Summary
Date Posted: Tuesday, March 22, 2022 , Base Salary: Not Disclosed

JOB DETAILS:
The AIDS Support Organization (TASO Uganda), was founded to contribute to a process of preventing HIV infection, restoring hope and improving the quality of life of persons, families and communities affected by HIV infection and disease. TASO was given a 5-year Transition Award by USAID (Cooperative Agreement: #72061720CAOOOI4) effective August 12, 2020 ending August 11, 2025, to implement the USAID Local Partner Health Services-Ankole Project (USAID LPS-Ankole) in the 12 districts of Ankole sub-region, South Western Uganda.
USAID expanded the TASO-Ankole implementing mechanism to the 8 districts in Acholi sub- region effective October 1, 2021, starting with Pader district effective July 1, 2021. The Ankole and Acholi sub-regions of South Western and Northern Uganda, respectively consist of 20
USAID-supported districts including: - Buhweju, Bushenyi, Ibanda, Isingiro, Kazo, Kiruhura,
Mbarara, Mitooma, Ntungamo, Rubirizi, Rwampara and Sheema in Ankole Sub-Region; Agago, Amuru, Gulu, Kitgum, Lamwo, Nwoya, Omoro and Pader in Acholi sub-region; as well as their Cities and Municipalities.
The project's overarching goal is to support the achievement of the Government of Uganda and PEPF AR goals of reaching and maintaining HIV epidemic control by 2020 and ending AIDS by 2030. The project is expected to support continued implementation of a district- based integrated package of quality HIV IAIDS and TB services in the public health sector to contribute towards attainment and sustenance of epidemic control; provide comprehensive technical support through training, coaching and mentorship to targeted public health facilities to enhance the delivery of quality HIV and TB services at facility and community level and position them to sustain epidemic control. In pursuit of such intentions, TASO requires the services of dedicated, competent, innovative and result-oriented individuals for employment on a contract basis for the posts below;

Job Title (1) REF: TS/HR/ PMGT/S: Gender & Psychosocial Officer (1)
Classification: act, full-time
Reports to: HIV Care and Treatment Technical Leader/Cluster Team Lead
Salary: Commensurate with training and experience
Duty Station: USAID Local Partner Health Services - Ankole & Acholi Project based at Mbarara Cluster

Main Purpose of the job
The Gender, and Psychosocial Officer will provide technical Assistance to project and Health facility staff, Community based structures and District
Health Teams (DHTs) in integration of a gender perspective to the USAID LPS-Ankole & Acholi Activity work, ensure that gender is mainstreamed and strengthened; and effective linkages and referrals for quality TB and HIV / AIDS prevention, care, treatment and support responses in the Cluster areas.

Key Outputs
• Work plans and budgets for Gender, and psychosocial services prepared and submitted
• Standards for the Gender and psychosocial services developed
• Quality of Gender and psychosocial service delivery coordinated
• Technical support for efficient and effective gender and Psychosocial services provided to the facility and community-based structures
• Gender and psychosocial technical capacity of facility and community structures, strengthened
• Case Management Approaches in the community and facility setting Implemented
• Adherence and Disclosure guidelines in community setting Implemented and monitored
• Effective referrals and linkages in the cluster areas implemented
• Differentiated service delivery models and community support programs plans in collaboration with health facilities implemented
• Quality Improvement approaches in improving linkage to care so as to reach the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets applied
• High quality project monthly and quarterly reports compiled and submitted on time.

