Community Health Officer
Amref Health Africa
Quick Take
Coordinate and supervise a network of 200+ community health volunteers across Kisumu, driving uptake of maternal and child health services while managing data through DHIS2.
A diploma or degree in Community Health or related field, 2+ years in Kenya's community health systems, DHIS2 proficiency, and mandatory fluency in Dholuo.
A competitive salary of KES 70,000–100,000 with one of Africa's most respected health NGOs, delivering measurable impact on maternal and child health in your own community.
Job Description
Amref Health Africa, the foremost health development organisation on the African continent, is looking to bring on board a dedicated Community Health Officer to support its maternal and child health programme operating within Kisumu County. This is a field-facing position that sits at the intersection of community engagement and health system strengthening, requiring someone who is both passionate about grassroots health improvement and capable of working within structured public health frameworks.
The successful candidate will serve as a critical link between community-level health actors and the broader county health infrastructure, ensuring that vulnerable populations — particularly mothers and young children — can access and benefit from essential health services in Kisumu.
- Oversee and coordinate a network of more than 200 Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) across Kisumu
- Organise and facilitate monthly meetings, hands-on training sessions, and supervisory visits for CHVs
- Drive community uptake of antenatal care services, skilled birth attendance, and childhood immunisation programmes
- Collect community health data and accurately enter and manage records within the DHIS2 platform
- Build and maintain working relationships with the Kisumu County Health Department as well as sub-county health teams
- A Diploma or Bachelor's degree in Community Health, Nursing, or Public Health
- At least two years of hands-on experience working within community health systems in Kenya
- Solid understanding of Kenya's Community Health Policy and the Community Health Information System (CHIS)
- Demonstrated proficiency in DHIS2, including both data entry and analysis functions
- Fluency in Dholuo is a mandatory requirement for this role
This opportunity is best suited to a community health professional who has direct, practical experience navigating Kenya's community health ecosystem and understands how to mobilise and support volunteer health workers at the grassroots level. You should be comfortable operating in field settings across Kisumu County and possess the cultural and linguistic competency needed to engage meaningfully with local communities. A candidate who combines technical skills in health data management with strong interpersonal and coordination abilities will thrive in this role. Fluency in Dholuo is non-negotiable, as effective community communication is central to the position's success.
Interested and qualified candidates are encouraged to apply for this position through Amref Health Africa's official recruitment channels. Ensure your application clearly demonstrates how your experience aligns with the stated requirements, particularly your background in community health systems in Kenya and your proficiency in Dholuo. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Requirements Breakdown
Must Have
- Diploma or degree in Community Health, Nursing, or Public Health
- 2+ years experience working within Kenya's community health systems
- Fluency in Dholuo (mandatory for community engagement in Kisumu)
- Proficiency in DHIS2 data entry and analysis
- Knowledge of Kenya's Community Health Policy and Community Health Information System (CHIS)
Nice to Have
- Prior experience coordinating or managing community health volunteers (CHVs)
- Established working relationships with Kisumu County or sub-county health teams
- Experience in maternal and child health (MCH) programme implementation
- Training or facilitation skills for adult learning in community settings
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Salary Context
Above-average salary for a Community Health Officer role in Kisumu
Community Health Officers in Kenya typically earn between KES 40,000–75,000 per month in NGO settings, making this range of KES 70,000–100,000 competitive and skewed toward the senior end of the market. Pay in this field is influenced by the funder (international NGOs tend to pay more than county government), programme size, and specialist skills like DHIS2 proficiency.
About Amref Health Africa
Amref Health Africa is Africa's largest Africa-based health development organisation, headquartered in Nairobi and operating across more than 35 countries with a focus on building lasting health systems from within communities. In Kenya, Amref has decades of experience implementing programmes in maternal health, HIV, water and sanitation, and community health worker capacity-building, often in partnership with county governments and international donors. Working at Amref offers the rare combination of NGO mission and scale — staff gain exposure to evidence-based programmes, strong professional development, and the credibility of an organisation that shapes health policy across the continent.
