Sr. Program Coordinator

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RTI International is seeking “Sr. Program Coordinator” candidates for USAID’s Health for Life (H4L) project . H4L is expanding to 10 earthquake-affected districts (Dolakha, Dhading, Gorkha, Kavre, Makwanpur, Nuwakot, Ramechhap, Rasuwa, Sindhuli and Sindhupalchowk). These positions will be based in Regional Offices in Dhading, Dolakha and Kavre. This position is based in Dolakha, Nepal.

H4L is a five-year (2012-2017) project financed by USAID. The H4L project builds on accomplishments gained from USAID/Nepal’s health sector investment to date with a greater focus on health systems strengthening and measuring sustainable changes in systems performance. 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 addresses key health system constraints: local health systems governance; data for decision making and evidence-based policy development; capacity development of service providers at grassroots; quality improvement systems, and knowledge and behavior change. Gender equality and social inclusion is an important crosscutting focus of the project. H4L works in partnership with the Government of Nepal/ Ministry of Health and Population (MOHP) and have national presence. In addition to national focus and expansion to the 10 earthquate-affected districts, H4L works in 12 Districts of the Mid-Western Development Region, 3 Districts of Western Development Region, and 1 district in the Eastern, Central and Far-Western Regions.  

RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Technical/managerial assistance and guidance  

• Under the supervision of Sr. Program Manager, the Sr. Program Coordinator works closely with District Program Coordinators and Program Officers supporting District (Public) Health Offices (D(P)HOs, District Disaster Relief Committees (DDRCs), District Development Committees (DDCs), VDCs, other stakeholders  in the earthquake-affected districts to implement H4L’s health recovery and reconstruction technical assistance programs
• Oversees day-to-day operations of the regional office and cluster of district offices, and coordinates logistics and provides support as necessary for smooth operation of district- and sub-district level activities
• Together with D(P)HO, DDC , DDRC and other district-level stakeholders provides technical assistance and support in collecting and compiling information to be used for preparing district health recovery and reconstruction plans
• Coordinates/collaborates with partners engaged in health recovery and reconstruction programs at district level to ensure all efforts are implemented in a coordinated manner  
• Assists D(P)HOs to form/reform district-level operations, including Reproductive Health Coordination Committees (RHCCs), District Health Governance Strengthening Task Forces (DHGSTFs), district Quality Assurance Working Committees (QAWCs) and provides necessary technical assistance and support for improving functionality and performance of these committees
• Together with D(P)HO, DDC , DDRC and other partners develops District Health Recovery and Reconstruction Plans (DHRRP) and facilitates endorsement by district authorities  
• Provides technical assistance and support to VDC/Executive Committee, Health facility staff ,HFOMCs and health facility QI Teams through Development Associates and Community Health Assistants for forming/reforming HFOMCs,  preparing  Village Health Situation Analysis Reports, capacity building of HFOMCs and health facility QI Teams in selected prioritized VDCs
• Provides technical assistance and support to VDC/Executive Committees, HFOMCs, health facility staff for preparing VDC/Municipal Health Recovery and Reconstruction Plans and ensures these plans are endorsed by local bodies
• Provides technical assistance and support to D(P)HO during quarterly and annual district review meetings and ensures HMIS data are used in health programing decisions at district- and sub-district levels
• Supports D(P)HOs in implementation of district health recovery and reconstruction plans focusing on reducing disparities of access to and use of health services
• Provides necessary organizational and management support to other USAID partners involved in health sector reconstruction programs in district- and sub-district levels
• Carry out regular field visits in selected VDCs for monitoring of H4L activities relating to health recovery and reconstruction programs, and carries out Health Facility Readiness assessments as required by H4L’s M&E plan
• Prepares and submits monthly/periodic reports relating to H4L interventions as required 
• Maintains program records, files and other relevant information in accordance to H4L’s M&E Plan

2. Coordination, collaboration, networking and representation

• Represents H4L at district- and sub-district levels
• Works closely with D(P)HO, DDC, DDRC and other district-level partners involved in health recovery and reconstruction and health system strengthening to ensure efforts are coordinated and decisions are made based on evidence
• Networks with district- and sub-district level partners to promote collaborative efforts to strengthen local health governance 
• Organizes/participates in district and sub-district level meetings for better collaboration among partners engaged in health recovery and reconstruction

Qualifications and experience:

• Master’s degree in public health, development studies, rural and regional planning, social science, public administration, public policy or other related areas with at least 6 years of experience or a Bachelor’s degree with 10 years of experience  in local health governance, policy planning and management of health systems related project activities at regional and district levels Strong facilitation/training skills 
• In-depth understanding of Nepal’s health systems 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
• Professional writing skills in preparing reports in English and Nepali languages for various audiences, including technical and policy briefs and reports to the MoHP, 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 35% of the time in assigned districts 
• Demonstrated experience in the implementation of community-based programs (experience in health programs, especially those focused on increasing access to and use of health services, promoting evidence-based best practices for improving the quality of health interventions that reduce morbidity and mortality of mothers, infants, and children, preferred)
• Extensive field experience in targeted districts and solid understanding of the realities and complexities of working in hard-to-reach villages with marginalized and disadvantaged groups, and integrating crosscutting GESI strategies
• Demonstrated success in providing hands-on capacity building and technical assistance to partners and stakeholders
• Demonstrated ability to develop effective working relationships with government counterparts, local organizations, and other program and partners
• Strong oral and written communication skills in Nepali and English

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@np-h4l.rti.org with ‘Sr. Program Coordinator” in the subject line.  Deadline is 25 November 2015; however, applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Only short-listed applicants will be contacted. Telephone inquiry will not be entertained.