Description: Text to Change, a Dutch NGO is looking for a project coordinator to strenghten the team and office of Text to Change in Uganda.
The project that needs a coordinator is: Using mobiles to improve health outcomes for mothers and infants in Uganda.
Direct project partnerships will include UNICEF, Government health services, the NGO Text to Change, Catholic Relief Services (CRS), the Association of Volunteers in International Service (AVSI) and a network of radio stations, along with indirect partnerships with Ugandan mobile phone companies.
Kindly find attached the TORs. Please send a Cover Letter and Resume to bhoefman@texttochange.com or to
Kampala@texttochange.com by 5pm ET Monday September 13, 2010 to be considered.
Any questions on this position can also be sent to this email address.
ALL RESPONSES REGARDING THIS ADVERT SHOULD BE FORWARDED OFF THE LIST TO jwloggers@texttochange.com
Terms of Reference – Project Coordinator
Using mobiles to improve health outcomes for mothers and infants in Uganda
Objective
Overall objective of the intervention is to contribute to increasing both the number of mothers attending ANC clinics – the target is at least four ANC visits during pregnancy – and enrolling in PMTCT services, thereby resulting in a reduction in the incidence of HIV and an overall improvement in people’s quality of life.
Background
The issue of children affected by AIDS remains a significant challenge in Uganda. The intervention aims at improving the lives of children and mothers in 5 post-conflict districts in western Uganda (Kabarole, Kyenjojo, and Bundibugyo), and northern Uganda (Kitgum and Pader), by using available technology to educate and mobilize mothers and families to demand Ante-Natal Clinics (ANC) and PMTC services.
The project incorporates both radio and SMS messaging. The radio campaign will reach approximately 1.5 million people in the Western and Northern regions, to educate them about ANC services and HIV/AIDS prevention. Of these, approximately 82,000 in the 14 month implementation period will be pregnant women with potential access to approximately 113 ANC/ PMTCT clinics. Of the pregnant women there are approximately 4,700 HIV+, and in the five districts there are approximately 2,500 under five years of age children who are HIV+. The target group for the SMS campaign will be all women in these regions who register at a Health Centre for their initial check-up.
Direct project partnerships will include UNICEF, Government health services, the NGO Text to Change, Catholic Relief Services (CRS), the Association of Volunteers in International Service (AVSI) and a network of radio stations, along with indirect partnerships with Ugandan mobile phone companies.
Activities
Technical oversight and coordination of project in partnership with Text to Change, UNICEF, District health officials and NGO partners in eight districts in western Uganda (Kabarole, Kyenjojo, and Bundibugyo), and northern Uganda (Kitgum and Pader)
Assess in detail the current data gathering, communication and service delivery system of
implementing partners with regards to ANC and PMTCT services (health centers, district health
offices and NGO partners AVSI and CRS)
Work in close collaboration with development partners, project beneficiaries, software
programmers and technical advisors to define the programmatic scope and strategy, and provide
technical workflow and business requirements for the SMS application and online dashboard.
Manage overall development of software, which will be done by a third party company, and ensure
that a sustainable mechanism for providing routine software support is in place.
Develop and deliver customized communication for the e-PMTCT SMS platform in collaboration
with project partners and project participants
Assess and coordinate the identification of mobile phone users among pregnant mothers and
mothers’ support communities and create a database.
Support set up and design M&E methodology and data collection tools, and coordinate a baseline
study before launch of project with support from external partners.
Coordinate the overall program in consultation with local ministries of health, partnering NGOs and
clinics, UNICEF and key partners in Uganda.
Consult with and keep the Rapid SMS technical and non-technical community informed of all
progress during the duration of the project. This should include regular documentation of activities,
blogging and posting on the RapidSMS Google group.
Advise on negotiation and maintain relationships with mobile phone providers, in consultation with
Text to Change and UNICEF
Coordinate training and roll-out of demonstration of the SMS platform and organize and run
outreach and initial capacity building of partners and districts.
Working with the lead program manager at UNICEF, provide ongoing and final documentation of
implementation and scale up process, including challenges encountered and lessons learned, and
Government and partner involvement in provision of technical, financial, and other programmatic
support.
Coordination and sharing of lessons learned with UNICEF Regional Offices and select country
offices on ICT efforts around PMTCT / HIV/AIDS
Conduct on-going monitoring and support, as well as end of pilot phase data collection and
analysis.
Knowledge and Skills required:
It is required that the project coordinator has at least 4 years experience with demonstrated results in ne or more of the following areas:
Proven project design and management experience,
Experience with innovative uses of technology for development, particularly in the area of health.
Maternal and child health, with knowledge of PMTCT and pediatric HIV care and treatment.
Experience managing software developers
Skill and experience in working in a culturally diverse environment within international organization
Ability to conceptualize, innovate, plan and execute ideas as well as manage projects and build partnerships
Demonstrated communication and relationship building skills
Good oral and written presentation skills
Proven capacity to work with and lead collaborative teams across different locations and with
different technical skills
Experience in budgeting and coordinating large scale projects
Contract Duration – 12 months with possible extension
Duty Station – Kampala, Uganda – with frequent travel to the field
Please send a Cover Letter and Resume to bhoefman@texttochange.com or to
Kampala@texttochange.com by 5pm ET Monday September 13, 2010 to be considered.
Any questions on this position can also be sent to this email address.