Organization: Management Sciences for Health
Country: United States of America
Closing date: 14 Sep 2015
The Senior Technical Advisor for Institutional Capacity Building (STA-ICB) will be LMG/West Africa’s senior expert providing technical assistance to WAHO. The STAICB will be posted at WAHO’s offices, embedded within WAHO. The nature of the technical assistance provided will focus on strengthening the institutional capacity of WAHO particularly in the areas of organizational development, program management, leadership, governance, advocacy, communication, negotiation, marketing, public-private partnerships, health information systems (HIS) and monitoring and evaluation (M&E). Additional technical focus will be on family planning, reproductive health and HIV and AIDS prevention with the sharing of best practices and the promotion of scaling up activities.
The STA-ICB will be responsible for identifying specific technical assistance needs and managing a detailed technical assistance plan, providing technical oversight of all short-term technical assistance. The STA-ICB will be responsible for maintaining strong working relationships with WAHO through the support of MSH home office and regional support teams. This is a highly visible position that requires establishing and maintaining professional contacts among high-level regional institutions, donors, the private sector, agencies, and Ministries of Health in member countries. The STA-ICB is expected to be self-motivated and to take initiative. S/he must possess knowledge of USAID/West Africa and WAHO regulations and procedures, as well as experience and maturity to exercise professional judgment in conducting activities with relevant counterparts to further USAID/West Africa and WAHO interests.
Capacity Building for region-wide health policies formulation and implementation (35%)
In close collaboration with WAHO senior level managers, the STA-ICB will provide technical assistance to strengthen WAHO’s leadership role in the development, harmonization and adoption of critical region-wide health policies, including family planning, HIV and AIDS and other health systems strengthening initiatives, for implementation in ECOWAS member countries; This will also include promoting WAHO’s visibility on international level to gain a wider audience for sharing lessons learned and best practices across the region, advocacy for scaling-up of evidence based good practices1 , and set a model for regional ownership, governance and stewardship.
- Coordinate and implement capacity building programs to strengthen the leadership and management capacity of WAHO staff and other health managers in the region using evidence-based tools and approaches.
- Facilitate training sessions for ECOWAS country representatives and WAHO staff to build their leadership, management, and governance capacities and provide orientations on the implementation of WAHO policies.
- Collaborate with the senior leadership of WAHO to develop strategic plans and incorporate strategic focuses (including family planning) in regional meetings and dialogue.
- Provide technical assistance in the development of regional health policies and strategies.
- Coordinate all activities closely with WAHO decision makers and USAID/West Africa.
- Assist WAHO senior managers and in-country focal points, to identify opportunities and mechanisms that will improve collaboration and coordination with senior government officials, USAID bilateral missions and other donors including Global Fund, PEPFAR, the World Bank, and private corporations.
- Support institutional capacity at WAHO to advocate with member Ministers of Health to address family planning challenges in their respective countries and coordinate the adoption and implementation of the HPP tool (RAPID). This will further strengthen WAHO’s role as a regional leader promoting best practices for effective family planning and reproductive health interventions.
- Support WAHO in development of a prioritized policy agenda through consensus building with all stakeholders and governments in the region to adopt and replicate selected policies. In addition, WAHO will share lessons learned from implementation of a minimum package of HIV/AIDS prevention and care services for key populations for scale-up in the region.
Public-Private Partnership (25%)
- Provide technical assistance to strengthen WAHO’s institutional capacity in the areas of Public Private Partnerships in Health Emergencies to increase the role of private sector in the mobilization of additional financial and technical resources for priority health problems, and promote a multi sectorial engagement in health the sector through Public Private Partnerships.
- Develop and adapt appropriate approaches and strategies to engage private companies and business associations in healthcare sector in West Africa; with focus on companies/associations that have regional presence in West Africa.
- Establish network and partnerships to mobilize and leverage private sector support and engagement in the course of the disease outbreak response, preparedness and recovery efforts.
- Establish a working model for effective coordination, collaboration and communication between WAHO and private sector partners.
- Support WAHO in developing a regional platform of coordination among private sector (e.g. regional meetings and workshops) in West Africa and providing linkages to global partnerships and global initiatives.
- Promote capacity at WAHO to become a strong advocate of Corporate Social Responsibility in West Africa.
Project Management (20%)
- Supervise and oversee support to long-term technical assistants who will work with WAHO HIS expert to operationalize and implement regional HIS policies and platforms.
- Supervise and oversee support to a long-term technical assistant who will work with WAHO leadership to operationalize and implement its PPP strategy and action plan (see KPA 2.).
- Participate in WAHO internal meetings and site visits. Produce quarterly reports to WAHO and USAID/WA, and communicate regularly with USAID/WA project managers.
Communications (20%)
- Support WAHO in development of robust communication strategy to increase visibility on an international level; this includes provision of TA to upgrade WAHO’s website and warrant maintenance capacity at WAHO.
- Liaise with USAID and other local and international partners to promote the institutional development of WAHO and its work in the West Africa region.
- Document and share successes and lessons learned in the format of project reports, publications and presentations at all levels.
- Advanced degree (Masters, PhD, or MD) in a health-related field or management field required.
- A minimum of 7 years of field experience in progressively responsible positions in development programs, with management, HIS, M&E, organizational development, leadership, advocacy, communication and negotiation and adult training skills.
- Experience with public/private sector, health organizations, and international donors, and non-governmental organizations is highly desirable.
- Previous work experience with regional institutions also highly desirable.
Knowledge and Skills
- Solid understanding of ECOWAS and West Africa’s economic, political, social and cultural environment and the role of the regional institutions and host governments, private and public sector, including NGOs, in addressing development objectives, priorities and issues required.
- Knowledge of USAID, PEPFAR, the World Bank, the Global Fund and other donor mechanisms highly desirable.
- Practical and analytical skills necessary to translate data or information into concrete actions.
- Excellent oral and written communications skills and ability to work in a large team and build good working relationship with all stakeholders.
- Proficiency in computer use, particularly Microsoft Office applications for word processing, PowerPoint, email, and Excel.
- Fluent written and oral proficiency in English and French required.
- Must be able to communicate effectively in both languages.
- Portuguese language ability would be an advantage.
Competencies
- Ability to use good judgment on sensitive topics, including ability to exercise independent judgment in prioritizing assigned tasks and in dealing with stakeholders at all levels and in the appropriate cultural and political context.
- Proven ability to interact professionally and effectively with senior managers, decision-makers, government officials, public and private donors, USG, and civil society.
Physical Demands
- Willingness to relocate to Bobo Dioulasso and travel within West Africa up to 50% time.
- Keyboard use, pulling drawers, lifting papers.
Background Information
Through the Leadership, Management and Sustainability Program and the West Africa Leadership and Management Strengthening Project Associate Award, USAID and Management Sciences for Health (MSH) worked closely from 2011-2013 with
the West African Health Organization (WAHO) to strengthen their leadership and management capacities to be a more visible leader for health matters in West Africa. WAHO is the specialized health institution of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and has a unique political mandate in the sub-region to influence health policy at the highest level within ECOWAS Member States (Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, the Gambia, and Togo) as well as to promote high standards for health, and facilitate harmonization of policies, pooling of resources, and the promotion of international collaboration to successfully face regional health challenges.
USAID/West Africa is continuing to provide field support under the Leadership, Management and Governance Program (LMG) to expand on the institutional capacity building work with WAHO. 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.
EEO Statement
Management Sciences for Health is an equal opportunity employer offering employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, citizenship, physical or mental disability, or protected veteran status.
PI91572822
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