REGIONAL PROGRAM COORDINATOR ( Afar & Somali)

Organization Background

JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc. (JSI) is a global nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the health of individuals and communities throughout the world. Founded in 1978, JSI collaborates with government agencies, the private sector, and local nonprofit and civil society organizations to identify and implement solutions to the most pressing public health and education challenges.

In Ethiopia, JSI has been working to improve health outcomes for more than 25 years, implementing more than 60 projects and working in every region. JSI has historically managed a large portfolio of projects focusing on the quality, and equity in access to, reproductive, maternal, neonatal, child, and adolescent health (RMNCAH) services, primary health care (PHC) including community health programs, digital health, health information systems (HIS), supply chain management, public health emergency responses, and social and behavior change.

Projects Overview

Funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), JSI is implementing the Strengthening Service Delivery (SSD). The Strengthening Service Delivery (SSD) in Ethiopia Project is a new opportunity to build upon the substantial innovative investments the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) has made toward improving the lives of people in Ethiopia.

The SSD project focuses on building upon and leveraging previous and current BMGF and other donor investments to improve the quality of downstream, supply-side integrated services, and supply in three high-impact areas: 1) strengthening provider competencies to deliver integrated, high-quality services; 2) improving service delivery structures and processes required for high-quality care; and 3) improving the last-mile delivery of the supplies and commodities. The SSD aims to utilize existing resources and opportunities from Improve Primary Healthcare Service Delivery (IPHCSD) where the implementation woredas overlap and other partners.

OVERVIEW OF THE POSITION

The position requires a comprehensive diagnosis of the health system in terms of maternal, newborn, and child health, immunization, and nutrition interventions, last-mile delivery and availability of RMNCH commodities, and designing innovative tailored approaches to address identified gaps and challenges.

The role involves working closely with the RMNCH, Family Planning (FP), digital health, and supply chain advisors and other teams of the SSD at the central, as well as collaborating with the IPHCSD and other partners working in the region to ensure effective coordination and integration of RMNCH activities. The successful candidate will also need to coordinate activities under the SSD projects and collaborate with Improve Primary Healthcare Service Delivery (IPHCSD) project teams and other partners in the region. IPHCSD is also funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation which aims to improve the efficacy of, and linkages between, PHC delivery platforms, including health posts, community health actors, health centers, primary hospitals, and private facilities for improved reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, adolescent health, and nutrition (RMNCAH-N) outcomes. The successful candidate will represent JSI at the regional level in any matters related to the project. The position holder will work under the direct supervision of RHB and PHC and Field Programs director.

KEY DUTUES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Plan detailed activities for RMNCH and nutrition, and last-mile availability and supply of commodity-related activities under the project and facilitate their implementation in collaboration with relevant stakeholders.

Deliver training including using a blended learning approach to health facility staff, as well as regional and zonal technical teams to enhance their capacities in the implementation of MNCH, nutrition, and supply chain management specifically last-mile delivery and availability of RMNCH commodities.

Work closely with the central teams RMNCH, FP, digital health, and supply chain advisors of the SSD, and collaborate with the IPHCSD projects technical staff to ensure effective coordination and integration of the activities and that they are implemented effectively.

Work closely with SSDs sub-grantees in designing and implementing tailored activities to the regional contexts.

Monitor project progress and performance against established targets, identifying and addressing issues and risks as they arise.

Ensure the integration of gender and social inclusion considerations in the implementation of all RMNCH interventions and activities.

Represent the project in relevant technical working groups, conferences, and meetings related to SSD-RMNCH and nutrition programs, and supply chain at the regional level.

Conduct regular supportive supervision to monitor progress, identify challenges, and course-correct activities as needed.

Collaborate with other organizations and projects/programs working on maternal, newborn, child health, nutrition, and supply chain issues to ensure synergy, sharing of technical resources, learning, and mutual support.

Prepare regular reports (bi-weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual) on the assigned activities' progress and share them with relevant stakeholders.

Ensure compliance with the donor's and JSIs regulations and requirements, and coordinate donor reporting and communication.

Required Experience:

• BSc or Master's degree in Public Health and other related field
• At least 7 years of experience for BSc_PH and 5 years of experience for MPH in planning and implementing MNCH programs, including nutrition programs.
• Familiarity with blended training approaches for health workers and the last-miles supply chain systems including the tools and strategies.

Required Skills and Competencies:

• Experience coaching and capacity-building skills in key maternal, newborn, and child health programs, immunization, nutrition, and supply chain management.
• Advanced understanding of national MNCH and supply chain management policies, strategies, and guidelines and familiarity with the latest developments in MNCH programs and policies.
• Experience in Continuing Professional Development and Blended learning approaches can be an added advantage
• Experience in working with technical working groups, and working with government partners, and partner agencies.
• Ability to work collaboratively with stakeholders from diverse backgrounds.
• Strong result orientation, with the ability to work dynamically in a changing environment.
• Strong interpersonal, teamwork, communication, partnering and supervisory skills.
• Excellent writing and speaking skills in English and the regional working language.
• Excellent computer skills.

JSI is a child-safe organization, and the safety and well-being of children is a priority of our organization. We have robust recruitment procedures to ensure that all staff are suited to work with the children served by our programs.

JSI is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer committed to workplace diversity. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all qualified applicants and employees without regard to age, race, color, national origin, ancestry, creed, religion, gender, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, sexual preference, genetic information, political affiliation, or military status (special disabled veterans or veteran status) in any employment decisions. M/F/V/D.