Maternal and Child Survival Program

MCSP/Nigeria Immunization

 

Job Description

Location: Abuja

Position Type: Full-time

Position: National Immunization Technical Advisor (NITA) Nigeria

Organization: John Snow, Inc. (JSI)

 

Background

The Maternal and Child Survival Program (MCSP) is a global Cooperative Agreement funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) aimed at introducing and supporting high-impact health interventions. This global program focuses on 24 high-priority countries, including Nigeria, with the ultimate goal of ending preventable maternal and child deaths within a generation. MCSP country programs strive to ensure that all women, newborns and children have equitable access to the quality health care services that save lives.

 

Awarded in spring 2014, MCSP supports programming in maternal, newborn and child health, immunization, family planning and reproductive health, nutrition, health systems strengthening, water/sanitation/hygiene, malaria, prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, and pediatric HIV care and treatment. The program engages governments, policymakers, private sector leaders, health care providers, civil society, faith-based organizations and communities in addressing the major causes of maternal, newborn and child mortality and improving the quality of health services from household to hospital. Health systems strengthening, household and community mobilization, gender integration and eHealth are also cross-cutting themes and areas of the program’s work.

 

In Nigeria, and in close partnership with the Bauchi and Sokoto State governments and numerous other public and private partners, MCSP is launching a technical assistance initiative aimed at strengthening the routine immunization (RI) system to increase and sustain RI coverage and reduce childhood illness and death. John Snow, Inc. (JSI) is leading the implementation of this technical assistance, drawing from more than 25 years of experience in over 40 developing and transitional countries of building the technical capacity of ministries of health and other partners to raise RI coverage sustainably, improve quality, and reduce illness and death due to vaccine-preventable diseases. JSI has managed each of USAID’s global flagship immunization projects, including REACH I/II, The Basic Support for Institutionalizing Child Survival (BASICS) I/II, IMMUNIZATIONbasics, MCHIP, and currently MCSP. This includes many years supporting RI strengthening in Nigeria—including throughout all of Bauchi and Sokoto States.

 

National Immunization Technical Advisor (NITA)

 

Position description

The purpose of the MCSP National Immunization Technical Advisor (NITA) position with JSI, to be based in Abuja, Nigeria, is to collaborate with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Bauchi and Sokoto State Primary Health Care Development Agencies (BSPHCDA and SSPHCDA), and other immunization partners (e.g., WHO, UNICEF) to harmonize national-level RI policies and initiatives with state-level RI policies and initiatives in Bauchi and Sokoto States. The NITA will work closely with MCSP State-level teams providing technical assistance (TA) to the BSPHCDA and SSPHCDA. 

 

In Bauchi State, activities will focus on implementing the Harmonized Routine Immunization Workplan to strengthen RI and provide quality immunization services throughout the State through a quadripartite memorandum of understanding (MOU) among the Bauchi State Government, Dangote Foundation, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and USAID. MCSP will also support the State in implementing the recently rolled out “Primary Health Care under One Roof” policy in the context of RI system strengthening.

 

The NITA will supervise the Bauchi MCSP team and support the State government to achieve the goals of the quadripartite MOU toward strengthening the RI system to increase and sustain RI coverage in Bauchi State. More specifically, and in close collaboration with other partners, the NITA will lead the Bauchi MCSP team in supporting the States in four technical areas identified by the BSPHCDA for MCSP. These areas, which will complement other operational components of Nigeria’s Reaching Every Ward (REW) approach, are as follows:

 

.  Governance, ownership, and accountability

.  Community engagement

.  Supportive supervision, monitoring, and effective use of data for decision making at all levels

.  Capacity building and training

.  In Sokoto State, activities will focus on building coordination, collaboration, and commitment across RI partners.

 

The NITA will foster strong collaboration and partnership with RI stakeholders at every level, with a focus at the national level, to support Bauchi and Sokoto State governments in maximizing the benefits of resources committed by State and other partners to ensure that all target populations access and utilize quality vaccines and vaccination services.  The NITA will also work to ensure that State-level policies are aligned with national-level priorities, policies, and initiatives, including the National RI Strategic Plan.

 

 

Roles and responsibilities

Under the guidance and leadership of the MCSP Senior Immunization Technical Officer based in Washington, DC, and in close collaboration with other RI partners, the key responsibilities of the NITA will include but not be limited to the following:

 

•  Provide overall technical and management leadership and supervision to the MCSP/Nigeria-RI team in the country

•  Support the visibility of USAID and MCSP within and outside Nigeria

•  Contribute to the development, adaptation, and dissemination of national guidelines and policies at the national and State levels (in Bauchi and Sokoto)

•  Support the strengthening of the NPHCDA, BSPHCDA, and SSPHCDA, where relevant to RI

•  Work directly on a daily basis with other partners involved in supporting RI services

•  Represent MCSP to USAID, the NPHCDA, BSPHCDA, SSPHCDA, and other partners through participation and/or leadership in national- and State-level meetings, technical advisory groups, working groups, and other high-level coordinating forums

•  Provide guidance at the national level on establishing and tracking program  indicators  to monitor the implementation of policies, improve RI delivery services, and strengthen data management and use, among other activities, linking with MCSP’s work in Bauchi and Sokoto States

•  Collaborate with relevant SPHCDAs and other RI partners to ensure effective implementation of the quadripartite RI MOU in Bauchi State

•  Support the capacity building of health workers through pre-service training, on-the-job training, continuous training, and supportive supervision at the National and State levels

•  Support advocacy and public information activities at both the national and State levels, using evidence-based data on community knowledge, attitudes, and practices around RI

•  Champion learning and knowledge and experience sharing around RI at the State, national, and where appropriate, regional and/or global levels

•  Document meetings and share proceedings/minutes with MCSP colleagues at the country and headquarters levels; promote the transparent, timely, and consistent flow of internal and external communications

•  Participate in routine team meetings with MCSP headquarters team, and convene and lead MCSP team, technical, and other meetings as appropriate

•  Lead the country-level contributions to and submission of USAID technical progress reports, workplans, and other technical documents as required

 

Qualifications

•  Health professional with at least a Masters degree in public health,  management, or development-related field

•  At least 15 years field work experience in immunization service management in public and/or private organizations

•  Commanding knowledge of current global, regional and Nigerian health policies, strategies, guidelines, and issues related to RI

•  Demonstrated experience in health project services management and/or planning and policy at a senior level

•  Excellent navigator of complex, highly political interpersonal relations, including with stakeholders ranging from national to community levels

•  Strong, energetic team player, with the ability to motivate and mentor colleagues

•  Creative thinker, capable of introducing innovative strategies

•  Computer literacy: Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint

•  Knowledge of statistics and data management a strong asset

•  Proficiency in spoken and written English, and at least one other Nigerian language; working knowledge of another international language an advantage

•  Previous work experience implementing (including managing) USAID projects preferred

•  Ability to travel to Bauchi and/or Sokoto States up to 30%

 

Method of Application

Interested candidates should send their applications, with comprehensive CV and motivation letter, no later than Wednesday, 18 February, 2015. Applications should be sent to the following email address: [email protected]