AMREF in Ethiopia
House Number 629
Kabele, 12, Wewda 16
Megenagna off Gebresellesie Road
PO Box 20855, Code 1000 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Tel: +251 11 6184751/6627851
Fax: +251 11 6627887
Email: amref@telecom.net.et
Country Director: Dr João Soares

AMREF in Kenya
PO Box 30125-00100
Nairobi, Kenya
Tel: +254 20 699 4000
Fax: +254 20 606 340
Email:info.kenya@amref.org
Country Director: Dr Lennie Bazira

AMREF in South Africa
Hillcrest Forum
731 Duncan Street
Hillcrest
Pretoria
2000
Tel: +27 12 362 3127/35/36
Fax: +27 12 362 3102
Email:info.southafrica@amref.org
Country Director: Penina Ochola

AMREF in South Sudan
Opposite UN
OCHA Juba 
Tel: +24 99 5442486
Email:
Country Director:

AMREF in Tanzania
1019 Ali Hassan Mwinyi Road,
Upanga
PO Box 2773
Dar es Salaam
Tel: +255 22 2116 610/2113673
Fax: +255 22 2115 823
Email: info.tanzania@amref.org
Country Director: Dr Festus Ilako

AMREF in Uganda
Plot 29 Nakasero Rd
PO Box 10663
Kampala
Tel: +256 414 250319
Fax: +256 414 344565
Email:info.uganda@amref.org
Country Director: Joshua Kyallo

“We need to walk the talk by investing in human resources for health,” says Dr Peter Ngatia, AMREF’s Director for Capacity Building. “Walking the talk means investing in innovative methods of training and retaining health workers. Scaling up of production of human resources cannot happen unless we invest in the use of technology to train the numbers that are required. The 105 medical schools in Africa do not have the capacity to meet the urgent demand for doctors, nurses and midwives, among many other cadres of health workers.  Yet until we have adequately trained numbers of health workers, the attainment of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) will remain an illusion.” 

The theme of the forum, which runs from January 25-29, is ‘Reviewing progress, renewing commitments to health workers towards MDGs and beyond’. It follows up from the first global forum on HRH held in Kampala in March 2008.

AMREF is an international African organisation committed to improving African health. AMREF has been training health workers for close to 50 years, including clinical officers, community midwives and community health workers. AMREF’s current focus is on improving the health of women and children by concentrating on human resources for health; health leadership, governance and management; health management information systems; and strengthening of community systems.

AMREF believes that the following areas must be addressed in developing human resources for health:

• Increase in the number of health workers produced in Africa
• Increase in the number of health workers produced in developed countries to stem immigration of Africa’s health workforce
• Reduction of rural-urban migration of health workers
• Reduction of movement of health workers from public to private sectors
• Increase in the development of skills and competencies of the existing health workforce
• Task shifting, where specific tasks normally performed by highly skilled health workers are moved to health workers with shorter training and fewer qualifications eg from doctors to clinical officers. 

These can only be achieved through:

• Use of innovative methods of training health workers, including doctors, clinical officers, nurses, midwives and community health workers e.g. application of ICT, eLearning , mLearning and telemedicine
• Increased investment in production of health workers 
• Delivery of the 15% budgetary allocations pledged by African governments to improve the working conditions of health workers in rural areas and public health facilities
• Increased investment by global health initiatives in HRH development in Africa 

Primary responsibilities and duties

• Seek opportunities to highlight AMREF’s work and share information of potential interest amongst the media and other stakeholders at national, regional and international levels

• Build strong relationships and maintain contacts with media including online reporters in order to stimulate their interest and   enhance their coverage of AMREF activities

• Write and edit advisories, pitches and news releases

• Develop different angles with which to approach reporters, bloggers, and other media outlets

• Develop, maintain  and regularly review AMREF’s list of media contacts

• Monitor and analyse all relevant coverage that directly and indirectly relates to AMREF’s work

• Provide copy for the AMREF e-newsletter, website and other regular AMREF communications

• Disseminate relevant and timely field information to communications officers in country offices to assist in their fundraising

• Identify and track events and issues of interest to AMREF

•   Assist in the organisation of public events to promote and increase AMREF’s profile and messages

•  Provide media support and guidance to AMREF staff

• Explore and exploit the use of new technologies and online networks to develop more effective media relations and coverage

Requirements

• Degree in the communications field. A Masters degree will be an added advantage

• Minimum of 5 years experience in communications including media relations and PR

• Excellent working knowledge of the media industry- print, broadcast, and online media outlets

• Proven media contacts in national, regional and international media and the ability to generate media coverage and opportunities

• Understanding of development issues preferably in health, and sound news judgment

• Demonstrated ability to build effective relationships and deal with a variety of people in a professional manner

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills including attention to detail

• Photography and video skills are added advantages

• Ability to work well under pressure and meet deadlines

• Positive can-do attitude and flexibility

If you feel that you meet the criteria, complete the online application form attaching your CV and email your detailed CV to jobs@amref.org  quoting reference number: - CHR/12/02-01.  We encourage interested candidates to submit their applications by Friday, February 17th 2012 although the search will remain open until the position is filled.

