Deadline of this Job: 29 September 2022
JOB DETAILS:
1.0 Background – Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme (SGP)
The Small Grants Programme (SGP) is a corporate programme of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), that provides financial and technical support to local communities, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and Community Based Organisations (CBOs) to develop and implement innovative local actions that address global environmental issues, while also improving the livelihood and reducing poverty. Launched in 1992, SGP works closely with and complements other GEF projects and programmes, supporting 136 countries since its inception. The GEF – SGP finances community-led initiatives to address global environmental issues through a decentralized, country-level delivery mechanism managed by a multi-stakeholder National Steering Committee and supported by a SGP Country Programme. Currently, the GEF-SGP is implemented by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The GEF – SGP is designed to mobilize bottom-up actions by empowering local civil society and community-based organizations, including indigenous peoples, women, youth, and persons with disabilities. Its unique approach to Community Action, Global Impact has proven to be effective in helping communities respond to environment and development challenges while improving their livelihoods and reducing poverty. The SGP acknowledges that it is at the community level where solutions and effective action can emerge. The principle of “thinking globally, acting locally” has put the essence of sustainable development into action under the SGP. By providing financial and technical support to community projects, the GEF-SGP has enhanced conservation and restoration of the environment while enhancing people’s well-being and livelihoods.
The SGP’s unique approach to global environmental protection is becoming more relevant than ever with growing population and deepening levels of poverty, a vicious cycle exists that increases an ever greater need to exploit natural resources unsustainably. In this regard, addressing the scale and scope of global environmental issues require a wide range of simultaneous, integrated, innovative and multi-focused approaches. This is what the SGP delivers by mainstreaming and scaling up of community-led efforts, which in turn contribute to improving livelihoods and reducing poverty.
2.0. SGP’s main objectives
SGP objectives include
1. Support communities and civil society organizations to understand and practice sustainable development strategies that protect the global environment.
2. Develop, implement, and learn from community-level approaches that reduce threats to the global environment through replication, scaling up, and mainstreaming.
• Build partnerships and establish networks to strengthen local and national capacities to address global environmental problems and promote sustainable development.
1. Gather, share and scale-up successful community-based innovations and strategies to showcase effective solutions to a wider set of stakeholders.
3.0. Target Groups
3.1. Gender
Gender equality and women’s empowerment is a critical element of SGP efforts. Women play a fundamental role in creating well-being in their communities and sustainably using natural resources. Thus, women are encouraged to participate and take leadership in community-based projects.
3.2. Indigenous people
Indigenous peoples play a key role in SGP efforts. SGP works closely with indigenous communities. SGP respects customary law and practice and supports securing rights to land and resources, as well as participation of indigenous groups in local and national environmental governance.
3.3. Youths
As current and future actors and stakeholders in environmental protection and sustainable development, youth have become a priority group for SGP. Environmental protection is an intergenerational effort as it requires the expertise of the elders, as well as the formation of the youth as future leaders. Thus, SGP see great value in investing in youth, who have a unique capacity to shape a more sustainable future.
3.4. Disability
The SGP supports projects by and for persons with disabilities. Mainstreaming and engaging these groups enables them to actively participate in community efforts, which in turn improves their livelihoods.
4.0. GEF SGP Focal Areas
Project ideas must address one of the following strategic themes;
1. Biodiversity Conservation,
2. Protection of International Water,
3. Prevention of Land Degradation
4. Sustainable Forest Management,
5. Climate Change,
6. Reduction of the Impact of Chemicals.
The concept paper should refer to the OP7 Strategic Priorities in the Zambia Country Programme Strategy Document.
The Landscapes
Prioritized landscapes for OP7 will include the following;
1. Upper Zambezi landscape Site – AER III: High rainfall region, densely forested region where the source of the Zambezi River is located,
2. Middle Zambezi landscape site – AER II: Medium rainfall region moderate forest cover, characterized by over harvesting of natural resources (logging, wildlife hunting, fishing) in the Western Province and,
3. Lower Zambezi Landscape site -AER III: Low rainfall region, characterized by heavy deforestation, significant increases and fluctuations in temperatures and prominent Land degradation
4. Luapula landscape,
5. Kafue landscape.
6.0. Application process: Eligible organizations should prepare a Concept paper using the provided template. Proponent organization must ensure their proposed project idea is relevant, innovative, and aligned to the GEF SGP Operational Phase 7 Country Programme Strategy for Zambia.
