Health Outreach Officer

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

The IRC has been present in Nigeria since 2012 when the organization responded to flooding in Kogi state. In February 2014 the IRC moved into Adamawa State in NE Nigeria to provide humanitarian interventions through a multi-sectoral, integrated approach for conflict-affected populations. IRC Nigeria now operates a country office in Abuja and field offices in Mubi and Yola of Adamawa State, Maiduguri, Monguno, and Gwoza of Borno state, Damaturu of Yobe State, Sokoto state, Zamfara (Gusau, Anka and Tsafe) and, northwest Nigeria. Currently, IRC Nigeria implements programs for primary health care, nutrition, environmental health, women’s protection and empowerment, protection, child protection, education, economic recovery, and development.

The country program developed a strategic plan in the first half of 2021. IRC aim to provide the best possible impact for some of the most vulnerable children, women, and men. In all that we do, IRC strives to deliver through IRC’s core values of Integrity, Accountability, Service and Equality.

Program overview

The Health Outreach Officer will support the implementation and expansion of quality, voluntary and client-centered family planning services through mobile outreach, community-based platforms and linkages with supported health facilities in Anka.

The position will contribute to the project's Scale OUT, Scale DEEP and Scale UP approaches by increasing access to a broad range of contraceptive methods, strengthening community-facility linkages, supporting demand generation, ensuring quality service delivery, and contributing to routine data collection, analysis and reporting.

The officer will work closely with facility teams, CHWs, community structures, LGA health authorities and the project team to ensure that outreach services are integrated into existing health systems and contribute to sustainable government-owned FP services.

Key Responsibilities

Family Planning Service Delivery

• Coordinate and support regular FP outreach activities in underserved and hard-to-reach communities.
• Ensure provision of voluntary, informed and client-centered FP counselling and services in accordance with national guidelines and program standards.
• Support access to a broad range of contraceptive methods, including short-acting methods, injectables, implants and other methods within the approved outreach package.
• Support DMPA-SC/self-injection services where applicable and ensure appropriate counselling, training, follow-up and referral.
• Strengthen linkages for long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) and other methods that cannot be provided during outreach.
• Promote integration of FP with relevant MNCH services, including postpartum family planning.
• Ensure appropriate referral and follow-up of clients requiring services beyond the outreach team's capacity.

Community Engagement and Demand Generation

• Work with CHWs, community volunteers, women's groups, youth groups, PPMVs and community leaders to increase awareness and acceptance of voluntary FP.
• Support community dialogues and social and behavior change activities addressing FP myths, misconceptions and barriers.
• Promote male engagement and adolescent-responsive FP information and referral.
• Identify underserved populations and communities with limited access to FP services.
• Strengthen community-to-facility referral and feedback mechanisms.

Outreach Planning and Coordination

• Develop outreach micro-plans in collaboration with facilities, LGA authorities and community structures.
• Participate in community/site selection based on population needs, accessibility, service utilization and unmet need.
• Coordinate logistics, staffing, commodities, equipment and supplies required for outreach sessions.
• Ensure outreach activities are conducted according to approved schedules and program standards.
• Coordinate with supported facilities to ensure continuity of care following outreach services.

Commodity and Equipment Management

• Monitor availability of FP commodities and essential outreach supplies.
• Maintain accurate records of commodities received, used, transferred and remaining in stock.
• Identify and promptly report potential stock-outs or overstocking.
• Ensure appropriate handling, storage and transportation of contraceptive commodities.
• Ensure availability and functionality of essential equipment and infection prevention supply during outreach.
• Support the program's push/pull commodity strategy for hard-to-reach communities.

Quality Assurance and Clinical Standards

• Ensure outreach services comply with national FP guidelines, IRC standards and relevant clinical protocols.
• Promote infection prevention and control practices during all outreach activities.
• Ensure privacy, confidentiality, informed consent and respectful care.
• Support appropriate counselling on method effectiveness, side effects, discontinuation and switching.
• Participate in mentorship and supportive supervision of outreach and community-based providers.
• Identify service-quality gaps and work with facility teams to implement corrective actions.

Data Collection, Reporting and Learning

• Ensure accurate and timely documentation of all FP services provided during outreach.
• Review outreach data for completeness, consistency and quality.
• Track key indicators including new FP acceptors, method mix, LARC uptake, Injectable uptake, DMPA-SC/self-injection, referrals and completed referrals, continuation/follow-up where applicable, commodity availability and stock-outs.
• Prepare regular outreach activity reports and contribute to monthly and quarterly program reports.
• Use routine data to identify performance gaps and inform program adaptation.
• Document lessons learned, success stories and promising practices.

Government and Stakeholder Engagement

• Work closely with the LGA Primary Health Care Department, facility in-charges and relevant government health personnel.
• Support integration of outreach activities into existing government health structures and plans.
• Participate in LGA coordination meetings, review meetings and technical discussions as assigned.
• Maintain effective relationships with community and technical stakeholders.
• Support efforts to strengthen government ownership and sustainability of FP services.

Safeguarding and Accountability

• Ensure all activities comply with IRC policies on safeguarding, protection, PSEA, child protection and code of conduct.
• Maintain confidentiality and protect client information.
• Ensure clients understand their rights and available feedback/complaints mechanisms.
• Report safeguarding or protection concerns through established channels.

Qualifications and Experience

Essential

• Degree or diploma in Nursing, Midwifery, Public Health, Community Health or a related health field.
• Valid professional registration/license where applicable.
• At least 2–3 years of relevant experience in primary healthcare, family planning, MNCH or community health programming.
• Experience supporting mobile outreach or community-based health services.
• Demonstrated knowledge of modern contraceptive methods and FP service delivery.
• Experience working with CHWs/community structures and government health facilities.
• Experience with routine health data collection, reporting and basic data analysis.
• Good knowledge of infection prevention and client-centered care.

Desirable

• Training/certification in LARC, FP, DMPA-SC/self-injection, PPFP or other relevant FP competencies.
• Experience working in humanitarian, fragile or hard-to-reach settings.
• Experience with supportive supervision and mentorship.
• Experience working with government/LGA health systems.
• Knowledge of DHIS2/HMIS or other health information systems.
• Previous experience with IRC or similar humanitarian programs.

Languages

• Fluency in English and Hausa is highly desirable.
• Knowledge of relevant local languages in Anka is an advantage.

Computer / Other Tech Requirements: Full professional competency in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint. 

Ability to Travel: 10% ability to travel to field locations.                            

Professional Standards: All International Rescue Committee workers must adhere to the core values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. Our Standards are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Safeguarding, Conflicts of Interest, Fiscal Integrity, and Reporting Wrongdoing and Protection from Retaliation. IRC is committed to take all necessary preventive measures and create an environment where people feel safe, and to take all necessary actions and corrective measures when harm occurs. IRC builds teams of professionals who promote critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity to deliver the best possible services to our clients.

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