Country Focal Person Job-South Africa
JOB DESCRIPTION: E8 COUNTRY FOCAL PERSON for SOUTH AFRICA
Background
The Elimination 8 is a SADC ministerial initiative, designed as a platform for regional collaboration towards malaria elimination within the SADC region. The eight countries which make up the E8 are Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. These countries are highly interconnected by population movement as well as shared malaria ecologies, making it impossible for one country to eliminate malaria without collaboration with its neighbours. The Ministers of Health of these eight countries have therefore committed to develop this platform for joint planning and accountability. Achieving elimination involves the design and meticulous execution of advanced disease and entomological surveillance systems, establishment of capacity for quality diagnosis, and control of parasite movement through the region’s porous borders. The E8 Ministerial and Technical Committees have developed a 5-year strategic plan to develop innovative, game-changing programs that will steer the region closer to its goal of zero transmission of malaria by 2030.
The Ministerial and Technical Committees of the E8 are supported by an E8 Secretariat, which coordinates diplomatic and programmatic collaboration between the eight countries. The Secretariat is also responsible for coordinating the execution of the Strategic Plan, in partnership with the funding and technical partners of the E8. The Secretariat is in the process of establishing its operations in Windhoek, Namibia. A team of highly competent and dedicated professionals is therefore being recruited to support the mandate of the E8.
The Position
The E8 is seeking a team of 8 focal persons who will serve as point persons in each of the E8 countries, thus serving as the touch point between the national malaria programs and the regional initiative. The focal persons will mainly support the implementation, at country level, of an ambitious regional malaria strategy – funded by the Global Fund to Fight HIV, TB, and Malaria. The focal persons will be seconded to the National Malaria Control Programs, and will report to the Manager of the NMCP in the Ministry of Health. As a group, the Focal Person Team will be coordinated by the Grant Coordinator within the E8 Secretariat. The Focal Person will have experience in malaria program implementation, with programmatic experience that cuts across the core areas of malaria elimination strategy, including diagnosis and case management as well as surveillance and epidemic response and preparedness. The focal person will also have demonstrated experience in monitoring and evaluation, with a robust understanding of designing and monitoring programs for impact. He/she will serve to closely support the NMCP Manager in the coordination and field supervision of all programmatic issues relating to the regional malaria strategy and management of cross-border programmes. As the relationship between the eight countries, as well as between the Secretariat and the country is key to successful implementation of the regional strategy, the focal person will be a seasoned coordinator, with the ability to work across various interventions and programme units, and linking activities across the different strategic interventions taking place to eliminate malaria – both in the country as well as in the other seven E8 countries.
Responsibilities
The focal person works under the direction of the NMCP Manager and in coordination with the E8 Secretariat Grants Coordinator. In all his/her responsibilities below, he/she works closely with the NMCP Manager to decide on approach at the strategic and technical level, and then coordinates implementation and follow up with the relevant units in the country.
Serve as the key focal person in routine implementation dealings between the Secretariat and the NMCP, with strategic and technical oversight from the NMCP Manager
This involves communication of planned activities, and dissemination of information among the districts and cross-border facilities
Facilitate collection of disease and programmatic M&E data for forwarding and aggregation at the regional level.
Develop working relationships with national and district officers involved in these four main areas of regional malaria elimination programming – (i) diagnosis and treatment of mobile and undeserved communities in the border areas, diagnosis QA/QC, surveillance, and entomology. Coordinate the implementation of programming, field assessments, and capacity building related to these programmes
Coordinate the field operations of the national and regional partners/contractors supporting these activities, including project planning, field logistics, and M&E
Manage the processes on the ground, with guidance from the NMCP Manager and programme heads, to ensure that the country meets the milestones and outcome targets of the regional strategy
Conduct field supervisory visits to review implementation of regional interventions within the country
Conducts routine supervisory visits with performance spot checks to validate service data and verify quality of work done by E8 Contractor(s) in-country on behalf of the E8 Secretariat, and to build contractors’ M&E capacity while on site as required
Assure that E8 contractors and national malaria program facility managers report identification of active malaria cases twice weekly in order to enable the E8 Secretariat to identify outbreaks in border districts within 7 days
Support NMCP Manager by drafting consolidated quarterly reports of the progress in implementing the regional strategy within the country, and collate M&E data for reporting on the grant
Prepare any related presentations, reports related to the regional strategy as required the Programme Manager
Master the E8 strategic plans and regional workplans, and facilitate transfer and harmonization of the supporting national activities into the national strategies and plans, in collaboration with the NMCP Manager and program focal points for diagnosis, surveillance, and entomology
Routinely collaborate with focal points in other E8 countries to share information and harmonize technical approaches
Monitor cross-border collaboration activities and coordinate meetings and data sharing between the country and its neighbours
Extend other programmatic support to the NMCP as requested by the NMCP Manager
Qualifications and Requirements
Advanced degree in public health, epidemiology, or related discipline
At least 3 years’ experience in malaria project management, preferably in a malaria elimination context.
Knowledge of SADC health systems context through experience in various SADC countries is a distinct advantage
Demonstrated ability to diplomatically mobilize and coordinate partners around priority malaria interventions
Demonstrated experience with planning, implementation, data management, analysis and interpretation of research studies and routine data for programmatic decision-making.
Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, demanding environment, and demonstrable track record of high performance
Strong interpersonal and problem-solving skills
Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously, set priorities and work independently
Proven ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced environment and to troubleshoot and follow projects through to completion, consistently on schedule, without loss of attention to detail
Robust experience in the formulation and execution of budgets, linking budget with programmatic performance and impact
Strong written and oral communication skills
Candidates who are citizens of one of the eight E8 countries are preferred
Advanced Microsoft Office skills.
Language:
Fluency in English with good verbal and written skills. Portuguese, in addition to English, will be required for the focal persons based in Angola and Mozambique.
HOW TO APPLY:
Applicants are requested to send their CV to operations@elimination8.org no later than 31 May, 2016.