BACKGROUND
The Last Ten Kilometers Project - L10K 2020 is implemented by JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc. in Ethiopia. With the grant it receives from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, USAID and UNICEF, L10K works in 200 woredas in Amhara, Tigray, SNNP and Oromiya regions to ensure optimum coverage of high impact reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health (RMNCH) interventions and contribute towards reducing Ethiopia’s post Millennium Development Goal (MDG) - maternal, newborn and child mortality targets. Thus, the Project aims to improve key household and community practices and increase the coverage, quality, and equity of RMNCH Care.
OVERVIEW OF THE POSITION
The Newborn and Child Health Project Coordinator will provide technical and strategic leadership for newborn and child health activities under the L10K project. The Project Coordinator will be responsible to coordinate the UNICEF funded Optimizing Health Extension Projects and the UNICEF and USAID funded Community Based Newborn Care (CBNC)/Integrated Communality Management of Common Childhood Illnesses (ICCM) Services implemented in the four most populous regions in Ethiopia. The Project Coordinator will be responsible for providing technical leadership and oversight to central and regional staffs, and work closely with the Federal Ministry of Health and development partners engaged in newborn and child health. The Project Coordinator will supervise the Newborn and Child Health and the SBCC Program Specialists, and will be supervised by the Project Director.
KEY DUTUES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Provide technical and administrative leadership for the Optimizing Health Extension Project and the improving CBNC/iCCM Services implemented in Amhara, Oromia, SNNP and Tigray Regions.
Represent JSI Research and Training Institute Inc./L10K and participate actively in National Newborn and Child Survival working groups and sub-groups and contribute towards national strategies, guidelines including the newborn and child survival strategy, newborn & child health training materials, supportive supervision checklist, performance review and clinical mentoring guide, periodic review of the status of CBNC/iCCM implementation, to develop CBNC /iCCM demand generation activities , and develop guides for Chlorhexidine, etc.
Prepare monthly, quarterly and annually program status reports with budget review and analysis submit to head quarter and respective donors.
Coordinated Regional/Zonal level Newborn and Child Health program launching, facilitate and coordinate CBNC/iCCM/IMNCI master and Regional/Zonal level ToTs.
Submit the request to UNICEF on the needed CBNC/iCCM training materials and commodities and facilitate timely distribution to respective zones of CBNC/iCCM implementation.
Work with the technical team to follow performance against plan and to ensure mechanism for continuous performance improvement and coordinate to ensure efficient, coordinated and integrated planning (monthly, quarterly, and annual plans) for L10K projects.
Makes regular project supervision and monitoring visits to regions, zones, woredas, PHCUs , and kebeles, ascertains progress, identifies delays and problems if any and recommends solutions; provide constructive feedbacks to L10K and counter partners at all level.
Coordinate continuous monitoring visits, supervision visits, joint monitoring visits, and random quality checks of supported activities and face-to-face discussions for Newborn and Child Health donors (UNICEF and USAID).
Review and provide feedbacks to regional and zonal offices on Newborn and Child Health supportive supervision and performance review meeting collected/abstracted data for ongoing program monitoring.
Work closely and be a focal person to Newborn and Child Health donors (UNICEF and USAID and present regular project implementation status.
Participate in developing new business for newborn and childhood programs.
SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES:
At least Graduate Degree in Public Health, with clinical experience
A minimum of 10 years of experience of supporting the FMoH in Maternal, New born and Child health interventions areas
Experience in coordinating CBNC and iCCM is an advantage
Experience working with UNICEF and USAID funded projects is an advantage
Experience in community based health approaches
Proven knowledge of the FMoH strategies and priorities
Exceptional interpersonal, teamwork, communication, partnering and supervisory skills
Fluency in English, Amharic and preferably other local language
Excellent computer skills