Job Description

District Community Engagement Officer (DCEO)

The District Community Engagement Officer will lead community mobilization efforts for HPV vaccine uptake across selected union councils in targeted districts of AJK (Bhimber, Kotli-ISB, Mirpur). This role involves coordinating with partner CSOs, CBOs, and various community stakeholders to implement culturally tailored demand generation activities and support SBCC plans to increase vaccine acceptance.

Locations: Bhimber / Kotli ISB / Mirpur (3 Officers per district)
Functional Role: Ensures execution of HPV vaccine demand generation activities

Reporting Line Manager: Regional Coordinator -AJK

 Key Responsibilities:

•  Support CRPs to Identify, assess, and train partner CSOs/CBOs to lead community mobilization for HPV vaccine uptake.
•  Oversee capacity building activities for CSOs to implement demand generation interventions.
•  Revitalize and train the community health committees to address vaccine hesitancy and refer refusal cases to EPI centers.
•  Supervise SBCC activities involving CRPs, volunteers, religious leaders, and teachers to conduct culturally tailored awareness sessions in mosques, schools, and community spaces.
•  Collaborate with formal/informal schools and madrasas to sensitize girls (9-14 years), parents, and teachers on HPV vaccination.
•  Arrange monthly/quarterly forums with health authorities, education officers, and religious leaders to share data and address resistance.
•  Lead communication strategies to promote HPV Vaccination among adolescents, their parents and caregivers.
•  Ensure and achieve 100% coverage of the targeted UCs with SBCC activities.
•  Track the progress, document challenges, and report on community feedback.

 Required Experience:

• Minimum 3–5 years of relevant experience in community mobilization, public health outreach, or social behavior change communication (SBCC), preferably in vaccination programs or health campaigns.
• Prior experience in conducting or supervising awareness sessions in schools, mosques, and community centers.
• Having a working experience with multi-stakeholder forums including religious leaders, teachers, and local health/education authorities.
• Knowledge of and experience in working within the cultural and social context of AJK, particularly in Bhimber, Kotli-ISB, or Mirpur, is highly desirable.

 Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Public Health administration, masters in Social Sciences, Education related field.
• Training or certification in SBCC, health promotion, or community health is desirable.

 Required Skills

• Strong community mobilization and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to engage diverse community stakeholders.
• Demonstrated capacity for training and mentoring CSOs/CBOs and local volunteers.
• Excellent organizational and coordination skills to manage multi-stakeholder engagements and monthly/quarterly forums.
• Ability to analyze community feedback, track progress, and document challenges for reporting.
• Familiarity with EPI programs and approaches to addressing vaccine hesitancy.
• Proficient in report writing and maintaining detailed records of community outreach and feedback.
• Cultural sensitivity and fluency in local languages/dialects of AJK.
• Willingness to travel extensively within assigned districts and UCs.