Technical Writer and Documentation Specialist

mothers2mothers (m2m) is an African Primary Health Care organisation that employs women living with HIV as community health workers across 10 African nations. These “Mentor Mothers” deliver integrated health services at clinics and in communities to ensure everyone, everywhere has access to the services they need to be healthy and stay in care. Over the next five years, this proven, peer-led model is being scaled up to double down on ending HIV, as well as to tackle new health challenges and reach more people—all with the aim of building a fairer, healthier future. The employment of local women as community health workers means that we are delivering a model that prioritises healthcare for families who need it most, delivered by women who know them best. 

 Since its creation in 2001, m2m has created jobs for nearly 12,000 women living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa and, together, they have reached over 15M people with critical health services and education. In 2021, m2m reached over 1.6M people across 10 African nations, including 402,616 adolescents (ages 10-19)—51% more than the year before. m2m also advanced the Global Goals of ending HIV/AIDS by 2030—by achieving virtual elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV among its enrolled clients for the eighth consecutive year, and meeting all of the ambitious UNAIDS Fast-Track Targets among its clients four years ahead of the 2026 target date. For more information, visit www.m2m.org.  

 Technical Writer and Documentation Specialist

 mothers2mothers (m2m) is an African-based non-governmental organisation (NGO) that employs women living with HIV as frontline community health workers (CHWs) called Mentor Mothers and Peer Mentors, in health facilities and surrounding communities across twelve countries in sub-Saharan Africa. m2m’s 2022-2026 Strategic Plan aims to address Africa’s biggest health challenges towards our vision of Healthy Women, Healthy Families, Healthier World. We have expanded our model with the ambition of become a leading primary health care organization contributing to the acceleration of Universal Health Coverage on the continent, while continuing to prevent and treat HIV.

We are seeking a Technical Writer and Documentation Specialist (TWDS) to help us better translate our excellent technical work into a variety of outputs for internal and external audiences, including items such as green papers and white papers, fact sheets, technical or policy briefings, donor reports or proposals, op-eds, conference abstracts and posters, and blog posts. Through this content, we will drive greater understanding of the issues underpinning m2m’s work, and our unique contribution, helping us to secure additional support and partnerships.   

The Technical Writer and Documentation Specialist is a self-motivated, enterprising individual with a proven track record of producing excellent written content on public health and related issues in sub-Saharan Africa. The Technical Writer has the qualifications and experience to find and produce “stories” / material that will promote health and advance m2m’s strategy. 

Working closely with a team of Frontline Health Workers, Technical Experts in Public Health, Primary Health Care, Programme Implementation, Strategic Information and Implementation Science, Communications Professionals, and with a thorough understanding of the value of including diverse 

voices of real people, the Technical Writer will find, develop and deliver compelling content that utilises both internal and external sources (including data) to help a diverse range of audiences gain a deeper understanding about ensuring equitable access to quality healthcare services in sub-Saharan Africa, promoting well-being, and reducing health disparities among individuals and communities.

The Public Health Journalist will investigate, analyse and report on a wide range of public health and related issues in sub-Saharan Africa to empower people to make healthy choices, inform decision makers and promote debate about best practice interventions – all in the context of a commitment to accurate, balanced and fair reporting that is based on scientific evidence. 

 Key Performance Areas:

1. Collaborate with external resources to keep abreast of Public Health news and trends in sub-Saharan Africa, and share content and ideas for features.

2. Incorporate data analysis with compelling storytelling as a means of producing impactful Public Health journalism. 

3. Lead on the conceptualisation and delivery of a variety of written content including, but not limited to: 

4. Position Papers, Green Papers, Policy/Technical Briefings, Fact Sheets, Op-Eds, Blogs, Conference Abstracts/Posters/Presentations, Infographics, Donor Reports and Proposals, Social Media Posts based on this content. 

  Note: Internal and external sources such as Frontline Health Workers, Technical Experts, Researchers, Programme Implementers and other Health Professionals, will be drawn on in this work

1. Lead the writing of high-quality and responsive programme including guidelines, standard   operating procedures, toolkits to advance the primary health care programmes 
   1. Develop technical narrative (as needed) by collecting, integrating, and ensuring the quality of inputs and contributions from technical leads/technical support team and/or consultants.

