Officer – Policy And Communications, Astha | Swisscontact Bangladesh

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Responsibilities & Context
Swisscontact was established in 1959 as an independent foundation by notable figures from the worlds of commerce and science in Switzerland. It is exclusively involved in international development cooperation and has carried out its own and mandated projects since 1961. Based in Zurich, Swisscontact currently employs over 1,400 staff worldwide and manages 117 projects in 39 countries on behalf of public and private donors.

Access to healthcare in rural communities is a major concern in Bangladesh primarily due to the dearth of skilled healthcare workforce. There are alarmingly 0.66 healthcare providers per 1000 population in the country while the WHO recommendation is 2.28 per 1000 population. The project “Achieving Sustainability Towards Healthcare Access” (ASTHA; formerly known as TARSAN) was introduced in 2011 to address this gap. Jointly funded by Novartis, Julius Baer Foundation and Swisscontact, the project aims to improve access to quality healthcare service at the rural level through the development of skilled Community Paramedics.

ASTHA is currently in Phase III (January 2023 to December 2026) which will emphasise on business viability of Community Paramedic Training Institutes

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

A. Policy and advocacy:

  • Conduct analysis of public sector stakeholders to understand their willingness and capacity to promote Community Paramedic course and profession;
  • Maintain liaison with relevant government stakeholders to advocate for project agenda;
  • Conduct systemic reviews of healthcare policies and suggest areas of improvement to promote opportunities for Community Paramedics; and
  • Maintain working relationships with relevant associations, private sector stakeholders, development partners, field offices and other project partners.

Requirements

Education: At least a bachelor’s degree in Development Studies, Communications, Business or any other relevant discipline

Experience: 1 to 2 years

Additional Requirements

  • The individual must demonstrate that he/she has the following knowledge and can perform the essential functions, with or without regular supervision, using a combination of knowledge, skills and experience:
  • Passionate and committed to developing a career in the development of communication;
  • 1-2 years of professional work experience, preferably in policy and communications;
  • Excellent report writing, content development and design skills;
  • Experience in working with government officials, NGO/INGOs, press, private sector, commercial/ media and donor agencies;
  • Excellent computer literacy in MS Office package and graphic designing software e.g. i.e. Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects etc.
  • Ability to work in a team to deliver within deadlines in a dynamic and fast-paced work environment.