Key Duties and Responsibilities
• Develop Gender and Psychosocial services quarterly, annual plans and budgets in consultation with project team members, lead implementation and monitor the work plans and budget.
• Support case workers and community volunteers to develop monthly plans based on case trends and ongoing needs.
• Support the Case Workers in awareness raising activities, including the provision of information on available GBV and Psychosocial services and ensure effective referrals and linkages.
• Plan and implement capacity-building activities in GBV related to the project's health service delivery / gender responsive programming and psychosocial services in collaboration with supported districts.
• Support implementation and integration of gender and GBV in health service delivery at targeted health facilities and provide support for activities that address sexual and gender- based violence (SGBV).
• Provide training and mentorship to community volunteers in case management, referrals and linkages for GBV prevention! response and psychosocial services.
• Develop and maintain effective networks with relevant stakeholders including partner agencies, Government Institutions, community leaders providers to ensure collaboration, synergy and sharing of experiences on gender issues. I
• Provide guidance regarding Psychosocial, GBV prevention and post care services to all Case Workers, ensure referral pathways are shared and understood by the service providers.
• Ensure the implementation of an effective referral system at the Facility and community level for survivors' access quality case management services in a timely manner.
• Contribute to the development of project monitoring systems and help to ensure that Case
• Workers utilize these systems correctly and consistently.
• Lead case management of Gender Based Violence Cases and ensure proper documentation, assessment, case plan implementation, follow up and information management of all GBV cases.
• Ensure that all project activities meet expected standards, policies and guidelines on Gender and Psychosocial services are up held.
• Maintain up-to-date statistics and program data on gender and psychosocial services for the project supported sites in collaboration with the M&E department.
• Provide technical assistance to Local Implementing Partners in HIV case identification, linkages to care and Treatment as well as Retention strategies.
• Work with the local CBOs and Community-Facility Linkage Facilitators to conduct community education/mobilization to generate demand for HIV services and ensure the uptake of mv Counselling and Testing Services for children, adolescents and adults in a child-friendly manner at community level.
• Support family testing and safe disclosure for households of index patients enrolled at the facilities.
• Supervise the peer educators, expert clients and linkage facilitators conduct referrals, follow ups and defaulter tracing.
• Facilitate initiation to care and treatment of all identified HIV positive individuals, including children and adolescents.
• Work with the local CBOs to establish new and strengthen existing psychosocial support groups (PSSGs) at community level to promote retention.
• Strengthen linkages into care and treatment in both facility settings and testing done in the community level targeting children, adolescents' age target 0 age to 18 years and adults.
• Improve linkage to the care system with a stronger focus on case finding and client indexing.
• Strengthening the multidisciplinary linkage coordination at the facility and Community levels.
• Design, monitor and report on key activities related to scale-up of HIV / AIDS prevention interventions and Gender based Violence.
• Support Continuous Community Quality Improvement approaches for Gender based Violence and HIV / AIDS prevention, care, treatment in Cluster areas.
• Prepare high-quality comprehensive monthly, quarterly and annual reports and ensure timely submission of regular. Contribute to development of project and donor reports on activities, indicators and achievements, as well as best practices and lessons learned

Person Specifications:
Gender and Psychosocial Officer
Minimum Academic Qualifications: Master's degree in any of the following fields; Social Sciences, Education, Public Administration, Development Studies, Community and Adult Education, Community Psychology, Organizational Psychology, Guidance and counseling. Experience of working with TASO will be very vital.

Experience and Exposure
• Minimum 2 years of direct psychosocial! counselling experience with a reputable agency; experience working with survivors of violence and providing technical assistance/mentorship of HCWs in HIV / AIDS prevention and community linkages within MoH structures and systems.
• Clear understanding of Psychosocial, abuse of power, and issues surrounding GBV /VAC
• Ability to maintain confidentiality, professional ethics and respect for clients at all times
• Strong ability to lead, train, facilitate and motivate others in their respective tasks in a professional, respectful and supportive manner.
• Comprehensive knowledge and experience in HIV / AIDS management, prevention and community referral and linkages as per the national community referral and linkages framework.

• Good working knowledge of HIV / AIDS prevention programs, strategies, processes and techniques used to plan, develop, implement and evaluate results ofRIV / AIDS programs.

Special Knowledge
Knowledge of Quality GBV standards, methodology and tools
• Knowledge of community mobilization and facilitation techniques
• National and international gender and HIV / AIDS declarations and commitments
• National gender and mv /AIDS frame work including policies and procedures
• Managing grants and proposal writing
• Knowledge ofUSG programming policies and regulations, MoR and district procedures and practices.

• Key Skills
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills including the ability to work effectively in a team.
• Counseling skills
• Computer skills in MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• Experience of capacity strengthening through formal and informal training
• Ability to plan strategically, and communicate with key actors in a dynamic and unpredictable operating environment
• Problem solving and decision making
• Understanding of gender, age and other socio-cultural factors

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: 24

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Job application procedure
Only qualified candidates who meet all the above requirements are invited to submit their resume, copies of certified academic certificates, testimonials and three referees, two of who should be the present employer / immediate supervisor or last employer if unemployed, or any other if it is the first employment being applied for . None of the referees should be a relative, friend or business associate. All referees' designations should be stated and contact details included i.e. physical address, telephone/ mobile numbers and email contacts.
All interested Candidates MUST fully fill the TASO Online Job Application Form, scan and save all the relevant documents as one document (labeled with candidate's full names) and forward only online applications with the relevant credentials to:
https://www.cognitoforms.com/TASOI/THEAIDSSUPPORTORGANISATIONTASO
Please visit the TASO website at www.tasouganda.org to acces the detailed job advert also note that only applications received online shall be considered.

Note:
• All interested candidates MUST fully fill the TASO Online Job Application Form, scan and save all the relevant documents in one folder and forward only online applications with the relevant credentials on the Online Application Form
• TASO does not receive applications via social media especially NOT Facebook or WhatsApp
• TASO does not use an Agency to recruit except when indicated on the advert.
• TASO does not ask for money for Applications
• Only the TASO Human Resources Office handles Job Applications.
• While TASO appreciates all the interested applicants, only shortlisted candidates are contacted for interviews. In case you do not hear from TASO one (01) month after the closing date, please consider yourself unsuccessful.

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