District DREAMS Ambassadors

Duty Stations: Chipinge, Mutare, Makoni, Mangwe, Mazowe, Gweru, Bulawayo, Beitbridge, & Gwanda

Contract duration: Fixed Term

CeSHHAR Zimbabwe is an organization that specializes in sexual health, HIV and AIDS research in Zimbabwe. CeSHHAR in collaboration with the MOHCC and NAC is implementing a National Sex Work Programme aimed at reducing HIV acquisition and transmission among female, male and transgender sex workers thereby reducing HIV transmission and acquisition to and from their clients. Low consistent condom use, risk of drug use and increasing transactional sex are some of the common reasons that put these key populations at risk of acquiring STI and HIV infection. Therefore, reaching these populations and increasing awareness and access to STI & HIV prevention, testing and treatment services are fundamental to reducing transmission of STI and HIV infections.

Job role and responsibilities

The District DREAMS Ambassador will be a Young Woman Selling Sex between the ages of 16-24 years responsible for coordinating and implementing DREAMS activities at district level. She will implement a consolidated plan for DREAMS activities to expand the engagement of Young Women Selling Sex (YWSS)and increase their access to layered services. The Ambassador shall refer YWSS for various services depending on assessed and communicated needs to increase the safety and empowerment of YWSS within communities. The DREAMS Ambassador shall promote DREAMS on various platforms directly and virtually for sexual and GBV risk-reduction and prevention respectively. She will also be expected to participate in staff meetings and provide weekly updates on activities carried out. Screening and enrolling YWSS into the DREAMS programme.

Deliverable #1 DREAMS programme Implementation

• Mobilize Young Women Selling Sex (YWSS) for primary and secondary services;
• Provide support to the utilization of SRH / Clinical services by YWSS as the link between the community and the facilities;
• Participate in screening of YWSS for enrolment into DREAMS;
• Organize DREAMS district level high volume events with the assistance from the Outreach Workers / Junior Outreach Workers/Economic Strengthening Officer and Point of Contact (POC);
• Market DREAMS during organized events and in informal settings to peers, serving as positive role models and mentors while cascading messages of hope to peers in their localities;
• Generating public awareness of DREAMS and advocate on issues affecting other YWSS during DREAMS meetings (at district and provincial levels for both monthly and quarterly meetings);
• Inform and advise the program basing on her lived experiences and community experiences;
• Facilitation of YWSS sessions working closely with Outreach Workers/Junior Outreach Workers/Economic Strengthening Officers and Microplanners;
• Participate in program Information Education and Communication material development;
• Serving as positive role models and mentors while cascading messages of hope to peers in their localities;
• Assist with identification and documentation of most significant change Stories from YWSS DREAMS-linked activities;
• Convene quarterly DREAMS Ambassadors’ symposiums/meetings with the assistance of Outreach worker / Junior Outreach Workers / Economic Strengthening Officers and the POC.

Deliverable #2 Monitoring and Evaluation

• Weekly reporting of DREAMS activities;
• Tracking referrals and documentation;
• Verification of YWSS beneficiaries (conducting routine follow-ups), working closely with DREAMS microplanners.

Deliverable #3: Liaise with partners and stakeholders

• Build functional relationships with local leaders, partners, communities, parents/caregivers, Young Women Selling Sex, line ministries and other community health workers (CHW);
• Conduct sensitization meetings on DREAMS for communities and stakeholders;
• Collaborate and network with Child Protection Committees, District Victim Friendly Unit and other NGO/ GBV partners at community level through scheduled formal and informal meetings and other discussion forums.

Qualifications and experience

• This is a community–based post that requires a Young Woman Selling Sex (YWSS) aged between 16-26 who has completed DREAMS or has experience as a DREAMS Ambassador.
• Have received 3 or more services from both the primary and the secondary package (that is, across consortiums) for at least 6 months.
• Out of school and have completed ‘O’ levels.
• Experience in peer education/ microplanning and working with Young Women Selling Sex (YWSS) in communities is vital.
• Experience in community engagement methods with good inter-personal communication skills.