BACKGROUND
The Last Ten Kilometers (L10K 2020) Project of JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc. (JSI), with funds from Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has been implementing community-based maternal, newborn, and child health strategies since 2008 to contribute to the achievement of Ethiopia’s Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (RMNCH) related targets of the Health Sector Transformation Plan (HSTP).
L10K2020 re-scoped its project to align with the Bill and Melinda Gates Ethiopian Integrated Health Plan (EIHP). As such L10K 2020 focus has shifted from implementation support to systems support since October 2017. The focus of support will be both at Federal Ministry of health and the four big regions (Oromiya, Amahara, Tigray and SNNPR) and selected Zones in the four regions. L10K 2020 will be using embedding technical staff at FMOH, RHBs and Selected Zones in the four regions it operates as one of strategic approach to providing systems support. To enhance the capacity of RHBs/ZHDs and enable them provide support to Woredas under their preview to achieve the HSTP targets.
OVERVIEW OF THE POSITION
The Zonal Technical Assistant for Demonstration Zone, will provide zonal level technical assistance towards supporting the demonstration zone health care facilities to be a Center of Excellence in providing HQCC to the community, the establishment of skills labs and packages of community engagement /woreda transformation initiatives at selected facilities within the demonstration zone. The TA will also provide technical support for the RHB/ZHD in quality planning, quality improvement quality assurance and community engagement/woreda transformation initiatives starting from households/communities to the level of the general hospital as per the national health tier system. S/he will work under the direct supervision of the deputy head of the zonal health department and the guidance of the L10K 2020 Regional manager. The position is based in the demonstration zone (Finote Selam) with travel to districts for mentorship, supervision and implementation support.
KEY DUTUES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
− Working with ZHD to conduct assessment on the quality improvements strategy at facility level and selected centre of excellence sites to understand the current status including skill lab
− Supporting the ZHDs and selected facilities to define packages of interventions to make them centre of excellence in quality.
− Supporting the ZHDs in preparing evidence based and contextualized plans to address specific gaps, executing the plans, generating and implementing innovative approaches and monitor implementation
− Coordinate with the ZHD, woredas and PHCUs to ensure that the centre of excellences areas are implementing identified community engagement/woreda transformation interventions such as HEP optimization and 2nd generation HEP, WDAs competency based training, school health, PHCU linkages, and establishing HEP models at health posts .
− Supporting ZHD on the implementation Ethiopian Health Centre Reforms Guideline (EHCRIG)
− Support the establishment of skill labs in excellence site
− Coordinate capacity building activities in clinical care facility management, mentorship for QI and CRC to the center of excellence facilities.
− Support and coordinate the catchment and cluster mentorship within the demonstration zone center of excellence facilities
− Coordinate and support the performance reviews within the demonstration zone towards community engagement, HQCC, skill lab, integrated supportive supervision and RMNCH
− performance
− Transferring his/her program design, implementation and follow-up skills to build the capacity of the ZHDs/WoHO team, hospital and PHCU management
− Supporting ZHDs/WoHO team, hospital and PHCU management in ensuring the implementation of the national strategic documents, guidelines, training materials and tools required for the center of excellence sites
− Provide support in strengthening the use of data across levels of the health system to improve program performance for the priority RMNCH interventions
− Facilitate effective partnership with stakeholders engaged in the implementation of RMNCH program in the area
− Closely work with and contribute on the zonal and woreda level technical working groups and task forces
− Support ZHDs in improving the efficiency and effectiveness of integrated supportive supervision, joint monitoring visit and review meeting
− Collaborate with other sectors, organizations and projects to ensure synergy and strengthen inter-sectoral collaboration and coordination
− Prepare regular progress reports on Community engagement and HQCC on RMNCH programs
− Support ZHDs in continuously identifying, documenting, disseminating and scaling up learning, earnings and best experiences
− Support ZHD and center of excellence facilities in organizing learning visits and spread of learnings
− Support other ZHDs and L10K 2020 related activities when deemed necessary by the supervisors
SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES:
− A minimum of Bachler Degree in health sciences, with further study in public health
− A minimum of 5 years of experience in planning and implementation of RMNCH programs
− Knowledge and experience of the Ethiopian health system and the health extension program
− Strong experience in policy analysis and policy engagement
− Coaching and capacity building skills in RMNCH program management
− Experience in working with guiding national/regional/zonal level technical working groups, developing donor relationships, working with government partners and with partner agencies
− Strong result orientation, with the ability to challenge existing mind-set
− Good skill in communicating, organizing group discussion, and presentation
− Good computer skill
− Fluency in English and Amharic languages