GENDER BASED VIOLENCE ADVISOR

Locally known as the Walter Reed Southern Highlands AIDS Program, the Henry Jackson Foundation Medical Research International (HJFMRI) is an international non-governmental organization working in several countries conducting research studies and providing care and treatment to people affected by HIV/AIDS.  HJFMRI is funded by the Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief PEPFAR. 

In collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHSW), HJFMRI has been leading a comprehensive HIV/AIDS care and treatment program in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania since 2004 with support from the President’s Emergency Plans for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).  The program is based within the Mbeya Referral Hospital and has since extended to more than 100 health facilities in Mbeya, Rukwa and Ruvuma regions, which collectively represent a catchment area of about 6 million people.  Mbeya region is one of high prevalence regions in Tanzania and expansion of HIV care and treatment programs is critical.

Walter Reed Program is seeking qualified candidate to fill the positions below.  Cover letters and resumes should be sent to the Human Resources Manager, P.O. Box 6396, Mbeya or e-mailed to;  recruitment@wrp-t.org   NOTE:  to be considered, applicants must put the TITLE OF THE JOB in the SUBJECT LINE. Deadline for submission of the application is June 19^th, 2014. Those who do not meet the minimum requirements as detailed below should not submit applications

Job Title:             GBV Advisor

Reports to:         Outreach Director

Location:             Mbeya

Introduction

The Walter Reed Program (HJFMRI) is an international non-governmental organization working in several countries conducting research studies and providing care and treatment to people affected by HIV and AIDS.  WRP/HJFMRI is funded by the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) through the U.S. Department of Defense. In collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MOHSW), the Walter Reed Program (WRP/HJFMRI) has been leading a comprehensive HIV and AIDS care and support program in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania since 2004. The program extends to more than 15 regional and district hospitals in Mbeya, Rukwa, Ruvuma and Katavi regions. This region has one of the highest HIV prevalence rate in Tanzania which is fuelled by among other factors gender issues such as the insubordination of girls and women, gender violence, and women’s low socio-cultural status affecting their decision making ability specifically on their sexuality and safe sex.

General Overview:

WRP/HJFMRI has received funding for the expansion of GBV program activities with a focus on addressing Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and gender norms in the Mbeya Region of the Southern Highlands of Tanzania. In order to promote a comprehensive GBV approach and effective linkages, a GBV Advisor is sort to provide strategic and technical leadership to a team of staff and enhance linkages within and without the department to ensure that GBV efforts are effectively mainstreamed across the program areas. H/She is expected to travel to the field and other related places of WRP GBV’s implementation sites.

This position is located in Mbeya, Tanzania with travel throughout the Rukwa, Ruvuma and Katavi regions. Only those with current legal authority to work in the United Republic of Tanzania will be considered. The GBV Advisor will work closely with the medical and outreach partners to design strategies and coordinate all GBV activities in the four regions of the Southern Highlands (Mbeya, Rukwa, Ruvuma and Katavi). The position reports to the Outreach Director in Mbeya.

Duties and Responsibilities:

·         Provide Strategic and Technical leadership in the management and implementation of the GBV program

·         Serve as the Technical lead in working with all WRP departments and Partners to mainstream GBV activities

·         Provide overall leadership in the design and roll out of the PEPFAR funded Gender and GBV strategies and program.

·         Identifying and work closely with the GBV team to develop the implementing partners’ knowledge and understanding of Gender and GBV as contributors to the HIV/AIDs epidemic, as well as ensuring the development of tools and skill sets that promote effective implementation in these programming areas on the part of those partners.

·         Overseeing implementation of WRP activities addressing GBV and gender norms including interactive, skill-building workshops for service providers, awareness-raising campaigns and other community-level interventions to address the norms and behaviors that underlie GBV.

·         Work closely with the monitoring and evaluation department to develop monitoring and reporting on indicators related to the GBV and gender activities

·         Provide leadership with GBV clinical interventions being implemented under the Medical department to ensure effective linkages are maintained

·         Provide leadership in working with other key stakeholders (e.g. police, judiciary, etc) to ensure that GBV activities and services are well coordinated

·         Work closely with other implementing organizations to ensure that technical support is well coordinated and managed

·         Identify and document best practices and share internally and externally

·         Supervise a core team of Community and Clinical Managers

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in gender, public health, behavioral sciences, human rights or related field
• At least 5 years experience implementing GBV related initiatives which can include a combination of community-based awareness-raising and prevention and/or facility based work developing capacity of service providers to respond meaningfully to GBV.
• Demonstrated understanding of the link between gender norms, GBV and HIV vulnerability.
• Demonstrated understanding of the Tanzanian and Southern Highlands contexts
• Experience with monitoring and evaluation of gender and GBV focused interventions, preferably under PEPFAR.
• Experience in mentoring and supervising a diverse technical team of staff
• Proficiency in English required; proficiency in Kiswahili preferred
• Ability to travel in country up to 50% of the time.

Walter Reed Program is an equal opportunity employer; women are highly encouraged to apply.