Community Engagement Assistant - North and Akkar

DESCRIPTION: 

The Community Engagement Assistant will be responsible for implementing designated daily activities in the field such as  setting up and developing community engagement with local partners, key stakeholders, influencers and beneficiaries with the overall aim of increasing Covid-19 vaccination rates in the area. The Community Engagement Assistant role is to work under the direct supervision and guidance of the Senior Health officer.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

Identify and list the key community leaders, local partners, CBOs or groups to be targeted by Medair’s vaccination campaign

Identify, in collaboration with the CHVs the preferred and most efficient and trusted media to share information in the communities in the areas of intervention

Assist in formulation of needed IEC materials and approaches in consultation with health staff and the community health volunteers to raise awareness about Covid-19 vaccination and overcome vaccine hesitancy and misinformation

Build relationships and act as link between Medair, communities and outreach staff

Hold regular meeting with local partners, Cos, key community stakeholders to promote Covid-19 vaccination and build-on existing community network to encourage beneficiaries to engage in the activities and understand reasons for vaccine hesitancy

Organize and supervise the assigned tasks relevant to community engagement for the community health volunteers in coordination with the health officer under the SHO supervision and guidance

Provide training, coaching and supervision for Community Health Volunteers in community engagement    

Ensure that data entry forms and templates are used correctly, and data are managed timely and with high quality

Support the implementation and planning of the activities through timely and accurate reporting to the Senior Health Officer

Recommend any improvements or changes in the outreach activities to the senior health officer

Assist in planning and implementation of assessments and surveys as required

Reflect the core values of MEDAIR when interacting with team members, staff, volunteers and beneficiaries

Provide input to the integration of beneficiary participation into all aspects of the health projects

Staff Management:

No direct reportees

Responsible for provision of support through capacity building, on the job coaching and technical supervision of community health volunteers

Support the senior health officer in identifying and recruiting appropriate CHVs

Financial Management:

Under supervision of Senior Health Officer prepare PDFs for payment for minor equipment, consumables and supplies provision

Communication and Coordination:

In close coordination with the Senior Health Officer, develop and maintain appropriate, regular, transparent and supportive communication structures with the assigned community health volunteer team, beneficiaries, community leaders, local municipalities, MopH, other NGOs with the objective of ensuring good cooperation and partnerships

Participate in Medair internal trainings; attend external meetings as delegated by Senior Health Officer as required, represent Medair and feed back to the Senior Health Officer / Health Manager on relevant issues

Refer to the Health Project Manager and/or Medical Quality Supervisor before making any commitment on behalf of Medair whether verbal or written.

Maintain a transparent, honest and supportive communication structure with Medair team and with communities

Coordinate closely with the CHVs so that the different community-based activities build on each other

Logistics:

Support the logistics activities in close liaison with the senior health officer, particularly in relation to the purchasing of IEC material, for the activities

Liaise, as necessary, with the health, logistics and finance staff to ensure items are procured, transported, stored, managed and accounted for correctly

Quality Management:

Ensure that all standardised formats are used and guidelines are followed

Reporting:

Provide accurate regular reports, statistics, and documented results and maintain detailed records of the overall health program activities in the field

Submit timely weekly and monthly reports to the health senior officer

Support monitoring data entry by CHVs and timely submission of weekly and monthly reports to the Senior Health Officer

Review facility and community level data from the field

Ensure that all standardized templates and forms are used and guidelines are followed

Contribute to Medair’s monitoring and evaluation activities

Delegated Responsibilities:

Any other tasks as delegated by Health Manager or Health Project Manager

Person Specification:

Communication/ Community degree/Health 

Clinical degree in health related fields is desirable

2 years relevant experience in promotion/ communication work

At least 1 year experience in community-based activities

Experience in humanitarian emergency context

Experience in a health/nutrition context, in COVID-19 community outreach activities

Native arabic speaker

Excellent english (oral & written)

Familiar with Microsoft Office Programs, in particular Word, Excel, Outlook

Familiar with graphic design

Communication and conflict management skills

Self motivated

Team-player with good interpersonal skills

Experience of working in a multicultural team

Experience in training/mentoring/coaching staff

Capacity to work under pressure

Creative, open minded, flexible, self-learner

Able to take initiatives and lead by example