Oxfam GB Public Health Promoter

GBP21,341 - GBP30,406 net per annum plus Hard to Work Allowance GBP4,000 net per annum Fixed-term four month contract

The population living in Abyan governorate continues its struggle to recover from the losses incurred during the recent period of violence. Various assessments in Abyan have highlighted very limited rule of law, poor access to basic services such as safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene, resulting in increased public health risks for the returnee populations. Therefore, there is a need for support from humanitarian agencies to begin to restore essential services, in particular safe water supply, sanitation and hygiene, to reduce any public health risk in the immediate future, and to support durable returns in the longer term.

The role

Dimensions: • Most tasks well defined within objectives set by manager with some routine reactive work in response to requests. • Work patterns are mainly routine. • Problems may vary but do not always need upward referral. • Reactive work requires common sense to make judgments about basic adjustments to own routine but also contributes to improvement of unit's or department's services, procedures and systems. • Impact mainly with own team. Planning usually short-term. Occasionally need to influence own team. • Some supervision of volunteers / partners / small projects/processes. • Draw from a number of information sources to inform individual and group decisions. • Communicates widely within the unit or department, with some wider Oxfam contacts and/or external contacts.

Key responsibilities: • As part of a multi disciplinary team, carry out an assessment of the public health risks, needs and an analysis of the treats to life, health and dignity of the population. • Depending on the assessment findings make clear recommendations for health promotion initiatives which are consistent with Oxfam’s policies and guidelines, taking into account the cultural, political and geographical constraints peculiar to affected areas. • Working closely in particular with engineering colleagues design, implement and monitor the health promotion component of Oxfam’s water and sanitation interventions ensuring that despite the rapid onset and sometimes very short interventions, the community is involved in all decisions. • Map out public health interventions supported by other INGOS, UN bodies and religious groups and identify ways in which Oxfam could work together with these organizations • Identify potential local partners and assess their capacity both in terms of resources and management including their capacity to implement the safe and effective delivery and distribution of relief items without coercion. Give support as required. • Through joint cooperation with logistics, ensure that all hygiene related items are distributed fairly to beneficiaries and where possible, carry out post distribution monitoring to assess the effectiveness of the system. • Ensure that where possible an empowering approach to working with communities is used and that hygiene promotion implementation takes into account cultural issues. This will be based on the principle of entitlements, with promotional work involving awareness of beneficiary rights regarding aid • Take into account at all times Oxfam’s gender policy and ensure as much as possible that representatives of all sectors of the community are consulted and involved in programme planning and delivery (take into increase in number of persons with disability and their needs). • If appropriate, be responsible for recruiting, training and managing small teams of local staff and volunteers. This may involve planning work schedules, field based mentoring and supervision and carrying out performance appraisals. • Ensure that interventions strive to conform to Sphere standards and adhere to Oxfam guidelines and protocols.
• Represent Oxfam when appropriate at coordination meetings with the national authorities, UN bodies and international and national NGOs. • Propose different innovative options to support and promote Hygiene Promotion activities and messages • Present regular written reports on progress against objectives as required by the programme manager and ensure that a final report is completed on completion of the contract.

Skills and competence: • A degree or equivalent in public health or social sciences related discipline. Extensive community experience may substitute for formal qualification (but qualification will not substitute for experience).
• The post holder should have at least 2 to 3-year practical experience in appropriate community based public health programmes. Some of this time should have been spent in recent emergency relief programmes, experience in conflict setting would be an added advantage • In addition to the above, knowledge and experience in at least one of the following areas is essential: hygiene promotion, community development, and health education. • Skills in assessment, analysis and planning. • Training, mentoring and counterpart development skills. • Commitment to humanitarian principles and action and to Oxfam's Equal Opportunity and Gender policies. • Demonstrated experience of integrating gender and diversity issues into public health programmes. • Good oral and written communication skills and the ability to use standard computer software packages. • Good interpersonal skills and the ability to work well in a team. Diplomacy, tact and negotiation skills are essential. • Personnel management skills. • Experience of working under pressure and in response to changing need is desirable. • Innovative and out of the box vision to promote Hygiene Promotion message and practices effectively • Good written English is essential and knowledge of Arabic • Ability and willingness to travel and work in remote areas

How to apply:

How to apply:

To find out more about this role and to apply, please visit www.oxfam.org.uk/jobs and quote ref: INT6175.

Closing date: 8th May 2013.