USAID MAPD Malaria in Pregnancy Specialist Careers – Malaria Consortium
Job Title: Malaria in Pregnancy Specialist
Organization: Malaria Consortium
Project Name: USAID/PMI Malaria Action Program for Districts (MAPD) Project
Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda
Reports to: Programme Manager NMCP
Salary: USD 20,483 gross per annum
About Malaria Consortium:
Malaria Consortium is the world’s leading not-for-profit organisation dedicated to the comprehensive control of malaria and other communicable diseases in Africa and Southeast Asia. Malaria Consortium works with communities, government and non-government agencies, academic institutions, and local and international organisations, to ensure good evidence supports delivery of effective services, providing technical support for monitoring and evaluation of programmes and activities for evidence-based decision-making and strategic planning. Malaria Consortium works to improve not only the health of the individual, but also the capacity of national health systems, which helps relieve poverty and support improved economic prosperity.
About USAID MAPD Project:
The Malaria Action Program for Districts (MAPD) project is a 5-year USAID/PMI funded project. The project aims to prevent and control Malaria illnesses and deaths in order to minimise the social economic effects of the disease among the overall population of Uganda especially in children under 5 years of age. The project will be implemented starting in August 2016, and will cover 43 districts with a total population of more than 13 million. The Malaria Action Program for Districts project offers a partnership uniquely positioned to deliver this implementation rollout. Partners include Johns Hopkins Program for International Education in Gynecology and Obstetrics (JHPIEGO), Banyan Global, Deloitte &Touché Uganda, Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI) and Communication for Development Foundation-Uganda (CDFU).
Job Summary: The Malaria in Pregnancy Specialist will provide technical and programmatic guidance to the National Malaria Control Program of the Ministry of Health and its stakeholders at the national, regional and district levels. The MIP Specialist will support the coordination of MIP stakeholders and ensure compliance with national MIP policies and guidelines through the national MIP Technical Working Group, development of work plans and tracking the implementation of activities. The incumbent will be a key member of the project technical team and will be seconded to the NMCP/MOH, he/she will be located in the RHD of the MOH to support the coordination of RHD, NMCP and partners in the implementation of MIP services, and will be a member of the national MIP TWG, working closely with counterparts in the NMCP and RHD of the MOH. MIP Specialist will liaise with the project teams in Kampala and regional offices of in Hoima, Arua, Kabarole and Masaka to promote collaboration, learning and adaptation for MIP services. This role involves working closely with counterparts at the NMCP and RHD of the MOH and is linked with the Senior Malaria Technical Advisor of the project and stakeholders to advise and guide on Malaria interventions, strategies, policies and guidelines.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
Leadership:
- Provide leadership in developing innovative approaches to improving demand for antenatal care services and MIP services targeting pregnant women
- Guide the integration of MIP services with maternal, new-born and child health, FP/RH, HIV and TB, and nutrition through strengthened linkages between NMCP and RHD of the MOH
- Support MOH/NMCP/RHD to harmonize policies and guidelines on folic acid dosage with SP supply
- Attend regional and national level coordination and review meetings, workshops, and participate in relevant training events, sharing lessons learned with the project team and MOH/NMCP
- Analyse potential MIP strategies within the context of the program and explain these, as necessary, to policymakers, funding agencies, and program staff
- Support the National Malaria Control Programme and Reproductive Health Division to revitalize and coordinate MIP technical working group.
Technical:
- Support the Program Manager National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP) as it relates to all technical issues on the management of malaria in pregnancy
- Actively participate in the review of the literature for new developments, promoting best practices, policies and emerging issues in malaria in pregnancy
- Provide technical oversight, strategic direction and ensure appropriate support for the implementation of program activities in malaria in pregnancy at national and district levels
- Actively promote WHO’s new recommendations on intermittent prevention of malaria in pregnancy (IPTp) uptake and guidelines, as a core component of the WHO three-pronged approach
- Contribute to the development of NMCP work plans and budgets ensuring adequate inclusion of malaria in pregnancy interventions. Lead the formulation of approaches for scale up of MIP services in districts, including accessing hard-to-reach populations and integration of services
- Support forecasting and quantification of 0.4mg folic acid and SP and ensure stakeholders are updated on folic acid and SP stock status at all levels
- Facilitate learning between the project, MOH and stakeholders in order to share experiences, capabilities, including best practices and lessons learned in malaria in pregnancy services (10%)
- Ensure use of reviewed evidence-based clinical training materials, job aids, and curricula, supervisory systems and other training materials for implementation of MIP in line with the needs of MOH
- Provide mentoring and capacity building at national, district and health facility levels in MIP services
Monitoring and Evaluation:
- Provide support in sustaining and improving existing databases that monitor achievements in MIP at district and contribute to regional and national level achievements
- Offer technical support to the NMCP/RHD to interpret MIP programmatic data and incorporate data from project implementation into project work plans
- Coordinate assessments, site strengthening, follow-up and supervision, advocacy, demand creation, policy support, capacity-building and M&E across program sites as required by MIP program activities
- Conduct regular reporting to the NMCP Program Manager, project Deputy Chief of Party, and technical staff, of successes, challenges and lessons learned in implementation related to areas of MIP
- Document and maintain an inventory of successful tools and approaches for MIP including development and submission of abstracts, papers and presentations to journals and conferences in line with project collaboration, learning and adaptation plan.
Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
- The applicant for the Malaria Consortium USAID MAPD Malaria in Pregnancy Specialist career placement should hold an MBChB or its equivalent from a recognized University or Institution.
- The applicant must be registered and licensed with the relevant health professional Council
- Possession of a Post graduate qualification (Masters or Diploma) in Public Health or the equivalent
- A minimum of six years’ relevant experience of working in communicable disease control and a thorough understanding of both preventive and curative aspects of malaria control from a reputable organisation
- Previous experience in developing program work plans, strategic plans, policies and guidelines at national level
- Strong leadership, management, communication, presentations and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to coach, mentor and develop technical capacity in national programs and technical staff in the areas
- Demonstrated in-depth understanding of Ugandan healthcare system
- Knowledge of and experience of working on USAID funded projects
- Previous exposure and experience in writing program reports particularly the public health system, experience living and working in Uganda preferred
- Skilled in at least two or more of the following technical areas: strengthening service delivery programs, training, pre-service education, performance and quality improvement, monitoring and evaluation
- Previous experience with a mix of practical technical skills in malaria necessary for strengthening malaria service delivery at the national, district, health facility and community-levels
- Proven skills in word processing and Excel spread sheets
- Proven track record working in a project team composed of several technical experts and fostering team work
Core Competencies:
Delivering Results: Takes on pieces of work when required and demonstrates excellent project management skills
- Shows a flexible approach to taking on additional work / responsibilities when needed to achieve results
- Demonstrates excellent project management skills to agreed timescales (timelines, targets, donor requirements)
- Makes clear and timely decisions within remit of own role Analysis and use of information
Uses evidence to support work:
- Identifies and uses various sources of evidence and feedback to support outputs
- Uses evidence to evaluate policies, projects and programmes
- Identifies links between events and information identifying trends, issues and risks
- Ensures systems are in place to address organisation needs
Interpersonal and Communications: Listens and clearly presents information
- Actively listens and pays attention
- Presents information and facts in a logical way
- Shares information willingly and on a timely basis
- Communicates honestly, respectfully and sensitively
Collaboration and Partnering: Collaborates effectively across teams
- Proactive in providing and seeking support from expert colleagues
- Raises difficult issues with teams/ partners and stakeholders with a view to positive resolution
- Proactive in building a rapport with a diverse range of people
Leading and motivating people: Open to learning and responds positively to feedback
- Willingness to manage own development and performance
- Builds capacity of colleagues by sharing knowledge (induction) and acting as induction ‘buddy’ when asked
- Open to learning new things
- Responds positively to feedback from others.
- Identifies mistakes and takes positive steps to improve
Flexibility/ Adaptability: Remains professional under external pressure
- Able to adapt to changing situations effortlessly
- Remains constructive and positive under stress and able to tolerate difficult situations and environments
- Plans, prioritises and performs tasks well under pressure
- Learns from own successes / mistakes
Living the Values: Demonstrates Malaria Consortium values
- Demonstrates integrity, honesty and fairness in dealing with colleagues and stakeholders
- Maintains ethical and professional behaviour in line with Malaria Consortium’s values
- Treats all people with respect
Strategic planning and thinking and sector awareness: Is aware of others’ activities and vice versa in planning activities
- Takes account of team members and others workload when planning.
- Maintains awareness of impact on other parts of the organisation, keeping abreast of other’s activities, objectives, commitments and needs
- Has a good understanding of the sector in which Malaria Consortium works
How to Apply:
All interested applicants are encouraged to apply online at the web link below.