AMREF has various job opportunities at its headquarters in Nairobi, country offices in Africa and national offices in Europe and North America. View all the current opportunities below

Management responsibilities

• Providing leadership for the dissemination of AMREF values, vision and mission at the country level

• Directing and managing the South Sudan programme to deliver AMREF’s and country specific strategic objectives in line with   overall mission and strategy

• Promoting AMREF's organizational identity to all national stakeholders and partners in Southern Sudan and ensuring AMREF   remains relevant to the changing needs of disadvantaged people in the country

• Developing networks, partnerships and liaisons with national/regional/international institutions working in Southern Sudan and spearheading donor collaboration, fundraising and programme/project development at country level

•  Promoting AMREF’s organizational identity and capacity to all stakeholders and partners in Southern Sudan

• Ensuring that the country programme has a strong functional SMT which mutually supports the leadership team

• Leading, supporting, developing and mentoring AMREF Southern Sudan staff to deliver high quality programmes and projects

• Encouraging interactions and collaboration with other AMREF Country Programmes and with AMREF Programme Leaders, and   supporting participation of country programme project staff in AMREF regional projects where appropriate

• Together with the monitoring and evaluation function at Headquarters, is responsible for ensuring that adequate monitoring,   evaluation and accountability mechanisms are in place and are used effectively within AMREF Southern Sudan

• Ensuring that the knowledge gained from Southern Sudan Country programme is documented and shared with the other AMREF   Country Programmes and Headquarters, and with external partners and users, and that Country Programme staff  participate  in   AMREF Africa activities

• Facilitating and supporting development of AMREF Country Advisory Committee; providing relevant levels of information to enable  this committee to optimize their support to the country programme

• Working with AMREF Headquarters, liaising with AMREF National Offices to build awareness of the country programme needs, of  country programme priorities and for project funding

• Leading the process of organizational strengthening within AMREF Southern Sudan country programme

• Representing AMREF at country level and is responsible for the management of host country relations. Ensuring that AMREF  Southern Sudan adheres to national laws and regulations governing the functions carried out by AMREF in Southern Sudan.

The ideal candidate will have a postgraduate degree preferably in public health or a related subject at a minimum of masters level, with at least 8 years progressive experience at district or national level particularly in fieldworks in conflict/post conflict situations in Africa; developing country experience is a must and work in the health development sector is preferred; extensive hands on experience in implementing primary health care; familiarity with the health and development needs of disadvantaged people would also be an advantage; the candidate should also have a proven track-record of results-based programme development & management; building effective partnerships and strategic alliances.  S/he must be able to live and work effectively within the climatic & cultural conditions of Southern Sudan. S/he should be fluent in English and knowledge of Arabic language will be an added advantage.

This is an internationally recruited position attracting a competitive salary and attractive package of benefits. Please note that this is a non accompanied post.

If you feel that you meet the criteria, complete the online application form attaching your CV and email your detailed CV to jobs@amref.org  quoting reference number: - CHR/12/02-02.  We encourage interested candidates to submit their applications by Friday, February 17th 2012 although the search will remain open until the position is filled.

The organisations, from all fields of operation, were evaluated on a set of criteria that included innovation, effectiveness, impact and sustainability. They were further assessed on transparency and accountability, strategic and financial management, as well as efficiency and value for money. The nominees were also subjected to reviews by peer organisations.

The 2012 Top 100 Best NGOs is the first such international ranking that seeks to recognise the significant role of NGOs as influential agents of global change.

“From humanitarian relief to the environment, public health to education, microfinance to intellectual property, NGOs are increasingly at the forefront of developments shaping the lives of millions of people around the world,” noted Deputy Editor Alexis Kalagas. The list, he added, would “no doubt stimulate debate, while providing academics, diplomats, policymakers, international organisations and the private sector an insight into the ever changing dynamics and innovative approaches of the non-profit world and its leading actors”.

The Global Journal, he said, had sought to move beyond outdated notions of what NGOs are about. “The cliché of faith or service-based organisations from rich countries selflessly dedicating themselves to the relief and betterment of the world’s impoverished and downtrodden is just that – a tired stereotype – if it were ever true at all.” Many local NGOs, he said, are showing their better-resourced counterparts how to work effectively, sustainably, and in true partnership with the communities they serve.

