Program Officer – Nia HealthLink at Zana Africa

POSITION SUMMARY

• The Program Officer - Nia HealthLink (NHL) will provide leadership and strategic direction to the NHL team, ensuring the effective implementation of health communication, hotline and chatbot services. This role involves managing day-to-day operations for the NHL, developing new initiatives, overseeing quality assurance, and fostering partnerships to enhance the reach and impact of the NHL. The Program Officer will utilize data to drive decisions, lead research initiatives, and stay informed on emerging trends to integrate innovative approaches into NHL programming. Key responsibilities include implementing a research initiative for menstrual irregularities delivered through the NHL and expanding its reach and effectiveness across Kenya.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Program Development and Planning
• Lead the ongoing development of objectives and strategies for the Nia HealthLink in alignment with organizational strategic goals to expand the NHL across Kenya with deep mapping of resources across communities, access by at least 3,000 users monthly, tracking of uptake and impact, financial modelling for sustainability.
• In close collaboration with the MEL Officer, lead the formulation, testing and execution of iterative research, evaluation and monitoring frameworks for all NHL projects, ensuring alignment with overall organizational strategic goals and objectives.
• In collaboration with the MEL Officer, provide strategic insights, research findings and recommendations for ongoing iterative planning and program design, content creation, testing, review, and rollout, and assist in the documentation of program outcomes.
• Develop comprehensive budgets and work plans for overall delivery of NHL initiatives.
• Program Implementation
• Work closely with the Program Manager and Executive Director to lead the implementation of all program initiatives while ensuring alignment with program objectives and planned targets.
• Validate work plans for internal team members, partner organizations and hotline operators, ensuring alignment to program goals and objectives and available resources.
• Monitor implementation of all NHL projects and budgets, and maintain status and risk registers for each project for regular review with the Program Manager.
• Oversee the day-to-day operations of the program and its projects, ensuring effective implementation of activities and adherence to timelines and budgets.
• Lead the mapping of key state and non-state stakeholders across sites for collaboration and strategic partnerships
• Ensure formative research activities for NHL programs are well designed and implemented Lead the co-creation and implementation of social and behaviour change communications campaigns to create demand and impact health outcomes.
• Lead the development and implementation of new initiatives to enhance the effectiveness and reach of the NHL.
• Oversee logistical and operational undertakings relating to NHL operations, including ensuring timely budgeting and approvals for efficient payment of hotline operators and procurement of airtime bundles.
• Review all project and program-related budgets and invoices before they are submitted to the Program Manager for final review and approval for payment.
• Ensure timely submission of activity reports and financial documentation to Finance, ensuring transparency and accountability.
• Oversee procurement activities, including developing and reviewing scopes of work, providing reliable leads for quotations and ensuring proper stock management of all program resources. Oversee the services provided to ZanaAfrica by Mteja Technologies and Turn.io (or similar service providers), ensuring the apps remain reliable and effective for 24/7 hotline and chatbot services.
• Work with Mteja Technologies to develop and deliver training programs for hotline operators
• and the program team on the effective use of the app.
• Monitor regular app performance and user feedback to identify areas of improvement and uphold continuity and quality of services, ensuring continuous alignment with project objectives
• Oversee the documentation and dissemination of NHL achievements, lessons learned, and challenges for internal and external stakeholders.
• Ensure knowledge sharing of NHL achievements on all ZanaAfrica social media platforms to amplify the impact and uptake
• Stakeholder, Government and Partner Engagement
• Take the lead on NHL partner engagement including development of reporting mechanisms for referral partners.
• Lead the development of essential tools and resources for partners.
• Actively participate in high-level meetings with National and County governments and
• partners to enhance collaboration and coordination of program activities.
• Foster strategic engagement with government entities and key stakeholders, ensuring proper communication of program initiatives to these entities.
• Work with government and partners to engage in advocacy moments/days.
• Ensure clear terms of reference, agreements and MOUS are developed and maintained for all partnerships.
• Serve as a primary implementation liaison with partners, implementing collaborative efforts and ensuring alignment of efforts to program goals and objectives.
