Employment - Open Positions

USAID/ Namibia
Location: Windhoek, Namibia
Assignment: Two year fellowship
GHFP-10-183

The Global Health Fellows Program (GHFP) is a five year cooperative agreement implemented and managed by the Public Health Institute (PHI) in partnership with the Harvard School of Public Health, Management Systems International, and Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. GHFP is supported by the US Agency for International Development (USAID).

The goal of GHFP is to improve the effectiveness of USAID Population, Health and Nutrition programs by developing and increasing capacity of health professionals in Washington, DC and overseas. This is accomplished through the recruitment, placement and support of junior, mid and senior level health professionals; a diversity initiative focused on providing internship and mentoring opportunities in international public health to underrepresented communities; and professional and organizational development activities to bolster USAID’s ability to maximize results and strengthen its leadership role in global health.

BACKGROUND:

Namibia has a generalized HIV epidemic with HIV primarily transmitted through heterosexual contact. The national HIV prevalence for adults in 2007 was approximately 15.4 percent. This estimate is projected to decrease to 13.3 percent, by end of 2010. In 2008/9 there were approximately 193,800 adults and children living with HIV and AIDS in Namibia. This number is projected to remain at about 194,000 by 2015/16, assuming prevention and treatment efforts remain at current levels. Namibia’s maternal mortality rate has increased from 271 deaths in 100,000 live births during 2000 to 449 deaths in 100,000 live births in 2006/2007. Approximately 33% percent maternal deaths in Namibia are directly caused by severe pre-eclampsia and eclampsia. Obstructed and prolonged labor and hemorrhage combined are a further 50% of the cause while 16.6% are attributable to postpartum sepsis and complications of abortion. Economically, Namibia has the highest level of income disparity in the world. Despite a relatively high per capita GNI of USD $4,200, nearly 56% of the Namibian population lives on just $2 per day or less, and 1 in 2 Namibians are out of work.

Within this context, USAID/Namibia seeks a dynamic applicant to join the United States Government’s (USG’s) Team in Namibia. The position is housed under USAID/Namibia’s Investing in People Strategic Objective, with 14 staff, an annual budget of US $44 million and managing currently 25 agreements. The Strategic Information Advisor’s primary responsibilities will be to work on HIV/AIDS and TB activities and programs in coordination with other USG agencies and the Government of Namibia.

Strategic Information (SI) encompasses surveillance, monitoring and evaluation, data quality assurance, GIS mapping, targeted evaluations, and information systems and is a cornerstone USG initiatives in Namibia.

The Strategic Information (SI) Advisor will provide high quality assistance to USAID/Namibia and the USG Mission in the development and implementation of strategic information systems to meet the needs and requirements of the program, as well as serving as USAID’s lead technical advisor in monitoring and evaluation for all USAID agreements and provide support to the PEPFAR interagency monitoring and evaluation team’s efforts.

In addition to the PEPFAR Partnership Framework (PF), PF Implementation Plan and the Country Operational Plan, the Strategic Information Advisor (the Advisor) will provide broad M&E technical assistance and guidance support to other USAID non-HIV operational planning efforts. The Advisor will provide guidance and overall direction in the planning, implementation and monitoring of USAID’s portfolio by regularly contacting, coordinating, and collaborating with different ministries including Health, Education, Gender, development partners, civil society, the private sector and other implementing partners. The Advisor will also work closely with USAID technical staff, the interagency PEPFAR SI Working Group and government counterparts. The office Director will supervise the Advisor and conducts his/her annual performance evaluation.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Country Operation Plan Development (COP):
Collaborate with the USG HIV/AIDS Management Structure (interagency technical teams, management team, agency-heads, and partnership framework interagency technical working group), the Advisor will:

• Coordinate SI-related processes required for the development of the annual COP; Partnership Framework and Implementation Plan
• Assists in the oversight of the fiscal year and planning year target setting exercises conducted each year; semi-Annual and annual reporting; and provides technical guidance on SI needs for PEPFAR in Namibia
• Coordinate with the PEPFAR Coordinator’s Office to produce all summary targets for USAID and ensuring that the final USAID targets established are consistent with those included in the country’s executive summary
• Track the progress of results achieved by USAID implementing partners against their targets and track overall progress in achieving USG goals as outlined in the Namibia Partnership Framework and the Implementation and Operational Plans and, when needed, recommending adapting targets to be consistent with appropriated budgets, country constraints, and new opportunities
• Advise the Office Director and Mission management on the status of partners’ performance

Program Monitoring and Reporting:

• Collaborate with host government counterparts and ensure that the country-level data and indicators meet benchmark data quality standards
• Serve as the point of contact for auditors and program reviewers addressing reporting standards
• Work closely with donor agencies under the “three-ones” principals to prepare annual and other required reports at the country-level
• Work collaboratively with other USG agencies to provide technical input into the development of public health evaluations (PHE), operational research, education tracking studies and evaluations, program assessments, national surveys, such as the Namibia Demographic and Health Survey, Service Provision Assessment, the national AIDS Indicator OVC Surveys, Education Data Survey; community information systems, performance monitoring plans, etc.
• Coordinates and maintains close relationships with all international development partner representatives and GON officials working in these areas to ensure consistency and harmony of results reporting and to develop shared languages around issues of attribution
• Work closely with all USAID staff to coordinate and collaborate on broader development issues, especially at the intersection of health and complementary programs

Communication and Working Groups:

• Provide technical direction, strategic planning and assists with the oversight in the implementation of SI activities, and ensure that planned development results are achieved in a highly efficient, effective and timely manner, consistent with USAID regulations, policies and development principles
• Coordinate and assist with the oversight of services and deliverables provided by contractors and grantees, in accordance with USAID program management regulations and procedures, and practices
• Assist the health team in developing scopes of work for partner and/or program evaluations and provide guidance on SI studies conducted by USAID/Namibia and/or its partners
• Assist the health team with related operational planning and answering ad hoc requests from USAID/Namibia’s front office, USAID/W, the Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator or other external client
• As a senior-level professional, coordinate with relevant stakeholders, provide program oversight, and exercises independent technical and professional judgment in organizing, planning and managing program implementation, including routine site visits and data quality assurance
• Manage relationships and assignments independently with minimal supervision and limited guidance

Coordination for Monitoring and Evaluation:

• Build implementing partner capacity to respond to SI requirements
• Work with USG funded partners to strengthen their M&E and reporting capacity
• Support partners in their efforts to meet USAID and PEPFAR monitoring and reporting requirements, through training and one-on-one site visit. In addition, a main component of this activity will be to show partners how to use M&E, GIS Mapping and other tools to improve their own programs

Other tasks or responsibilities may be assigned based on (a) organizational and programming need and/or (b) the Technical Advisor’s own interests.

REQUIRED SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE:

• Masters’ degree in public health, public policy, epidemiology, demography, social or behavior science or related discipline
• Minimum ten years’ work experience implementing public health or other social sector programs of which at least three to five years’ experience in international/resource poor settings
• Knowledge of the Namibian or southern African HIV/AIDS context. General Knowledge of Namibian public sector health system and its affiliate agencies, donors and related private sector program would be an asset
• Experience working with one or more international development system, including UN Agencies, DFID, CDC, USAID, etc., preferred
• Knowledge of or experience working with HIV/AIDS programs or related health service programs; experience working with HIV/AIDS prevention and/or impact mitigation programs and working with the PEPFAR preferred
• Knowledge of monitoring and evaluation practice and methods through training and experience conducting research and/or M&E activities
• Work effectively under minimal supervision, as well as a member of the Team or Office management team. Serve as a mentor to junior staff
• Experience working closely with host governments highly desirable
• Excellent written and oral communication skills to prepare precise and accurate reports and to develop/present briefings
• Ability to obtain, analyze, organize and interpret data and present findings in both oral and written form. Able to communicate technical information clearly and effectively to both technical and non-technical colleagues
• Ability to work under pressure to meet project deadlines
• Excellent computer skills (Windows, Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint) are required. Ability to use data-analysis packages and GIS a plus
• Demonstrated flexibility and openness in responding to changing work priorities and environment
• Evidence of excellent interpersonal, facilitation and teambuilding skills/experience
• Ability to obtain medical clearance to live and work in Windhoek
• US Citizenship or US Permanent Residency required

SALARY AND BENEFITS:

Salary will be based on commensurate experience and earnings history. The Public Health Institute offers a comprehensive benefits package including professional development programs http://www.ghfp.net/docs/2010_Benefits_for_GHFP_Fellows.pdf

TO APPLY:

All applicants are required to apply for this position through GHFP’s online recruitment system at https://www.ghfp.net/recruitment/, which allows you to store your CV, profile and bio data form in our database. A separate cover letter describing your qualifications and experience, interest and familiarity with issues relating to this position, and how this position relates to your career goals is required for each application. All online applications must be submitted by 5:00 pm Eastern Time August 9, 2010.

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