Community Behavior Change Assistants Jobs at Mercy Corps, Care Group Team

Job tittle: Community Behavior Change Assistants (2) positions
Jobs at Care Group Team ( Open to Uganda Nationals only)
Country: Uganda
City:  Kotido and Kaabong
Organization: Mercy Corps

Brief Department Background
 
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. Mercy Corps is in the fourth year of a 5-year USAID/Food for Peace-funded food security program working in the northern half of Karamoja, and are in search of two community behaviour change assistants to lead community level behaviour change activities in Kotido (1) and Kaabong (1) districts. The project, called Growth, Health and Nutrition (GHG) Program, aims to support the immediate needs of program beneficiaries while promoting long-term development by spurring improvements in key economic sectors of northern Karamoja and strengthening governance and accountability mechanisms. The Community Behaviour Change Assistants (CBCAs) for the Care Group Team will be responsible for the formation and supervision of care groups as well as coordination of complementary activities to support care groups, such as promotion and training of kitchen gardens.

Summary of the position:

The primary focus of CBCAs will be to promote behavior change for maternal and child health and nutrition at household level. This will be done through the care group approach. Care groups are an evidence-based peer-to-peer nutrition learning platform comprised of caregivers and led by village health teams. Care groups conduct ongoing sensitization to promote positive maternal child health and nutrition practices. Care Group CBCAs will be responsible for the formation and start up of care groups, followed by implementation of ongoing health sensitization activities through the care group platform. This includes, but is not limited to supervision of village health teams (promoters), quality control of health promotion activities, spot checks of leader mother activities, and ongoing sensitization with local leadership. The CBCA will also be expected to contribute to content development where necessary, adopt best practices when identified, and coordinate with other NGOs, particularly GHG partner World Vision, to ensure standardized implementation of nutrition promotion activities and to avoid duplication of services.

CBCAs will work closely with community leaders, including but not limited to, community elders, sub-county leadership, role model caregivers and village health teams. The ability to communicate effectively, respectfully and enthusiastically with community structures will be one of the position’s three success factors. The second will be the degree to which CBCAs drive results, producing scheduled outputs at deadline and to expected quality. The third success factor will be the degree to which CBCAs effectively gather activity monitoring and evaluation data and utilize data to inform activity implementation and program learning.

Key Functions of the Job:

• Sensitize community leadership on behaviour change approaches and conduct identification exercises
• Mobilize communities to form care groups, using a standardized approach • Organize and lead trainings for village health team/promoters
• Supervise ongoing implementation of care group maternal and child health and nutrition promotion activities, ensuring quality control
• Coordinate with other health teams to ensure complementary approaches, monitor implementation of project activities and document best practice and success stories
• Support CBCA colleagues to ensure team success, including but not limited to logistics coordination, temporary support during leave, etc.
• Take responsibility for data gathering, data validation, quality control and timely data submission including gender and age disaggregated data
• Support and mentor community partners (promoters, leader mothers) on data collection and use
• Troubleshoot monitoring and evaluation challenges for proactive problem solving with support of
• Utilize qualitative and quantitative data to inform program implementation, actively documenting best practices and lessons learned to share with team during routine monitoring, coordination meetings and other learning opportunities
• Ensure establishment and maintenance of relationships with communities, village councils and local government in Kotido and Kaabong target areas
• Coordination of field activities with other NGO and local government partners to avoid duplication of services and support an enabling environment for health promotion
• When needed, support visits from district and sub-county government, regional and HQ based staff and external visitors, such as donors and media, in collaboration with CoP and DCoP
• Support GHG activities with key stakeholders, ensuring collaboration with counterparts in partner organization World Vision in relevant meetings, internal and external.
• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission;
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Knowlledge and experience: 
• A Diploma (Degree is an added advantage) in development studies, nutrition, gender, health sciences, social sciences, or other related development discipline, relevant advanced experience (7+ years) may be considered in lieu of a degree
• Proven experience in conducting community mobilization, training, and networking
• Experience in capacity building with communities in Karamoja
• Knowledge in behavioral change methodologies such as care groups, Community Led Total Sanitation, and other related innovative hygiene and sanitation approaches is a plus
• Knowledge of approaches to promote gender equality, with a training in gender a plus
• Experience and skills in working with other NGOs, government partners, and local community-based organizations.

Other Competencies and Attributes: 
• Able to speak Ng’karamojong dialect
• Computer literacy
• Dynamic public speaking skills
• Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines while showing flexibility in day-to-day operations
• Demonstrable English writing and speaking skills
• Excellent reporting, communication and representation skills

How to apply:
Submit your E-mailed application including a cover letter clearly stating your salary requirements, CV (with 3 referees), and copies of academic qualifications/certificates through the
Human Resource Manager  to mcjobs@ug.mercycorps.org.
Only short-listed candidates will be contacted by Mercy Corps. Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer; Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
 
Application Deadline: Close of business on June 30, 2016