Job Title: Country Manager

Grade: E

Location: Ethiopia, Madagascar, South Sudan, Sudan, Zambia

This role is subject to confirmation of IPPF Africa Region (IPPFAR) successfully winning the programme bid.

The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) is a global sexual and reproductive health (SRH) service provider and one of the leading advocates for universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for all. IPPF is a worldwide movement of 120 national organizations, referred to as Member Associations, working with and for communities and individuals. These member associations are the leading civil society providers of contraception in 89 of 120 countries. And in 64 of those 89 countries, IPPF is the only largescale international provider. Collectively, member associations delivered more than 1 billion cumulative services between 2016 and 2022.

Headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, the overarching goal of IPPFAR is to increase access to SRHR services to the most vulnerable youth, men, and women in sub-Saharan Africa. To reach this goal, IPPFAR works with local civil-society organizations, governments, the African Union (AU), regional economic commissions (RECs), the United Nations, among others, to expand political and financial commitments to SRHR in Africa. IPPFAR tackles the continent’s growing SRH challenges through a network of Member Associations (MAs), strategic partners and volunteers in 42 countries. For more information, please read our 2022 profile (in English and French) here.

Women’s Integrated Sexual Health (WISH)

WISH 2 is one of three components of the overarching WISH Dividend programme that is being procured by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO).  This programme is central to delivering the UK’s priorities on empowering women and girls as set out in the International Development Strategy, the UK’s strategic approach to sub-Saharan Africa and the International Women and Girls Strategy.

WISH 2 will be divided into two geographic Lots. IPPFAR is planning on submitting a bid as the prime for Lot 2 which covers Burundi, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Zambia.

The Role

The Country Manager is responsible for the implementation of WISH 2 activities in their respective country and reports to the IPPF Senior Programme Manager who is based at the IPPF Africa Regional Office in Nairobi.

The Country Manager is responsible for the implementation of WISH 2 activities in their respective country.  They will lead the coordination of in-country partners (physical and remote) and are responsible for putting together coordinated annual work plans and assessing progress against milestones. The Country Manager will be the focal person and programme representative to the Ministry of Health and other key stakeholders such as UNFPA, other agencies involved in the SRHR sector and to the donor.

The Country Manager will act as the focal point for communication with the UK Embassy in country as well as key focal points within the Ministry of Health, and relay discussion with key hub team members as needed.

They will possess significant experience in working in global health or development programmes in their respective country with preference given to directly implementing SRHR/FP programmes. They should possess excellent programme management and coordination skills, good financial acumen and proven experience in managing partnerships with stakeholders including the Ministry of Health and other international and national stakeholders. They should have Fluent English verbal and written communication skills.