Health Programmes Manager, Namibia - NAM003-001

Project HOPE (Health Opportunities for People Everywhere) is a U.S. based international non-profit organization specializing in medical training and health care education programmes

This position is responsible for the management and supervision of the health program activities. The position will be expected to work closely with the Regional Supervisor and Health Coordinators in implementing the health program activities and evaluation. He/she will coordinate the development, revision and contextualization of the health education curricula; train and supervise staff in their use, coordinate identification, collation and gathering of training materials and create networks that will advance the interest of the organization. This position will involve frequent travels to other regions and to the field.

Country:   top of page

Namibia is a very large country, three times the size of UK, with a population of approximately 1.6 million, mostly concentrated in the north and in the capital Windhoek. Namibia shares borders with South Africa, Botswana and Angola.

The Kavango river runs through much of the northern region providing fertile, arable land, as opposed to the dry, minimum rainfall areas of the south. To the west, are the sand dunes of the Namib desert and the Skeleton coast bordering the Atlantic Ocean and the Kalahari desert shared with Botswana in the East.

The indigenous languages spoken in Namibia belong to 7 language groups: Oshiwambo, Nama/Damara, Rukavango, Otjiherero, Caprivi (Lozi), San and Tswana. Afrikaans and English are spoken in all parts of the country (with variable proficiency) and German is widely spoken in Windhoek and on the Coast.

The capital, Windhoek is situated in the central Khomas region, and is a modern city and the seat of government. In terms of income per capita, Namibia is a middle income country, but due to its history of colonialisation and apartheid, wealth remains unevenly distributed, as do public facilities and services. The rural areas and the populous former black townships lag behind in the overall development of the country.

Minerals, mainly diamonds and uranium, and fish production account for over 70% of total exports and approx 25% of GDP. Traditional subsistence farming accounts for less than 2%. Manufacturing is currently very limited, but provides with tourism, potential growth areas.

Duties and Responsibilities   top of page

• Assist in the definition of the health programs, objectives, goals, strategies.
• Effective management of resources (human and material).
• Develop, refines and contextualizes appropriate curricula and lesson plans that address the health objectives of the program.
• Coordinates and where appropriate and to deliver the training of Health Coordinators, Community Health Workers, Community Volunteers and other relevant staff for effective implementation of programme.
• Monitor, supervise, and ensure a high quality implementation of health programme.
• Oversee the collection, and analysis of health monitoring and evaluation information and prepare recommendations and findings for senior management.
• Compile and disseminate health programme performance reports in a timely manner
• Create linkages with other institutions in support of the health programme.
• Assess funding potentials and develops new health program initiatives
• Perform other responsibilities as directed by senior personnel.

Skillshare International does other work as well as its Development Worker programme. Development workers are in an ideal situation to participate in this work that includes advocacy and campaigns, development awareness and communicating Skillshare’s work. Skillshare hopes to be able to work with Development Workers and provide opportunities for them to contribute from their experience during and post placement and to be part of this awareness raising work.

Person Specification   top of page

PERSON SPECIFICATION

• University degree in Health Related fields and/or Education, Masters Degree in Public Health is desirable
• 3 years work experience with health education and promotion in the areas of HIV or OVC at the community level
• Knowledge of adult education and community development methodologies
• Experience in developing health education curricula
• Experience in project evaluation including quantitative and qualitative studies
• Ability to work in teams.
• Good interpersonal and communication skills
• English language capability
• 50% travel to project sites

In addition to providing development workers to our partner organisations, Skillshare International also works on policy and advocacy activities to reduce poverty, injustice and inequality. Skillshare International development workers are a key resource for this area of work during their placements and when they return. Development workers will have the opportunity to work with Skillshare International on a variety of activities in different areas of work, including communications, campaigns and development awareness; and should expect some contact during their time in placement.

Placement Information   top of page

Project HOPE (Health Opportunities for People Everywhere) is a U.S. based international non-profit organization specializing in medical training and health care education programs. It has been working in 30 countries on five continents around the world since 1958. It started as a sea-based operation with the SS-HOPE taking teams of physicians to offer health services around the world. HOPE later began land based programs providing humanitarian assistance in areas of conflict or disaster, Health Professional Training, volunteer medical staff assistance and direct programming with affected and infected communities through micro lending to women in need of improved health status. HOPE’s work in Africa started in 1964 and most recently in Namibia since 2003.

