OVC Program Officer

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:

OVC Program Officer

Reporting to: Case Management & Clinical Linkages (CMCL) Specialist
Duty Station: National Office (Blantyre)
Number Required: 1
Supervises: None
Minimum Hours of Work: 40 hours per week

Job Summary

Reporting to the Case Management and Clinical Linkages Specialist, the OVC Program Officer will be responsible supporting the CMCL in providing strategic leadership and technical expertise in the design and implementation of HIV sensitive child protection case management with focus on life-saving HIV services and humanitarian assistance and Early Childhood Stimulation (ECS). S/he will be responsible for overseeing the successful implementation of Early Childhood Stimulation Program activities in ANAPA using the family-based HIV Sensitive Child Protection Case Management under ANAPA. She/he will provide oversight and technical support in the implementation and enrollment of caregivers of HEl into the evidence-based Bantwana ECS – curricula designed to improve developmental milestone monitoring, early infant diagnostic testing, ART adherence and viral load suppression for the mothers and reduction of vertical transmission. This position involves ensuring identification, enrollment and needs assessments for C/ALHIV, mother-baby- pairs including teen mums, developing care plans, delivery of need based high quality HIV and PMTCT services, connecting them to other appropriate services, and advocating for their health well-being.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities:

• Support the development and overseeing implementation of case management and referral and linkages standard operating procedures, tools, job aids and guidelines
• Support the overseeing, planning, and coordinating HIV sensitive case management to ensure delivery of high quality integrated comprehensive services for C/ALHIV and HEI/HEU in the OVC cohort.
• Provide technical guidance in addressing early case identification, treatment linkage, continuity and treatment adherence, viral load monitoring and attaining viral load suppression including VL suppression for HIV positive pregnant and breastfeeding women.
• Ensure longitudinal tracking for mother-baby pairs for early infant diagnostic testing until the final outcome at 24 months.
• Lead the development of strategies for tracing of C/ALHIV, PLHIV and mother-baby-pairs with interruption in treatment (IIT) and return them back to care.
• Provide oversight and coordination support for implementation of the Bantwana-ECS Model in the ANAPA supported districts’ high HIV burdened clinics
• Participate in the development of project annual, quarterly, monthly and weekly work plans and scheduled ECS capacity building activities at facility/ community level.
• Train and provide mentorship, supportive supervision and coaching to ECS program facilitators in implementation of Bantana – ECS curriculum and enable them spearheading delivery of high impact PMTCT interventions.
  Strengthen bi direction referrals and service provision for C/ALHIV, HEI and caregivers, PMTCT mothers and pregnant teens.
• Ensure mother-baby-pair under the OVC program are enrolled and participate in the Bantwana-ECS Model and collaborate with Social Welfare Officers (SWOs), Roving Social Welfare Officers (RSWOs) and Community Linkage Coordinators (CLCs) to monitor ECS sessions to ensure fidelity of implementation.
• Work closely with SWOs, CLCs, Child Protection Workers (CPWs) and Community Case Workers (CCWs), caregivers, families, Community- Based Organisations to address a range of health, social and emotional challenges and improve the health and clinical outcomes of mother-baby- pairs including teen mums.
• Conduct site visits and spot checks to monitor implementation of ECS, growth and nutrition assessments, cooking demonstrations and ensure fidelity is upheld all the time.
  Ensure case conferences are conducted to address complex issues
• Use data to conduct gap analysis on life saving HIV services and humanitarian assistance interventions.
• Ensure HEl registers are updated, and tracking is done to monitor testing milestones.
• Provide technical support to CPW/CCWs to ensure the care plans are regularly updated and graduation benchmarks are achieved and all C/ALHIV with suppressed VL and HEl with an HIV negative test are graduated from the program.
• Provide technical support and inputs towards the development of organization’s M&E Framework for ANAPA Program.
• Any other responsibility assigned by the OVC Tech Lead and the Case Management & Clinical Linkages Specialist.

Minimum Qualifications, Experience and required skills

• Bachelor’s degree in early childhood development (ECD) Education, social work, social sciences, health sciences or a related field profession.
• Demonstrate experience in OVC, PMTCT or ECD programming and/ or training, teaching in parenting or ECD skills.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in working for USG funded programs including HIV sensitive child protection case management.
• Excellent reporting skills, capturing qualitative outcomes in integrated care and support for PMTCT or OVC programs
  Excellent interpersonal and communication, and problem-solving skills.
  Proven leadership qualities and maturity, depth and breadth of technical expertise skills.
• Ability to work in collaboration with diverse stakeholders and with team building skills.
• Ability to work independently, take initiative and leadership

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