Amref Health Africa was founded in 1957 and has since grown to become the largest African-based international health development organization, currently implementing more than 150 programs which directly reach more than 20 million people across 35 countries in Africa. Headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, Amref has fully-fledged offices in Ethiopia, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, Senegal, South Sudan, and Zambia; eleven advocacy and fundraising offices in Europe and North America; and a staff complement of over 1,500.
The Ethiopia Country office is registered in 2002 and operational for more than two decades. Currently, we are operational in all regions of Ethiopia with more than 300 staffs and wide portfolio of PHC, RMNCAYH-N, Youth Development, WASH and DPC including NTDs.
Our vision is to bring about ‘Lasting health change in Africa’, by supporting Ethiopia’s vision of healthy, productive and prosperous society. We believe that the power to transform Africa's health lies within its communities, and therefore strive to ensure that health systems are not only functional but that communities are empowered to hold these systems accountable for the delivery of quality and affordable health care.
ABOUT INTEGRATED HEALTH SYSTEMS STRENGTHENING (HSS) PROJECT
Integrated Health System Strengthening Project is a Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) investment currently being co-designed with Amref Health Africa and MOH to support the design and implementation of a platform mechanism/s for health systems strengthening for primary health care (PHC) in Ethiopia. The focus of this investment is primarily at the subnational level (regional and district) with links to national efforts. The design will focus on integration of key HSS pillars – e.g., Human Resources for Health (HRH), Health Care Financing (HCF), Data, and Leadership and Governance – to support PHC administrators and managers toward optimizing health systems for improved service delivery.
JOB PURPOSE
Amref is seeking a highly motivated and dynamic person to lead this investment in a balanced strategic and operational execution of the project by closely working with sub-national public health administrators with linkage to national efforts. This includes Amref’s ambition to deliver Technical Assistance packages and grow its health system strengthening portfolio. Working closely with teams across Amref and other BMGF’s investments in Ethiopia and Africa, the successful candidate will provide overall strategic direction and technical leadership, implement the proposed activities, embed sustainability mechanism for stronger health systems and build Amref’s capacity in health system for improving PHC service delivery to progressively realize Universal Health Coverage.
The successful candidate will therefore provide high-quality technical support to Integrated HSS project teams across Amref Ethiopia by working closely with the PHC Director in Ethiopia and Group HSS Director based at HQ. S/he is expected be a thought leader, and planner for integrated health systems development across Ethiopia through the catalytic role of this investment sub nationally. The role requires hands on experience of engaging in health systems programs, particularly in relation to subnational government stakeholders dialogue on technical strategy, design of implementation and close monitoring of execution. It therefore has high networking and visibility, both nationally and regionally (sub nationally), including leadership reputation, representation and creation of partnerships. Hence, the position has a combined technical and managerial role.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
· Provide technical leadership and operational guidance for BMGF funded Integrated HSS project
· Provide thought leadership and advisory services on Health Systems Strengthening to RHBs and MOH
· Continuously assess Project’s support to building stronger health systems sub nationally. Based on the assessments, recommend additional HSS support that would achieve integrated HSS investment for efficient PHC service delivery mainly for RMNCAYH services.
· Oversee capacity-building of Amref’s and its partners’ expertise in HSS, particularly in provision of technical assistance on integrated health system strengthening efforts.
· Provide oversight of the Integrated HSS project in particular and Amref’s technical assistance framework in general, working closely with various units across Amref country office and HQ to ensure optimal execution of the HSS strategy.
· Facilitate internal (with in Amref and BMGF’s other investments) and external learning platforms for exchange of lessons through proactively promoting collaborative learning and adaptation including community of practice for integrated health system investments.
· Ensure that evidences are generated from this investment to inform policy, advocacy, financing and governance approaches for optimal health system investment of PHC sub nationally.
· Build knowledge and thought leadership; increase Amref’s network of Health System experts and partners with a goal of increasing utilization of lessons of Integrated HSS Project for scale up.
· Establish and sustain partnerships with relevant stakeholders regionally for synergy towards making health facilities ready for health service delivery, communities actively engage in the PHC system and public health leaders are committed to optimally govern the PHC system.
QUALIFICATIONS
The successful candidate will have a strong technical background in health systems strengthening; as well as solid experience in the delivery of technical assistance and engaging with government counterparts at all level including sub nationally. S/he should also be highly motivated, a creative problem solver; have strong analytical, communication, process facilitation, and collaboration skills.
Education and Professional Qualifications
· An advanced degree in public health, international development, or a similar field.
Required Qualifications and Experience
· Minimum ten (10) years of experience working in health systems strengthening, familiarity with health financing, human resource for health and leadership issues in Ethiopia and technical knowledge of policy, advocacy, financing and governance.
· Proven leadership in developing strategies, conceptualizing, planning, and implementing projects or programs.
· Demonstrated track record in building partnerships with government health agencies, donors, and other key health stakeholders.
· High level of organization, attention to detail, professionalism, and reliability. Ability to prioritize and manage work in a fast-paced environment and be responsive to internal offices/units and partners.
· Highly collaborative and accessible leadership style, with experience managing teams. Enthusiasm about working in an open environment with multicultural peers and staff, including global, regional, national, local, public and private sector.
· Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
· Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including demonstrated ability to effectively facilitate high-level meetings; prepare clear and concise briefs, presentations, and reports.
· Strong interpersonal and capacity building skills, including training, mentoring and coaching skills.
Knowledge, Skills and Competencies
· Demonstrated thought leader
· Technically sound in health and community systems
· Ability to build and work with networks
· Well organized, results focused, creative, innovative and flexible