JOB OPPORTUNITY – PROJECT OFFICER, COMMUNITY HEALTH

The International Gorilla Conservation Programme is a coalition of three international conservation organizations: Conservation International (CI), Fauna & Flora (FF) and WWF. IGCP’s mission is to Secure the Future for Mountain Gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei). The programme operates in the three countries that share the habitat of the mountain gorillas; Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Rwanda and Uganda, and works in close partnership with the Protected Area Authorities of the three countries (Rwanda Development Board, RDB in Rwanda; Institute Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature, ICCN in DRC; Uganda Wildlife Authority, UWA in Uganda) and the umbrella mechanism for transboundary collaboration through the Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration (GVTC). IGCP also maintains a large number of partnerships with civil society organizations, community-based organizations, research institutions, private sector and local government.

IGCP seeks to hire a dynamic, dedicated, highly qualified and experienced person to fill the position of Project Officer, Community Health. 

POSITION DESCRIPTION

• Position title : Project Officer, Community Health
• Reports to: Senior Officer, One Health Project
• Dotted line report: IGCP Country Coordinator, Rwanda
• Duty Station: IGCP Musanze office
• Employment type: Full-time employment
• Employment contract: 2-year fixed-term contract
• Start date: As soon as possible

SUMMARY OF THE JOB DESCRIPTION

In collaboration with various partners, IGCP will be implementing the “Strengthening One Health-based Preparedness Prevention and Response (PPR) in the Greater Virunga Landscape” project that aims to address capacity gaps that exist in all three priorities of the Pandemic Fund, i.e. Surveillance, Laboratory Systems and Workforce Strengthening, using a One Health approach. The project will also strengthen enabling conditions, transboundary and regional coordination, and cross-sectoral engagement, particularly for public-private partnerships for holistic and sustainable One Health-based PPR.

The Project Officer for Community Health will contribute to the implementation of the project activities in Rwanda in four Districts (Rubavu, Nyabihu, Musanze and Burera) adjacent to Volcanoes National Park (VNP). These activities include community engagement and awareness raising, delivering One Health based PPR gender responsive training at different stakeholders’ levels, sustaining existing partnerships with government and non-government actors as well as fostering new partnerships with relevant One Health sector players.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Routine:

• Contribute to developing annual, quarterly and monthly detailed activity work plans in consultation with the project stakeholders.
• Work with the project team to implement project activities as per the work plan.
• Participate in developing and implementation of training materials and modules on One Health PPR for local communities.
• Work with the government authorities to organize training programs and awareness campaigns for the community members.
• Deliver training of local communities for the adoption of One Health approach and conservation initiatives such as sustainable natural resources management (wildlife, forest, water, etc.)
• Support communities to mitigate zoonotic disease spillover risk using gender responsive approaches to manage coexistence with wildlife, including primary prevention interventions (e.g. ecosystem protection and restoration, managing bushmeat/illegal wildlife trade).
• Lead the formation of or/and strengthen community based One Health teams around VNP with a particular focus on women and vulnerable groups, to increase engagement and understanding of One Health based PPR measures at grassroots level.
• Integrate WASH approach for One Health PPR in the implementation of the project activities.
• Organize training sessions and exchange learning visits for the community members.
• Work with the Monitoring and Evaluation Team to collect project M&E data.
• Ensure that the project implementation is in line with the existing Environmental and Social Safeguards (ESSF) guidelines and standards.

Reporting:

• Prepare monthly, quarterly and annual technical reports.
• Work with M&E staff to design and implement plans to track data/results related to community health and use data/findings to plan interventions accordingly.
• Provide technical support during program monitoring and development of annual work plans.
• Prepare and share periodic reports and update all technical staff on successes, challenges and lessons learned in implementation of community health activities; and
• Support the project beneficiary groups in developing weekly, monthly and quarterly reports and work plans.

Working Relationships

• Internal: The Community Health Project Officer will work closely with the project Senior Officer and Country Coordinator to ensure activities implementation and achievement of desired outcomes. 

