Project summary

The USAID Zambia Integrated Health (USAID ZIH) project aims to improve health outcomes of Zambians through equitable access to high-quality, client-centered HIV, TB/HIV, MNCH, and family planning/reproductive health services, products, and information.

Job summary

The officer will be based at the Provincial Health Office but expected to move across various districts. He/she will be responsible to provide support to the District Coordinator and facility based staff in developing practical implementation guidance directed to family planning, reproductive health, maternal, newborn and child health (FP/RH/MNCH) programme and work closely with fellow FP/RH/MNCH program officers at provincial level to address a broader MNCH content for integration of innovative DSD models including how to design and promote their use among health workers, women/caregivers and adolescents. The officer will be responsible for such as DSD models, performance, and quality improvement; and oversee its implementation in the focus districts at Provincial and District levels.

Main duties

• Develops a work plan, including an outline of the process for development of the implementation guide according to the goals and expectation of the FP/RH/MNCH – USAID ZIH project and a timeline to be approved by the provincial advisor.
• Develops a provincial implementation process that considers a process of discussions and activities held with fellow MOH Provincial officers, district coordinators and implementing partners engaged in the FP/RH/MNCH programs for their input and codevelop the content.
• Provides technical support and guidance to Provincial and District Officers to increase coverage of comprehensive and client-centered FP/RH/MNCH services in focus districts.
• Reviews and analyzes the current landscape of the FP/RH/MNCH program in the province to identify possible DSD models that can be integrated to bridge service gaps and prioritize MNCH service improvement, including Family planning, Antenatal care and postnatal care, Immunization, Early child development; Child health; and Nutrition/Growth and Development.
• Works closely with district officers to Increase and monitor utilization of community and facility-based quality, person-centered integrated FP/RH/MNCH and HIV DSD services.
• Builds capacities for district coordinators and District Health Officers (DHOs) to gradually transition DSD to quality integrated health services and sustain services beyond activity implementation.
• Provides technical support to scale up of PMTCT/Paediatric HIV DSD interventions within MNCH programmes, including primary healthcare and communities in focus districts.
• Provides leadership and oversight to advance access to FP/RH/MNCH services for mothers/caregivers, adolescents, children and develop innovative DSD models to close the gap to service access.
• Collaborates with other key RH/FP/MNCH implementing partners in the province and the district to leverage any resources; coordinate and harmonize plans for strengthening service provision at both provincial and District levels.
• Facilitates and Conduct FP/RH/MNCH trainings to build capacity in Health care workers.
• Participates in FP, RH, MNCH related research.
• Leads and monitors initiation of Quality Improvement projects and participate in the regional and national conferences to share good practices of implemented DSD models in the FP/RH and MNCH program.
• Prepares and submits a timely comprehensive monthly, quarterly, and annual reports.

Qualifications

• Registered Midwife with recent experience in maternal health, particularly Family Planning/reproductive health and Maternal neonatal child health programs (Degree in public Health or Nursing/Midwifery is an added advantage).
• 5 or more years of demonstrated experience implementing FP/RH/PMTCT programs at provincial or district levels.
• Previous experience with and understanding of MOH health care systems and community structure required to implement an integrated health program.
• Ability to coach, mentor and develop capacity in provincial and district programs and technical staff in the areas FP/RH/MNCH performance and quality improvement.
• Detailed working knowledge of technical guidelines, best practices, and innovations in FP/RH/MNCH and program approaches designed for DSD integration at district and community levels.
• Demonstrated success in providing hands-on capacity building and technical assistance to health care providers and other stakeholders.
• Working knowledge of PEPFAR/MOH FP/RH/MNCH compliance
  Previous experience in conducting community-based interventions.

Suitably qualified candidates are invited to apply. However, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.