The Bantwana Initiative of World Education Inc. (WEI/Bantwana) seeks a qualified Technical Specialist AGYW (DREAMS) for the USAID funded Ana Patsologo Activity [APA), a project aimed at provonting now HIV infections and reducing the vulnerability of orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) and adolescent giris and young women (AGYW). WE/Bantwana is a leader in OVC programming and organizational capacity development in high HIV prevalence countries in southern and eastern Africa.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title: Technical Specialist = AGYW (DREAMS)

Reports to: Technical Lead – AGYW and Prevention Services

Program/Project: Ana Patsogolo Activity (APA)

Location: Blantyre, Malawi

Job Summary

The Technical Specialist – AGYW (DREAMS) supports the implementation of all AGYW prevention program aspects of Ana Patsogolo in 8 districts in the Southern Region of Malawi. The role is critical in supporting development of an integrated child and youth strategy that is evidence. based, age, gender and HIV sensitive to address the comprehensive social asset building needs of OVC and AGYW. The AGYW/DREAMS Technical Specialist will provide technical leadership for high-quality, evidence-based DREAMS programming and service delivery. He/she will inform the project’s social and structural change approaches to HIV prevention in high-prevalence settings, as well as appropriate combination prevention and youth livelihoods strategies and interventions. He/ she will have expertise in prevention activities for adolescents and youth, new prevention technologies, evidence-based implementation theory and methodologies, and effective social and behavioral change communication (BCC), and biomedical approaches to HIV prevention. He/she will work closely with the Technical Leads for Clinical Referrals and Linkages, SRH/GBV, Economic Strengthening and Strategic Information.

This position will report to the Technical Lead AGYW and Prevention Services and will have the following responsibilities:

Specific Responsibilities and Duties

• Provide technical leadership in developing strategies and interventions to improve the quality and responsiveness of DREAMS programming Focusing on vulnerable Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW), including BCC and bio-medical approaches to HIV prevention
• Support and monitor implementation of HIV prevention and youth livelihoods interventions
• Oversee the development, implementation, and monitoring of DREAMS and AGYW livelihoods quality improvement activities.
• Monitor and report on DREAMS quality assessment, improvement, and assurance for community DREAMS programing and DREAMS in Tertiary Institutions
• Assist SI Technical Specialist with coordinating and evaluation activities to ensure data supports the achievement of program objectives Support coordination of DREAMS programming including planning. training. reporting in the DREAMS Districts
• Support coordination of service provision for AGYW and active referrals for AGYW Play a key liaison and coordination role in supervising the planning and implementation of all training, assessment, and materials development and distribution activities, ensuring that all activities are properly and timely performed and that outputs are accomplished and delivered according to the agreed work plans.
• Work closely with the project technical staff to oversee project implementation in target districts in coordination with subgrantee partners.
• In collaboration with the project technical staff, monitor project activities to ensure fidelity of implementation.
• Liaise with partners, and relevant stakeholders regarding the project activities and policies and contribute toward formulating these policies and interventions: troubleshooting and problem solving.
• Participate in all relevant staff in planning, implementation, and management of project meetings, workshops, and trainings.
• Draft relevant sections of reports (required for donors, management, annual reports, etc.).
• Collect information from records and reports to prepare these reports.
• Manage the DREAMS activity budget and ensure staff adhere to budget lines. Coordinate with the project manager to ensure prompt reporting on expenditure, and resource gaps:
• Any other activity as assigned by technical lead and technical staff.

Qualifications

Master’s Degree in Public Health (with a focus on HIV/AIDS), Social Sciences or related field At least 8 years of experience in social and structural HIV prevention, DREAMS programming and service delivery in Malawi, including addressing social and structural change as well as combination prevention approaches. Delivery of all layers of the DREAMS intervention:

a. Social asset building and HIV and Violence prevention for (AGYW)

b. Economic strengthening for AGYW and caregivers

c. Educational support

d. Families Matter Program for Caregivers of AGYW

e. IMPower Program as a violence prevention methodology

f. Direct service delivery of Clinical services for AGYW

• Comprehensive knowledge of the health context and structural issues in Malawi including socioeconomic, institutional and policy issues that are related to essential services in HIV prevention, and AGYW Health
• Demonstrated leadership and technical skills in HIV prevention with key target groups in Malawi, applying new prevention technologies, and utilizing effective health promotion approaches.
• Demonstrated technical skills in HIV prevention related AGYW Livelihoods programming including employability and entrepreneurship programming with priority populations, including adolescents and young women.
• Demonstrated experience in the design and use of training curricula.
• Demonstrated experience in cultivating and sustaining working relationships with local partners
• Strong written and oral communication and interpersonal skills.
• Fluent in English and siSwali strongly preferred.

How to apply

To apply, submit a cover letter, CV, and three references to: Email: [email protected] with the position title in the subject line. The closing date is 17 March 2023. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.