Likely Interview Questions
- 1
Can you describe a specific experience where you supervised or supported community health volunteers — how did you motivate them and address performance challenges?
- 2
Walk us through how you have used DHIS2 in a previous role — what data did you collect, how did you ensure accuracy, and how was the data used to inform decisions?
- 3
How would you approach a situation where CHV reports show consistently low antenatal care attendance in a particular village within your network?
- 4
How has your understanding of Kenya's Community Health Policy shaped the way you work with community health systems at the sub-county level?
- 5
This role requires strong engagement with Kisumu County Health Department. How have you previously managed relationships with government health officials, and how do you navigate situations where priorities differ?
Application Tips
Quantify your CHV management experience on your CV — state how many volunteers you supervised, the geographic coverage, and any measurable outcomes (e.g. improved immunisation rates or ANC attendance figures).
Explicitly call out your DHIS2 experience with specifics: name the modules you used, the type of data you entered, and whether you produced any reports or dashboards for decision-making.
Highlight your Dholuo fluency clearly and early in your cover letter — this is listed as mandatory and signals cultural fit for community work in Kisumu; briefly describe how you have used it professionally.
Career Path
Roles that lead here
Where this leads
Skills & Keywords
Honest Assessment
Green Flags
- Salary range of KES 70,000–100,000 is transparent, clearly stated, and above the typical NGO market rate for this level of role in Kisumu.
- Amref Health Africa is one of the most reputable and established health development organisations on the continent, offering strong institutional credibility and professional development opportunities.
- The role is embedded in a specific maternal and child health programme with a defined scope (ANC, skilled delivery, immunisation), giving the successful candidate a clear mandate and measurable impact.
- Working directly with Kisumu County Health Department provides valuable exposure to government health systems, which strengthens long-term career capital in Kenya's public health sector.
Watch Out
- The posting does not mention benefits, leave entitlement, or contract duration — candidates should clarify at interview whether this is a fixed-term project-based contract tied to the MCH programme or a permanent position.
- Managing 200+ CHVs is a significant supervisory load for a single officer; candidates should ask about available logistical support, transport allowances, and whether there are any assistant roles beneath this position.
A Day in the Life
On a typical Monday, you might spend the morning reviewing DHIS2 dashboards to identify CHVs with missing monthly reports, then travel by motorbike to a sub-location in the afternoon to conduct a field supervision visit and observe a home visit alongside a CHV. Midweek often involves facilitating a CHV cluster meeting — training volunteers on correct ANC referral pathways, collecting paper tally sheets, and troubleshooting challenges in Dholuo. By Friday, you are likely back at the office or at a sub-county health team meeting, presenting community data, flagging households with unimmunised children, and aligning with county health officers on the following month's outreach targets.
Frequently Asked Questions
What qualifications do I need to apply for the Community Health Officer role at Amref Health Africa in Kisumu?
You need at least a Diploma in Community Health, Nursing, or Public Health, plus a minimum of 2 years of experience working within Kenya's community health systems. Fluency in Dholuo and proficiency in DHIS2 are both mandatory requirements.
Is the Amref Health Africa Community Health Officer position in Kisumu a field-based or office-based role?
This is primarily a field-based role — you will be coordinating 200+ community health volunteers across Kisumu, conducting monthly meetings and supervision visits in the community, and liaising with sub-county health teams across the county.
How much does a Community Health Officer earn at Amref Health Africa in Kisumu?
The advertised salary range is KES 70,000–100,000 per month, which is above the typical NGO market rate for this level in Kisumu and reflects the seniority of managing a large CHV network and DHIS2 responsibilities.
What are the career growth opportunities after working as a Community Health Officer at Amref Health Africa?
This role builds strong foundations in programme coordination, government liaison, and health data management, which typically leads to positions such as Senior Community Health Officer, Community Health Coordinator, or Programme Officer for maternal and child health within Amref or similar international health organisations.
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