JOB DESCRIPTION
Position: Social Services Officer, COSMO Project
Employer: National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon (NECC)
Supervisor: Field Manager, COSMO Project
Town, Country: Douala, Cameroon
Number of positions: 01
Expected start date: immediately
Publication date: 19th February, 2024
Duration of Contract: 11 months (with possibility of extension)

ABOUT NECC
The National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon (NECC) is the Head Quarter of
the Catholic Church in Cameroon, where the promotion of human dignity is at the
center of the concerns of the Sustainable Development Goals. NECC works to ensure
dignity of the human being, common good, subsidiarity and in solidarity of all
humans. NECC's development work in Cameroon is accomplished through, access
to quality education, health, promoting commitment of the faithful for the reduction
of inequalities and empowerment of vulnerable groups.

SUMMARY OF THE COSMO PROJECT
The 5-year, approximately US$33 million Consolidating Systems and Services for
the Management of Orphans and Vulnerable Children in Cameroon (COSMO)
Project funded by the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)
through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) cover 68
health districts across all 10 regions of Cameroon. The program is being
implemented by a consortium of local organizations led by the National Episcopal
Conference of Cameroon (NECC) since January 1, 2023.

The OVC program addresses the challenges of sustainable care and support to OVC
by strengthening the capacities of the Government of the Republic of Cameroon
(GRC), civil society, communities, and households to provide quality care and
support to HIV-infected and affected children in Cameroon. Under the leadership of
NECC, sub- recipients' partners, the Government of Cameroon and other
stakeholders are working collaboratively to reach about 65,000 OVC and their families in health districts across
the country where the HIV burden is high. The program consists of HIV prevention and case finding activities for OVC as well as ensuring community support for linkage to care and retention among children and adolescents living with HIV with the goal of contributing to HIV epidemic control by attaining and sustaining the 95-95-95 targets of UNAIDS.

TERMS OF REFERENCE
JOB Summary
 As the COSMO Social Services Officer, you will provide technical support and supervision to local organizations implementing community-based project activities in support of National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon (NECC) work serving OVC and their  caregivers. You will work closely with the Field Manager and other COSMO staff to support Sub recipient - implementing partners to use a family-centered, strengths-based case management approach to ensure project participants receive high quality direct services and referrals based on beneficiaries needs. Direct services include but are not limited to enrolment of C/ALHIV and Teen moms living with HIV and their case management within the framework of households, adherence counselling, educational support, household economic strengthening, positive parenting, adolescent services, early childhood development, WASH and nutrition. Your thorough and service-oriented approach will ensure that the project consistently applies best practices and constantly works towards improving the impact of its benefits to those we serve. NECC therefore seeks to recruit qualified personnel to serve as Social Services Officers. The details of the job description are as seen below.

Duties and responsibilities
•    Accompany the Sub Recipient - Implementing Partners in coordinating, organizing and ensuring the respect of the norms and standards during implementation of all case management, direct services, referral activities as outlined in the detailed implementation plan in line with NECC program quality principles and standards, donor requirements, and good practices.
•    Monitor and report any challenges and/or gaps identified to inform adjustments to plans and implementation schedules. Assist partners in their efforts to reflect on project experiences.
•    Support Sub recipient - implementing partners in their efforts to collect and analyze project data per specified mechanisms and tools. Support local partners to prepare reports per established reporting schedule.
•    Assist in the development of capacity strengthening plans based on staff capacity needs and technical assistance needs of Sub recipient - implementing partner organizations related to case management, referrals and direct services; Coordinate capacity strengthening activities for local partners, including training facilitation, supportive supervision, coaching and mentoring; Monitor capacity building and technical support activities to ensure effective impact.
•    Support accountability through assisting Sub recipient - implementing partners in their efforts to collect and analyze project data per specified mechanisms and tools. Collaborate with local partner(s) to prepare reports prepare established reporting schedule.
•    Assist with identifying information for case studies and reports on promising practices.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Education and experience
•    Bachelor's degree required. Degree in Public Health, Nursing, or in the field of Social Work would be a plus.
•    Minimum of 4 years of work experience in project support.
•    Knowledge or prior experience in Community Health in particular in the field of HIV services, social services, household economic strengthening, early childhood development, adolescent services, and/or WASH and nutrition is strongly preferred. Experience implementing and/or monitoring PEPFAR OVC programs is a plus.
•    Experience in facilitation, participatory action planning and/or community engagement required.
 
•    Experience in capacistrengthening of staff and partners preferred.

•    Experiencemonitoring projects and collecting relevant data preferred. Experience using

•    MSWindows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).

Personal qualities
•    Critical thinking and strong logical reasoning skills.
•    Observation, active listening and analysis skills with ability to make sound judgments.
•    Good relationship management skills and the ability to work closely with local partners and community members.
•    Ability to motivate partners and stakeholders to achieve shared objectives.
•    Ability to coordinate multiple work flowswith different stakeholders simultaneously.
•    Training and facilitation skills. Attention to details, accuracy and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities.

Language required / desired
•    Must be bilingual with a working knowledge of English and
 French.

Travel required: Regular travels within the region / zone covered in
Cameroon. KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS Supervisory: None Internal:
NECC/COSMO Staff
External: COSMO Sub Recipient Implementing Partners staff,PEPFAR care
and treatment (clinical partners) staff, USAID & PEPFAR
representatives, consultants

NECC-wide competences (for all NECC staff)
These are rooted in values, guiding principles, and mission of the Catholic
Church and the NECC. They are required of each staff member to fulfill his or her
responsibilities andachieve the desired results. These are:
•    Respect for the dignity of human being
•    Respect for the common good Respect for the principle of subsidiarity
•    Respect for
•    the principle of solidarity Trust in all relationships Professional growth
•    Partnership
•    with others
•    Responsibility and accountability
•    Integrity
•    Responsibility and management

Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skills,
efforts, tasks and responsibilities associated with the position.NECC's talent
 acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and
 vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation. NECC is an equal opportunity
employer.  

HOW TO APPLY
1. Cover letter addressed to the Secretary General of NECC
2. CV of maximum 4 pages
3. List of at least 3 references, one of which should be a leader of a religious/faith community
4. Evidence of relevant academic / professional qualifications
5. Proof of professional experience.

You can apply by sending your applications to the following address: recruitment@necc-cenc.org Mentioning "Social Services Officer - COSMO Project" in the subject line Deadline: 29/02/2024 at midnight Cameroon time. Incomplete applications or applications received after the deadline will not be considered. Female candidates are encouraged to apply. This position is reserved only for Cameroonian nationals. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. NB: In applying for this job, the applicant must understand that NECC protects human life at all costs and will require the applicant to do the same if recruited. NECC also asks its staff to treat all persons with dignity and respect and to actively prevent harassment, abuse, exploitation and trafficking.