GEF SGP grants are made directly to the organisation. Encouraging and building partnership among organizations and groups is an integral part of the SGP. Thus, less experienced community organizations are encouraged to take part in SGP activities, assisted by a local or national NGO, who play a key role as a mentors and partners.
7.0. Budget: The grant amount for the budget will range from $5,000 to $50,000. Please note, $50,000 will be considered in exceptional situations. The implementation capacity of the CBOs and/or CSO and the ideas being proposed will be taken into account when approving the grant amount.
8.0. Project Duration: – The duration of projects proposed should not exceed 24 months.
Deadline of this Job: 22 September 2022
JOB DETAILS:
PATH is a global nonprofit dedicated to achieving health equity. With more than 40 years of experience forging multisector partnerships, and with expertise in science, economics, technology, advocacy, and dozens of other specialties, PATH develops and scales up innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing health challenges
PATH is a partner to the National Malaria Elimination Centre (NMEC) in the effort to control and eliminate malaria in Zambia. PATH is partnering with the NMEC to implement a Phase III large-scale trial of a promising new tool for malaria vector control, the attractive targeted sugar bait (ATSB). The trial is operating in Western Province in the districts of Kaoma, Nkeyema, and Luampa from 2021-2023. The trial is operating in 70 study clusters with activities including: household installation and monitoring of ATSBs, cohort study of children aged 1-14 years, household survey, mosquito collections for entomological monitoring, community engagement activities, and qualitative research.
PATH seeks to recruit two (02) Cohort Officers for the ATSB study. Reporting to the Research Team Lead, the Cohort Officers will support the implementation of the cohort and cross-sectional household surveys. They will work with the Research Team Lead to ensure that the research teams complete visits on time and according to the protocol and standard operating procedures. This will include support to research team trainings and meetings, monthly supervision and site visits, and routine reviews of the study data.
Responsibilities:
• Assist in providing direct support to 10 field-based research teams implementing the ATSB Cohort study (and additional teams during the implementation of the cross-sectional household survey). This will include frequent communication with the research team members to provide guidance and performance feedback, share key messaging updates, and answer arising questions that may impact the ATSB project.
• Support pre-service and on-the-job training for cohort study teams and the cross-sectional household survey teams.
• Develop, maintain, and review the study plans on a weekly basis with support from the Research Team Lead to ensure that the research teams remain on track to complete their work on time.
• Contribute to the planning and implementation of routine meetings with the research teams. This will include supporting technical and logistics (payments, supplies) operations and address any challenges or issues arising to date.
• Review the cohort study visit data dashboards on a daily basis and work with the Research Team Lead to develop and implement action plans to address areas of concern.
• Support cohort research team in proper use of data collection tools (Commcare). This includes being familiar with data questionnaires, Commcare navigation and basic Commcare troubleshooting.
• Conduct monthly supervision of research teams in assigned research zones to the research teams complete visits according to the protocol and standard operating procedures. Provide actionable feedback to the research teams based on the outcomes of the observations.
• Conduct monthly spot checks of cohort visits in assigned research zones and report any concerns of data discrepancy.
• Immediately inform the Research Team Lead of any challenges, problems, or incidents that occur with study participants and/or within study communities.
• Actively participate in weekly cohort study and household survey check-in calls. Contribute towards workplans and workstream presentations.
• Conduct other activities as assigned by the immediate supervisor.
• Ensure that study teams follow the consenting process as per study guidelines and organize consent forms correctly before submitting to the study office in Kaoma.
• Ensure standards are met for handling and storage of study samples including RDTs, DBS and Microscopy glass slides.
Required Experience
• Diploma or its equivalent in a related field or equivalent experience in epidemiological studies, survey research, and public health.
• At least 3 year(s) of relevant experience required.
• Advanced computer skills including use of Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English.
• Excellent interpersonal and teamwork skills.
• Ability to conduct daily fieldwork within the designated districts (approximately 80% of time).
• Experience developing and maintaining daily and weekly plans and schedules for one or more research teams.
• Familiarity with reviewing and interpreting data in spreadsheets, tables, and charts/graphs.
• Familiarity with electronic data collection tools.
• Knowledge and behaviors that support equality, diversity, and inclusive practice.
Desired Experience:
• Experience with antimalarial testing using rapid diagnostic tests and treatment with antimalarial treatment, for example through working on a malaria research study or for a health project or health center.
