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 Technical Advisor will provide overall strategic and technical guidance in quality of care and child health and will work towards operationalizing the national and regional quality strategy by supporting the implementation of the components of high quality clinical care in close collaboration with the regional L10K team. The TA will also lead the newborn and child health portfolio of L10K including providing technical support in newborn and child health to the Ministry of Health and Regional Health Bureaus. The Technical Advisor will collaborate with the technical assistants at the regional health bureau and in the demonstration zones in his/her effort to support the Center of Excellence for HQCC. The TA will also provide technical support for the FMOH/RHB/ZHD in quality planning, quality improvement and quality assurance initiatives with focus on HQCC and in newborn and child health. S/he will work under the direct supervision of the Technical Director and work closely with L10K 2020 team at central and regional level.
KEY DUTUES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Provide strategic and technical leadership and oversight for L10K’s High Quality Clinical Care support to the FMOH/RHBs under the L10K 2020 Project. Key areas include providing guidance in:
o The establishment and running of the centre of excellences in the four demonstration zone including the establishment and functioning of the skills lab.
o Building capacity of FMOH and RHBs to lead and implement clinical mentorship program and compassionate respectful care as part of improving provision of quality RMNCH service.
o Bbuilding capacity of FMOH and RHBs towards effective clinical care management.
o Develop a learning platform to share lessons from the centers of excellence in the demonstration zones through continuously identifying, documenting, disseminating and scaling up learnings and best experiences
o Support RHBs and centre of excellence facilities in organizing learning visits and spread of learnings
- Provide technical support to the FMOH directly and through participating in technical working groups for the successful implementation of the National Quality Strategy including developing strategies to enhance the capacity of FMOH and RHBs to lead and implement the strategy and processes
- Provide technical guidance to FMOH and RHBs to organize and conduct effective Integrated Supportive Supervision (ISS) and Performance Review Meeting (PRM)
− Provide support in strengthening the use of data and evidence, across all levels of the health system to improve the quality of RMNCH programs
− Facilitate effective partnership with stakeholders engaged in the implementation of quality care provision in RMNCH program.
− Closely work with and contribute on the national RMNCH and quality technical working groups and task forces.
− Lead the planning, monitoring, evaluation and documentation of lessons from the implementation of L10K 2020’s quality of care component.
− Collaborate with development partners such as IHI for effective and synergistic.
- Provide strategic and technical leadership in child/newborn health and provide oversight to L10K’s Optimizing Health Extension Program for Child/NewBorn Health funded by UNICEF. This will include:
- Provide technical support to the FMOH directly and through participating in technical working groups for the successful implementation of child survival strategy as well us enhance the capacity of FMOH and RHBs to lead and implement the strategy and processes
o Providing technical support to the FMOH in child/newborn health directly and through participating in national technical working group for child/newborn health
o Lead the implementation of the OHEP for child/new born health
SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES:
− Degree in medicine with speciality in paediatrics with further study in public health, hospital administration.
− A minimum of 10 years’ experience in planning and implementation of quality of care and RMNCH programs.
− Strong experience in clinical care and skills.
− Knowledge and experience of the Ethiopian health system.
− Strong experience in clinical management, clinical auditing, mentoring and coaching.
− Strong experience in policy analysis and policy engagement.
− Coaching and capacity building skills in quality of care and RMNCH program management and priority setting.
− Experience in working with/guiding national level technical working groups, developing donor relationships, working with government partners and with development partners.
− Results oriented with the ability to challenge existing mind-set
− Strong initiative, self-motivated, self-starter, and ability to work independently and in collaboration and coordination with a diverse group of stakeholders in a dynamic, complex and rapidly changing environment.
− Strong communication skills, organizing group discussion, and presentation.
− Strong writing skills.
− Good computer skill including the use of statistical software
− Fluency in English and Amharic
− Able to travel to remote areas as deemed necessary