Technical Officer – Economic Strengthening (Internal Advert)

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Title

Technical Officer - Economic Strengthening

Location

Harare

Type of Contract

Fixed Term Contract

Deadline

02/10/2023 (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 Technical Officer (TO) - Economic Strengthening (ES) will work closely with the Senior Technical Officer (STO) – ES to provide both financial and technical leadership, guidance, and direction towards implementation 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), Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) and OVC caregivers as well as ensuring integration and synergies with other key program areas, focused on AGYW and HIV prevention. The incumbent will also play a critical role in ensuring that ES program activities are implemented in accordance with the approved annual budget, and that ES expenditures are reported in a timely manner across all the implementation districts. With support from the Technical Director and the STO-ES, the TO-ES will be responsible for coordinating ES trainings for DREAMS-RISE program staff and local partners to operationalize the economic strengthening/livelihoods intervention across all the implementation districts. S/he will work closely with the regional and district-based teams, as well as sub-awardees to ensure all the ES interventions are implemented, monitored, and reported in a timely manner and in accordance with DREAMS-RISE program design. She/he will support the field-based program staff to initiate and nurture public private sector engagements and link identified vulnerable AGYW to available opportunities.

Job Description

With overall support from the Technical Director and the STO-ES, the incumbent will provide technical leadership, guidance, and direction towards implementation of the Economic Strengthening component of the DREAMS-RISE Program; Support the regional and district-based program staff including sub-awardees to identify eligible AGYW and their caregivers/parents to be enrolled into DREAMS-RISE and facilitate appropriate ES interventions for them; TO-ES will be responsible for coordinating ES trainings for DREAMS-RISE Program staff and local partners to operationalize the economic strengthening/livelihoods strategy ;Work closely with the regional and district-based teams, as well as sub-awardees to conduct opportunity analysis, identification of pro-poor high-growth value chains, build financial literacy skills of eligible AGYW and their families, and facilitate market linkages for AGYW and caregivers/parents ;Work with the regional and district teams to facilitate skills training for AGYW, labor market assessments, and support AGYW to select informed pathways ;Support the regional and district teams, including sub-awardees to manage all internal savings and lending (ISAL) activities ;Support the field-based program staff to initiate and nurture public private sector engagements and link identified vulnerable AGYW to available private sector opportunities (such as employment, internship, access to finances, etc.) ;Provide technical inputs towards development and review of ES-related manuals, guidelines, and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to improve program implementation; Works closely with Strategic Information and Evaluation (SIE) team to define data needs related to ES Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), and support field-based program staff to collect, analyze 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, as well as outcome reporting ;Strive towards identifying innovation and evidence-based programming to improve ES service delivery for the beneficiaries ;Develop, nurture, and manage effective program relationships with key Government of Zimbabwe (GOZ) 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 ;Ensure ES program expenditures are within the approved budget, consistent with both the organization and donor rules and regulations and are reported in a timely manner ;Provide regular mentorship, couching and support supervision to the regional, district, and sub-awardee staff to assure quality implementation of the ES intervention.

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 and foster teamwork; Ability 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

Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in agriculture, agricultural economics, commerce, business management, public administration, or related field of study; At least 3 years 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; Significant experience ensuring programs include and benefit vulnerable and marginalized populations (e.g., adolescent girls and young women).

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.