BCC Officer – Safe Motherhood

Functionally Responsible to: TUPADO Programme Coordinator

Technically Responsible to: Merlin Project Coordinator - Safe motherhood

Staff directly supervised: Social Mobilizers

Relationships internally: BCC Officer – Turkana, Midwives and other programme staff

Relationships externally: Governmental and non-governmental counterparts, community members, Safe Motherhood Promoters

Overall Objective of the Position

The BCC Officer Maternal Health will be based in Lodwar and will oversee the development, planning, organisation, implementation and monitoring of all IEC/BCC activities for Safe Motherhood project, with technical support and direction from the Merlin Project Officer – Safe Motherhood, and working in close collaboration with district health authorities and partner non state actors to ensure efficient implementation of IEC/SBCC activities in Turkana Central, Loima and Turkana South districts.

Key Responsibilities
In liaison with BCC Officer – Turkana, key MOH counterparts, take the lead in development of and implementation of IEC/BCC strategies for Safe Motherhood as outlined in the project proposal.
Develop and review IEC/BCC messages / materials in collaboration with BCC Officer – Turkana and other program staff, MoH and NGO counterparts and community representatives.
Support development and review of relevant training materials and job aids.
Develop BCC skills of MOH and other partner organisation staff.
Organise and execute community IEC/BCC campaigns in collaboration with other program staff, MoH counterparts and community representatives.
Design appropriate monitoring and evaluation tools for IEC/BCC activities in collaboration with other stakeholders
Evaluate and document the impact of IEC/BCC activities in collaboration with other stakeholders.
Participate in all partner/Merlin initiated as well as multi-stakeholders advocacy activities, forums and networks aimed at raising the profile of maternal and neonatal health issues in the agenda of government, partner NGOs and communities.
Undertake regular documentation of activities including lessons learnt and success stories.
Conduct community mobilization, awareness and sensitization on safe motherhood and reproductive health.
Conduct MCH health education in Outreach sites and health education activities
Conduct health education sessions with care takers on good child feeding practices
Support the Team Leader and other staff in organising regular meetings to obtain community feedback, complaints and responses on programme issues.
Supervise and evaluate performance of Social Mobilisers in close liaison with other involved project partners.
Participate actively in design of new projects and in preparation of project budgets and workplans
Report any security incidents to the Logistics officer and Team Leader/PC/PM as appropriate
Job and Person Specification
Bachelors Degree in Public Health; Social Sciences or Community health
Over 3 years experience in implementing BCC activities on MCH and or RH
Very good communication, teamwork and interpersonal skills
Training experience, mobilisation and community education skills
Experience in development and design of IEC materials
Ability to live and work in conditions of limited comfort
Ability to write clear and concise reports
Confident and proficient in the use of MS word, Excel, PowerPoint
Knowledge of the local language is an added advantage
Applications including cover letter, CV, references and salary history should be sent to:

Program Manager
Merlin Turkana,
P.O Box 93, Lodwar.

Or recruitment@merlin-kenya.org

So as to reach her not later than 26th of October, 2011 5.00 PM.

Qualified female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

Please note that only short listed candidates will be contacted