Technical Advisor Level III: Senior Maternal Health Advisor

Global Health Fellows Program II

Technical Advisor Level III: Senior Maternal Health Advisor

Maternal and Child Health Division, Office of Health, Infectious Diseases and Nutrition, Bureau for Global Health, United States Agency for International Development

Location: Washington, DC

Assignment: Two year fellowship

GHFP II-P1-006

The Global Health Fellows Program (GHFP-II) is a five year cooperative agreement implemented and managed by the Public Health Institute in partnership with CDC Development Solutions and Management Systems International. GHFP-II is supported by the US Agency for International Development (USAID).

GHFP-II’s goal is to improve the effectiveness of USAID health programs by developing and increasing the capacity of health professionals with tailored development opportunities. This is accomplished through the recruitment, placement and support of diverse health professionals at the junior, mid and senior levels, and professional development activities aimed to enhance the technical and leadership skills of global health professionals.

BACKGROUND:

Beyond family planning programs which have contributed to maternal survival for decades, USAID has supported programs in Maternal Health (MH) since 1988 following the launch of the global Safe Motherhood Initiative. Programs have focused on addressing the major causes of maternal mortality through community education and mobilization, provision of care to women throughout the childbearing period, and improvement of policies that promote maternal survival. USAID supports programs that promote the health of mothers and their newborns. While promoting high impact interventions and improving access to care for the most vulnerable, USAID has long supported health system strengthening for MH that has included health financing, leadership and governance, building human resource capacity, quality improvement in service delivery, rational use of pharmaceuticals, health information systems, and behavior change communications. USAID adheres to principles of following country-led strategies, using evidence-based programming, coordinating with partners, and reaching those in special need, including the poor, the isolated and those who are socially vulnerable. Fundamental to USAID programs is respect for the dignity of women and involvement of men to improve the health of families and participation and leadership of women in their communities.

With the 2009 announcement by President Obama of the US Global Health Initiative (GHI), USAID is strengthening the evolving MH program with a goal of contributing to a 30% reduction of maternal mortality in selected high burden countries and a focus on implementing GHI core principles. In 2010, the Bureau for Global Health developed “BEST, Best Practices at Scale in the Home, