Development Worker as Advisor (m/f/d) for nursing instruction at Health Science College in Nekemte

Job Description

As a federal enterprise, GIZ supports the German Government in achieving its objectives in the field of international cooperation for sustainable development.

With the dispatch of qualified specialists as development workers, GIZ contributes to the sustainable improvement of living conditions of people in developing and transition countries.

The Ethiopian Government has invested significantly in the health sector to improve health care at all levels. Biomedical equipment is increasingly used whereby its application shall be part of the training of health professionals. However, pre- and in-service training of nurses is not yet focusing on practical aspects and much biomedical equipment in hospitals is not used and maintained adequately. The Nekemte Health Science College has started to apply interactive teaching in various specialized fields but wishes to expand this further, with a special focus on the practical application of biomedical equipment for nurses. By supporting their training, nurses and other health staff will gain experience and competence to properly use and apply biomedical equipment at bedside and thus improve health care in the region. You will coordinate, supervise and work alongside the local staff in your area of responsibility in collaboration with the college staff and the Senior Management Team. Furthermore, there will be close collaboration with the Nekemte Specialized Hospital as a teaching hospital and its attached biomedical workshop, and the Nekemte Polytechnic College.

• Advising the Health Science College with regards to organization of the practical training at the college and the practical training in associated hospitals (Nekemte Specialized Hospital and selected others training sites)
• Advising on the management of appropriate training equipment
• Design of complementary training components for nurses on appropriate use of biomedical equipment (e.g. suction unit, thermal bed for newborns, tocograph) for their continuous professional development
• Design of training components for continuous education of the College’s teaching staff in didactics (teaching methodologies and aids, motivating students, encouraging analytical thinking)
• Further development of the already existing preceptor training (designed by JHPIEGO, an international non-profit health organization affiliated with Johns Hopkins University) for the instruction of clinical preceptors and development of complementary teaching aids or introduction of existent ones to the college staff, also in line with JHPIEGO implementation of teaching skills trainings
• Supervision of teaching of other instructors and occasional teaching of nursing students (“leading by positive example”)
• Fostering network formation among local/regional stakeholders involved in nursing education
• Contributing to monitoring and knowledge management, therefore working closely with the GIZ Programme as well as the college management and the regional health authorities

• Licensed nursing instructor / registered nurse with additional qualification in pedagogy
• Long-standing practical working experience as a nurse plus many years teaching experience, including design of training components
• Strong propensity for teaching
• Enjoying supporting and fostering the professional growth of national instructor team members in a local environment
• Good communication skills, intercultural competences, diplomatic skills and a genuine interest in development cooperation
• Overseas working experience, in particular in a low/middle income country is an asset, especially working experience in Ethiopia
• Good English knowledge (written and oral); knowledge of the local language Oromo would be an asset, at least willingness to learn

Nekemte is a small university town in the Oromia Region in Ethiopia, around 300 km west of Addis Abeba. The population is approximately 110,000. The town is at 2088 m altitude and the climate is mild and generally warm with an average annual temperature of 17 degrees Celcius. Nekemte has several universities and colleges. Local shops cover most of day-to-day needs. The road to Addis is generally in good condition. Nekemte Health Science College is one of four health colleges in Oromia Region. Current staff numbers include 47 teaching and 50 administrative staff and altogether there are about 1,500 students (pre- and in-service). The college is located in close walking distance to Nekemte Referral Hospital where the GIZ programme also works.

The security situation requires increased alertness. There are special security risk mitigation measures applying to GIZ staff on-site. All staff must follow GIZ security instructions at any time. Please also read up on county-specific advice provided by the German Federal Foreign Office.

Duty station is Addis Ababa with frequent (70%) travels to the project site in Nekemte, Western Oromia Region, where the partner organization is based.

GIZ’s Development Service is looking forward to applications of candidates with a professional qualification and / or university degree and at least two years of professional experience. In addition you hold the German nationality or the nationality of a member state of the European Union.

Please understand that we can accept and process in principle only applications via our E-recruiting system. Following the confirmation of your succesful application, kindly check your spam / junk mail folder on a regular basis, since some provider classify emails form our recruiting system as spam.

You can get an overview of our benefits packages here.

About the Organization

We offer the opportunity to work in an innovative and worldwide operating institution related to development policy. Your competencies and qualifications are demanded on the spot in an interdisciplinary team. You advise governmental and civil society organizations at local or municipal level. The Development Service of GIZ offers a comprehensive service package. It includes a specific technical and personal preparation. The basis for the deployment of specialists in the development service is the German Development Workers Act (EhfG).