Project Officer – Community Level Sidama region Full Time NEW

Job Description: 

Project Officer – Community Level Sidama region

Required no : Two

Location: Alecta Cuko (1), Wondogenet (1),

Reports to: Program Manager, Willows International Ethiopia
Travel: Up to 75% travel to program sites

Job Type: Full Time

Background

Since its establishment in 1997, Willows International (WI) has developed a client management system—known as the Willows Box System—that strengthens the performance of community-level health care providers. The system enables tailored, timely delivery of information, services, referrals, and follow-ups, particularly focusing on women’s reproductive choices. To date, over two million women and their partners have benefited from WI’s support in making informed decisions about family planning and sexual and reproductive health (FP/SRH). Our mission is to help women realize their reproductive health goals.

In Ethiopia, Willows International (WI) is collaborating with the Ministry of Health (MoH) to implement a project aimed at optimizing the Health Extension Workers (HEWs) program to improve family planning and reproductive health outcomes. The initiative focuses on strengthening client management and follow-up systems and enhancing the effectiveness of HEWs in the three targeted regions: Oromia, Amhara, and Sidama. WI’s support involves standardizing, customizing, and institutionalizing the Willows Box System within the MoH’s Health Extension Program framework to ensure delivery of tailored information, education, counseling and services to clients. This approach will reinforce positive behavior changes, promote systematic client follow-up, and strengthen referral linkages between the community and health facilities.

Position Summary

The Project Officer (PO) will be responsible for ensuring high-quality and timely implementation of WI program activities in the assigned region. Working closely with the Program and M&E team, the PO will strengthen project implementation, supervision and monitoring systems, support capacity building efforts to HEWs and their supervisors, and ensure data quality and program accountability.

The PO will also support budget management, documentation of best practices, and coordination with regional and district health offices to ensure program alignment with WI and MoH standards.

Overall program coordination and implementation

• Provide FP/SRHR-related technical support to regional, zonal, and district health teams, and ensure HEWs receive training and supervision to effectively implement the Willows Box System.
• Lead the planning and coordination of training sessions, mentorship, supervision visits, and program review meetings in the assigned district.
• Conduct intensive field monitoring visits and provide on-the-spot technical support to HEWs and HEW supervisors.
• Organize joint supportive supervision visits with local health officials and ensure consistent feedback and follow-up with HEWs.
• Monitor and manage program expenditures in alignment with approved budgets and donor guidelines.

Monitoring Support to HPs and HEW

• Work closely with the Program and M&E team to implement a robust project implementation, monitoring and supervision system, including regular data quality checks and district-level data analysis to inform timely actions.
• Ensure timely data entry into the Willows database and conduct routine performance analysis to track progress toward deliverables.
• Facilitate monthly and quarterly review meetings with CHW supervisors to evaluate implementation progress and share lessons learned.
• Prepare monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, and annual reports, and document lessons learned and best practices for program adaptation and scale-up.

Partnership and coordination with Woreda Health offices and Health Centers

• Support the preparation and review of district-level budget forecasts and report any financial variances promptly.
• Supports functional referral linkages between community and Health centers by engaging HCs service providers
• Provide TA to Woreda officers on joint supportive supervision

Skills and Competencies

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent interpersonal communication and negotiation abilities.
• Experience in health, preferably reproductive health program monitoring and performance evaluation.
• Competence in data collection, data entry, and analysis with keen attention to detail.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Effective team-building and performance coaching skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a team.
• Strong time management and organizational skills.
• Preferably with motorbike drivers’ license

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Public Health, Nursing, midwifery, or related Health Sciences fields
• Minimum five years of relevant professional experience, in FP/SRHR program implementation and management.
• Strong technical knowledge of family planning and reproductive health programs.
• Demonstrated experience in training, supportive supervision, and mentorship of the health extension workers.
• Excellent documentation and report writing skills.
• High level of initiative, integrity, and commitment to Reproductive Health and Rights and quality community health delivery.
• Fluency in English and Amharic is required