Wednesday, November 19, 2014

CHOICES staff Orientation

This week from 17-21 November, in Pursat, CHOICES Project staff are busy joining the orientation workshop.

Here are some photos from the workshop.

Analysis by timeline



Experiencing what it is like to be a community member trying to learn by listening, by watching and by doing.

Researching about nutrition







 3 Food group chart - food that is available in Pursat

Food that is available in the village:
 Food that is eaten in the village
Conclusion - there is a lot of healthy and nutritious food available in the village, but most of it is not eaten.

The project challenge: how can we help the families in the village learn to eat the healthy and nutritious food that they have available?

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Data Entry for Baseline Survey of CHOICES

On the 11 September, 2014, Ung Sophal, ADRA Cambodia's IT officer arrived at ADRA Cambodia's office in Pursat in order to manage and set up data entry for the baseline survey. He set up the anthropocentric data entry form in a program WHO and the survey entry form designed in EpiInfo data 3.1. This program is freeware, simple and can be imported to several data analysis program such as SPSS and Excel. Once Sophal finished setting up these systems, then data entry was started working with all the survey forms filled by the baseline survey field team. Sochetra, Agriculuture intern, is entering the anthropocentric survey data as well as the information on family information and nutritional foods for children. Two other persons were hired locally to work on baseline survey data entry on all other parts of the survey including the WASH, migration and savings data, etc.

Sochetra is entering anthropometric data at the CHOICES project office
Veasna, ADRA Cambodia's M& E Coordinator, coaching Dan on how to work for baseline survey data entry

Friday, September 5, 2014

Baseline Training and Field Work

On the second of September 2014, Veasna, ADRA Cambodia's Monitoring and Evaluation for Learning Coordinator, with support from Lim Sophorn, also an ADRA staff from Phnom Penh, lead in baseline survey training at ADRA's office in Pursat province. The training took place over one day. The baseline survey training for CHOICES gave an overview of the project to the interviewers and supervisors to understand the purpose of the baseline and introduced the questionnaire to measure the baseline on nutrition, sanitation & hygiene, migration and savings group for project indicators.

The survey is being conducting in 30 clusters throughout the CHOICES target area of 60 villages in Bakan district. Survey questions will be asked of parents of children under 5 years old. Questions are about nourished children, sanitation & hygiene. The fieldwork will be done over 12 days excluding Saturday.

Here are some pictures from the training and field work:

Training at the ADRA office in Pursat

Survey training at the office.
Sophorn training how to measure using measure boards borrowed from UNICEF.

Sophorn and Veasna demonstrating how to measure a child who can stand.
Sophorn weighing a child held safely in his mother's arms. The new CHOICES project scales purchased from UNICEF have a TARE function that calculates the weight of the mother first and then calculates the child's weight when she picks him up.  This results in less human error and happier babies and children!

Sophorn measuring the arm circumfrance of the same child.

With community members during field testing

Sophat with community members during field testing.

The baseline survey team (including Health Center staff who are assisting)


This quantitative survey and collection of anthropometric data is the first part of the baseline.  It will be followed by qualitative data collection through participatory evaluations.

Introduction of CHOICES project staff

To implement ADRA Cambodia's CHOICES for Children project in Bakan District, Pursat province within 60 villages over five years, ADRA has selected and hired a team of staff. To hire the staff, the BWASH Project Manager in Pursat worked with the Country Director, Associate Director, and Human Resources Coordinator. Over the past two months staff were selected to lead and take action for CHOICES activities, and here is the team:

CHOICES project staff
No
Employee Name
Sex
Field Staff
1
Rith Saray
M
Project Manager
2
Somanac Sophearom
F
Assistant Project Manager - Reflect/ LTP
3
Nhoem Sophat
M
Monitoring and Evaluation for Learning Officer
4
Hun Yourm
Community Development Facilitator - Nutrition
5
Kim Din
F
Community Development Facilitator - Nutrition/Migration - On Loan from Kompong Thom
6
Dot Boran
F
Community Development Facilitator - Vocational
7
Lai Monyrath
F
Community Development Facilitator - Vocational
8
Yim Huoch
F
Community Development Facilitator - Reflect Women/DRR
9
Um Buntha
F
Community Development Facilitator - Reflect Children
10
Lach Kovido
M
Community Development Facilitator - Reflect Men
11
Chhum Chanthoeun
M
Agriculture Coordinator
12
Horn Channin
M
Agriculture Field Staff
13
Hang Chetra
M
Agriculture Intern
14
Sreng Keo
F
Agriculture Field Staff - On loan from Kompong Thom
15
Ros Marady
F
Finance Assistant - shared with Pursat projects
16
Sambat Panhgnachanthou
F
Administrative assistant - shared with Pursat projects
17
Lim Chhan
M
Guard - shared with Pursat projects
18
Oeur Kly
M
Guard - shared with Pursat projects
19
Kai Punny
F
Cleaner - shared with Pursat Projects

Friday, July 25, 2014

CHOICES Orientation

CHOICES is not just an acronym to the project staff working in Pursat anymore. After 4 days of participatory activities, the name, goal and outcomes roll right off the tongue! Outputs are visualized and action plans laid for the next 6 months.  