   2. Participate in technical reviews and incorporate feedback and revisions in a timely manner.

   3. Review, revise, and edit technical proposal sections provided by technical staff, consultants, and partners, and integrate them into the overall technical proposal.

   4. Develop comprehensive documentation that meets organizational standards

   5. Gain deep understanding of products and services, and translate complex information into simple, polished, engaging content

   6. Write user-friendly content that meets the needs of target audience, turning insights into language for user success

   7. Translate research (undertaken by m2m as well as research undertaken external to m2m) into content that everyone can understand.

   8. Collaborate with m2m’s Communications and Advocacy team to plan and distribute content in alignment with organisational editorial calendar, external events, or other moments. 

   9. Working alongside, among others, Frontline Health Workers, Technical Experts, Researchers, Programme Implementers and other Health Professionals to:
      1. Research and write succinct, relevant, timely Public Health stories / material including but not limited to: Investigative Reports, Features and In-Depth Stories, News articles, Op-Eds and Commentaries, Media Briefs, Social Media Posts, Public Service Announcements, Policy Briefs, Podcasts, Video Content, Infographics, Position Papers, Green Papers - for distribution on multiple traditional and digital platforms, including but not limited to: m2m website, Social Media and Online Platforms, Digital media outlets, Health and Science Blogs, Non-profit and Advocacy Organizations’ Publications, Health-Related Podcasts, Trade and Industry Publications, Newspapers and Magazines, Government Health Agencies’ Publications etc.

Qualifications and Experience:

1. Post Graduate Degree in Communications or Journalism. 
   1. Specialization in Health Journalism is a strong recommendation. 

   2. Masters Degree in Public Health (MPH) is a strong recommendation.

2. At least three – five years of experience as a Health Journalist / Health Reporter, or an equivalent technical writing role. 

3. Thorough understanding of, and the ability to undertake detailed research/reporting into Public Health, Health Systems, Primary Health Care, Community Based PHC, Universal Health Coverage, Burden of Disease in sub-Saharan Africa, barriers to uptake of health services in sub-Saharan Africa, Digital Health and related (health) topics. 

4. Basic understanding of empirical research design, research methodology and analysis culminating in the ability to translate scientific material into readable, relevant and compelling material for a general audience. 
   1. Experience in science reporting is a strong recommendation.

5. Strong written and verbal communication – i.e. a demonstrated ability to articulate and present verbally and in writing.

6. Advanced-level professional competency and brilliant command of written and spoken English. 
   1. Professional competency in Portuguese and / or French is a strong recommendation.

Experience:

1. Excellent reporting and writing skills, displaying versatility and nuance with a proven track record of finding, producing and driving compelling, evidence-based, rigorously reported Public Health material to a range of audiences. 

2. The ability to communicate clearly and precisely in various formats (written / text, audio, digital/social, interactive etc.) and face-to-face. 

3. A passion for following health trends and their impact on communities, using data insightfully to add context. 

4. The skillset and ambition to take on deeps-dives and detailed research work.

5. The ability to pursue innovative and inclusive coverage techniques while maintaining standards for integrity and objectivity.

6. The ability to question assumptions – including your own – and take the extra steps needed to construct multi-dimensional, in-depth, well researched material for multiple stakeholder groups ranging from lay audiences to technically expert audiences. 

7. The ability to distill complex and dense subjects into readable and relevant material for a general audience. 

8. Good teamwork – i.e. the ability to work within an inclusive, collaborative team environment, including but not limited to Frontline Health Workers, Technical Specialists in Public Health, in Development, Programme Implementation, Strategic Information, Implementation Science etc. 

9. The ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously across formats and successfully follow complex story lines.

10. A perfectionist’s attention to detail.

11. Excellent project-management skills.

12. A proven ability to meet deadlines.

13. Self-Motivated – the ability to stay disciplined and motivated.

14. High degree of independent thinking and self-responsibility.

mothers2mothers is an equal opportunity employer. We particularly encourage applications from people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA), people with disabilities, women and previously disadvantaged people. Competitive salary packages will be negotiable in accordance with m2m’s remuneration policies.

To Apply:

Interested applicants should apply for this position via https://mothers2mothers.hua.hrsmart.com/hr/ats/Posting/view/1064 by 28 April 2024