CHARITY JOBS IN AFRICA

Organization: Management Sciences for Health
Country: Sierra Leone
Closing date: 28 Nov 2014

OVERVIEW:

• The Leadership, Management and Governance Project (LMG) is a global five-year Cooperative Agreement awarded by USAID/Washington, designed to strengthen and expand the people-centered capacity building strategy pioneered under the previous Leadership, Management, and Sustainability Program. The LMG Project’s objective is to support health systems strengthening by addressing the gap in leadership, management and governance capacity of policy makers, health care providers and program managers to implement quality health services at all levels of the health system.
• Malaria is one of the number one causes of morbidity and mortality among children under 5 in Sierra Leone. The Global Fund is one of the main donors for malaria control in Sierra Leone – a majority of international health development funding in Sierra Leone is directed into HIV and AIDS programs as a priority.
• The National Malaria Control Program (NMCP) is the Principal Recipient of the Global Fund malaria grant and manages implementation of the dual-track financing scheme along with the second Principal Recipient, Catholic Relief Services (CRS). Global Fund commitments and disbursements in Sierra Leone account for just over 25% of Global Fund financing, with the majority (over 66%) going towards HIV and AIDS activities. While the disbursements and commitments are on track for the CRS malaria grant, the NMCP grant has consistently had performance issues and low expenditures that have blocked continued funding to the budgeted commitment level.
• The President’s Malaria Initiative will provide direct technical assistance to the NMCP through the LMG/Sierra Leone project to improve Global Fund grant implementation and generally provide technical support in the areas of leadership, management and governance to strengthen the national malaria control strategy and implementation.

OVERALL RESPONSBILITIES:

• The Senior Technical Advisor, Malaria Program/Global Fund Liaison position is designed to provide technical assistance to the country, specifically to the NMCP, in meeting the grant management and implementation demands of the Global Fund malaria grant.
  The incumbent will be placed at the NMCP and will provide leadership and management support to the NMCP Program Coordinator. S/he will assist the Malaria Coordinator in planning, monitoring and coordinating activities, especially the upcoming mass distribution campaign.
• The incumbent will work in collaboration with the local stakeholders to ensure that up-to-date and strategic information on malaria activities are shared and disseminated among donors for prompt and appropriate decision making.
• The work involves complex and interrelated processes. The political environment requires a high degree of sensitivity and diplomacy in supporting the NMCP, establishing dialogue, and developing activities to prevent and treat malaria. The incumbent will require a depth of expertise that will allow her/him to provide leadership and management in malaria-related issues and programs, including the capability to identify and systematize otherwise diffuse issues.

Specific Responsibilities

The Senior Technical Advisor, Malaria Program/Global Fund Liaison, provides professional leadership support to the NMCP for the achievement of objectives set forth in its strategic plan. The principal task of the incumbent is to provide overall management, technical guidance and leadership to the NMCP team around implementation of the Global Fund malaria grant. The incumbent will also coordinate with and provide technical assistance to the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, if necessary, to prepare and conduct policy dialogue with the Global Fund Country Team on issues impeding smooth disbursement and implementation.

1. Assist the NMCP in taking appropriate management actions (planning, monitoring and evaluation, coordination, etc.) to meet the Global Fund grant requirements and/or conditions precedent so as to enable speedy Global Fund disbursements.
2. Assist the NMCP in the design and implementation of the national malaria monitoring and evaluation plan, as well as to ensure that other partners develop project monitoring plans and report in a timely manner on their activities to the NMCP. It is also expected that the incumbent will provide expert advice and practical experience in helping the NMCP and other in-country malaria stakeholders to monitor inputs and outcomes, progress towards goals, and how to execute the plan jointly.
3. Assist the NMCP and the Ministry of Health and Sanitation with initiating and conducting policy dialogue between the Global Fund Portfolio Manager and country team to troubleshoot as necessary to facilitate grant implementation.
4. Assist the NMCP with planning interventions to be covered by the Global Fund resources in collaboration with CRS, and conduct a thorough gaps analysis to identify contribution of all malaria partners to draw a big picture of malaria program coverage nationwide.
5. Collaborate with senior staff of the NMCP, implementing partners, and other partners, such as WHO, UNICEF, World Bank, and NGOs to identify malaria control intervention gaps in Sierra Leone, consistent with the malaria control coverage needs identified by the strategy and plans of the NMCP.
6. Work with the NMCP and other appropriate partners to ensure full accountability and value for Global Fund resources provided for NMCP functioning.
7. Assist the NMCP in developing plans to manage the Global Fund activities. This includes providing managerial support to the NMCP leadership to brainstorm and identify technical interventions to be covered by future funding from the Global Fund.
   This incumbent is not expected to play any supervisory role at the NMCP. S/He will receive administrative supervision from the LMG/Sierra Leone support team.
8. Advanced degree (Masters, PhD, or MD) in a health-related field or management field required. Specialized experience in malaria is not required, but preferred.
9. At least ten years of experience in progressively responsible experience in designing, implementing and managing malaria and other health programs in developing countries, with a preference given to candidates with African experience.
10. Demonstrated experience managing successful teams comprised of experienced professionals.
11. Demonstrated technical leadership, program management, strategic planning, policy experience and problem solving skills working on complex projects in a highly sensitive environment are required.
12. Experience with USAID-funded public health programs preferred.
13. Previous experience with or good knowledge of Global Fund operating procedures (proposal development and submission, monitoring and evaluation and reporting)
14. Ability to work effectively with a broad range of Sierra Leone and USG personnel and partners, and have demonstrated skills in donor coordination and collaboration. Ability to work both independently and in a team environment to achieve consensus on policy, program and administrative matters is a must.
15. Ability to work effectively in a team environment and communicate information to both health and non-health audiences, and achieve consensus on policy, project, research, and administrative matters.
16. Proven ability to communicate quickly, clearly and concisely – both orally and in writing in English is essential.
17. Excellent verbal communication skills, tact and diplomacy are required to establish and develop sustainable working relationships at the highest level and a high level of trust with public/private organizations. Verbal communication skills are also used to negotiate activity plans and resolve activity implementation issues with counterparts, partners and team members. Excellent written communication skills are required to prepare regular and ad hoc reports, activity documentation and briefing papers.
18. Excellent computer skills (MS Word, Excel, Power Point, and Outlook, Access, SPSS and other statistical and other relevant software) are required for effectively operating in this position. Good computer skills are required to implement, analyze, and monitor, and manage activity goals, inputs, outcomes, and achievements.

Management Sciences for Health is an equal opportunity employer offering employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, citizenship, physical or mental handicap, or status as a disabled or Vietnam Era veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces.

How to apply:

https://jobs-msh.icims.com/jobs/7313/senior-technical-advisor-malaria-pr...