mothers2mothers (m2m) is an African Primary Health Care organisation that employs women living with HIV as community health workers across 10 African nations. These “Mentor Mothers” deliver integrated health services at clinics and in communities to ensure everyone, everywhere, has access to the services they need to be healthy and stay in care. Over the next five years, this proven, peer-led model is being scaled up to double down on ending HIV, as well as to tackle new health challenges and reach more people – all with the aim of building a fairer, healthier future. The employment of local women as community health workers means that we are delivering a model that prioritises healthcare for families who need it most, delivered by women who know them best. Since its creation in 2001, m2m has created jobs for nearly 12,000 women living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa and, together, they have reached over 15M people with critical health services and education. In 2021, m2m reached over 1.6M people across 10 African nations, including 402,616 adolescents (ages 10-19) – 51% more than the year before. m2m also advanced the Global Goals of ending HIV/AIDS by 2030 – by achieving virtual elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV among its enrolled clients for the eighth consecutive year, and meeting all of the ambitious UNAIDS Fast-Track Targets among its clients four years ahead of the 2026 target date. For more information, visit www.m2m.org
Job Title: Technical Lead: Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC)
Organisation Levels: mothers2mothers -> m2m Lesotho -> Programmes
Location: Maseru – , LS (Primary)
Type of position: Fixed Term Contract
Education: Master’s
Closing Date: 31/7/2024
Job Description
The Technical Lead OVC will be responsible for the technical oversight of the Project OVC components, including work planning and reporting. The Technical Lead OVC will report directly to the COP and support the COP in providing technical direction to project implementation and ensure that the results are met. S/he will ensure the provision of comprehensive case management and protection services and strong linkages with the project’s prevention components and clinical interventions. S/he will interact closely with the Government of the Kingdom of Lesotho’s (GOL) institutions, including the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET), Ministry of Gender, Youth & Social Development (MoGYSD), and Ministry of Health (MOH) and other stakeholders. The Technical Lead (OVC) reports to the Chief of Party, Lesotho. The position is contingent on funding and donor approval.
Key Performance Areas:
Technical Design and oversight
- Provide technical leadership in the development and implementation of strategies, interventions, and activities that, in a friendly manner, address the holistic needs of OVCY and their families, including their health, education, psychosocial well-being, protection, and economic strengthening needs.
- Provides technical strategy to promote integration and cross-fertilization of ideas and information on technical areas, and ensures that international best practice is integrated into program design and implementation
- Ensure overall technical integration of services for improved care, health, nutrition, education, protection, livelihoods, and psychosocial well-being for vulnerable children, adolescents, and families
- Lead technical design and implementation of OVC programming including the identification and enrolment of priority OVC populations (especially C/ALHIV and vulnerable adolescents) and the provision of comprehensive case management and post abuse care services
- Promote and secure linkages between health facilities and OVC households to achieve increased enrolment and improved health outcomes for OVC
- Ensure overall technical integration of services for improved care, health, nutrition, education, protection, livelihoods, and psychosocial well-being for vulnerable children, adolescents, and families
- Plan and deliver direct technical support to partners on a range of technical and program management and implementation issues, including standards, programmatic assessments, supportive supervision, and use of data for improving programmatic performance
Training and Staff Development:
- Build the capacity of staff, implementing partners, government counterparts, and other stakeholders in working on child-related services under the project.
- Oversee training to partners on critical OVC services including but not limited to treatment literacy and adherence monitoring, and case management, care planning, and caregiver programming including parenting and economic strengthening
- Develop quality, user friendly, evidence-based programming manuals and curricula and training materials and manage consultants under the OVC portfolio
- Support the review of training materials and job aides
Oversight for continuous program quality improvement & Projects Reporting:
- Coordinate development, finalization, updating, and continuous review of project’s OVC workplans
- Contribute to quarterly and annual reports, financial reports, and other reports and papers summarizing project results and evidence
- Monitor the implementation and performance of programming indicator results and regularly engage in program data for improved performance and decision making
- Support development/ adaptation of QA/QI tools and conduct regular service quality assessments using m2m’s internal tools and donor specific tools to ensure effective service delivery at household level and proper documentation of beneficiary records, Standard Operating Procedures and tools available at site level to guide programming and reportingSupport review, interpretation, and monitoring of monthly and quarterly technical reports
- Work closely with the MEAL team to deliver project quality benchmarks, baseline, monitoring, evaluation, and key lessons learned
- Design or contribute to research and analysis to develop OVC strategies, including operations research
Business Development/Fundraising
- Contribute to the proactive pursuit of opportunities for new funding to ensure growth of the ECD, OVC and Child Protection portfolio in line with m2m’s strategic priorities.
- Provide innovative and responsive technical direction including skills development to increase m2m’s ECD/OVC portfolio
- Write and/or contribute to the development of funding proposals, concept notes, PowerPoint presentations and other technical materials as requested by the donors to ensure quality proposals in OVC Programming per agency and donor standards.
- Contribute to budgeting and staffing plans and activities for proposals
Representation and Advocacy
- Participate in global networks to represent OVC Project
- Liaise and collaborate with key Government ministries on technical issues related to the project
- Represent the project in relevant meetings with stakeholders, including government forums as needed
People Management
- Provide strategic leadership to direct reportees to ensure coordinated and effective performance
- Coach, mentor, develop and performance manage direct reports in line with HR processes.
- Conduct Mid-year and final performance reviews for direct report through one on one and performance contracting meetings
Job Requirements
Qualifications and Experience
- Master’s Degree in Social Sciences, Social Work, Child Development, Education or related field.
- At least 8 years of experience designing, implementing and managing OVC projects of similar scope and size in Lesotho.
- Demonstrated experience in managing programs that address the needs of vulnerable children and adolescents, adolescents living with HIV, OVC caregiver support, economic strengthening, child protection, violence against children, case management, early childhood development, OVC policy and advocacy.
- Demonstrated skills in project design, implementation and reporting for PEPFAR-funded OVC programs and familiarity with Lesotho’s institutional, policy and programming context for OVC.
- Demonstrated experience building the technical capacity of local organizations.
- Demonstrated experience in managing, coordinating, and supervising a team working with local community organizations, families, and communities.
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively with government representatives, for-profit private sector entities, local community organizations, donors, and other stakeholders, particularly at the sub-national level.
- Professional level of oral and written fluency in English language.
- Strong writing skills about program activities, outcomes, and impact.
- Extensive experience working in Lesotho highly desirable
- Qualified Lesotho nationals are highly encouraged to apply
Competencies
- Ability to organize, analyze, interpret, and utilize epidemiological studies, program performance information, and other available quantitative and qualitative RMNCAH data;
- Ability to work in both large and small team structures, in a participatory and consensus-oriented environment as well as on a peer-to-peer basis;
- Ability to effectively address complex situations using strong interpersonal skills;
- Strong ability to handle sensitive issues diplomatically;
- Ability to write detailed technical reports, policy briefs and other documents of substantial length and complexity with minimal errors;
- Strong initiative, self-motivated, self-starter, and an innovative thinker who is intellectually curious with the ability to think outside-the-box;
- Ability to work independently and in collaboration and coordination with a diverse group of stakeholders in a dynamic, complex and rapidly changing environment;
- Ability to utilize basic computer programs effectively, including Word, Excel, Power Point and Outlook.Excellent communication and writing skills.
mothers2mothers is an equal opportunity employer. We particularly encourage applications from people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA), people with disabilities, women and previously disadvantaged people. Competitive salary packages will be negotiable in accordance with m2m’s remuneration policies.