JOB DESCRIPTION Job title: Technical Officer Location: Gulu or Lira Department: Technical Length of contract: Fixed Role type: National Grade: 7 Travel involved: Up to 40% travel to areas of operation Child safeguarding level: Reporting to: Line manager: Regional Coordinator Direct reports: None Dotted line manager: Organisational background Established in 2003, Malaria Consortium is one of the world s leading non-profit organisations specialising in the comprehensive prevention, control and treatment of malaria and other communicable diseases among vulnerable and under privileged populations. We increasingly find our work on malaria can be effectively integrated with other similar public health interventions for greater impact and therefore expanded our remit to include child health and neglected tropical disease interventions. We work in Africa and Asia with communities, governments, academic institutions, and local and international organisations, to ensure effective delivery of services, which are supported by strong evidence. Our areas of expertise include: disease prevention, diagnosis and treatment disease control and elimination systems strengthening research, monitoring and evaluation leading to best practice behaviour change communication national and international advocacy and policy development Country and project background Malaria Consortium Uganda is one of our largest country offices and responsible for implementing over 5 projects. These projects range from national level policy support to direct implementation of control programmes for malaria, tuberculosis, diarrhoeal diseases and neglected tropical diseases. The office in Kampala, Uganda is the centre for the programmes in Uganda, in addition to serving as a regional office for East & Southern Africa. 1
Malaria Consortium Uganda has received funding from DFID/UNICEF to implement the Strengthening Uganda s Response to Malaria (SURM) project which will focus on reducing the impact of the leading causes of U5M morbidity and mortality in 16 districts in Northern Uganda. The project will address lagging maternal and neonatal mortality through a combination of iccm and selected maternal and neonatal care interventions. The project is implemented with UNICEF and spans a five year period (April 2018-March 2023) in 16 districts in the Northern region of Uganda. Job purpose To provide technical and implementation support to all SURM project activities in districts in the Northern region Scope of work The role involves ensuring the technical quality of all activities in support of the project s overall goal and theory of change, through regular liaison with and supervision from the Kampala-based SURM Project Director. Provides ongoing technical support to the Ministry of Health (MoH)/ National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP), district health teams and other partners and stakeholders as relevant to the project scope and in accordance with its approach to understanding and influencing positive change in health. Key working relationships This role has an important capacity building function, which involves working closely with the project s partners, including the district health teams, health workers and VHTs. Key accountabilities 1. Oversee implementation of Malaria project activities in the project districts (56%) Training of Health Workers and Village Health teams in malaria interventions Support the district to conduct Community Mobilization and education activities Supervision of diagnostic and treatment services and community implementation of fever management Support the implementation of the communication strategy for ICCM at community and district level through drama, IEC, dialogues, Radio talk shows Work Closely with the technical, financial, operations and M&E team to provide support to the relevant District and Health Sub district personnel for the following Supervision and support of VHTs implementing ICCM Collection of data from VHTs on a monthly basis Conduct regular routine assessments and supervision visits to programme related sites and activities Adhere to all procedures and policies of Malaria consortium Adhere to humanitarian principles at all times during the implementation of the project Carry out any other duties in support of the wider Malaria Consortium Uganda Programme as assigned by the Regional Coordinator Participate in the development of ICCM Work planning Monthly report Submission 2
2. Monitoring and Evaluation (20%) Work closely with the M&E Officer to collect and analyse complete programmatic data in a timely fashion and send it to the M&E Specialist Provide regular progress, trip and monthly reports in a timely manner and ensure that all the reports are sent to the Regional Coordinator Work closely with the M&E Officer and the Regional Coordinator in the monitoring and evaluation of project activities Support the effective field implementation of any operational research studies, ensuring data collection quality Support the collection of routine health data from Village Health Team members, health facilities and district health teams Support the conduct of surveys as required 3. Reporting (7%) Maintain regular communication with the Regional Coordinator and compile weekly work plan updates from the field Provide monthly progress/activity reports to the M&E Officer for compilation and submission to the Regional Coordinator and M&E Specialist Support the M&E Officer to ensure that all relevant project documentation is disseminated to the district health teams Participate in relevant meetings, presenting project results and experiences