Program Brief

Founded in 1933, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) is one of the world’s leading agencies working in post-conflict and development contexts, supporting communities in over 40 fragile, failed and developing states. In this capacity, we work to restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted, struggling to endure and wishing to advance on a path of development.

The IRC has been present in Bangladesh since 2017 and obtained registration with the NGOAB in March 2018. Since the IRC obtained registration in March 2018, it has moved quickly to expand its integrated emergency health and protection response through both direct and partner-based programming focused on primary healthcare, women’s protection and empowerment, sexual and reproductive health, gender-based violence and child protection. Recently IRC has also introduced two new programs: Protection Rule of Law (PROL) and Education. IRC will continue working in both the camps and host community, while meeting the significant needs in both refugee and host populations, as already existing vulnerabilities are compounded with cyclical monsoon and cyclone seasons that impose additional threats to the lives and protection of those refugees as well as vulnerable host populations. IRC will grow over time its geographic coverage within Cox bazar and to other parts of the country, thus expand its networks and partnerships around emergency preparedness and response work, reach beyond the Rohingya refugees, also targeting the vulnerable host groups in Cox Bazar and other parts of Bangladesh.

Purpose of the Role

The Person will be responsible for the implementation of educational and promotional activities as well as conducting all community awareness / mobilization activities related to Reproductive Health (RH) for women and girls

They will supervise a network of community volunteers and traditional birth attendants and work closely with the other members of the reproductive health team

Highlights of Key Responsibilities

• Liaise with other volunteer groups; Community mobilizers (CoMs), protection case workers, to ensure referrals to the health facilities are efficiently performed
• Identification and referral of all Persons of Concern (POCs) with acute cases that require medical attention to the health facilities, liaise with porters and stretcher services available for facilitate night time referrals
• Ensure eligible individuals for primary health care provision e.g. immunization, ANC, PNC and nutrition services and follow up their service utilization.
• Follow up referrals and vaccinations of pregnant women.
• Identify mothers with danger signs of pregnancy.
• Share information on available health services and referral pathways (including nearest 24/7 health facility)
• Defaulter tracing (e.g., ANC/ PNC, EPI)
• Maintain records of key information on household health and demographic data (EPI, ANC etc.)
• Follow up high risk pregnancy identified by the primary health care facility.
• Keep records and follow up near term pregnant women and be available to facilitate transfer (escort ship) for delivery in appropriate facilities.
• Maintain proper communication with respective midwifes for tracking EDD and ensure facility-based delivery.
• Promote SRH related services to the community and even door to door.
• Support distributions of hygiene and maternity kits.
• Condom distribution (as appropriate) and tracing of those contacts who are eligible for family planning and counselling regarding this.
• Instruct new mothers on motherhood standard methodologies, promote early initiation of breastfeeding (Women CHWs)
• Conduct community level postnatal and neonatal home care visits, follow up on new born health, identify danger signs and refer for proper care. (Women CHWs).
• Conduct health education sessions for waiting mothers at the facility.
• Establish and maintain collaborative relationship between IRC and other partners.
• Any other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Monitoring Responsibilities:

• Keep record of all the health education/promotional sessions (disaggregated by gender/ age/ IDP/Host etc.).
• Compile weekly summary of community mobilization activities.
• Responsible for compiling timely monthly community mobilization activity reports and data compilation.

Confidentiality:

• Ensure non-disclosure of any information whatsoever about practices and IRC activities to any other person or organization without permission, except in the normal performance of the service.

Deliverables

• Supervise community volunteers and traditional birth attendants during planned community activities.
• Take the lead in training the training of community volunteers.
• Report any insecurity incidence timely to security focal person.

Minimum Qualifications:

Experience

• At least 2 years of working experience.
• Previous work experience with any local or International NGO.
• Competencies: Knowledge, Skills & Abilities.
• Knowledge about tools and process of Social Mobilization is required.
• Significant proven experience in social mobilization, sensitization, and organization.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to work alone and as a part of the team.
• Effective interpersonal skills.
• Familiarity with the local context: language, culture, etc.
• Sensitivity and diplomacy to provide education on a variety of sensitive RH topics.
• Good communication skills.
• Basic computer Literacy: Word and Excel.
• Should be willing to work in an environment with limited resources with poor living conditions and difficult situations.
• Able to work remains productive under difficult and high-pressure situations with the ability to prioritize effectively and respects and adheres to deadlines.

Language Preference

• People who are familiar with local culture and have proficiency in local dialects will get preference.

Specific Educational Qualification

• Bachelor’s/ Master’s in Social Science or equivalent combination of education. Working experience with health sector should get preference here.

Professional Degree/ Certification

• N/A