Uganda: MCHN Officer- Mother Care Group Team (Based in Kaabong) Open to Uganda Nationals

PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:

Mercy Corps implements high-quality, analytical development work in very difficult places. We have been operating in Uganda since 2006 and currently implement development programs in the Acholi and Karamoja sub-regions of Uganda with funding from USAID, EC, SDC, and USDA. The five year USAID Program, Growth, Health and Governance (GHG) operating in Northern Karamoja is accountable for improvements in child underweight and stunting prevalence, underweight prevalence of women of reproductive age and dietary diversity practices amongst women and children < 5years (with emphasis on pregnant and lactating women and children < 2 years). In order to achieve all program objectives, Mercy Corps seeks to empower women by increasing their access and control over resources that can help them make a positive change for improve nutrition and food security.

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:

The primary focus of the MCHN Officer for Mother Care Groups (MCGs) will be to support the roll out of a women’s empowerment curriculum to the community-based mother care groups. MCGs are a community platform of mothers that gather to share health and nutrition information with their neighbors. Those in the MCG+ model also benefit from additional training that focused on increasing their access and control over resources through life skills and economic empowerment trainings. The Officer will be responsible for the quality of program delivery, from training of mentors to support supervision and coordination with other teams. Trainings will cover life skills, basic numeracy and savings, as well as business development skills. These topics will be introduced concurrently with the ongoing health and nutrition information that is the focus of the traditional mother care groups.

The ability of the officer to effectively provide training and support supervision to the network of mentors responsible for implementation of the curriculum will be one of the position’s three success factors. The second will be the ability of the officer to effectively build evidence of program coverage and quality, documenting activity roll out and lessons learned through shared communications platforms across the SO2 sector and with partner World Vision. The third success factor will be the degree to which the officer effectively collaborates with MCHN partners, and the other GHG teams, driving integrated programming through mutual learning and programmatic support that ultimately benefits pregnant and lactating mothers and children under two.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Program

• Deliver MCG+ trainings on life skills, numeracy, savings, business development, and other topics as needed in a timely and coordinated manner


• Provide support supervision and quality control checks to mentors to troubleshooting challenges, standardize implementation approaches, ensure high quality delivery of MCG+ messages


• Coordinate with the MCHN Teams, World Vision and Mercy Corps, on program implementation to leverage resources and maximize impact


• Provide support to other MCHN programing areas as needed such as support on implementation of MCHN modules to care groups or support to community behaviour change activities.


• Identify and document best practices to share with the team, GHG partner World Vision and other relevant stakeholders


• Collaboratively represent the health activities of GHG together with partners World Vision and Whave at relevant local government and civil society fora


• Provide technical contribution to the development of core IEC materials


• Working closely with team leaders of MC SO2 activities to coordinate day-to-day operations and logistics to maximize use of resources and ensure complementary programming

Partnership Management:

• Establish and maintain productive working relationship with World Vision and Whave, working together to develop complementary monitoring, evaluation, and adaptive management structures wherever possible


• Liaise with partners to coordinate and maximize influence at local and regional forums


• Establish and maintain productive working relationships with sub-county and district leaders, soliciting their participation in all activities where appropriate;

Monitoring and Evaluation:

• Ensure feedback loops between community, MCGs, mentors and staff are active, with responsive changes implemented


• Provide ongoing support to mentors in monitoring, evaluation and learning


• Take primary responsibility for data gathering, quality control and communicating to MELC focal person on MCG+ activities


• Oversee the MCG+ filing system and ensure that information is organized according to the reporting and auditing needs of the program

External Representation and Coordination:

• Ensure establishment and maintenance of relationships with communities, village councils and local government


• Support visits from regional and HQ based staff and external visitors, such as donors and media, in collaboration with the team leader when necessary

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

• At least 3 years of related professional experience.


• Experience in savings, financial empowerment or functional adult learning a plus


• Experience with private sector financial institutions or income generating activity experience a plus

· Demonstrated skills in data collection, verification and documentation

• Proven skills in networking, team-building, community consultations and organizational development;


• Excellent reporting, communication and representation skills

· Willingness to consider new perspectives, promote gender equality and engage in advanced gender training

· Fluency in Nga’Karamojong required

· Motorbike riding permit required *