Can you guess what the outcomes are about by looking at these pictures from charades? 

Outcome 1


 Outcome 2

 Outcome 3

Monday, July 14, 2014

Computers

Ung Sophal, the IT Officer, has reviewed computers in stock and has made a computer plan for the new and replacement computers over the 5 year project life.

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Staff Recruitment

The CHOICES project staff recruitment has started the process of selecting a strong team of staff based on skills, ability and experience. Staff recruitment is lead by the Human Resources Coordinator, Mr. Menh Kithsak, and involves the BWASH Project Manager, Mr Sok Sam Ol and Country and Associate Directors, Mark Schwisow and Ann Stickle.

Initial staff selection began during the project design phase where staff working in the previous ANCP funded ALIVE project were matched to similar positions in the CHOICES project where their knowledge, skills and interests best fit. After CHOICES began on July 1, these positions were approved by relevant committee on July 3.

The next phase of staff recruitment of new project staff also began during the previous ALIVE project where position ads were written up along with positions for two related projects in Pursat and posted on the BongThom.com website, at all ADRA offices and given to CAM to share through their network of churches. The initial application deadline of June 30 was extended to July 4 after it was known that the announcement had not yet been shared through the CAM network of churches.

CVs were reviewed the week of July 7 and the interview process also will begin this same week. The Project Management team is expected to be finalized by July 18 and will work on the recruitment of all the remaining positions.

Thursday, June 19, 2014

Job Advertisements Posted

Job Advertisements


The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) Cambodia is looking for Cambodian nationals to fill vacant positions in Bakan district, Pursat province. A specific description of each position follows:

1.      Project Manager (1 position)

Major Responsibilities: To provide management oversight of project implementation to reach project overall objectives and goals. To be a leader who scans, focuses, aligns and inspires towards facilitation of effective community development. To manage planning, organizing, implementation and monitoring and evaluation with technical and support teams. To communicate with administration management and support teams in managing the project and office. To liaise with government, NGO and community partners. To represent a lifestyle and work ethic consistent with ADRA Cambodia's philosophy, standards and policies. 

Qualifications & Experience: 
·      At least 4 years prior working experience in WASH, Livelihoods and Nutrition project managerial experience in community development programs.
·      WASH, Community Development or Health Related degree [MPH preferred]
·      Knowledge of participatory methods for rural community development
·      Strong communication skills in Khmer and English
·      Practical computer skills in e-mail, Word and Excel software.
·      Skills in diplomacy and networking
·      Ability to facilitate creative planning teamwork and make decisions involving supervisors and partners as needed.

2.      Assistant Project Manager in charge of MEL (1 position)

Major responsibilities: To support the project manager by providing monitoring and evaluation oversight and tracking of project activities compared to project targets. To be a leader who scans, focuses, aligns and inspires the staff team. To plan, organize and implement a monitoring and evaluation framework and data management system in cooperation with field staff. To liaise with government, NGO and community partners and assist in project management and financial roles when needed. To represent a lifestyle and work ethic consistent with ADRA Cambodia's philosophy, standards and policies. 

Qualification and Experience
·      At least 3 years prior work experience in monitoring and evaluation and or project managerial experience in community development programs.
·      Agriculture, Health, Community Development, Evaluation or other related degree.
·      Proven knowledge and experience in evaluation or project management.
·      Strong communication skills in Khmer and English.
·      Strong ability in report writing.
·      Computer skills in e-mail, Word, Excel and other data management software.
·      Skills in diplomacy and networking.
·      Ability to facilitate creative planning teamwork.

3.      Community Development Facilitator-Nutrition (1 position)


Major Responsibilities:
Select, train, coach and support community volunteers to facilitate learning sessions and conduct awareness sessions in community learning groups on health and nutrition including child growth monitoring. Raise awareness of female and male household members on nutrition impacting diseases and prevention methods and management.  Duties include planning and coaching community volunteers to facilitate community based nutrition rehabilitation sessions for boys and girls, documenting best practices, working with partners, monitoring, planning for activities and reporting. Represent a lifestyle and work ethic consistent with ADRA Cambodia's philosophy, standards and policies. 

