Mali: Health Delegate, Mali

POSITION: HEALTH DELEGATE

DURATION: 12 MONTHS - UNACCOMPANIED

LOCATION: BAMAKO, MALI

CLASSIFICATION: LEVEL 4

Do you want to make a difference? Join the world’s largest humanitarian network. The Canadian Red Cross Society (CRCS), a not for profit, humanitarian organization dedicated to helping the most vulnerable in Canada and throughout the world. CRCS is currently seeking an experienced Health Delegate for its Partnership for Strengthening Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (PSMNCH) Program which will be implemented in Mali from 2016 to 2020.

Building on a previous program, this initiative consists of the following key components:

• Capacity building of health workers at primary health care clinics with a focus on maternal and newborn health.

• Implementation of the Malian Ministry of Heath (MoH) Essential Services package at the community level with a focus on Integrated Community Case Management (iCCM) for under-five children.

• Community social mobilization for behaviour change in MNCH practices at the community level with a focus on gender barriers to behaviour change.

• Capacity building of communities to implement and sustain community-based health services.

• Strengthening the health management information system at community and district levels.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Capacity building and training

• Ensure the health technical components of the PSMNCH program are implemented according to the program logic model and the Program Implementation Plan (PIP).
• Provide technical support and mentoring to the Malian PSMNCH National Manager.
• Provide technical support and advice to the MoH and CRM during the planning and implementation of the PSMNCH, particularly the Malian PSMNCH National Manager.
• Provide technical support to the MoH and CRM in their implementation of iCCM, a key MoH essential services package to address under-five mortality due to malaria, diarrhea, pneumonia and malnutrition. This includes both implementation of iCCM as well as support to monitoring, supportive supervision to community health workers and evaluation of results.
• Facilitate continuous and constructive communication among key stakeholders, especially the MoH and the CRM with respect to ensuring optimal implementation of the MoH Essential Services Package through the proposed program.
• Identify implementation challenges and recommend solutions and remedial actions, with a particular emphasis on iCCM and implementation challenges.
• Ensure program implementation adheres to the MoH Essential Services Package and identifies any policy changes that may affect this.
• Support CRM and MoH staff at regional and district levels to identify how program outcomes and activities relate directly to the MoH Essential Services Package, the World Health Organization’s global standards and the Sustainable Development Goals.
• Support changes to the program implementation as required if program context should change from a stable one to that of emergency.
• Support the procurement and/or distribution of program commodities as required by the logic model.
• Support and advise on the effective application of the CRM Community Based Health and First Aid (CBHFA) team and ensure that the design and roll-out of community level trainings for the transfer of effective health promotion messaging, will optimize behavioural change.
• Support the CRM in volunteer management as it relates to program activities and promote robust and consistent supervision.
• Facilitate continuous and constructive communication among key stakeholders, especially the MoH, the CRM and the Associations de Santé Communautaire (ASACOs) to ensure sustainable financing of CHWs and the delivery of quality health services to mothers and children.
• Assist in the implementation of program related water and sanitation activities as required by the logic model and ensure alignment with government sector strategies.
• Provide oversight to ensure appropriate and relevant gender mainstreaming in program activities, specifically in relation to gender based violence.

Reporting, Monitoring and Evaluation

The Health Delegate will work closely and cross-functionally with the Country Representative, the PMER Delegate, CRC’s program partners and technical advisors based in Canada to support effective monitoring, evaluation and anticipated research activities with the aim of improving quality and service provision and providing the evidence behind the achieved results. Areas of responsibility include working with the PMER Delegate to:

• Contribute to the preparation of narrative progress reports for the Country Representative.
• Support the design and implementation of baseline and end-line surveys.
• Support the design and implementation of the mid-term review and summative evaluation.
• Support the integration of existing lessons learned from program evaluations and reviews to further improve the implementation of programs.
• Contribute to the design and implementation of studies and operational research as required.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience

• Postgraduate degree in Public Health with technical expertise in ICCM or Health System Strengthening.

• Demonstrated experience (at least 3 years) in management of public health programs.

• Minimum of 5 years field experience working in the area of community-based public health, preferably in mother, newborn and child health.

• At least 2 years experience in implementing an iCCM program. (Formal training as a Master Trainer in iCCM an asset).

• Demonstrated knowledge of supportive supervision practices.

• Demonstrated experience (at least 3 years) in overseeing health programs with a significant community-level component (knowledge of BCC an asset).

• Demonstrated experience in capacity building and training development.

• Demonstrated experience in programs working with community health workers or volunteers or both to implement programming.

• Minimum 3 years of experience in an international humanitarian organization, preferably in both development and humanitarian settings.

• Demonstrated experience working in conflict situations, post disaster or health emergencies.

  Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrated capacity to work in a dynamic team setting and in cross-cultural contexts.

• Strong familiarity with Results Based Management approaches.

• Strong familiarity with participatory research and learning methodologies.

• Good knowledge of DFATD requirements and results based management.

• Strong track record in fostering effective working relationships with health stakeholders at various levels.

• Team player with strong interpersonal, communications (oral and written) and facilitation skills.

• Good knowledge of Microsoft Office applications Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

• Fluency in written and spoken English and French is mandatory. Candidates will be tested on their skills.

• Demonstrated commitment to the principles of the Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement.

  WORKING CONDITIONS

  This is an unaccompanied position based in Bamako, Mali. Mali suffers from lack of basic infrastructure and social services and more than half of the population lives in poverty. Political conflict and insecurity prevail in some parts of the country. Political conflicts, terrorism, kidnapping in different parts of the country especially in the North are a threat to foreigners and some travel restrictions apply. Delegates must follow the Red Cross Movement security regulations.

  CRCS supports a safe working environment and comfortable accommodation; however, as in all contexts, delegates must be aware and responsible for their personal safety and that of employees under their supervision.

HOW TO APPLY

Interested parties may submit their application by applying on the Canadian Red Cross Online Career Website by midnight EST on March 15^th, 2016.

This position requires a successful Canadian criminal record, reference check, valid provincial driver’s license, valid passport and First Aid certification. The Canadian Red Cross Society is an equal opportunity employer.