• External: The Project Officer will work closely with government authorities and other stakeholders in the implementation of the project activities

Other duties:

• Provide input, where appropriate, to other technical work undertaken by the IGCP programs.
• Perform any other tasks that may be requested from time to time that are appropriate to skills and experience

Travel

• To perform the duties of this position, the Project Officer will conduct regular field visits in the administrative sectors from the four Districts adjacent to VNP. Travel is estimated at approximately 50% of working days. In these cases, IGCP perdiem policy will be applied.

REQUIREMENTS

• Nationality: Rwandese
• A minimum of Bachelor’s degree in Public Health, Community Health Sciences, Nursing, Veterinary Medicine or Epidemiology.
• Strong technical knowledge of biodiversity conservation, natural resources management and livelihood improvement, with the ability to articulate the interlinkages between these components and One Health concept.
• The Candidate must have a valid license issued by Rwanda National Council of Nurses and Midwives, Rwanda Allied Health Professions Council, or Rwanda Medical and Dental Council.
• At least 3-year experience in implementing community or public health initiatives, demonstrating the ability to work with multidisciplinary teams as a considerate team player.
• A good understanding of people-centered conservation initiatives and familiarity with relevant national and local stakeholders, is essential.
• Proven ability to collaborate effectively with local governments, NGOs, and community groups is required, along with proficiency in standard word processing, spreadsheet, and other computer programs.
• Strong experience to develop and implement WASH interventions at community level.
• The candidate should be qualified as a “trainer of trainers”, i.e. a person able to train other trainers in using competency-based approaches, experience in training community health providers on community health packages will be an added value.
• Demonstrated in-depth understanding of the Rwandan healthcare system.
• Fluency in Kinyarwanda and English, with strong written and oral communication skills, is a must.
• Additionally, experience working with international NGOs, government agencies, or research institutions, along with familiarity with ESSF and M&E is highly desirable.
• The candidate must also demonstrate adherence to IGCP’s values of Respect for diversity, Teamwork, Integrity, Initiative and Dedication.

HOW TO APPLY:

Should you wish to apply for this position, please submit your application PDF file that combines the following: (1) motivation letter, (2) updated CV, (3) notarized Degrees and (4) employment certificates to prove your working experience. Your application email subject should be “COMMUNITY HEALTH PROJECT OFFICER,” and submitted to the IGCP Director not later thanJuly 14, 2025 via email: hr@igcp.org with copy to jhirwa@igcp.org

SHORTLISTING

Shortlisting and interviews will be done on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Therefore, qualified and interested candidates are highly recommended to submit their applications as soon as they can. Only applicants fulfilling the above requirements will be contacted. If you do not hear from us within one month from the submission date of your application, consider your application unsuccessful.

REFERENCE & VETTING CHECK

We will require that you provide us with the full details of three people who are willing to act as a reference. We will not contact these referees without your explicit permission.

IGCP carries out rigorous background and reference checks concerning possible safeguarding incidents for all candidates. As part of safeguarding, all reference checks include a request to past employers to fill in a questionnaire regarding Misconduct (sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment).

Data Protection assurance

IGCP will not retain your Personal Data for longer than is allowed by law or is necessary for the Purposes.

If you are selected and offered employment, the Personal Data you have provided will be used by IGCP for the purpose of human resource management and administration. If you are unsuccessful on this occasion to secure employment with IGCP, IGCP will retain your Personal Data for the allowed period by laws for the purpose of considering you for other suitable positions as and when they arise. If you do not wish to be considered for other suitable positions by IGCP, please indicate accordingly in your application letter.

IGCP is an “Equal Opportunity Employer”.

IGCP is a great place to work and prides itself on its comprehensive benefits package. We offer competitive salaries and a dynamic inclusive work environment.

IGCP is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law, and requires affirmative action to ensure equality of opportunity in all aspects of employment. This is also to include inquiry about, disclosing, or discussing their compensation or the compensation of other applicants or employees.