The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity, and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC leads the way from harm to home.

The International Rescue Committee has been working in Somalia since 2006, providing essential services to conflict and disaster-affected communities. The IRC has been operational in South Central Somalia (Mudug, Galgadud, and Banadir regions), implementing interventions in the areas of livelihood, WASH, Governance, peacebuilding, GBV, Nutrition, education, and health, reaching out to more than 200,000 conflict and drought-affected people.

CBMNC PROJECT OVERVIEW

Under the supervision of the Research Project Coordinator, the Senior CBMNC officer will be the focal point for running quality community-based maternal and newborn health care services to mothers in Dhusamreeb as per WHO/IRC protocols and international benchmarks.

The community-based maternal and newborn care program consists of multiple phases:

1. Formative phase: Using existing global evidence and innovative and localized mechanisms such as mathematical modeling, user-centered design, and behavioral insights, a preliminary model of a community-based program will be developed
2. Stakeholder inputs phase: The preliminary model will be discussed with key technical experts at national and global levels to arrive at a model that will be piloted
3. Pilot/implementation phase: The program will be implemented, on which research, monitoring, and evaluation will be conducted.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide technical support to the program staff, including CHW and data collection staff, track the project activities and provide support such as facilitation of community engagement, social mobilization activities, and project documentation.
• Lead and facilitate training of the community health workers (CHWs) on MNH-related topics – Together with the community and health staff and provide regular supportive supervision, field monitoring activities, and on-job and refresher training for CHWs.
• The senior CBMNC officer will ensure regular and smooth communication between IRC, research partner Somalia Research and Development Institute (SORDI), and other stakeholders such as the district officer and MoH.
• Ensure client feedback and responsiveness response mechanism and tools are in place and adapted by the CHWs in coordination with the M&E sector.
• Represent CBMNC/EQUAL to local communities, government departments, international agencies, and local partners based in Dhusamreeb.
• Attend relevant meetings, prepare meeting notes as required, and share these with all concerned.
• In collaboration with the research team, schedule, and conduct sensitization meetings with MoH Officials and other implementing partners on the study protocol at the district level
• Coordinate meetings with IRC and district MoH officials to update on study progress and share interim results
• Represent EQUAL in health and RH coordination meetings at the regional level to provide updates on the progress and share any lessons learned and best practices.

Budget & Reporting

• Conduct monthly budget reviews and make appropriate financial and logistics staff recommendations.
• Work on developing the item forecast for each activity and get the necessary approval.
• Follow up with finance, grant, and supply team on Integra issues and upload the budget and work with finance to undertake budget recording as required.
• Ensure that assigned budgets are spent according to the approved work plan.
• Support with the logistic and financial tasks related to any planned field activities

Monitoring & Evaluation

• Participate in the design of the program’s M&E plans and design/adapt the required tools for program documentation.
• Conduct monthly review of all program’s epidemiological data, including appropriate analysis and develop monthly reports, while ensuring monthly submission of research data.
• Conduct program performance reviews for all selected locations monthly, in collaboration with the Research project Coordinator and field-based Health managers, and ensure feedback sessions with SORDI staff to discuss corrective action.
• Participate in regular reports for the respective donors and IRC New York Health Unit.
• Conduct regular project review meetings, incorporating both qualitative and quantitative data, with field-based staff to assess the level of achievement of project targets for the assigned health grants
• Support in coordinating the capacity building for partner organizations’ staff where appropriate, on monitoring, supervision, and evaluation, as well as other identified areas to build the knowledge and implementation of M&E activities throughout the project. Relevant training may include basic concepts, qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection, analysis, and use of M&E data.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• University Degree in public health with a minimum of 2-4 years of work experience at community level, preferably in implementing, running, and coordinating community health programs.
• Proven experience in community mobilization and awareness-raising activities.
• Experience in mentoring and training; experience in supervising staff and CHW desirable.
• Knowledge of social organization at the village level and community health issues
• Good analytical, understanding of budget management and reporting skills Excellent communication skills and the ability to lead, train and motivate a team
• At least three years of similar experience in Health, Nutrition, and public health fields
• Fluency in English and Somali both oral and written
• Good knowledge of computer management and applications.
• Proven analytical, communication/ negotiation skills and ability to think strategically.
• Willingness/ability to travel to locations and live in challenging environments
• Experience in working collaboratively with the local and national government