Assignment description - Australian Red Cross

Assignment descriptionInformation contained in this Assignment Description is subject to change, as host organisations’ needs evolve.Australian Red Cross will work closely with host organisations and volunteers to ensure that key outcomes of rolesare updated as regularly as possible.1. General detailsPosition titleAdvertising titleName of host organisationCountryLocationDurationCommunity Based Health Development TechnicalAdviser (CBHDTA)Community Health AdviserCambodian Red CrossCambodiaPhnom Penh, with travel to target provinces12 months with possible extensionProposed start date September 2013Pre departure training date 12-15 August 2013Assignment codeKH532. Overview of programAustralian Volunteers for International Development (AVID) is an Australian Government, AusAID initiative tosend volunteers overseas. The program is delivered by Australian Red Cross and other agencies.Volunteer assignments are designed to enhance capacity within overseas host organisations. They are alignedwith the aid priorities of the Australian Government and its partner governments in developing countries, aswell as the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.The AVID program covers volunteers’ airfares, accommodation, living allowances, training, insurance, healthand security.3. Overview of organisation & assignmentFounded in 1955, the Cambodian Red Cross (CRC) is the largest humanitarian organisation in the country. It isthe auxiliary to the Royal Government of Cambodia for humanitarian work and works closely with allcomponents of the Red Cross and Red Crescent movement, relevant UN agencies, government and nongovernmentorganisations.The organisation has a network of 24 branches covering all provinces and cities in the country and as amember of the Red Cross and Red Crescent movement, works closely with the International Federation of RedCross, the International Committee of Red Cross and bilateral partner national societies to provide muchneededprograms in the fields of disaster management, health and care in community, together with thepromotion of the movement’s fundamental principles and humanitarian values. Some 11,077 Red Crossvolunteers and 14,676 Red Cross youth work at community level in every village throughout Cambodia toAVID volunteer assignment description form – Sep 2012 Page 1 of 4

support and implement many of these programs and projects.www.redcross.org.khOverview of the programThe CRC HIV Program was established mid 1995, with technical and financial support from Australian RedCross. It started with a HIV and AIDS community education targeting general population and then it moved tomen with high risk behaviour and young people, including uniformed personnel and students. Over the yearsthe program has focused on at risk and infected and affected populations plus people living with HIV/AID,orphans and vulnerable children and casino workers.Since 2008, HIV and AIDS work in Cambodia has slowed down due to its success in combating and reducing HIVprevalence to 0.8% among the general population. Cambodia is recognised by the UN as a success country incombating HIV and AIDS. Since 2009, the CRC HIV Program has been focussing its effort in implementing thecommunity based health development program (CBHD). This program includes mother and child health, harmreduction, water and sanitation and HIV prevention messages. The program team is made up of a programmanager, admin and finance officer and two former admin and finance staff who now work as technicalofficers.The CRC HIV Program requires an AVID volunteer to advise and support the two technical staff at nationalheadquarters. The volunteer will also undertake some travel to target provinces to support CRC branch levelstaff.Overview of the AVID assignmentThe AVID volunteer will assist the HIV department to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of its maternalchild health program outcomes. The focus of the assignment is for the volunteer to provide mentoring and onthe-jobtraining to maternal child health program staff focusing on sharing skills and knowledge in all aspects ofproject design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.The volunteer will work closely with at least two program staff from national headquarters and at least withfive Red Cross branch staff and selected volunteers.The volunteer will:• Provide support and expertise to increase the effectiveness of maternal child health and communitybasedhealth programs, in line with CRC priorities, strategies and work plans• Mentor, advise and support CRC CBHD staff in project design and management including monitoringand evaluation; project result analysis and report writing4. Expected outputs and key relationshipsThe key expected outputs of this assignment are:1. CRC’s program staff more confident in performing technical aspects of the CBHD project2. Better M&E system and in particular better reporting to donors and CRC leadership, with at least a 5-day training on M&E to RCV team leaders from the target provinces (25 participants)3. At least one new project design and a proposal developed for submission to donorsVolunteer’s supervisorCounterpart / other staffHIV Program Manager/ART Network ChairpersonMultiple department members5. Volunteer requirementsAVID volunteer assignment description form – Sep 2012 Page 2 of 4

