Medical Coordinator

JOB PROFILE MEDICAL COORDINATOR – NEPAL

Publish date: 12 May 2016

Position: Medical Coordinator

Status: Salaried 

Starting date: 13 June  2016

Availability:  1 year (renewable) with one month probation

Country: Nepal

• Base: Chautara, Sindhupalchok District (estimated70% of the time based in Chautara and field locations; 30% in Kathmandu). Occasional international travel so a valid passport is a requirement 

Context of intervention

Médecins du Monde (MdM) is an international humanitarian organisation whose mission is to provide medical care for the most vulnerable populations, the world over, including France. It seeks to stimulate voluntary commitment from doctors, other health care providers, and from those whose expertise in other fields is needed for its activities, to enlist all competent support required for the achievement of its projects, and to seek at all times to encourage close working relationships with populations in its care.

For more than 30 years, Médecins du Monde, a campaigning medical organization committed to international solidarity, has been caring for the most vulnerable populations at home and abroad. It has continued to highlight obstacles that exist in accessing health care and has secured sustainable improvements in health-for-all policies. Those working for this independent organization do not solely dispense care and treatment but condemn violations of human dignity and rights and fight to improve matters for populations living in precarious situations. MdM currently works in 41 countries across all continents where it focuses on 4 priority areas: caring for the health of migrants and displaced persons, promoting sexual and reproductive health, combating HIV and reducing the harm and risks associated with drug use, crises and conflicts.

MdM has worked in Nepal since 1995 on a range of different health interventions (TB/HIV, maternal and new born program, microfinance and disaster preparedness etc.). Between 2007 and 2015, MdM was implementing in Sindhupalchok District a maternal and newborn health program in line with the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) strategy. The focus of this program was to improve the maternal and newborn health in the district using an integrated approach, combining health service support, community awareness and microfinance activities working together with the DHO and women’s health-focused cooperatives.

Following the massive earthquake on April 25, 2015 and another on 12 May 2015, MdM implemented an emergency response through provision of primary health care services in mobile clinics, rehabilitation and reconstruction of health posts, capacity-building activities to health workers of our focused 25 VDCs, and support to the District Health Office in terms of technical knowledge and oversight of disaster surveillance unit and rapid response team to affected communities hardest hit by earthquake in Sindhupalchok district until January 2016. At the moment, MdM has switched to a long-term development project reviving the cooperatives and strengthening their microfinance capabilities with an integrated health component: strengthening of public health programs through primary health care preventive activities with focused on community participation; mental health; sexual and reproductive health; gender-based violence awareness; and support through WASH installations in the health posts with continuous collaboration and support to DHO in terms of  strengthening the disaster surveillance unit and rapid response team. This project is implemented with a local NGO partner, Community Development and Environment Conservation Forum (CDECF). 

MdM is now looking for a competent and well-experienced Medical Coordinator who will be responsible for the implementation of all medical activities in the communities and to be a key member of the senior program management staff for this long-term development project. The post is initially envisaged for 12 months, with the possibility of extension.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Under the direct supervision of the General Coordinator, the Medical Coordinator is expected to perform the following duties and responsibilities:

1. Team management

• Direct supervision of the medical team, composed of Nurse Supervisors, Mental Health Manager, and Field Health Operations Supervisor(FHOS); 
• Collaborate closely with the FHOS and Project Coordinator in terms of maintaining coordination with DHO, MOHP, local health facilities, other INGOs and NGOs and CDECF staff;
• Support and supervise the medical team in the implementation of community-based medical activities in the focused VDCs in Sindhupalchok, including on-the-job training to the local health workers, quality implementation of curative and preventive care of communicable and non-communicable diseases, reproductive health, mental health and GBV, Family Planning, WASH, Health Education, surveillance system at the district level, and disease outbreak investigation and response;
• Provide technical supervision to the Nurse Supervisors in their implementation of supportive supervisions of local health workers in our focused VDCs in Sindhupalchok district;
• Organise regular meetings and dialogues with the medical team to identify successes and challenges faced by the medical team in the implementation of their respective activities so as to make necessary recommendations/suggestions;
• Lead in the recruitment of additional local medical staff, together with the Admin team;
• Provide technical support to the Mental Health manager;
• Identify skills and knowledge that are necessary to enhance the capacity of the national medical staff and provide necessary trainings as needed.
• Provide technical support to the medical team of the local implementing partner, CDECF 

2. Program Management 

• Participate in the development of general strategy for MdM activities, along with the General Coordinator and the team and ensure that the different components of the program are consistent with the general strategy of the project;
• React to any changes (contexts, new health needs, obstacles, opening of new programs) by adapting new strategies for the program, as needed;
• Conduct health needs assessments in communities where health needs are immediate, as requested by DHO, MOH and partners, or as identified by the MdM and CDECF medical teams;
• Monitor closely the implementation of medical activities by CDECF, together with the MdM Program Coordinator and ensure that they are carried out according to MdM standards;
• Identify, monitor and report unmet health needs/gaps, and explore the potential of MDM to address them immediately;
• Analyse and monitor medical data received from the Health Posts of focused VDCs regularly, and provide feedbacks to the medical team, DHO, and the supported health facilities;
• Provide regular feedback to the General Coordinator regarding the status of project implementation, challenges encountered and give recommendations on how to overcome obstacles and improve the quality of work;
• Ensure that the targets and objectives of the project are achieved in a timely manner;
• Provide technical support to other health activities, such as the health information system, drug and waste management, and referral system;
• Ensure that the medical team is submitting their activity reports on time and provide feedback to their reports accordingly