• Experience working on quantitative community-based research studies that used electronic forms on tablets or phones for data collection.
• Experience in planning and facilitating trainings.
• Fluency in other languages spoken in Western Province is desirable.
Must have legal authorization to work in Zambia.
PATH is dedicated to building an inclusive workforce where diversity is valued.
PATH is an equal opportunity employer. Every qualified applicant will be considered for employment. PATH does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or orientation, genetic information, age, national origin, marital status, disability status, political ideology, military or protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.
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Behavioral and Social Drivers (BeSD) Project Coordinator job at African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET)
JOB DETAILS:
Background:
The African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET) is a non-profit organization established in 2005 with a mission to improve human health through the strengthening and expansion of applied epidemiology and laboratory capacity in partnership with Ministries of Health, Non-Governmental Organizations, international agencies, private sector and other public health agencies. AFENET has its headquarters in Kampala, Uganda with operations in more than 30 African Countries.
Many countries in the African region are struggling to achieve high uptake of COVID-19 vaccines despite adequate supply. To increase vaccine coverage, it is crucial to understand behavioral and social drivers (BeSD) of low vaccination locally. Global guidance for achieving high uptake of BeSD of vaccination was recently published in 2022. However, traditional methodology for collecting such BeSD require expensive and often time-consuming surveys that are typically conducted nationally, and only conducted periodically-not regularly- to monitor drivers and barriers of vaccination, track trends, and examine long-term impact of potential interventions.
Routine tracking of core BeSD indicators will offer insights into how to continually improve program implementation by generating timely and localized insights on vaccine demand. These insights will enable national and subnational immunization teams to be responsive, address demand gaps, and ultimately increase COVID-19 vaccination uptake. Global partners, including WHO and GAVI, have expressed a need for regular collection, analysis, and use of BeSD drivers and barriers to COVID-19 vaccination at the country-level, both nationally and subnationally. The objectives of this pilot exercise are to 1) establish a methodology to regularly collect data on validated BeSD core indicators at
the community level, leveraging existing data collection modalities or introducing enabling technologies such as short message service (SMS) and/or Interactive Voice Response (IVR) technology and 2) demonstrate a feasible and acceptable aggregate information system (i.e. DHIS2) that can support national and subnational routine analysis and use of BeSD data
AFENET seeks a candidate for a full-time position to support the Ministry of Health and CDC Zambia and US CDC team and partners to establish a system for collecting BeSD data and integrate the system with the national HMIS.
Major responsibilities:
1. Support the Ministry of Health, AKROS, HISP-Zambia, CDC team, during planning, implementation, and dissemination of results from the BeSD project, including the following activities:
a. Support the development of a data collection system for collecting behavioral and social drivers’ data from the community, including functional and non-functional system requirements, data elements, and reporting requirements
b. Provide technical support in the development of training materials and awareness of the BeSD data collection system
c. Support the role out of the BeSD data collection system
d. Raise awareness among communities of the need for collecting BeSD
e. Monitor the quality of collected BeSD data, and enhance the use of these data at every level of the health system
f. Facilitate the integration of the BeSD data collection system with the National Information system DHIS2 for routine monitoring of BeSD data
2. Coordination and collaboration:
a. Coordinate activities between MoH, AKROS, HISP-Zambia and CDC, ensure the activities align with the workplan and implemented according to the timeline
b. Participate in meetings and workshops in Zambia relevant to implementing BeSD information system, BeSD data collection, analysis and dissemination
c. Prepare workplans and budgets for CDC/AFENET-supported activities related to BeSD project and share with key stakeholders for feedback
d. Organize and help to facilitate meetings and workshops and routinely communicate with Ministry of Health officials, partners in Zambia as relevant to progress activities
e. Organize and regularly attend meetings with the CDC-Zambia Project PoC, MoH staff, AKROS and other collaborating partners
f. Develop and submit written and/or verbal progress reports to AFENET and CDC-Zambia, CDC -HQ at the required frequencies
3. Perform other duties as assigned that are directly related to this position.
Required Qualifications and experience:
• The applicant should hold a Master’s degree in Public Health, Informatics, Epidemiology or related field
• At least five years of experience in planning, implementation and/or monitoring and evaluation of health information systems in Zambia
• Experience working with District Health Information System (DHIS)2 or other related HMIS
• Proven experience in data use, data quality, data management and advocacy for evidence informed decision making.
Deadline of this Job: 13 September 2022