Job Posting – Passages Project Coordinator
Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
Job Description
Background and Objective: The Institute for Reproductive Health at Georgetown University (IRH) seeks a Project Coordinator for its recently launched 5-year Passages Project, a research, intervention and technical assistance project focused on transforming social norms for sexual and reproductive health. Firmly based in social science theory on social norms and implementation science approaches that consider real-world programmatic experience, Passages will bridge the gap between science and effective policy and practice through activities in three work streams:
1. Research work stream: establish evidence base on scalable social norm change intervention pilots and replication studies
2. Practice work stream: assess and provide technical assistance and catalytic support for scaling social norm change interventions
3. Global leadership work stream: advance knowledge dissemination and utilization of social norm change interventions
Applying implementation science principles, IRH alongside partners, FHI360, JHSPH (GEAS), PSI, Save the Children and Tearfund aim to explain what makes interventions effective in real world contexts; address socially complex issues including gender inequality, stigma and violence related to family planning (FP), healthy timing and spacing of pregnancies (HTSP), and sexual and reproductive health (SRH), and focus on scalability, considering cost, complexity, and adaptability. In doing so, the Passages project aim is to increase use of modern FP and improve healthy timing and spacing of pregnancies by youth and first-time parents.
By the end of this project, Passages will have: 1) established a body of rigorous evidence on scalable interventions and social norm mechanisms to support positive SRH/FP outcomes; 2) assessed interventions and built local capacity to plan and implement scale-up; and 3) advanced knowledge and increased utilization of evidence. Results will be achieved by building and sharing the evidence base and strengthening the capacity of the global SRH community to achieve long-lasting, widespread changes in social norms that support SRH/FP among target groups.
In Year 1 of the Passages project, two research studies will be conducted in The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The two research studies being: Transforming Masculinities and Promoting Family Planning through Religious Leaders and Faith-Based Organizations (FBOs) and Gender Role Equality through School-Based Clubs and Family Engagement. Therefore, IRH is currently recruiting a Project Coordinator (PC) to support, monitor and ensure coordination on the ground through the life of the Passages project (2015-2020). The PC for DRC is the local technical resource person who will support implementation of all ongoing projects The PC will work proactively with study managers from the consortium and will report directly to IRH/Washington. S/he will have overall responsibility for coordinating all technical, financial and reporting activities for the Passages studies in DRC.
The ideal applicant will have a background in sexual and reproductive health, with a focus on youth, gender and/or positive male involvement and gender-synchronized programming and/or gender-based violence. Moreover a technical background in scale-up, social norm intervention and measurement are highly desirable. The successful candidate will have strong skills and project management and monitoring and evaluation.
Location: Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
Period of Performance: 12 month contract, for annual renewal for the project length.
Essential Duties:
1. Program Coordination (25%)
o Have a complete understanding of all components of the Passages project goal/purpose, objectives, methodology and partnerships, and apply strategic and innovative vision to overcome any obstacles concerning DRC coordination on Passages work.
o Support project coordination between project implementing partners within their specific projects, including overseeing agenda-setting, timeliness and quality of regular project coordination meetings.
o Manage organizational relationships with PSI/ASF and Tearfund senior managers in DRC (and/or HQ).
o Maintain close communication with IRH/Washington staff, serving as the ‘eyes and ears’ of political and program shifts in DRC as well as conferring with HQ on program management and strategy-setting.
2. Program Support, Advocacy and Leadership (25%)
o Support the development of a joint stakeholder analysis across the project
o Have project representation responsibilities with DRC Government Ministries and other relevant stakeholders. Maintain good relations and ongoing communication with relevant stakeholders, particularly the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, and Ministry of Gender and Youth, other government ministries where needed, USAID and other donors and FP-focused partners.
o Manage central relationships: Ensure regular meetings, capacity building efforts, and interpersonal relationships with the MOH and other government ministries where needed.
o Identify and pursue new funding opportunities and resources with consortium
o Explore opportunities to integrate the Passages package into the MOH’s high impact practices.
o Seek opportunities to bring new resources to scale-up implementation and learning, coordinating Passages activities with service delivery and support activities, identifying and pursuing with consortium partners funding opportunities, and exploring opportunities to integrate the Passages package into the MOH’s high impact practices.
3. Research (10%)
o Contribute to the development and submission of the IRBs for the Passages research activities.
o Provide technical input towards the Passages research activities within the DRC.
o Lead on research activities for Passages within the DRC, as necessary.
4. Monitoring, Learning and Evaluation (25%)
o Foster a learning environment and evaluation perspective among Passages consortium members in the DRC by use of evidence for decision-making.
o Act as the IRH focal person for M&E on the project within the DRC
o Monitor project activities regularly to ensure data for project indicators are collected, and provide support where needed to implementing partners.
o Document and share process results and lessons learned.
o Contribute to efforts to analyze, publish and disseminate program and research outcomes, including attending meetings and conferences as assigned.
5. Project Management and Administration (15%)
o Ensure accurate, timely financial and technical reporting on project processes and deliverables.
o Work with HQ to ensure timely payments of contractors, vendors, and contract staff.
Position Requirements
o Post-graduate degree in Sociology, Anthropology, or related social sciences field, or Public Health.
o Minimum of 5 years’ experience with project management, with minimum of 3 years in applied or service delivery research.
o Experience supporting project budgeting and overall financial project management.
o Experience working in community mobilization or behavior change programs in the domain of sexual and reproductive health, particularly with diverse partners in community-based settings.
o Proven expertise facilitating collaborative work with partners engaged in complex projects.
o Strong analytical skills, not just in communicating programming and data to diverse audiences, but also in navigating shifting political environments.
o Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with partners, and colleagues with a high level of tact and diplomacy.
This position is hired through Development International, Inc. for the Institute for Reproductive Health, Georgetown University.
Development International is an equal opportunity employer.
Qualified candidates are invited to submit their CV, references and cover letter addressed toJennifer Gayles. Please send all documents to jk438@georgetown.edu, with a copy tocjm296@georgetown.edu no later than October 23, 2015. Only short listed candidates will be contacted. No phone calls please.
