ROLE PURPOSE:

Save the Children has been working to improve Maternally, and New-born Health as one of its key strategic priority areas to contribute to the reduction in maternal and child mortality and achieve Universal Health Coverage. Save the Children, through its MNH project, aims to improve the quality of intrapartum care for mothers and newborns throughout a network of primary health care facilities in Waghimra Zone. Save the Children will support the primary health care system too, and promote access to quality and safe health care for the marginalized segment of the population. To this effect, under the guidance of the MNH Manager, the MNH Project Officer will be responsible for S/he is responsible to participate in the development of the work plan, monitoring and evaluation plan, report writing up and liaising with the government partners at woreda level. S/he will coordinate the implementation of the Maternal New-born Health Project in project implementation woredas in Waghimra Zone according to the project proposal. The project officer will organize and facilitate capacity-building activities for healthcare providers in primary healthcare facilities to support implement proven and high-impact quality MNH interventions that contribute to the reduction of maternal and newborn mortality and morbidity. Under the guidance of the MNH Project Manager, S/he will coordinate and facilitate interventions to support the continuation of essential MNH interventions in conflict-affected areas. The Project Officer will follow up and build HWs capacity to improve the collection, analysis and use of data for program decision making and document and share lessons and program learnings from project implementation to inform project implementation. S/he will prepare progress reports, donor reports, case stories, and lessons learned and timely submit for MNH Project Manager for review, finalization and submission

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

Planning, coordination and Monitoring

• With the support from MNH Project manager, coordinate the day to day implementation of the project in the implementation areas
• Monitor the implementation of MNH program interventions in all the implementation woredas, health facilities and health post level;
• Participate in integrated supportive supervision visits conducted by the Woreda or zonal health office;
• In consultation and collaboration with MNH Project Manager and woreda health offices, assess medical supplies need in the HFs that have been damaged by the conflict
• Facilitate and follow up on the procurement and distribution of medical supplies to HFs affected by conflict to ensure the continuation of MNH service
• Collaborate with Sponsorship MNH program where feasible for a synergetic effect on improving MNH in the implementation areas;
• Conduct data quality assessments so as to ensure that the report generated from DHIS are timely, accurate and reliable;
• Participate in periodic, structured programmatic and data reviews to guide adaptive project management

Technical and Operational Support

• Provide day to day operational support for successful implementation of Project deliverables
• Facilitate, coordinate and support the development of HWs capacity in the implementation woredas through TOT training on Helping Babies Survive (HBS) and Helping Mothers Survive (HMS);
• Support trainers as they cascade HBS/HMS training for HWs facilitate cascaded skill-based training and conduct one-on-one mentorship in health facilities to reinforce the clinical competency of trainees
• Initiate, facilitate and support procurement and distribution of training mannequins to help facilitate offsite and onsite training.
• In close consultation with MNH Project Manager, Initiate, coordinate and facilitate the initiation of procurement and distribution of medical equipment and supplies in conflict-affected areas
• Establish and support the quality improvement team at health facilities in close collaboration with Woreda Health Office so they review quality improvement issues, identify bottlenecks and suggest and apply local solutions
• Identify programmatic successes stories, challenges and lessons learned, and document these for internal use and to share it with different stakeholders
• In consultation with MNH Project Manager, collaborate with local government partners to develop and support systems for effective referrals and transportation for emergency obstetrics and newborn care
• Organize performance review meetings to follow up on project performance

Representation, networking and Reporting

• Works closely with Woreda and Zonal Health Offices
• Participate and support the implementation woredas in annual and bi-annual woreda level planning and review meetings
• Document and share supervision reports, and findings and recommendations of field visits, case stories, and lessons from the implementation of the project
• Prepare and submit a timely project report for MNH Project Manager
• Represent the MNH project, providing consistent guidance including technical and programmatic support across the health structures in the implementation areas
• In consultation with MNH Manager, represent SC and MNH project in the zone and woreda level
• Develop and maintain good relationships with government, partners and other stakeholders supporting MNH in the zone and implementation woredas.

EXPERIENCE QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS

Education

• BSc degree in health-related fields: nursing, midwifery, or public health or with specific strong experience on MNH

Experience and Skills: 

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in coordinating, facilitating and supporting MNH or related projects
• Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to lead and work effectively in team situations
• Good knowledge of the Ethiopian health systems and health policy with a particular emphasis on national Reproductive Health, MNCH, Family planning and HIV/ MTCT issues
• Experience working with zonal, and woreda level government partners and with partner agencies
• Proficiency in speaking, writing and reading Amharic and English is required
• Training in Helping Babies Survive (HBS), Helping Mothers Survive (HMS) and MNH QI standards are desired
• Experience in facilitation of MNH training, and conducting mentorship
• Good skills in communicating, organizing group discussions, and presentation
• Good computer skills (MS Word, MS Excel, and other data-generating tools)

Additional job responsibilities

The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.

COMPETENCIES 

SC Values are: Accountability, Ambition, Collaboration, Creativity, and Integrity. To meet the value system, the post holder is expected to demonstrate the following competencies on an ongoing basis.

Leading Delivering result: Takes personal responsibility and holds others to account to deliver our ambitious goals for children, continually improving own performance or that of the team/organisation.

Thinking Applying technical and professional expertise: Applies the required technical and professional expertise to the highest standards; promotes and shares best practices within and outside the organisation.

Engaging

Working effectively with others: Works collaboratively to achieve shared goals and thrives on diversity of people and perspectives; know when to lead and when to follow and how to ensure effective cross-boundary working.

Communicating with Impact: Communicates clearly and confidently with others to engage and influence; promotes dialogue and ensures timely and appropriate messages, building confidence and trust with others

We offer a competitive package in the context of the sector. The duty station of the position holder will be in Sekota or ten months with a possible extension. This role is offered on the basis of national terms and conditions only.

The Organisation

We employ approximately 25,000 people across the globe and work on the ground in over 100 countries to help children affected by crises, or those that need better healthcare, education and child protection. We also campaign and advocate at the highest levels to realize the right of children and to ensure their voices are heard.

We are working towards three breakthroughs in how the world treats children by 2030:

No child dies from preventable causes before their 5th birthday

All children learn from quality basic education and that,

Violence against children is no longer tolerated

We know that great people make a great organization and that our employees play a crucial role in helping us achieve our ambitions for children. We value our people and offer a meaningful and rewarding career, along with a collaborative and inclusive environment where ambition, creativity, and integrity are highly valued.