• Oversee the selection, support and accountability of community partners.
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with stakeholders and collaborators to support project objectives.
• Oversee and provide guidance to program team members and interns supporting project implementation.
• Execute other program activities as needed, demonstrating flexibility in achieving project goals and objectives.
• Represent ZanaAfrica at relevant meetings, events, working groups and conferences; prepare "back to the office" reports and share insights with team members.
• Quality Improvement and Reporting
• In liaison with the MEL Officer, provide valuable insights into data collection, analysis, and reporting efforts to support monitoring and evaluation and continuous program improvement.
• Liaise with the Finance Officer and MEL Officer to track program performance Oversee the establishment and implementation of quality assurance mechanisms for NHL services, including developing performance indicators to track program outcomes and impact, in liaison with the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer.
• Ensure the solutions are implemented with fidelity
• Utilize data to inform program decisions and identify areas of improvement.
• Lead and oversee research initiatives to assess the effectiveness of NHL services and identify areas for innovation and improvement.
• Stay informed of emerging trends and best practices in health, communication, and technology and integrate innovative approaches into NHL programming.
• Lead problem-solving initiatives to address challenges and ensure timely submission of required documentation and reports from partner organizations.
• Implement the dissemination of impactful studies and research findings to relevant stakeholders to strengthen partnerships and advocacy efforts in line with project
• dissemination plans.
• Prepare monthly reports on all NHL activities for management and onward sharing with the Board of Directors
• Prepare draft funder reports and any other required reports showcasing program progress to donors and stakeholders
• Team Development and Support
• Assess the technical capacity of the team and recommend training programs in collaboration with the Program Manager and HR to address identified needs and gaps.
• Provide leadership and direction to the NHL team (including hotline operators), fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Provide continuous mentorship and coaching to team members on a scheduled and regular basis to increase program efficiencies.
• Enlist and manage resources to support enhanced capacity, mentorship, and coaching plans.
• Implement SOPs and guidelines to support rights-based service provision. Develop policies and protocols for responding to issues affecting hotline operators and team members, including identifying counselling services available to them whenever needed.
• Support HR activities such as recruitment and onboarding processes and ensure proper understanding and maintenance of all HR and operations tools, SOPs, templates, and guides.
• Support the program team's participation in professional development and organizational visibility opportunities such as TWGs, workshops, webinars and conferences.
• Proactively provide input and feedback on program and office efficiencies, SOPs, and organizational culture.
• Actively monitor trends on Edtech, Al, Health technology, child protection systems and emerging SRHR trends to ensure the team remains informed and adaptive.
• Any other duties as assigned by the supervisor at any time during the employment which fall within their capabilities, experience, competence, and qualifications.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Deep knowledge of the digital health systems and child protection and safeguarding sector in
• Kenya alongside strong networks and relationships with key sectoral stakeholders.
• Knowledge of emerging trends in health, health communication and technology.
• Passionate about social and behaviour change communications and digital service delivery. Experience in program design, budgeting and reporting
• Strong project or program management skills with the ability to manage multiple activities simultaneously; a CAPM or similar qualification is preferred.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills in English and Kiswahili.
• Proficiency in digital data collection, data analysis, excellent reporting and presentation skills. Awareness of digital tools, Edtech, Healthtech and Al.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and monday.com.
• Highly organized, proactive and able to take initiative. Adaptable and flexible in a dynamic work environment.
• Passionate about ZanaAfrica's mission and values.

MINIMUM RECRUITMENT STANDARDS

• Bachelor's degree in Public Health, Social Sciences, Health Communication, or a related field with proven experience in health program management and communication, including 3-5 years of progressive relevant experience, preferably in the development sector.
• Experience in health communication or a related field is required, along with demonstrated supervisory experience in managing teams or guiding staff in program implementation.