Senior Program Officer, Advocacy & Policy Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) Project Careers – PATH
Job Title: Senior Program Officer, Advocacy & Policy
Organization: PATH
Funding Source: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF)
Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda
Reports to: Country Director
About US:
PATH is an international organization that drives transformative innovation to save lives and improve health, especially among women and children. We accelerate innovation across five platforms-vaccines, drugs, diagnostics, devices, and system and service innovations-that harness our entrepreneurial insight, scientific and public health expertise, and passion for health equity. By mobilizing partners around the world, we take innovation to scale, working alongside countries primarily in Africa and Asia to tackle their greatest health needs. Together, we deliver measurable results that disrupt the cycle of poor health.
About APP:
PATH’s Advocacy and Public Policy (APP) department works to improve global health by increasing awareness and support of global health priorities by working with policymakers, coalitions, and other influential individuals and groups. APP is a department of more than 40 staff, across multiple locations worldwide, responsible for advocacy for policy change in the areas of maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH)
Job Summary: The Senior Program Officer, Advocacy & Policy will work in collaboration with advocacy and technical experts across PATH to support a project to increase political will, conducive policy formulation and implementation, and resourcing for Continuum of Care (CoC), including Reproductive, Maternal, and Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH), and immunization, primarily in Uganda and provide support to Kenya and DRC teams as and when required. The policy and advocacy officer will report to the Country Director in Uganda and will work closely with the Regional Country Advocacy Director in DRC and Kenya and communication teams in Washington, DC.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
- Provide day-to-day project management for Uganda-specific policy and resource mobilization objectives as part of a complex multi-country advocacy initiative funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF).
- Conceive and implement a variety of advocacy activities to inform and influence policymakers, decision-makers, thought leaders, advocates and influencers, to elevate key RMNACH priorities in alignment with specific donor deliverables.
- Develop annual project activity plans, updated quarterly in collaboration with key PATH departments and external stakeholders, and oversee implementation to high standards by scope and timelines.
- Directly engage with government decision makers, influencers and partners to pursue changes in the adoption and implementation of health policies and related health financing.
- With support from the communications team, develop high quality reports, policy updates, briefs, presentations, investment cases and other materials for varying audiences including the donor, policy makers and PATH leadership.
- Document project progress, including collecting and reporting monitoring and evaluation data.
- Lead efforts to gather and generate evidence for policy advocacy as per the advocacy goals and outcomes related to the CoC, including oxygen therapy and pulse oximetry, immunization, health financing, the Global Financing Facility (GFF), and other emerging areas of interest.
- As a link of APP to advocacy stakeholders in Uganda, the Advocacy & Policy Officer will coordinate and represent PATH in meetings and forums relevant to the project policy objectives. These include Ministry of Health (MoH) Technical Working Groups, and policy discussion meetings.
- Represent PATH on related Civil Society Organization (CSO) engagements in Uganda and at the regional level.
- Liaise with and serve as the point of contact for technical advocacy expertise, both within PATH and to external partners.
- Build productive internal and external relationships with donors, health specialists and global advocates, and allied public and private partners to achieve advocacy goals within the country.
- Collaborate and share learnings and technical expertise with PATH colleagues working in other countries and at the global level.
- Travel within Uganda and to other countries for regional and global engagements aligned to project goals.
- Contribute to business development efforts for policy advocacy work.
Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
- The applicant for PATH International Senior Program Officer, Advocacy & Policy job placement must hold a Master’s degree in public health, public policy, health economics, communications or related field
- At least ten to 12 years of relevant experience in advocacy or communications, preferably global health or development related.
- Previous experience in developing and implementing advocacy strategies and creating and producing versatile communications products for global health or development, or that target policymakers or decision-makers globally, in the East or Southern Africa context.
- At least five years of professional experience in public health related work, ideally in a combination of technical and policy advocacy roles
- Demonstrated experience preparing and carrying out effective advocacy and communication activities to achieve results in Uganda and other African countries.
- Direct experience working on policy advocacy for public health policies in low-income countries.
- Track record of developing advocacy strategies to achieve policy and health financing objectives.
- Experience interfacing with and navigating Government entities and policy makers.
- Knowledgeable about policy making processes in Uganda and Africa.
- Experience in health financing policy advocacy.
- Demonstrated effective project management and organizational skills; event management skills desired.
- Ability to work with a variety of work styles and personalities, both within PATH and externally.
- Flexible and adaptable to changing priorities, and unpredictable stakeholder expectations.
- Self-initiator, able to work in team environment with minimal supervision.
- Knowledge of global health, ideally challenges facing RMNCAH and/or health systems, including health supplies, financing, and policy implementation.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills.
- Demonstrated success working effectively while under deadlines.
How to Apply:
All suitably qualified and interested candidates should apply online at the link below by uploading an Updated C.V. and cover letter.
: List of Current Job Vacancies / Opportunities in Uganda