Health System Strengthening Officer (Internal) at Action Against Hunger

Action Against Hunger is the world’s hunger specialist and leader in a global movement that aims to end life-threatening hunger for good within our lifetimes. For 40 years, the humanitarian and development organization has been on the front lines, treating and preventing hunger across nearly 50 countries. It served more than 21 million people in 2018 alone.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title:  Health System Strengthening Officer (Internal)

Location: Damaturu, Yobe State
Job Type: Full Time
Start date: As Soon As Possible
Direct Line Manager: Health System Strengthening Manager

Objective 1

• Provision of support to strengthen the human resource for health

Tasks and Responsibilities:

• In consultation with HSS Sector Manager carry out health system assessment; diagnosis of the health system in line with defined methodology with the aim of identifying the gap in the targeted facilities, and in the LGAs levels
• Coordinate the training of frontline health workers on continues medical education
• Coordinate with the HSS Sector Manager to train frontline health workers through the coordination centre
• Facilitate the training of frontline health workers identified by the HSS Sector Manager.
• Provide technical support to Health Facilities in the development of facility plans to ensure all identified gaps in the health system are addressed
• In close collaboration with the Health Facilities support the HFs to adopt and institutionalize CHIPS program and its implementation in the selected LGAs
• Provide updates of HF staff and Facility committees’ contact information at LGA level and targeted local government level for nutrition and health sector on a regular basis.
• Monitor and report on the quality of nutrition and health services in facilities.
• Monitor and report on the health facility matrix for tracking gaps in service provisions, HRH, supplies, technical capacities, information management and implementation of policies/guidelines at the health facility level
• Present Nutrition and Health service delivery gaps and improvements during the LGA coordination meeting.

Objective 2

• Support and strengthen community participation in the health system

Tasks and Responsibilities:

• Work with the HFs in selected LGAs to strengthen Health Facility Management Committee (HFMC)  and Ward Development Committee for ownership and sustainability of interventions at the ward level
• Participate at the quarterly meeting with the HFMC and WDC with documented report shared with the HSS Sector Manager monthly.
• Support the implementation of the BFHI policy at the targeted facilities as baby-friendly
• Support HHS and Nutrition and Health Sector Manager to organize meetings at LGA level on HSS  
• Support Health Facility Management monitoring and supervision of HF in the LGA
• Monitor and report on the functionality of Care Groups and Father groups in LGA

Objective 3

• Project Management

Tasks and Responsibilities:

• Facilitate the implementation of HSS activities in line with HSS activity timeline
• Ensure budget utilization for HSS interventions in line with the financial forecast  and the HSS timelines
• Ensure compliance to logistic and finance during planning of workshops, trainings and/or meeting that requires financial advances and/or logistical procurement etc.
• Monitor the project activities and output targets are achieved on a monthly basis
• Maintain close collaboration with LGA Health and Nutrition department and political leadership on health and nutrition issues in the supported LGAs
• Build relationships with INGOs and local NGOs for synergies in nutrition and health service delivery to avoid duplication of efforts in the targeted LGAs.

Objective 4

• Follow up of the HSS action plan with ACTION AGAINST HUNGER teams and external stakeholders working in the targeted LGAs

Tasks and Responsibilities:

• Spearhead LGA advocacy issues in SUNNY for improved service delivery
• Support LGAs in planning and budgeting for health and nutrition service delivery
• Follow up on action plan with support from Sector manager, using agreed tools for tracking progress on the agreed HSS action plans at the LGA level
• Organize monthly stakeholder monitoring visits to health facilities and share reports on the monitoring visits with specific actions to close the gaps.
• Engage with HF and Health and Nutrition focal person at LGA level on timely submission of HF monthly reports by the end of the month.
• Engage with all respective government counterpart such as SMoH, SPHCMB, Monitoring and Evaluation team (DHIS2 officers) during the follow-up and share with them the progress on a regular basis

Objective 5

• Information management, reporting and coordination

Tasks and Responsibilities:

• Ensure that all training and meeting records are dully in place for all activities (attendance sheet, on-job coaching sessions, workshop/meeting reports)
• Monthly reports submitted by 28th monthly in agreed standards
• Submit issues log report to HSS Sector Manager with updates on specific actions taken so far and the further actions required.
• Share success stories on system strengthening and any other Nutrition and health interventions in the LGAs.
• Organize and lead the LGA based monthly coordination meetings and support LGA teams on health and nutrition structural issues including reporting and service gaps
• Participate in the relevant cluster meetings and other related forum at district or governorate level as and when requested by the PM or in absence of PM.

Objective 6

• Performance Management

Tasks and Responsibilities:

• Communicate Action Against Hunger performance standards and expectations to team members which includes; 10 minutes monthly conversation, 3 months/end of probation performance appraisal and annual/ end of contract appraisal.
• Establish performance objectives, provide feedback, identify strengths and areas for professional improvement.
• Contribute to the professional development and improvement of team members by providing support.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in medicine/public health/Nursing/or related field
• Certificate in project management for development will be an added advantage

Skills And Experience
Essential:

• 3 years’ experience in primary health care system
• Good understanding of Nigeria health system structure
• Previous role at coordination/supervisory level is required
• Fluency in spoken and written English language. Hausa language will be added advantage
• Working knowledge of MS office

Preferred:

• Work experience in humanitarian settings
• Work experience with government health care system is an added advantage
• Experience of working in partnership with or directly with the Ministry of Health is preferable
• Ability to plan and organize work Independent with appropriate follow-through while paying close attention to detail and can read and abstract information from a variety of formats.
• Ability to delegate and follow up of task among teams
• Ability to manage a wide range of stakeholders for collaboration, coordination and consultation

Basic Salary
N236,585 Per Month

Application Closing Date
10th June, 2020.