In Namibia , Project HOPE is registered as a non-profit organization (WO 224). It began with a pilot project called “HIV/AIDS in the Workplace – The Agricultural Sector”, which was funded by the Department of Labour/US. As a result, several partners and commercial farms developed their HIV/AIDS workplace policies and 7,619 Farm workers received awareness and peer education training on HIV/AIDS over a two-year period. The Future Groups, Namibia National Farmers Union, Namibia Agricultural Union , Namibia Farm Workers Union, Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Agriculture were all partners of this project. The project closed in September 2005

Since April 2005 Project HOPE is implementing the “Sustainable Strengthening of Families of Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC).” This project is funded by the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR/USAID) and is intended to be underway for five years with an end date in March 2010. Partners to this project are the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare, Ministry of Health and Social Services, Catholic AIDS Action, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia and other Home-Based Care organizations in the northern regions of Namibia . This project targets caregivers of OVC by combining messages on how to care for OVC with the provision of seed capital to start or expand their businesses with the aim of strengthening the coping capabilities of caregivers of OVCs. The project expects that the increased income through income generation activities will alleviate the financial burdens that households have due to the increase in the number of OVC in the household.

By the end of December 2007 1,610 Caregivers of OVC received seed capital in the form of micro credit to start or extend their businesses. Among these businesses, 77% began new ventures and 23% expanded existing ones. The purpose of providing education and training targeted on OVC care is to create awareness in care givers that promotes utilizing the increased income to enhance care for their OVC. The targeted education and training utilizes a curriculum compiled by PH called “Happy Children at the Heart of the Community”.

Comparing baseline survey data with data collected in a follow-up survey a year later indicates that the average amount of income in households with Caregivers who have been receiving micro loans for one year improved from N$145 per month to N$271 per month—an 87% increase. In addition to increased income, 58% of the Caregivers in the follow-up survey reported seeking needed medical care for OVC compared to 48% at baseline . A sharp increase in the ability of Caregivers to purchase enough clothing to meet or exceed the demands of the household was also indicated—from 11% at baseline to 53% a year later.

In November 2007 Project HOPE Namibia received additional funding to increase the outreach of the “Sustainable Strengthening of Families of Orphans and Vulnerable Children” by involving the most vulnerable care givers of OVC, which are elderly and OVC heads of households.

A second component to the additional funding is the provision of alternative source of income to youth that live in border towns of Namibia . Young women and girls that are at high risk of getting involved in cross generational and transactional sex.

Baseline data collection for these two projects is underway and as soon as results are processed will be include in an updated profile.

All three projects that are being implemented use the Village Health Fund methodology, which is a combination of Health messages with the provision of seed capital to start up businesses, by the participants. Different health messages can be used to deliver this methodology like HIV prevention, TB, malaria, nutrition and others. To deliver a successful intervention is important to count with a person with health background and who had worked with community base interventions. Since Namibia is a young democracy health professional are absorb by the public and private sector, leaving a gap of professionals for community interventions.

Other Information   top of page

An example of the program’s success can be seen in the story of Mrs. Jacobina Iipinge, who learned about Project HOPE by “word of mouth” from members of a Village Health Fund near her home in Emono. Jacobina then mobilized her fellow Home-Based Care (HBC) Volunteers for Catholic AIDS Action (CAA) to attend a promotional meeting for the Project HOPE micro credit program and the group ultimately decided to form a second Village Health Fund in Emono. Her first loan with Project HOPE was N$500 in November, 2005. Today Jacobina is in her fourth loan cycle and is repaying a N$2000 loan. A caregiver for a household of thirteen—2 of which are OVC—Jacobina says she joined Project HOPE to “overcome poverty” and to improve her home. Jacobina uses the loan money she received from Project HOPE to purchase materials for her sewing business. With the income generated in her business Jacobina is able to pay school fees, buy school uniforms and pay for her children’s food and transportation. She has also used this income to purchase cement to make bricks and improve the structure of her house. She thanks PEPFAR for this support and she will continue mobilizing women to join the project.

Child Protection: Working with vulnerable population in development countries, Skillshare International is particularly committed to the protection of children. We use strict screening procedures for development workers; we have a Child protection policy and a guiding Code of Conduct which applies to all development workers.

Benefits: Skillshare international offers, a modest monthly living allowance, flights to the placement and return, medical cover, and pre and post placement grants to assist with relocation. The living allowance is adequate to cover your living costs whilst in the country of placement but not adequate for savings or meeting other costs you may have in your country of residence (home).

How to apply: Please apply online by clicking on the link ‘Application Form.’ If you do not wish to apply online, please contact +44 (0) 116 257 6616 or by email: recruitment@skillshare.org requesting a Recruitment Pack quoting reference at the top of the page - NAM003-001. Please note that we do not accept CVs.

Closing date for applications is Friday 2nd May 2008

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