3. Emergency Preparedness Plan Management

• Manage the medical aspect of e-preparedness plan and ensure that the team is ready to be deployed anytime to respond to any emergencies;
• Coordinate with GenCo, Logistics, Admin upon the activation of emergency preparedness plan as situation warrants for it
• Ensure that the contingency stock of drugs is properly stored at favourable conditions;
• Maintain and update the inventory and proper accounting of contingency stock of drugs;
• Coordinate with HQ, especially with the Medical Referent, on MDM standards of purchasing drugs locally following the QuaMed Standard.

4. Reporting

• Contribute to the writing of situational reports and other reports sent to HQ;
• Collaborate with the  Health Programme Supervisor on updating the monitool and internal MdM database;
• Write field visit reports after every field visit and share to GenCO and Medical Referent at HQ;
• Write health assessment reports as necessary;
• Update the E-preparedness plan as needed;
• Maintain close collaboration with the Medical Referent at HQ and always ask for technical support, if needed;
• Spearhead in writing monthly report shared to DHO containing the accomplishments of the medical and CDECF teams involving the medical activities in our focused VDCs and the challenges/health needs seen in the field. Include recommendations on how to address challenges faced by local health workers to DHO;
• Participate in the writing donor reports and project proposals;
• May be asked to write medical reports as needed.

5. Coordination with NGOs, MoH, local associations

• Participate in medical meetings organized at the DHO or National level (for example, Health Cluster meetings and working groups) playing a key role in any relevant medical coordination mechanisms, and be pro-active in the technical working groups that are created to answer the pressing health issues that need immediate action;
• Maintain close coordination with local implementing partner, CDECF and schedule regular meetings with them to discuss about the progress of project implementation;
• Evaluate carefully the needs and requests of partners(DHO, MOHP, local health facilities, CDECF);
• Build collaboration and partnership with other stakeholders, i.e. INGOs, local NGOs and UN agencies who are working in the health sector and its sub-clusters like Reproductive Health, WASH, and GBV clusters.

This list of activities is not exhaustive and may change depending on the situation.

Hierarchical and Functional links

• Under the direct supervision of General Coordinator and in collaboration with the Technical Advisers, the Desk Officer and the ‘Mission Responsable’ (RM) at the MdM Headquarters in Paris, closely coordinating with the FHOS and Project Coordinator.

Background of the candidate

Sex: Indifferent
Nationality: Nepali

Humanitarian experience: Yes
Emergency experience: Yes
Coordination experience: Yes

Languages

• French: An asset
• English: Professional level of speaking and writing
• Nepali: Professional level of speaking and writing

Computer skills: Yes

• Excellent knowledge of MS applications (word, excel)

Driving licence: Not compulsory

Skills required:

• Medical Doctor or Nurse (essential);
• Masters in Public Health (essential);
• At least 5 years of significant experiences, working internationally or locally(Nepal) in managing / supervising Primary Health Care (PHC), Surveillance System support, and/or Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) program activities (essential);
• Knowledge, competency and skills on the public health aspects of PHC and SRH, including surveillance system and disease outbreak response; mental health and psychosocial support
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills in dealing with national and district health authorities, partners and staff in a post-disaster context;
• Very good experiences in working with communities and in mobilizing them for better health outcomes;
• Experience in program planning, monitoring and evaluation;
• Previous experience of facilitating trainings is a plus

Personal skills required:

• Ability to take quick decisions according to the context in coordination with the team 
• Reactivity, anticipation, adaptability, capacity to take initiatives
• Organizational skills  
• Good writing and communication skills 
• Ability to manage priorities 
• Team spirit
• Excellent interpersonal, oral and written communication skills and ability to work smoothly in difficult working environment
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
• Interest in Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law
• Capacity to work and to live in sometimes difficult living conditions (climate, cultural context, isolation when staying in the field camps)

HOW TO APPLY?

• Interested candidates are required to submit their application IN ENGLISH by e-mail at the following address: info.mdmfrance@gmail.com
• Applicants must indicate the name of the position applying for in the top part of their email.
• Applicants should submit a 3 pages maximum detailed curriculum vitae, a one page maximum application letter with their name and contact details (e-mail address preferably) and 3 references that can be contacted with their contact details.
• Only shortlisted candidates will then be invited to a first interview (in English). 
• Further interview may be organized as required.
• Shortlisted candidates will be informed of the final decision.

The deadline for submission of application is 06 June 2016 at midnight – No application will be accepted after that.