Project Officer, Girls Peer Network at Africare

Founded in 1970, Africare is a non-governmental organization that assists Africans with programs designed to improve their quality of life, through self-help initiatives. Africare reaches out to individuals, families and communities in 25 African countries.

With over 160 million multicultural people, Nigeria faces development challenges. Africare has been contributing to Nigeria’s development since 1978 when it donated equipment and supplies to a group of Nigerian physicians returning from the United States to set up a community medical center. Since that time, Africare’s assistance to Nigeria has been in the areas of healthcare, rural water supply, mass literacy, income generation and the promotion of good governance.

The Girls Peer Network (GPN) project will be a one year pilot training program for 240 girls in two secondary schools in Delta State, Nigeria aged 14 to 18 years. Utilizing a train- the- trainer model 40 selected secondary senior girls will co-create and administer educational sessions over one academic year for 200 junior secondary girls based on a needs assessment that identifies the key reasons for secondary non-completion.

The program aims to promote knowledge in the short term and influence behavior in the longer term primarily among girls in the program.

Job Title: Project Officer, Girls Peer Network

Location: Delta State
Reports To: State Program Officer

Overall Responsibilities

• The Project Officer works under the supervision of the State Programme Manager - in Delta state Additional administrative support and supervision will be provided by Delta state office staff.
• The PO/GPN will work closely with teachers, peer educators and parent-teacher bodies to enhance specific learning outcomes to promote knowledge and influence behavior of beneficiaries around ensuring school completion.
• The project officer will be expected to liaise with community leaders, public officials and parents and caregivers to help develop a supportive environment for school completion promoting curricular and extra-curricular pursuits.
• The PO also coordinates training and mentoring of peer educators and provides supportive supervision for teachers to ensure they can independently run activities with the girls in the absence of the PO.
• The GPN Project Officer is responsible for providing programmatic, administrative and logistics oversight of the project in the two girls secondary schools.
• S/he will guide the development and deployment of the teaching curriculum, and will be responsible for supervising all the work done under this project by student peer educators, teachers and consultants.
• S/he will be responsible for monitoring, supervision and implementation and reporting of all data and activities.
• S/he will collate/analyze data, using the developed performance management tool, and provide timely reporting on project activities.
• S/he will ensure that data tools are in place in project schools.
• S/he is responsible for ensuring that all programmatic reports due to the donor, which include program and financial reports are prepared and submitted to her supervisors in good enough time for review at Country and HQ level before submission to the donor.

Specific Responsibilities

• Under the guidance and supervision of the State Program Officer, the Project Officer will carry out the following responsibilities:

Programmatic:

• Develop work, training and activity plans for the execution of the project
• Support the review and adaptation of the training curriculum based on the needs assessment and ongoing program reviews
• Liaise with School services and parents bodies of schools to ensure buy-in and strong and collaborative participation within state and National guidelines
• Visit participating schools on a weekly basis to carry out programmatic activities and follow up on non –attendees activities
• Monitors and reports on all activities in assigned schools
• Prepares and submits weekly, monthly, and quarterly reports using the assigned template
• Ensure that any gaps in programming are brought to the attention of the State Programme Manager to ensure timely adjustments
• Prepare presentations for funders and wider audiences to attract greater support for the project

Administrative and Operational:

• Prepare plans, budgets, and reports for workshops, trainings, travel and other project activities
• Other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in public health, Medical Sciences, Social Sciences, Arts, Management, Humanities, public administration or management, or a combination of equivalent relevant experience and education.
• Minimum of 3 years’ experience working on SRH/FP, OVC, or integrated health projects, including HIV/AIDS with competency in gender mainstreaming and/or integration and developing implementing and reporting for community programs.
• Strong skills in data management and analysis, including experience with primary collection of data, design of forms and data collection instruments
• Ability to translate technical information into practical guidance tools and effectively communicate them using presentation packages
• Excellent organizational, verbal and written communication skills with proficiency (reading, writing, speaking and comprehension) in English
• Ability to carry out independent work with initiative, creativity and good judgment without close supervision
• Demonstrated ability to work with the private sector, small business owners, community groups, government agencies, civil society groups, health institutions and trade unions
• Demonstrated competence in assessing priorities and in managing a variety of activities in a time-sensitive environment, and in meeting deadlines with attention to detail and quality
• Understanding of US Government regulations and administrative procedures.
• Proven ability to communicate well with, motivate, guide, and direct all levels of staff.
• Proficiency in computer application; word processing, spreadsheet, database, presentation packages and internet applications highly desirable
• High level of diplomacy skills with a strong focus on relationship building with institutions and organizations. Commitment to building best practice, ability to replicate and transfer knowledge
• Excellent interpersonal skills; ability to interact professionally with culturally diverse staff, consultants and project beneficiaries
• Must be available to travel and carry out any other duties as required to meet project targets
• Leadership and team management qualities including crises and conflict management and mediation

Application Closing Date
4th December, 2014

How to Apply
Applications should include a CV and cover letter. In the cover letter (not more than 2 pages in length), the candidate should briefly describe his or her motivation for the position and highlight relevant experience.

Subject heading for the application email should be as follows: Project Officer. GPN. Africare. Delta

Please send cover letters and CVs to: [email protected] and include the title to the Position/Location for which you are applying in the subject line as indicated above.

All CVs/Resumes must be in either word format or PDF format

Note: Only shortlisted candidates would be contacted.