Qualifications & Experience: 
·      At least 2 years prior work experience in health and behavior change related projects
·      Knowledge of Health education. Health degree is beneficial but not required.
·      Experience with participatory community development methods.
·      Practical understanding of monitoring and evaluation of a project.
·      Good report writing and communication skills in Khmer with some English.
·      Must be highly organized and self-motivated and have initiative; must have high integrity, excellent interpersonal skills and basic computer skills.

4.      Community Development Facilitator-Livelihoods (1 position)


Major Responsibilities:
Select, train, coach and support community volunteers to facilitate learning sessions and conduct awareness sessions in community learning groups on vocational livelihoods. Raise awareness of female and male household members on vocations for improved livelihoods, opportunities for training and management of migration risks where needed. Duties include planning and coaching vocational trainings and internships, documenting best practices, working with partners, monitoring, planning for activities and reporting. Represent a lifestyle and work ethic consistent with ADRA Cambodia's philosophy, standards and policies. 

Qualifications & Experience: 
·      At least 2 years prior work experience in vocational, livelihood related projects
·      Knowledge of Vocations. Related degree is beneficial but not required.
·      Experience with participatory community development methods.
·      Practical understanding of monitoring and evaluation of a project.
·      Good report writing and communication skills in Khmer with some English.
·      Must be highly organized and self-motivated and have initiative; must have high integrity, excellent interpersonal skills and basic computer skills.

5.      Community Development Facilitator-Agriculture (2 positions)

Major Responsibilities: This position involves using agricultural technical expertise in coordination with relevant government partners, providing community awareness in agriculture and facilitation training in SRI, vegetables, animal-raising, cash crop, marketing and value chain areas. Duties include organizing farmer groups, agriculture technical support to farmer groups, documenting best practices, partnering with government and NGOs, organizing/facilitating training, monitoring, planning for activities and reporting. The position will represent a lifestyle and high work ethic consistent with ADRA Cambodia's philosophy, standards and policies. 

Qualification requirement for the position: 
·   Must have a strong agricultural background/ a degree in agriculture is needed.
·   Knowledge of management principles would be an advantage.
·   2 to 3 year experience related to the position applied for in agriculture.
·   Must be highly organized and self-motivated and have initiative; must have high integrity, excellent interpersonal skills and basic computer skills.

           6.      Education and Livelihoods Facilitator (1 position)
Major Responsibilities: This position involves working to support development projects in one village such as constructing and setting up a preschool, installing latrines and water tanks and facilitating trainings. This village and activities are within a larger project so the position involves a lot of communication and coordination. Duties involve providing coordination of logistics, translation and communication with a volunteer donor group in their trips and technical support of the project initiatives, facilitating trainings and workshop events, supervising community partners, conducting follow-up home visits and cooperating with district and provincial partners in learning and behavior change processes. The staff will be responsible for planning, preparing budget for activities, monitoring and reporting. The position will represent a lifestyle and high work ethic consistent with ADRA Cambodia's philosophy, standards and policies. 
Qualification requirements: 
  • Knowledge of and some experience in using participatory methods.
  • Good facilitation and communication skills.
  • Basic computer skills such as Microsoft word, Excel and e-mail are required.
  • Ability to speak, write and translate English is required.
  • Be a resourceful person with a “can do” attitude with two years work experience.
  • Bachelor’s degree is preferred.
  • Strong commitment on working with rural community people.
  • Must be highly organized and self-motivated and have initiative; must have high integrity, and excellent interpersonal skills.

           7.      Administrative Assistant (1 position)

Major responsibility: Work within a team to provide administrative support and services to the project. This will include but not limited to: communication, logistics, letter writing, petty cash management, maintaining project financial filing systems, computer data entry.

Qualification Requirements:
  • Hold a certificate of completion in Business administration is preferable
  • Computer skills (Microsoft Word and Excel and internet)
  • Basic written and spoken English
  • Good communication and interpersonal skills.
  • Must be highly organized and self-motivated and have initiative; must have high integrity, and excellent interpersonal skills.

Interested candidates are requested to submit a detailed resume and a cover letter stating clearly the position applied for and addressing the selection criteria and contact phone number to:
Mr. Menh Kithsak, ADRA Cambodia, House 4, Street 554, Toul Kork, Phnom Penh.
 Application through E-mail is accepted: kithsakm@adracambodia.org
Applications Deadline: 30 June 2014 at 5:00 pm.         
Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interview.
ADRA Cambodia is an equal opportunity employer and hires based on merit.
ADRA Cambodia is a Smoke-Free and Child Safe Organization    

For more info about our program visit: www.adracambodia.org