Background
The most widespread Ebola Virus Disease epidemic in history broke out in Western Africa at the end of 2013. The hardest hit countries were Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, where over 11 300 people perished. By mid-January 2016 the three countries were declared Ebola-free. However, new flare-ups in Sierra Leone have since been reported.
Swedish Red Cross (SRC) supported the Ebola emergency response operations in the three countries financially with over 20 000 000 SEK. Additionally, SRC supported the operation in Sierra Leone with delegate expertise both at clinic and management level, through 13 separate missions.
SRC is supporting the Ebola recovery process in Sierra Leone with a focus on psychosocial support to survivors and volunteers and disaster preparedness and response. SRC is also implementing a three year programme that aims at preventing and contracting the creation of myths connected to Ebola and in this way re-building community trust. This programme started in 2016. In 2016, an environmental impact assessment and community consultations took place to collect information that will be used during 2017.
In 2017, the project aims to enter into a dialogue with targeted communities in Kailahun to provide answers to questions concerning Ebola. By providing fact based information to fill knowledge gaps it will remove the driver to create myths or transmit misinformation in response to these questions. The information that will be provided to the communities will be developed using the findings from 2016. The information will be transformed into messages that Sierra Leone Red Cross Society (SLRCS) volunteers will use when communicating with the target population in Kailahun. The messages will in an initial phase be tested and refined through an iterative process of delivery, dialogue and improvement. Once the messages have been refined, they will be used by SLRCS volunteers in Kailahun to target the population in around 70 communities.
Security and HR management will be under the responsibility of the SRC Head of Unit for West and Central Africa.
Job summary
This position will be mainly based in Freetown for four months (divided into two periods) with frequent field visits across the country to manage the implementation of a community engagement program with the aim to increase knowledge on Ebola in targeted communities and in this way contribute to re-establishing community trust through myth prevention on the spread of Ebola. The position will also include three weeks of preparation and 3 weeks of report writing in Sweden or home based.
You will manage the implementation of the community engagement project. You will be responsible for the development of messages and dissemination techniques in line with the purpose of the project, including the training of volunteers. You will also be responsible for the Monitoring and Evaluation of the project. You will lead the project team consisting of one full time national project assistant and one national communications officer. You will be coordinating with the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Society (IFRC) and other relevant stakeholders.
Key duties and responsibilities
Specific tasks include but are not limited to:
- Lead a preparatory workshop to draft messages (in Stockholm)
- Organize and lead a workshop with SLRCS staff in Freetown to modify messages and message delivery to be culturally appropriate and significant
- Liaise and coordinate with Sierra Leonean government agencies
- Organize and lead a workshop with volunteers in Kailahun to further elaborate the messages
- Oversee the translation of the messages into Krio, Mende, Kissi as is deemed appropriate
- Lead the fact checking of final messages to ensure appropriate information is being delivered
- Oversee the selection of target communities for the project
- Responsible for Monitoring and Evaluation
- Oversee the testing and refining of the messages through an iterative process of delivery, dialogue and improvement with consecutive communities in Kailahun
- Train the volunteers in message delivery and conducting surveys
- Organize and lead a lessons learned/evaluation workshop with SLRCS staff, volunteers and the SRC
- Lead the modifying of the messages
- Document the project in writing
- Mentor and coach SLRCS staff connected to the project
- Be an ambassador of the Swedish Red Cross in the field
Entry requirements
Qualifications
- Minimum 5 years working experience with community engagement and behavior change communication programming, such as health promotion programs or similar.
- Relevant higher education in anthropology, sociology or similar
Experience
- Strong experience and knowledge in, monitoring, evaluation and reporting
- Experience from developing and analyzing surveys
- Field experience from resource scarce settings, preferably from West Africa
- Experience of coaching, mentoring and capacity building initiatives
- Experience of leading small teams and remote management
- Proficient knowledge of written and spoken English
Desired
- Experience in public health programming is an asset
- Knowledge of Swedish is an asset
Personal competencies
- Good interpersonal skills and team oriented
- Excellent communication skills, both written and oral
- Constructive, flexible and solution oriented
- Ability to positively interact with all levels of society
- Awareness and understanding of cultural and gender differences
- Must be able to handle high workloads and stressful circumstances
- Must be able to live and work under demanding physical and mental conditions in remote locations
- Must be able to work constructively in cultural diverse environments
As a Swedish Red Cross employee we expect you to share the Red Cross/Red Crescent humanitarian values. The RC/RC values diversity and actively works against all forms of discrimination.
Desired starting date: Mid-March 2017
Place of assignment: Freetown, Sierra Leone (with extensive field travel). Preparations and report writing in Sweden or home-based.
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Type of posting: **International delegate (short term)
It is an expatriate position and according to SRC/IFRC policy closed for Sierra Leone nationals.
Time frame: The project is expected to require 5 months and two weeks of full-time work and will not extend beyond December 31st 2017.
Preferably three weeks of preparation in March 2017, first mission to Sierra Leone three months in April-July 2017 and second mission one month in October 2017 with three weeks for follow-up/report writing in November 2017.
For more information about the position, please contact:
Malin Bohlers, Desk Officer, West and Central Africa, Swedish Red Cross. Direct phone: + +46 (0) 8 452 4871, e-mail: [email protected]
Sarah Gharbi, Head of Desk West and Central Africa, Swedish Red Cross. Direct phone: +46 (0) 08-452 4649, e-mail: [email protected]
How to apply:
Please apply directly from the Swedish Red Cross Website www.redcross.se, direct link to the ad is https://goo.gl/0RPyhe
Below the ad and the general information about the Red Cross Movement you find the button “Apply”. Click on “Apply”, fill out the form and download letter and CV. You will get an automatic confirmation that we have received your application.
If you have trouble to get date of birth accepted, please try the format yymmdd. Please note that only applications made through our website will be considered
In selecting candidates Swedish Red Cross use a competency based model and all candidates will be assessed on the above requirements.
More Information
- Job City Freetown