Benin: Community Health Systems Technical Advisor
Country: Benin
Closing date: 09 Aug 2013
Background
Plan International is a global organization that works side by side with communities in 50 developing countries to end the cycle of poverty for children and their families. Plan works at the community level to develop customized solutions and ensure long-term sustainability. Our solutions are designed up-front to be owned by communities for generations to come and range from clean water and healthcare programs to education projects and child protection initiatives. Across program areas, Plan’s activities are guided by a Child-Centered Community Development (CCCD) approach, which is rights-based, holistic, gender-sensitive, and inclusive.
Project and Position Description
Plan International is seeking candidates for a proposed Community Health Systems Technical Advisor for USAID’s Advancing Newborn, Child and Reproductive Health project in Benin. This project seeks to provide technical assistance to improve private and public health sector integrated health service delivery as well as prevention and care-seeking for women. This project will work closely with the Ministry of Health to introduce, scale-up, and further development of the Paquet des Interventions de Haut
Impact (PIHI) for the private health sector, and ensuring program approaches are in sync with the public sector, to expand achievement of measurable reductions in under-five and maternal mortality and morbidity.
The Community Health Systems Technical Advisor will help the Ministry of Health roll out and systemize interventions at the health facility and community levels in ten peri-urban health zones. S/He will provide leadership and strategic program implementation to develop community-based, integrated maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH) and family planning (FP) services within the overall continuum of health care available at the local level. S/He will develop and implement a community-based service delivery strategy to support overall project objectives and country strategies.
Responsibilities:
• Oversee the implementation of interventions at the health facility and community levels in ten peri-urban health zones;
• Strengthen local technical capacity for continuous quality improvement in community-based;
• MNCH and FP service delivery, integrated into the regional and national-level health systems;
• Support efforts that contribute to reducing communities’ dependency on external human and financial resources, and higher-level health services and infrastructure;
• Strengthen community-level technical capacity to deliver interventions, including vision and capacity to replicate and bring to scale successful activities;
• Support the expansion of community-based interventions services, such as activities that encourage exclusive breastfeeding, immunization of children, offering a wider range of contraceptives at the health center and community levels; expanding the “Reaching Every District” (RED) approach with communal authorities; and introducing community-based approach to emergency obstetric care (EmONC);
• Create and guide community-initiated opportunities for leadership, skills development, advocacy and community-led resource mobilization initiatives to sustain MNCH and FP services;
• Adapt and apply continuous MNCH and FP quality improvement tools, national standards and guidelines and best practices for use at the community and health facility level;
• Strengthen community-level advocacy efforts to reduce gender inequality and discrimination.Requirements:
• Advanced degree in public health, international development or related field;
• Significant experience implementing health programs in developing and transitioning countries, with experience providing technical assistance to MNCH/FP programs;
• Demonstrated ability in program design, and integrated approaches to community-level service delivery;
• Demonstrated experience working effectively with program staff, implementing partners, civil society organizations, community leaders and local government authorities to implement community-based MNCH and FP/RH services and locally-led community engagement initiatives;
• Proven ability to carry out local level advocacy, capacity building and social empowerment initiatives;
• Proven ability to create and maintain effective working relationships with national and local level government officials, stakeholders, NGOs, and implementing partners;
• Excellent management and interpersonal skills;
• English and French fluency (verbal and written) required;
Qualified Beninese nationals are encouraged to apply.
Plan is an equal opportunity employer.
How to apply:
Please send cover letter and resume in English through our website:http://plan-international.org/about-plan/jobs
