Community Linkages Coordinator (25)

  • Full Time
  • Various
  • Applications have closed

Project HOPE Namibia in Malawi (PHN-MA)

Ana ndi Achinyamata Patsogolo Activity (ANAPA), a PEPFAR-USG funded Project implemented by Project HOPE Namibia in Malawi (PHN-MA), has recently been reevaluated and re-aligned following the US Executive Orders. The project Scope of Work (SOW) will now focus on Life-Saving HIV Service Provision for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) under Comprehensive HIV service delivery. The SOW covers the following:1) Care and treatment services for people living with HIV (PLHIV) and children living with HIV (CLHIV) that directly impact clinical outcomes; 2) service to address early identification, treatment, linkage/continuity, and viral load suppression for children, pregnant and breastfeeding women and 3) Provide leadership in focused data and systems maintenance activities in support of the lifesaving service provision areas ANAPA project will continue to be implemented in nine high HIV burdened districts in Malawi (Blantyre, Chikwawa, Lilongwe, Machinga, Mangochi, Mulanje, Phalombe, Thyolo and Zomba). Please take note that Project HOPE Namibia will only undertake activities within the scope of the award; and will not extend to activities related to abortion services, family planning, programs centered on gender, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) or transgender surgeries.

It is against this background that PHN-MA, seeks qualified Malawians to fill various positions for the ANAPA Activity as follows:

Community Linkages Coordinator

Reporting to : Social Welfare Officer
Duty Station : ANAPA Cluster Level Offices: Blantyre (5), Chikwawa (1), Machinga (3), Mangochi (4), Mulanje (3), Phalombe (3), Thyolo (3), & Zomba (3).
Number Required: 25
Supervises: Child Protection Workers (CPWs)
Minimum Hours of Work: 40 hours per week.

Job Summary

Reporting to the Social Welfare Officer, the Community Linkage Coordinator will be responsible for leading the implementation and coordination of ANAPA lifesaving HIV services, humanitarian assistance and early childhood stimulation (ECS) activities in the cluster catchment area s/he is assigned. S/he plays a pivotal role in the execution of HIV sensitive child protection case management under the ANAPA OVC comprehensive interventions, ensuring smooth linkages between Clinical and OVC partners so that C/ALHIV, HEI/HEU and PLHIV access Care & Treatment services that directly impact the health and clinical outcomes. Enforce and drive positive health outcomes for project participants. She works closely with the ANAPA multidisciplinary teams, government counterparts, program participants and the community at large to achieve ANAPA results.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Lead the facility and community entry processes for the OVC program in implementation of the HIV Sensitive Child Protection case management.
  • Foster strong collaboration and coordination with key stakeholders at cluster level while treating each facility as unique entity to strengthen site level bidirectional referral linkage system.
  • Develop a detailed site level work plan (including supervision and capacity building plans), coordinate and monitor implementation of the work plan in collaboration with MoH and Clinical partners.
  • Collaborate with clinic staff from relevant departments (ANC, early infant diagnosis (EID)/Immunization, prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT), TB, ART, STI) to identify and enroll C/ALHIV and HEI/HEU including those from Teen Mothers their caregivers in the OVC program for comprehensive management.
  • Support CPWs/CCWs to offer services which will address early identification, treatment linkage/continuity, and viral load suppression for pregnant and breastfeeding women.
  • Collaborate with MoH or clinical partners to jointly monitor viral load and share data on viral load for all CLHIV and HIV Positive caregivers who are in the OVC program.
  • Collaborate with MoH and clinical partners to joint monitor CLHIV with high viral load through joint home visits, joint case conferences to ensure they suppress.
  • Providing support to CPW/CCWs to continuously follow-up and monitoring of new HIV-positive children or PMTCT mothers and support them with disclosure and referring for index/ early infant diagnostic testing.
  • Oversee/assist CPWs/CCWs to support viral load monitoring at community level and conduct root cause analysis for those with high viral load and provide tailor made services based on the identified gaps.
  • Conduct joint home visits with Mentor Mothers to households for CLHIV with high viral load to conduct mentorship and support to the CPW, CCWs and caregivers.
  • Support the CPWs to convene regular case conferences at clinics for CALHIV and HEI/HEU cases, involving the relevant clinical providers, community case managers, and other key stakeholders to monitor case progress and resolve any bottlenecks to receiving referred services.
  • Regularly attend and provide updates during health facility meetings, community level TWG meetings [Area Development Committees, Area Childcare and Protection Forum (CCPF)] and other relevant platforms.
  • Support CPWs to develop weekly implementation schedule and conduct daily (virtual and/or in person) debrief sessions with each CPW to get site level updates.
  • Foster a collaborative and productive team environment that promotes learning, growth, and a shared sense of purpose.
  • Conduct regular performance assessments for CPWs and CCWs & provide feedback.
  • Collaborate with the SWO, MEL Officer & M&E Assistant to implement site level CQl process.
  • Any other responsibility assigned by the Social Welfare Officer:

Minimum Qualifications, experience and required skills

  • Diploma in health or social work-related fields, and those with Bachelor’s degree will have an added advantage.
  • Minimum of 3 years of experience in HIV sensitive Child Protection Case Management, community development, Community/Clinical linkage or related field.
  • At least 1 year of experience in supervising and supporting community-based teams.
  • Fluent in at least one of the local languages largely spoken in the district of choice.
  • Motorcycle Riding license will be a plus.
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

MODE OF APPLICATION

Interested candidates who meet the above qualifications and experience are requested to submit their Curriculum Vitae with 3 traceable referees, cover letter together with copies of certificates to the email address below not later than 12:00 noon on 2nd May, 2025, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interviews.

Note: Please clearly indicate the position title in the email subject and also district of your preference.

Email to: recruitmentmw@projecthope.org