Harm reduction coordinator (F/M) – Tanzania

For more than 40 years, Médecins du Monde, a campaigning medical organisation committed to international solidarity, has been caring for the most vulnerable populations at home and abroad. It has continued to highlight obstacles that exist in accessing health care and has secured sustainable improvements in health-for-all policies.

Those working for this independent organisation do not solely dispense care and treatment but condemn violations of human dignity and rights and fight to improve matters for populations living in precarious situations.

MdM currently works in 30 countries across all continents where it focuses on 5 priority areas: emergency and crisis, sexual and reproductive health, harm reduction, migrants and displaced populations (health rights), health and environment.

Between 2010 and 2018, Médecins du Monde established the first comprehensive humanitarian harm reduction programme in Tanzania in the city of Dar es Salam. Despite a political environment less than favourable, this pilot project included comprehensive services adapted to the needs of people. The teams have set up a reception centre and mobile activities to go and meet the most isolated people who are using drugs. The project has been handed over to local authorities and CSOs and MdM is now working on technical assistance for harm reduction activities in Tanzania, a country with restrictive legislation and low access to prevention and health care for key populations (PWIDs, sex workers and men who have sex with men) which lead to high prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases. MdM also implements sexual & reproductive health and rights projects targeting key population and/or youth in Dar es Salaam (direct intervention) and in Dodoma (through a partnership with a local CSO).

MdM Tanzania is also involved in harm reduction projects in Rwanda and Burundi. In Rwanda, MdM partners in a 3-years long harm reduction project called TUBITEHO (Oct 2023 – Sept 2026) with 4 other stakeholders. In Burundi, MdM provides technical assistance to the MoH and local stakeholders for the introduction of OAT services in the country. MdM Tanzania seeks to further assess harm reduction needs in the region and to propose technical assistance in harm reduction according to the needs.

TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Under the supervision of the general coordinator, you are responsible for the quality, supervision and coordination of the harm reduction approach of MdM programme in the country. You are working closely with MdM team, peer workers, beneficiaries, partners and overseeing the planning of harm reduction intervention, the good collaboration among stakeholders, the quality of services provided and the adequation of activities to the beneficiaries’ needs.

Your main responsibilities are the following:

Program Coordination

• Coordinate and lead the assessments/analysis of the general context, problems and needs in Tanzania and in the region (Rwanda, Burundi, Kivu and potentially other areas)
• Ensure the implementation of the harm reduction projects according to the assessments results
• Lead the day-to-day implementation of the CUTTS research project (Tanzania), MdM’s part in TUBITEHO (Rwanda), the technical assistance for the introduction of OAT (Burundi) and any other harm reduction project of MdM in the region
• Make activity plans for those projects and ensure the follow-up on timely implementation
• Supervise data collection and analysis
• Ensure a close collaboration with the consultants team (in Rwanda and Burundi) and when required, provide a technical support
• Coordinate the communication with the research partners
• Ensure the follow-up of all harm reduction projects on their other aspects (logistical, HR and finance)
• Contribute to the definition / revision of MdM strategy in Tanzania
• Draw up scenarios and proposals and support the budget creation/revision for future/new activities
• Support the identification of program risks and mitigation measures
• Perform regular field visits to area of implementation

Human Resource Management

• Recruit the staff under your direct or technical management
• Ensure proper induction, capacity building and on the job training to team members
• Develop individual action plans and proceed to regular professional evaluations of the team under your direct or technical responsibility
• Organise and conduct regular department meetings
• Participate in disciplinary processes

Capacity building/training

• Identify the internal and external (among partners and stakeholders) capacity building needs, propose solution/recommendation and support to ensure a smooth and qualitative implementation of the harm reduction approach
• Produce harm reduction training/presentation material and facilitate it when necessary
• Train the team and the peer workers, peer mentors, community-based organizations, and partners to improve quality of services

Advocacy and communication

• Participate in advocacy strategy development and implementation
• Communicate regularly with the program team members and HQ advocacy advisor to support the development and implementation of a relevant harm reduction advocacy strategy
• Develop MdM position paper, article and concept note to support the advocacy strategy implementation
• Support the development of communication tools

Reporting and representation

• Contribute to MdM monthly report and sitrep
• Support and coordinate the collection of information and data
• Contribute in donors’ reports writing
• Ensure dissemination of project results
• Represent MdM to local, regional, national and international meetings, workshop and events when needed

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:
Status : Employee Contract : Fixed-term contract
Duration : 12 mois

Starting date: June 2024
Gross monthly salary: 3 570 euros
Premium equal to one month salary paid in two instalments – minimum of 6 months seniority required
Expatriation bonus (10% gross salary per month)
Transportation cost, vaccines and visas covered
Guesthouse housing
22.5 recovery days per year
5 weeks of paid leaves per year
Health insurance (60% covered by MdM and 40% by the employee)
Insurance (repatriation…)
Médecins du Monde promotes trainings and internal mobility
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Single posting

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE NEEDED:
Extensive experience with an international NGO at a coordination/senior management level
Extensive experience in project cycle management
Extensive Experience in HIV/Harm Reduction related interventions
Experience in team management with a strong leadership
Experience in partnership development with local authorities
Desirable: A medical background or advanced degree in public health; experience with operational research
Draw up an action plan and prioritise activities
Research, gather information, analyse and summarise the elements of a thematic area
Identify the challenges of harm reduction, the MdM approach and positions in order to put them into perspective in projects
Create and develop a network
Ability to work under a minimum of supervision
Strong problem solving and organizational skills
Strategic thinking
Good knowledge of Office pack (word, excel, outlook)
Languages: English is mandatory (spoken and written), French is an asset
You embrace the core values and support the proactive philosophy of Médecins du Monde.

TELEPHONE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED
Médecins du Monde reserves the right to fill the vacancy before the closing date for applications.
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