Job Description

JOB DESCRIPTION

Health Advisor (m/f) in epidemic prevention with a focus on Quality Assurance and Community Participation in the health sector based in Kailahun.

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 quality assurance 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, focus area 3. 

The project is commissioned by the Federal Ministry for Economic Development and Cooperation. 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:

The first focus is on gender-sensitive training for health service providers to enhance competencies and increase healthcare quality. 

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. 

Focus area 3 aims to strengthen the quality assurance and evidence-based management of health services, including the gender-sensitive participation of the communities in Kailahun and Kambia by means of supporting the implementation of systematic, digitally integrated supported supervision visits (ISSVs) and by providing advice on how the communities can be actively involved.

Finally, focus area 4 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 3 in collaboration with multi-stakeholder partners and other important actors in accordance with GIZ programme outlines 
• Support the development of concept notes for focus area 3 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 the results-based monitoring of the project.
• Reporting about the status of the implementation and other reports required by GIZ.
• Support the processing of enquiries of the commissioner (Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development) of the project or other relevant Stakeholders.
• Preparation and facilitation of presentations as needed.
• Facilitate logistical arrangements as the need may arise.

You are based in Kailahun.

Task:

As a Health Advisor for Focus Area 3, you will manage and oversee the main workstreams of this intervention area in close collaboration with the GIZ Project Coordinator and Health Advisor of focus area 3, the M+E Officer of the project, selected directorates of the Ministry of Health, the district health management team (DHMTs) in Kailahun and other selected partners. The main workstreams include:

• Expert advice on the institutionalization of feedback mechanisms (e.g. as part of ISSVs, feedback boxes, community score cards) for users of peripheral health facilities and district hospitals and their use in order to increase the quality of the health facilities.
• Strategy and process advice to the Ministry of Health and district health management teams to consolidate and scale up digital Integrated Supportive Supervision Visits (ISSV) including data quality audits. 
• Provide technical advice to the district health management teams on how to involve the facility management committees and the population more effectively in the annual budget planning for district health services.

Qualifications, skills, and experience required.

Qualifications:

• University degree (bachelor’s, master’s/doctoral degree or equivalent) in public health, medicine, or nursing/midwifery 
• Solid knowledge of quality assurance and community participation in the health sector

Professional Experience:

• At least three years’ professional experience in a similar position. 
• Very good knowledge of health service delivery and quality assurance of health facilities and means of participation of the population in Sierra Leone.
• Knowledge of key stakeholders and government institutions in charge of quality assurance and means of participation of the population for the health sector in Sierra Leone
• Experience 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 26th of January 2024 including: 

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

have to be submitted to the email address  recruitmentsl@giz.de  

Only applicants shortlisted will be contacted for an interview.