all activities at community level relevant to Economic Strengthening and impact mitigation responses; Working closely with and linking to other relevant staff of Sub awardee and community-based organizations, overseeing the identification of beneficiaries who meet the DREAMS-RISE enrolment criteria as well as plan interventions with them; Develop and implement (or support implementation of) plans to build the technical capacity of local partners; Provide technical guidance in the formulation and development of implementation manuals for skills and workforce development strategies; Train program and sub-partner staff on economic strengthening and mentor, support, supervise, guide implementation; Build partnerships with local businesses to generate employment opportunities for targeted AGYW and facilitate vocational trainings with accredited institutions; Identify and nurture relationships with strategic partnerships; Oversee use of economic strengthening interventions that enable families to meet school-related expenses; Coordinates the referral services and ensure continuum that eligible beneficiaries access the economic strengthening package of service; Ensure Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored, and Safe (DREAMS) services for ES beneficiaries (adolescent girls and young women as well as caregivers) delivered according to PEPFAR and/or USAID/Zimbabwe guidance; Works closely with Monitoring and Evaluation staff to define data needs related to Economic Strengthening Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), to regularly analyze micro-level program data, and to report upon progress and results in a timely fashion; Work with the SIE team to support collaborating, learning, and adapting (CLA) activities to drive quality improvement among staff and program partners; Recommends evidence-based improvements in the delivery of Economic Strengthening services; Works with the SIE team to implement the M&E action plan, making sure that M&E data for the Project is collected and MER reports are produced, as required; Managing relevant project expenditures in-line with the budget and donor and organizational policies and requirements; Contributes towards the development of Project IEC materials and messages, as appropriate; Manages partner relations by supporting the partners, responding to their enquiries/queries and ensuring that there is effective communication regarding Project activities; Performs other Project activities as may be assigned from time to time

Knowledge, Skills and abilities

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; In-depth knowledge of skills development frameworks, adult education, workforce development; Knowledge of poverty alleviation strategies. Small business development knowledge and experience preferred; Ability to conduct program development and outcomes measurement; Ability to provide strategic and logistical planning and facilitate meetings; Requires ability to organize complex tasks and plans and to be detail oriented; Ability to lead others, foster teamwork; Able to assess priorities and handle multiple tasks simultaneously to meet deadlines with attention to detail and quality; Demonstrated ability to work effectively with government representatives, for-profit private sector entities, local community organizations, donors, and other stakeholders at all levels

Qualifications and experience

Master’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 5 progressive years of experience with a reputable NGO or donor agency; Thorough knowledge and understanding of project management principles, theories, practices and especially on community and Government engagement processes; Extensive knowledge of OVC, AGYW, HIV/AIDS in the Zimbabwean context, including familiarity with PEPFAR DREAMS approach and with DREAMS Core package of services as well as the services layering and linkage approach; Experience managing complex development projects. During this period, she/he must have been involved in the design, implementation, reporting and evaluation of evidence-based economic/livelihood activities targeting vulnerable groups; Extensive experience with and knowledge of best practice interventions and approaches designed to improve household economic status and expand livelihoods options and opportunities; Excellent knowledge of household finance education / capacity-building approaches.

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.