Brief introduction

 The Tuberculosis Local Organizations Network (LON) is the USAID funded project designed to fight and end TB effectively and efficiently by partnering directly with local entities within TB priority countries of which Ethiopia is one, to provide accessible services, resulting in increased diagnosis and treatment success rates.

The TB LON Urban project awarded to REACH Ethiopia is a Fixed Amount Agreement implemented by REACH Ethiopia, Hiwot Integrated Development Association (HIDO) and KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation. The project will focus on finding and referring the missing TB cases in 3 urban administrative settings (Addis Ababa, Dire Dawa and Harari) by using urban community TB approach to increase its contribution of case notification from 3.4% to 20% and ensure improved case notification by finding missed TB cases. The project will also aim to strengthen the organizational capacity of local organizations and TB survivors’ associations and enabling environment for urban TB programming. The primary beneficiaries of the project will be key populations living in urban areas of the three cities. The project will be implemented in collaboration with the Regional Health Bureau (Harari), city administrations (Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa), subcity health departments (Addis Ababa), family health team, the urban health extension professionals, public health facilities, health development armies (HDAs), community associations, Idir, Civil Society Organizations such as former TB patients associations and Network of PLHIV.

Purpose of the position (general)

Under the leadership of the Technical Coordinator, the TB LON Regional Coordinator is responsible for planning, governance and for overseeing the successful implementation and delivery of the program’s activities to achieve its intended goal at Harari Regional State. He/she coordinates the planning and provides oversight to all technical areas under the Urban TB LON project that will be implemented in the region.

S/he will lead the overall day to day management of the project and the resources (Finance, Human resources and time), technical direction of staff, and technical direction of the Project's detail activities such as work planning, implementation, monitoring, reporting, evaluation, coordination and partnership. The Project Manager will be the Activity's key liaison with USAID, government counterparts, other non-government organizations and local associations. S/he will manage and supervise the work of program personnel and subgrantees and ensure that all program assistance is technically sound and appropriate. S/he also oversees program work planning, performance management, and strategic communication. S/he will be expected to have regular and transparent communication with the Technical coordinator.

He/she will identify technically sound, cost-effective, and practical approaches to enhance urban TB control that are consistent with Government of Ethiopia, donor policies as well as the region and priorities set by all of the above. S/he provides day-to-day supervision to technical staff of the project assigned under him/her. S/he enhances and anchors the in-depth knowledge of specific technical areas and ensures the quality of work of the TB LON project in the Regional state.

Answerability and Position in the organization

The Regional Coordinator reports to the Technical Coordinator the leader of the team in the Region. The Regional Coordinator represents REACH Ethiopia in the Region and is fully mandated to handle TB LON related issues with the pertinent Govt offices of the Region.

Major and overall Duties and Responsibilities:

• Development and Management of project plans at regional level (sometimes multiple plans);
• Develops and schedules project work plan in accordance with specifications given to him/her;
• oversees daily operations and coordinates activities of project; determines priorities;
• Reviewing the plans regularly to ensure tasks and milestones are being achieved in a timely manner and preparation of project status reports, manage presentations at Regional level, design agendas whenever need arise to do so, etc.
• Take an active part in the project issue/risk management process, by contributing to the identification and prioritization of existing and potential issues and risks, and helping to develop local level strategies and controls to mitigate these;
• Use sound judgment to identify which issues and risks should be reported to senior management and groups, and prepare relevant reports/documentation;
• Check project compliance against donor, organization as well as MOH policies, and highlight any issues to the Technical Coordinator;
• Provide a skilled facilitation support to the lower level project teams that the project achieves its predetermined goals and expectations;
• employ effective organizational and administrative processes, together with their knowledge and/or experience of project management practices, to facilitate the successful achievement of the project objectives;
• Build and maintain effective relationships with a wide range of people and sectors in the Region in addition to own team;
• Help build lower level team’s project management capability by collaborating with other staff, coaching and mentoring others and generally encouraging the appropriate use of project management technique;
• Manage communications through media relations, social media etc;
• Help build positive relations within the team and external parties;
• Keep all members of the team up-to-date with relevant project information;
• Frequently communicate with team members to ensure maximum efficiency;
• Schedule and organize meetings/events and maintain agenda;
• Ensure technology is used correctly for all operations (video conferencing, presentations etc.) when appropriate;
• Create presentations, summaries and helping materials to ensure better communication and understanding of the project;
• Monitors and supervises the activities of TB Outreach Officers and volunteers;
• Be vigilant on changing needs of targets and keep adjusting schedules as appropriate;
• Complies with policies and procedures governing the project and ensures that the project is operating at maximum efficiency;
• Prepares reports regarding project operations;
• Analyzes and evaluates the effectiveness of the project and develops new methods aimed at greater success;
• Trains TOOs and volunteers to ensure proper operation of the project;
• Interacts with members of the community to help achieve project goals and objectives;
• Brings to the network expertise, experience, information and commitment to facilitate an integrated approach to TB prevention and control in the region;
• Based on the URBAN TB LON objectives approved by the donor, be responsible for all aspects in relation to development, planning, implementation, resource mobilization, reporting, financial management and administration of the Regional LON project activities. This will entirely be done in collaboration with the pertinent partners in the region;
• Develop, strengthen and nurture effective working relationships and synergies with cooperating regional partner institutions;
• Ensure alignment of the project activities to NTP policies and Regional Directions;
• Establish, strengthen and coordinate the functions of a regional working group of technical experts to assist with the implementation of the TB LON;
• Ensure effective networking, communication and information sharing among relevant Partners within the region;
• Co-ordinate, liaise and work very closely with the RHB and TB program  for the region to ensure effective implementation of URBAN TB LON project;
• Report to REACH Ethiopia HQs on the progress of the URBAN TB LON activities within the given timeframe;
• Be the liaison between REACH Ethiopia, RHB and other stakeholders;
• Together with the key stakeholders in the region, identify key issues and priorities in line with URBAN TB project objectives;
• Support and promote actions that address the vulnerability to TB and related challenges that contribute for the spread of TB;
• Support the sub-granting process to all local organizations in that region;
• Make workable plans to cope with prevailing situations.

Contract term:    Full time Position, Fixed term contract

Number of positions:         1     

Knowledge management

Identifies areas for crosscutting collaboration with RHBs and relevant partners;

Enhances and anchors the in-depth knowledge of TB technical areas in the technical team (both own and partners team);

Actively shares knowledge with the Regional and City TB control program;

Maintain personal in-depth knowledge on TB control areas and able to understand as well as manage a frequently changing development related to TB.

Qualifications and Requirements

• Master’s Degree in public health or equivalent, minimum of 6-year relevant work experience in TB control of which 4 years is a senior advisory/managerial experience;
• Bachelor’s Degree in public health, minimum of 8-year relevant experience in TB control of which 6 years is a senior advisory/managerial experience;
• Proven experience in health program management of at least 5 years;
• Experience of urban TB program management is an asset;
• Proven stakeholders management skills and proven track record in people, partners and project management;
• Proven experience managing teams;
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English and Amharic;
• Experience in capacity building and utilizing participatory learning methodologies;
• The ability to organize and prioritize with eye for detail;
• Past experience with USAID projects would be an advantage;
• Willingness to locate in Harar and to travel to the HQs, Addis Ababa, when deemed necessary.