AMREF Director General Dr Teguest Guerma was delighted with the recognition. “We are very pleased to have been selected among the top 100 NGOs in this inaugural survey by the Global Journal,” she said, adding: “AMREF meets all the criteria listed. Our work is innovative and sustainable, and it has a real and lasting impact on communities in Africa.”

She noted that the Global Journal’s recognition of AMREF’s transparency and accountability, efficient use of funds and sound management will increase donor confidence in the organisation’s capacity and competence.

The ranking will also strengthen AMREF’s position as the leading NGO in Africa. “AMREF will use this position to help strengthen other NGOs working in health in Africa so that they can work more efficiently to achieve lasting health change in African communities,” said Dr Guerma.

http://theglobaljournal.net/top100NGOs/

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Though Uganda’s health services are weak, joint efforts by the Ministry of Health and organisations such as AMREF have in recent years improved overall access to better health for its people.

Working with district health councils and health care institutions, AMREF is improving the knowledge and skills of local communities and health professionals through training and partnering – targeting community health workers, water committees and technicians, women’s groups and community leaders.

Major health challenges

Communicable diseases such as malaria are the leading cause of death and illness in Uganda, and women and children are worst affected. AIDS causes most adult deaths and is the main reason for falling life expectancy. Today, an estimated 1 million adults (57% of them women) and 187,000 children are HIV positive. HIV also fuels the TB epidemic – 50% of HIV-positive people have TB, and 30% of them will eventually die as a result.

Rural areas have least access to basic health care, safe water and sanitation. This, alongside poor hygiene, creates high rates of diarrhoeal disease and death in children.

Distance and cost also play their part in Uganda’s health crisis – 13% of people do not seek medical attention because they can’t afford it, or can’t reach clinics. Trained health workers are scarce in rural areas – some districts have as little as 26% of the professional medical staff they need.

Districts in the north and east of Uganda are consistently worse off than those in other regions, largely as result of conflict and insecurity.

AMREF is:

• Implementing a five year project  (SCHAP) designed to support the scale-up of comprehensive HIV and AIDS prevention services in Uganda
• Providing high-quality training courses and teaching materials for the next generation of primary health workers, nurses and laboratory staff
• AMREF/U-TOUCH Digital Libraries in northern Uganda
• Promoting community-based care for orphans affected by HIV/AIDSin Luwero district.
• Vaccinating children and providing clean water and sanitation in IDP camps in northern Uganda.
• Preventing and managing HIV, TB, malaria and waterborne diseases in Soroti district by strengthening health care systems. This involves training formal and community health workers, raising community awareness and renovating and equipping health centres.
• Empowering young people in Kabale to demand their right to access health services
• Partnering with the Guardian newspaper and Barclays to transform people's lives in Katine in one of the poorest districts in Uganda
• Kawempe Community Health Development Project, Uganda

The SCHAP project is set out to achieve 3 key results that include; Strengthened capacity of district and community structures to promote sexual and other behavioral risk reduction interventions; Strengthened capacity of district health facilities and health service providers to scale-up Safe Male Circumcision (SMC) services; Strengthened capacity of district health facilities to improve the diagnosis and treatment of STIs. The project target groups include: the Most At Risk Populations (MARPS), PLHIV, Youth - in and - out of school, Sero- discordant couples, and the general community.

Current trends in HIV prevention indicate that no single strategy will be sufficient to control the HIV pandemic. Therefore, SCHAP employs prevention packages that combine various arrays of evidence-based strategies, tailored to the needs of diverse subgroups and targeted to achieve high coverage for a measurable reduction in population-level HIV transmission. The interventions include knowledge of HIV serostatus; behavioral risk reduction by provision of messages on Abstinence, Being faithful, reduction of multiple sexual partnerships; condoms, safe male circumcision and treatment of curable sexually transmitted infections. Interventions that match the epidemiologic profile of target populations are designed and delivered to individuals and small groups (not more than 25 persons) through the peer to peer approach and VHT structures in place.

Safe male circumcision (SMC) has been proven through research Uganda, Kenya and South Africa to reduce HIV transmission by 60% in males. Therefore the project is scaling up SMC service through the health facility approach; and SMC – outreach provision in which teams pre-pack SMC consumables for an estimated number of clients prior to an SMC outreach. The SMC outreaches are an adoption of the MOVE (Model of Increasing Volumes and Efficiency) approach, which is about increasing volumes and efficiency in order to produce large numbers of circumcised men in the community with the attendant HIV prevention outcomes.  In a period of five months ( April- August 2011) SCHAP has facilitated the provision of SMC to 5,000  clients above 15 years of age and this is expected to rise to 30, 000 SMC in year two.