Location: Zanzibar, Tanzania

Reports to: Head of Programs 

Mwanamke Initiatives Foundation (MIF) is a non-government and not-for-profit foundation established with the aim of setting up a framework for creating actionable dialogue, networking, information and skills exchange regarding the welfare of women, children and youths in the health, education and socio- economic dimensions.

Position Overview

The Public Health Officer will support the Head of Program in implementing MIF’s Mental, Maternal, and Sexual & Reproductive Health Program. This role focuses on promoting mental health, maternal and newborn care, and sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services for women and youth in Zanzibar. The Public Health Officer will assist with program execution, stakeholder coordination, capacity building, and ensuring that both mental health and SRH services are accessible and effective within target communities.

Key Responsibilities

a. Program Implementation

1. Oversee MIF’s health program on mental health and psychosocial services, as well as SRH education and services.
2. Assist in planning, coordinating, and executing program activities in mental and sexual & reproductive health programs.
3. Ensure the integration of SRH services (family planning, safe motherhood, reproductive cancers, reproductive health rights and other interventions in the continuum of care of Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) services with mental health programs.
4. Collaborate with health care providers and local authorities to ensure comprehensive, high-quality service delivery.
5. Organize and facilitate community outreach, awareness campaigns, and advocacy efforts focusing on mental and RMNCAH services
6. Represent MIF in policy and advocacy forum with Government, Development Partners (DPs), Implementing Partners (IPs) and the public as a whole
7. Coordinate and represent MIF in all health related technical engagements with the Government, donors, development partners, implementing partners and other technical circles for health related activities.
8. Prepare both activity and technical reports resulting from implementing all activities under health programs.

b. Monitoring and Evaluation

1. Assist in developing and implementing M&E frameworks for mental and SRH programs.

2. Regularly collect, analyze, and report on program data to measure impact and outcomes.

3. Conduct site visits to monitor service delivery, gather feedback, and assess the program’s effectiveness in the field.

4. Prepare policy briefs, advocacy materials, information, communication and education (IEC) materials for dissemination and communication of MIF’s experience, best practices and lessons learned as derived from implementation of health programs for internal use and engagement of donors and other stakeholders.

5. Develop research agenda for the Mwanamke Initiatives Foundation

6. In collaboration with the Head of M&E, identify needs and topic for operational research to guide MIF’s focus and direction of health programs based on its strategic plan

c. Capacity Building

1. Help train community health workers, volunteers, and health professionals in providing mental health support, maternal care, and sexual & reproductive health services.

2. Support the development of training materials and resources for healthcare providers on mental health and SRH best practices.

3. Facilitate knowledge-sharing sessions on mental and reproductive health topics.

d. Stakeholder and Community Engagement

1. Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, including government health departments, NGOs, and community organizations.

2. Participate in relevant meetings, forums, and advocacy groups to promote collaboration on mental, maternal, and reproductive health initiatives.

3. Engage with community leaders to raise awareness and gain support for mental, maternal, and SRH services.

e. Resource Mobilization and Management

1. Assist the Head of Program in managing budgets and resources to ensure efficient program implementation.

2. Support the preparation of funding proposals and donor reports related to mental health and SRH.

3. Monitor the use of program resources to maximize impact and sustainability.

f. Administrative and Operational Support

1. Provide day-to-day administrative support to the Head of Program, including scheduling, drafting reports, and maintaining program documentation.

2. Facilitate effective communication between program staff, healthcare workers, and community stakeholders.

3. Ensure accurate record-keeping of program activities and outcomes.

Qualifications and Experience

1. Master’s  degree in public health, or health related field.

2. At least 3 years of experience in program management, preferably in mental health, maternal health, and sexual and reproductive health.

3. Knowledge of maternal and newborn care, reproductive health rights, and mental health services.

4. Experience working with NGOs or community-based organizations in Zanzibar or similar settings.

5. Strong understanding of the cultural context and healthcare challenges related to women and youth.

6. Proficiency in Swahili and English, both spoken and written.

Key Competencies

1. Excellent organizational and coordination skills.

2. Strong interpersonal and communication abilities.