Job Description

JOB DESCRIPTION

Health Advisor (m/f) for the project “Health System Strengthening and Epidemic Prevention” with a focus on Human Resources for Health in Freetown

We are seeking for a highly skilled and experienced Health Advisor to join our team to provide expert guidance and support to the project “Health Systems Strengthening and Epidemic Prevention in Sierra Leone III” in the field of human resources for health, focus area 1. 

The project is commissioned by the Federal Ministry for Economic Development and Cooperation and implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. It aims to support the Government of Sierra Leone to better align the health system with the gender-specific health needs of the population focusing on the districts Kailahun, Kambia, and Pujehun. To do so it works in 4 focus areas:

Focus area 1 provides technical and process advice to the district health management teams in the respective districts on institutionalised, gender-sensitive surveys of training needs for health personnel (e.g. via iHRIS Train), and on the development of annual gender-responsive training plans at district level, as well as processing of learning experiences for the development of a national training plan and a national rural retention strategy. Additionally, focus area 1 aims to strengthen selected competences of service providers in the health sector in Kailahun, Kambia and Pujehun in a gender-sensitive manner. In line with the needs identified, healthcare providers will be trained in areas of obstetric and neonatal emergency care, digital health, as well as pandemic prevention and One Health. Furthermore, the development of a gender policy, including a policy against sexual harassment in the workplace, will be supported with the involvement of the relevant departments of the Ministry of Health as well as specialists and managers at various levels.

The second focus aims to improve emergency maternal and neonatal care by ensuring staff have necessary skills, guidelines are followed, referral systems are in place, and equipment and infrastructure are available. 

The thirst focus area to improve the quality of health facility through the means of integrated supportive supervision visits and the promotion of community participation and transparency in health service planning and management. 

Finally, the last focus seeks to strengthen epidemic prevention and response by engaging all One Health actors and ensuring continuous disease surveillance and control. 

Responsibilities:

• Development and execution of work plans/activities for focus area 1 in in close collaboration with the GIZ Project Director, the project team, Ministry of Health of Sierra Leone, multi-stakeholder partners and other important actors in accordance with GIZ programme outlines 
• Support the development of concept notes for focus area 1, together with partners, and support the implementation of them
• Knowledge and innovation management and dissemination of information to target groups, inclusive of workshops, seminars etc.
• Support to results-based monitoring of the project
• Reporting about the status-qua of the implementation and other reports required by GIZ
• Support to processing of enquiries of the commissioner of the project or other relevant Stakeholders
• Preparation and facilitation of presentations as needed
• Facilitate logistical arrangements as the need may arise

Tasks:

You will provide technical and process advice to the first focus area in close collaboration with the GIZ Project Director, the project team, selected directorates of the Ministry of Health, the district health management team (DHMTs) in Kailahun, Kambia and Pujehun and other selected partners. This entails technical and process advice

• to the district health management teams regarding an institutionalized, gender-sensitive survey of training needs for health personnel, and for the development of annual gender-responsive training plans at district level, as well as processing the learning experiences for the development of a national training plan and a national Rural Retention Strategy. 
• to strengthen digital competencies of health service providers at national and district level as part of the Sierra Leonean Digital Roadmap. 
• to the DHMTs on professional group-specific training on women-centred obstetric and neonatal emergency care (EmONC). 
• to the DHMTs as well as technical and managerial staff of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment at district level regarding occupational group-specific training on epidemic prevention with a One Health approach and
• toward the development and implementation of a gender policy, including the policy against sexual harassment at the workplace for the health sector

Extensive travel to the project regions (Kambia, Kailahun and Pujehun) of up to 70% of the total working time is required. 

Qualifications:

• University degree (bachelor’s, master’s/doctoral degree or equivalent) in public health, medicine, or nursing/midwifery 
• Solid knowledge of human resources for health.

Professional Experience:

• At least five years’ professional experience in a similar position. 
• Very good knowledge of health service delivery and human resources for health in Sierra Leone.
• Proficient in HRIS (Integrated Human Resource Information System) software
• Knowledge of key stakeholders and government institutions in charge of human resources for health.
• Experience in working with DHMTs.

Other knowledge/skills:

• Excellent management and organizational skills and the ability to work independently
• Experienced in information and communication technologies and computer applications (such as MS Office)
• Excellent in English, both orally and in writing 

Mode of Application:

Suitable candidates are invited to apply not later than 30th of April 2024 including: 

• Cover letter 
• CV (including work experience and references)
• photocopies of certificates 

have to be submitted in a sealed envelope to: The HR Officer, GIZ Country Office, 32D Wilkinson Road, Freetown, or to the email address  recruitmentsl@giz.de  

Only applicants shortlisted will be contacted for an interview.