Essential: Personal attributesEssential: Skills or experience relevantto assignment• Self awareness and cross-cultural sensitivity• Commitment to sharing knowledge and skills• Flexibility and adaptability• Resilience and ability to manage stress• Experience in public/community health project design andimplementation• Experience in proposal development• Experience in mentoring and training diverse teams of healthprofessionalsQualifications • Studies in public health/community health programmingLanguage skills and level required • Willingness to learn basic Khmer• Experience with community based health, including mother andchild health, community hygiene educationDesirable: Further attributes,• Experiences with M&Eexperience, skills or qualifications • First aid certificate• Experience working with Red Cross Red Crescent or otherhumanitarian aid organisations6. Location and facilitiesThe volunteer will be based at the headquarters of Cambodian Red Cross (CRC) in Phnom Penh, but will berequired to travel to branches in the selected provinces. The volunteer will travel by CRC vehicle and beaccompanied by CRC staff during these visits (using CRC’s financial guideline USD23 per day to cover threemeals and accommodation).Phnom Penh is a small but growing urban city, it has a pleasant living environment and offers a good range ofservices, which include electricity, phone, internet, shops, banking, medical, recreation and entertainment.Travel to and from work each day will be by tuk tuk, bicycle, on foot or by motorbike taxi, which are the mostcommon means of transport around Phnom Penh. Volunteers must wear a motorbike helmets if usingmotorbikes for transport.There is five staff on site and the volunteer will share office space with two other staff members. A workstationwill be provided to the volunteer including a desk, computer, networked printer and internet access. A sharedoffice phone is available however is strictly for work related use. Staff and volunteers are expected to utilisetheir own phone for any personal matters.Please bear in mind the CRC HIV program office space is fine for people with disabilities, but access to theoffice questionable as the office is based on the second floor and normally staff have to walk via the steps. Thelift normally does not work.7. Assignment supportAll AVID volunteers are provided with the following:• Return airfares to country of assignment• Fortnightly living allowance (based on cost of living, adjusted for urban and rural areas)• Accommodation allowance• Pre-departure training and in-country orientation (including language training where necessary)• Travel and life insurance• Health & security support (including 24-hour emergency contact)• In-country contact pointFor more information visit www.redcross.org.au/support-and-preparation.aspxOther support mechanismsAVID volunteer assignment description form – Sep 2012 Page 3 of 4

• Two week in-country orientation• A comprehensive induction plan will be provided by CRC HIV program, including an overview of CRCactivities• Scheduled feedback to and from HIV Program Manager• Quarterly review of progress made by volunteer with supervisor and ARC AVID Country Manager8. Local culture and languageCambodia is a mainly Buddhist society and religious ceremonies are frequent. Young people should respectelderly people. Please respect the courtesies and customs in and around temples and religious sites. Pleasenote that Cambodians consider the head an important part of the body. Usually, other peoples’ head can’t betouched by other persons except by close family members; long time friends or by an elder to a young child.The capital Phnom Penh is rapidly ‘westernising’ as are many of the larger towns, however rural areas remainvery traditional. There is significant urban drift and large differences in economic situation from rural to urbanenvironments. Volunteers are strongly encouraged to undertake individual research about Cambodia and itshistory and culture before arrival..Main language(s) spoken in the communityMain language(s) spoken in the workplaceKhmerKhmer and English9. Health and safetyMany developing country contexts are challenging. You will face different, usually higher, physical and mentalhealth risks than at home. As an Australian Volunteer for International Development, you will be required tohave a good level of fitness, health and resilience.You may be required to live and work in basic facilities and use local public transport. You may not be able toaccess the range or high quality of health services and facilities you are used to, and may not have ready accessto a tertiary hospital, specialist doctors, or reliable supplies of your usual medication.If you have a pre-existing health condition which requires ongoing treatment and regular medical checks,especially if it involves a risk of a medical emergency, consider carefully whether this type of work isappropriate for you. Seek early advice from your own treating doctor, ensure your condition is optimallycontrolled, and update your health management plan with your doctor prior to starting the Australian RedCross Health clearance process. For many pre-existing conditions, we will require a detailed medical reportfrom your treating doctor. Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns.For further information refer to www.smarttraveller.gov.au.10. Child protectionAustralian Red Cross is a child-safe organisation and is committed to the prevention of abuse and neglect ofchildren and young people. As part of the recruitment process, all candidates will be screened and assessed forsuitability to work with children.Volunteers must make themselves aware of Section 6.9 of the AVID Code of Conduct and associated policiesand documents.AVID volunteer assignment description form – Sep 2012 Page 4 of 4