Program Specialist: Health Systems and Local Health Governance

RTI International is seeking “Program Specialist: Health Systems and Local Health Governance”candidate for the USAID-Health for Life (H4L) Project. Health for Life (H4L) is a five-year (2012-2017) project financed by USAID and working primarily in coordination with the Government of Nepal’s Ministry of Health and Population (MOHP). As a result, H4L has a significant national presence to support the testing and roll-out of national-level policies, guidelines and programs. In addition to the national focus, the Project covers 12 districts in the Mid-Western Development Region; 3 in the Western; one each in the Eastern, Central and Far-Western Regions; and in 10 (Dolakha, Dhading, Gorkha, Kavre, Makwanpur, Nuwakot, Ramechhap, Rasuwa, Sindhuli and Sindhupalchowk) most earthquake affected districts to strengthen district and village health systems and help identify and implement best practices. H4L collaborates with a wide range of stakeholders, including academic and research institutions, training centers, media partners and civil society.

The primary goal of H4L is to strengthen the Government of Nepal’s capacity to plan, manage and deliver high-quality and equitable family planning, maternal, newborn, and child health services.  H4L activities directly address key health system constraints in the following areas: local health systems governance, data for decision making and evidence-based policy development, human resources management, quality improvement systems, and knowledge and behavior change. 

This position will be based in Kathmandu, Nepal.  We are looking for a young, dynamic, energetic and results-oriented mid-level professional staff to carry out the following responsibilities. 

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Technical Assistance: work in a health systems team and assist the Health Systems Team Leader in providing technical assistance to the MoH in health systems strengthening, local health governance, health policy, planning and programming  
• Technical assistance: provide technical guidance to regional-, district-and village-level teams in activities related to H4L’s implementation,including evidence-based local health planning, collaboration and networking with partners, promoting collaboration and bottom-up planning and programming, designing and piloting new approaches for village and district health governance (in collaboration with Sajhaderi and other partners) and strengthening health systems and health governance in districts and VDCs
• Report writing: document good practices, success stories and lessons learned; develop case studies; document results and prepare reports as required; prepare technical and policy briefs for GoN, USAID, and other External Development Partners 
• Monitoring and supervision: conduct regular monitoring and supervision of district- and VDC-level activities, including MoH’s local health governance program, and prepares reports
• Collaboration: contribute to better coordination and collaboration with partners in project activities to achieve results

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Master’s degree in public health, international health, health sciences, social sciences, public policy, development management or related field and a minimum of three years of professional experience or Bachelor’s degree with at least 6 years of professional experience in local health governance, policy planning and management of health systems related project activities is required
• Proven/demonstrated coordinating, presentation, report writing and communicationskills
• Very good understanding of GoN working approach
• In-depth understanding of Nepal’s health system and governance at district and sub-district levels, including health systems, service delivery, quality assurance, access and utilization, local health planning, community/social mobilization, local governance, and gender and social inclusion in the health sector
• Professionalwriting skills in preparing reports in English and Nepali languages for various audiences, including technical and policy briefs and reports to the MoH, MoFALD, USAID and EDPs
• Demonstrated ability to develop effective working relationships with government counterparts, local organizations, and other program and partners;
• Willingness to travel from duty station at least 25% of the time 

TO APPLY

Qualified applicants should submit a resume with contact information to Operations Manager, Health for Life (H4L), P. O. Box: 3172, Lalitpur, Nepal or email: marora@rti.org with “Program Specialist: Health Systems and Local Health Governance” in the subject line.  Deadline is 26 August 2016; however, applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Only short-listed applicants will be contacted. Telephone inquiry will not be entertained.