John Snow Health Zambia, Limited 

USAID Controlling HIV Epidemic for Key and Underserved Populations (CHEKUP II) Activity

 JOB DESCRIPTION

Position: Peer Promoter – Paralegal

Location: Kabwe, Kapiri Mposhi, Kasama, Chipata, Nakonde, Lusaka & Chirundu

Category: Full-Time position

Reports to: Wellness Centre Coordinator

Background: 

John Snow Health Limited (JSH), a public health organization dedicated to improving the provision of public health services in Zambia and the region, is recruiting for a Peer Promoter (trained in paralegal) for the USAID-funded Controlling HIV Epidemic for Key and Underserved Populations (CHEKUP II). CHEKUP II aims to address the needs of people living with HIV (PLHIV) and those most at risk of acquiring HIV and contribute to HIV mitigation and epidemic control. The program seeks to improve the health outcomes of key populations in the highest HIV-burden provinces of Zambia.

Position Summary:

Peer Promoters (Trained in paralegal) are positioned to undertake a community-wide approach in solving justice problems affecting key population members. The Peer Promoters will be directly involved in community education, empowering key and underserved populations to develop self-reliance with respect to their legal problems and human rights.

Responsibilities:

• Provide justice needs to Key population members at the Wellness Centre
• Work to meet the unmet needs of marginalized, vulnerable and underserved populations
• Recognize and attempt to address illegalities that reflect widespread injustices or human rights violations
• Strengthen the capacities of key population communities and community members to understand and act on their rights
• Promote advocacy from within Key population communities, while taking leadership in policy and legal reform, as necessary
• Collaborate with a range of actors, including community development groups, human rights organizations, law enforcement officers and legal clinics
• Improve access to justice and offer integrated services to key populations that include education and advocacy, as well as mediation, negotiation and legal advice. In addition to offering services to individual clients, empower communities to help change conditions so that there are fewer individual injustices in the future
• Create a complaint and help desk at the Wellness Centre for KP members to access legal services
• Help KP communities learn about their basic human rights, alternative mechanisms for protecting and promoting these rights, and the skills necessary for realizing them
• Work with underprivileged and marginalized communities
• Promote KP community leadership engagement in the evidence based human rights response and relevant strategic planning at the Wellness Centre
• Collect, collate, and submit program data on priority indicators for the KP interventions in line with program timelines
• Ensure availability of SOPs at the Wellness Centers
• Demonstrates effective collaboration  and problem-solving skills when working with other stakeholders
• Adhere to JSH personnel, financial, operations and fraud management policies.
• Participate in any other tasks as requested by supervisor and/or CHEKUP II management

Knowledge, abilities, skills required:

1. Essential

• An empathetic, devoted and respectful individual with good interpersonal communication, team building, and writing skills
• MUST read and write English and be able to speak the language of his/her community and be accepted by the key population
• Must be aware of harm reduction and demonstrate ability to become more knowledgeable in harm reduction and related interventions for the key population
• Should be honest, respectful, polite and trustworthy
• MUST accept to work in diverse working environments

2.  Knowledgeable of the criminal justice system in Zambia

• Has basic knowledge of the law, the legal system and its procedures, and has basic legal skills
• Has skills and knowledge on alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, including mediation, conflict resolution, and negotiation
• Is able to communicate ideas and information to community members using interactive teaching methods
• MUST have working relationships with local authorities and service delivery agencies
• Has community organizing skills that can be used to empower communities to address systematic problems on their own in the future

Qualifications: 

• Minimum of Grade 12 certificate
• Certificate in a paralegal course from a recognized institution. Diploma in law will be an added advantage
• The incumbent will have a demonstrated experience in working with key populations
• Possess the ability to work flexible and extended hours.
• Have the ability to interact effectively and professionally with persons from diverse cultural, socioeconomic, education, racial, ethnic and professional backgrounds
• Possess a strong desire to make a positive impact in the lives of others
• A KP individual will be an added advantage

Supervision and Reporting: 

The Peer Promoter will work under the guidance and supervision of the Wellness Centre Coordinator.