Malaria Consortium (MC) is one of the world's leading non-profit organizations dedicated to improving health and saving lives in communities affected by malaria and related inequities in Africa and Southeast Asia. With over 20 years of proven impact, the organization works with governments, academic institutions, local and international organizations to deliver scalable, locally led health solutions grounded in research and evidence to strengthen health systems, inform policy and derive sustainable impact through strategic partnerships and organizational excellence.
Malaria is an urgent health priority in Nigeria, the leading cause of under-five (U5) deaths, the second leading cause of all-age mortality, and a leading cause of maternal mortality. Furthermore, reported cases, which are already the highest in the world, are on the rise, suggesting that beyond an expansion of testing and reporting, the malaria burden might be getting worse. A new approach is urgently needed to address this health emergency. Achieving further reductions in malaria will require a more nuanced approach that better responds to the considerable sub-national heterogeneity of malaria in Nigeria to target and tailor available resources to where they can have the greatest impact.
Purpose of the Assignment
- The purpose of these terms of reference (TOR) is to support the generation of subnational health systems evidence to inform planning for malaria in Kano state to strengthen the tailoring of specific malaria interventions and optimize their implementation in the specific health systems context in Kano.
Scope of the Assignment
- The scope of the technical assistance involves the training of stakeholders and supporting them in the development of malaria operational plan based on recommended intervention mixes for different LGAs in Kano state, available malaria data and suggested actions from the rapid health system assessment.
- The TA will also support the stakeholders on incorporating statewide “campaign-like interventions e.g. ITN campaign, SMC etc” into the LGA consolidated plan. In addition, the TA will also support biannual review of LGA malaria operational plan and the integration of LGA consolidated plans into the state malaria operational plan.
National Consultant (Planning)
- The National Consultant (Planning) are required to oversee and coordinate the data-driven malaria operational planning process to achieve effective and targeted malaria interventions in 44 LGAs.
Specific tasks
- Support the Senior Regional/National Consultants to facilitate the refresher training of facilitators on malaria planning.
- Support the cascade roll-out of refresher trainings across a cluster of LGAs on malaria operational planning.
- Provide technical assistance for LGA level malaria operational plan development.
- Validation and consolidation of LGAs malaria operational plans.
- Integration of consolidated LGAs into state malaria operational plan including use of stratification information to inform campaign-like activities.
- Finalize operational planning development including training reports.
- Support biannual review of LGA malaria operational plans.
- Finalize operational planning review.
Deliverables
- Collated feedback from stakeholders’ review of tools
- Training Reports and finalized operational planning development
- Draft LGA Malaria Operational plans
- Validated LGA Malaria Operational plans
- State and LGA level Training reports
- Consolidated state plans
- Finalized operational planning review
- LGA Reviewed Malaria Operational plans
- Consultancy report
Qualifications and experience
Essential:
- PhD or equivalent experience in Public/Global Health, Health Systems, Health Policy and Planning or related field is required.
- Have at least 12 years’ experience in health policy and health system strengthening in public health-related projects
- Demonstrate extensive experience of working with Ministries of Health, SMEP, SPHCDA and/or other government sectors and partners;
- Excellent knowledge of malaria prevention and control in endemic settings and National malaria elimination strategies.
- Must be familiar with Microsoft office suite (especially Word and PowerPoint) and have excellent report writing skills.
- Availability for the period of this assignment.
- Ability to give attention to details.
- Self-motivated, team player but also able to work independently.
- Meets tight deadlines and able to work under pressure.
- Must be resident in Kano state and willing to travel to any of the 44 LGAs where necessary.
Desirable
- Have at least 8 years’ work experience in malaria-based interventions and operational plan development in northern Nigeria is desirable.
- Excellent Knowledge of malaria Subnational tailoring of interventions is an added advantage
- Substantial experience in donor-funded public health-related projects
- Experience in facilitating participatory workshops and conducting training is essential. Experience facilitating workshops to co-design health interventions or services is desirable.
- Excellent organizational, analytical, oral and written communication skills in English language is required.
- Data-driven decision-making capacity