as required 4. Partnerships (6%) Develop effective and collaborative relationships with all project partners, including the district health teams, implementing partners and network of CSOs Ensure that complementary approaches are established with other Malaria Consortium projects with similar geographical locations or technical approaches Ensure effective coordination with and capacity building support to the MoH/CHD and NMCP at the district and community levels 5. Communications (2%) Provide effective support to all donor visits relating to both project planning, delivery and review, and for the purposes of donor fundraising and marketing Capture and document field activities, case studies and experience from the field during the course of routine work 6. Other (9%) Represent the project on the Management Team, ensuring efficient operations on the field level and that any field managerial issues are followed up in a timely way Actively participate as a member of the Malaria Consortium Uganda technical team Adhere to all Malaria Consortium Uganda policies and procedures Adhere to internationally recognised humanitarian and development principles at all times during the implementation of the project 3
Carry out additional duties as assigned by the Regional Coordinator or Malaria Consortium Uganda senior management Person specification Qualifications and experience: Essential: Degree in Nursing or Diploma in Clinical Medicine or a degree in public health, social sciences Minimum 5 years experience implementing malaria and child survival and maternal programs Experience in training and mentorship of health care workers on malaria and child survival especially new-born care program areas Previous work with development agencies, NGOs. Experience in the planning and implementation of communicable disease control/malaria control interventions, behaviour change communication initiatives/health education, health worker trainings and supportive supervision of health workers Experience in capacity building/ transferring of skills in MNC services. Experience in working closely with local government Experience in developing work plans and activity budgets and in following work plans with minimal supervision Desirable: Thorough understanding of both preventive and curative aspects of malaria control Familiarity with the strategies and guidelines of the Uganda National Malaria Control Programme Experience in training of health supervisors Previous community mobilization experience. Strong writing and organizational skills for writing case studies, documenting lessons learnt and reporting on program results. Experience in using participatory adult learning techniques Work-based skills: Work-based skills: Essential: Competency in computer applications (word, excel, power point) Excellent communication skills, with strong leadership skills and a supportive management style Desirable: Experience in capacity building/ transferring of skills 4
Core competencies: Delivering results LEVEL B - Takes on pieces of work when required and demonstrates excellent project management skills Shows a flexible approach to taking on additional work / responsibilities when needed to achieve results Demonstrates excellent project management skills to agreed timescales (timelines, targets, donor requirements) Makes clear and timely decisions within remit of own role Analysis and use of information LEVEL B - Uses evidence to support work Identifies and uses various sources of evidence and feedback to support outputs Uses evidence to evaluate policies, projects and programmes Identifies links between events and information identifying trends, issues and risks Ensures systems are in place to address organisation needs Interpersonal and communications LEVEL B - Fosters two-way communication Recalls others main points and takes them into account in own communication Checks own understanding of others communication by asking questions Maintains constructive, open and consistent communication with others Resolves minor misunderstandings and conflicts effectively Collaboration and partnering LEVEL B - Collaborates effectively across teams Proactive in providing and seeking support from expert colleagues Raises difficult issues with teams/ partners and stakeholders with a view to positive resolution Proactive in building a rapport with a diverse range of people Leading and motivating people LEVEL B - Manages own development and seeks opportunities Actively manages own development and performance positively Learns lessons from successes and failures Seeks and explores opportunities within Malaria Consortium which develop skills and expertise Flexibility/ adaptability LEVEL B - Remains professional under external Able to adapt to changing situations effortlessly Remains constructive and positive under stress and able to tolerate difficult situations and environments Plans, prioritises and performs tasks well under pressure Learns from own successes / mistakes Living the values LEVEL B - Promotes Malaria Consortium values amongst peers Shows a readiness to promote Malaria Consortium s values amongst peers Promotes ethical and professional behaviour in line with Malaria Consortium s values 5
Strategic planning and thinking and sector awareness LEVEL B - Is aware of others activities and vice versa in planning activities Takes account of team members and others workload when planning Maintains awareness of impact on other parts of the organisation, keeping abreast of other s activities, objectives, commitments and needs Has a good understanding of the sector in which Malaria Consortium works 6