📄 Terms of Reference
🏷️ Job Title:
Project Officer
🏗️ Project Title:
The Laos Maternal Child Health Nutrition (LMCHN)
⏳ Performance Period:
September 1, 2023, to March 30, 2026
📍 Place of Assignment:

• Based in Houn District, Oudomxay Province (1 position)

🏢 Organization
Gender Development Association (GDA)
GDA is a leading Gender Rights Non-Profit Association working in Lao PDR since 1991. GDA empowers women, gender-diverse individuals, and people with disabilities to achieve gender equity through collective action, knowledge sharing, and combating gender-based violence and discrimination.

📋 About the Project
USAID awarded a five-year Cooperative Agreement (No. 72043921CA00001) for the Laos Maternal Child Health Nutrition (LMCHN) Project to JSI. The project aims to improve health and nutrition outcomes among pregnant/postpartum women, newborns, children, and adolescents.

Intermediate Result (IR):
IR4: Improved community engagement and responses for reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health and nutrition.

The IR4 objective is to enhance community engagement, health knowledge, awareness, and behavioral change to improve the utilization of health services, particularly primary health care services.

🎯 Purpose
The Project Officer will work closely with the Project Manager to ensure effective project implementation, liaising with government partners, target communities, and stakeholders, including INGOs and Lao CSOs. Key activities will focus on community-led solutions (CLS) and Model and Mentor Families (MMF) training, consultations, awareness-raising events, and monitoring activities.

🛠️ Key Responsibilities

1. Lead project implementation and ensure alignment with plans.
2. Collaborate with the team and government counterparts to update activity work plans and oversee logistics.
3. Address day-to-day operational challenges and support team activities.
4. Participate in monthly project staff meetings, share progress, and attend relevant events.
5. Share knowledge and support broader GDA activities during staff meetings.
6. Work with the GDA Communication Officer to create and disseminate project visibility materials.
7. Support monitoring, evaluation, and compliance with donor requirements.
8. Develop weekly and monthly work plans with the GDA team.
9. Prepare and submit activity reports to the Project Manager, Program Coordinator, Director, or donors.
10. Draft quarterly and semi-annual reports within the required timeframe.

🎓 Desired Qualifications and Key Competencies

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in political science, economics, international development, nutrition studies, social science, or a related field.
• Skills: Strong interpersonal, coordination, communication, and facilitation skills.
• Experience: Knowledge of project cycle management and implementation, with demonstrated experience managing activities.
• Subject Matter: Knowledge of nutrition and maternal-child health (e.g., first 1,000 days).
• Teamwork: Proven ability to work effectively in teams and support staff.
• Language: Local language skills (e.g., Hmong, Khmu, Akha) are an advantage.

📩 Application Submission
Submit your application by 06 December 2024, including:

• CV (with 2 referees)
• Motivation letter

Send via email (PDF format) to:
📧 info@gdalaos.org
📧 cc: sumaly93@gmail.com
Email Title: Application – LMCHN Project Officer (Base Location: [Specify])

📞 Contact Information
For inquiries, contact:
Angsoumaly Saphakdy
📧 Email: sumaly93@gmail.com
📞 Tel: +85620 99599783