NTDs Regional Technical Advisor seconded to Amhara Regional Health Bureau 882 views2 applications

Vacancy Number: VA_002_FY23

Position Summary

The Carter Center is a not-for-profit international NGO committed to waging peace, fighting disease and building hope worldwide.

The Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) Regional Technical Advisor (TA) to Amhara Regional State Health Bureau is mainly responsible for supporting NTDs programmatic action to be accelerated, intensifying cross-cutting approaches, creating operating models and cultures to encourage regional ownership on NTDs, facilitating coordination and collaboration among programs and strengthening monitoring and evaluation activities of NTDs at regional health bureau and its line offices. He/she will closely work with program and project managers, Regional Health Bureau and other NTDs partners to support and ensure effective management of NTDs programs, including collaboration with zonal, woreda-level offices and other stakeholders. The advisor will provide supportive supervision for successful implementation of NTDs activities preferably on trachoma, Guinea Worm, onchocerciasis, lymphatic filariasis, soil transmitted helminthiases and schistosomiasis. The position requires travel to program sites for the purpose of conducting planning meetings, supportive supervision, quality assurance and trainings.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Participate and support the region and its line offices in the development of annual work plans and budgets inline with 3rd National NTDs Strategic Plan.

• Support the region and its’ line offices to strengthen case detection and prompt treatment of case management NTDs (CM-NTDs), with morbidity management and disability prevention preferably on TT surgery services.

• Work with the region, zones, and districts to strengthen effective MDAs (high treatment coverages with better qualities) for all PC NTDs in all endemic districts

• Work with regional health bureau, zonal health departments  and district health offices  to increase social mobilization and behaviour change communication/SBCC on MDA and TT surgery services

• Work with regional health bureau to initiate NTDs prevention, control and management   courses in preservice training of mid-level health-care providers in the training institutions of the region.

• Support the region to  conduct continuous professional development for health extension workers and health workers on NTDs (e.g., integrated refresher training)

• Work with NTDs team and its’ line structure to monitor progress of regional-led NTDs programs implementations against stated objectives and program outputs

• Support the region on program monitoring and evaluation, disease mapping, and routine program surveys in collaboration with the Regional Health Bureau, Amhara Public Health Institute and other stakeholders;

• Support the region to strengthen multisectoral coordination, collaboration and response, with a focus on prioritizing WASH infrastructures in NTD endemic districts

• Provide technical assistance (e.g. trainings) and conduct supportive supervision in areas where TT surgery services and MDA activities are undergoing with NTD team and other stakeholders as necessary

• Support the region to strengthen a timely, effective NTDs logistics supply chain management system (quantification, request, stock monitoring and reporting of commodities) for PC-NTDs and case managements

• Work with the region, zones, and districts to ensure MDA safety, integrate reporting and investigation of adverse drug events into the regional pharmacovigilance system

• Support the region, zones, and districts on strengthening NTDs program’s structure and leadership at all levels of the health system (budget & human resource)

• Work with region, zones, and districts to enhance community engagement, empowerment, ownership of NTDs programs and ensure sustainability

• Support NTDs team and other programs to integrate NTDs on existing health delivery platforms

• Support the region to enhance/strengthen digitized NTD data management and dissemination ( integration of NTDs into DHIS2 and/eCHIS)

• Coordinate responses to challenges that hinders NTD program performances from reaching their control and elimination goals by focusing on identification of root causes, prioritizing the most important ones, mobilize resources and coordination with internal and  external partners

• Work with the regional health bureau and its’ line offices to apply best practices to measure the impact of program activities on various indicators.

• Provide regular and timely reports on field activities and ensure timely follow-up on action points from field visits and meetings.

• Perform any other related duties assigned as needed

Required Number: One

Terms of Employment: Six months contract with the possibility of extension upon satisfactory performance appraisal by the RHB.

Qualification and Experience:

• Master’s Degree in General Public health, MPH/Msc in Environmental Health, MPH in Epidemiology and Biostatistics, MPH in infectious diseases with health background(Health officer, Nurse and Environmental health) and at least six years experience and two of them after completing master program.
• At least 3 years’ demonstrated expertise in coordinating and leading neglected tropical diseases control and elimination projects preferably on Trachoma, Onchocerciasis Lymphatic Filariasis and Guinea Worm.
• Strong English (oral and written) communication and presentation skills.
• Strong technical, analytical, conceptual, interpersonal, and partnership management skills.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Demonstrated ability to lead and influence across multiple teams and programs

• Demonstrated understanding and appreciation of region-led health strategies

• Strong organizational and interpersonal skills and ability to work in a team-oriented setting

• Ability to successfully work with NTDs team and  Regional Health Bureau officials, NGOs, research institutions, zones, woredas and other stakeholders

• Ability to identify priorities and develop strategies and activities to bring together all WASH-NTDs stakeholders

• Knowledge of supply chain management, drug logistics and distribution issues preferably on NTDs

• Demonstrated experience in managing and analyzing NTDs data along with knowledge of reporting procedures, best practices, use of guidelines, and tools for M&E

• Ability to prioritize workload, assume responsibility for work, and follow through to completion of given tasks

• Energetic with the ability and willingness to work under pressure with a positive attitude, as a part of the NTDs team

• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

• Willingness to travel to zones, districts and kebeles for field work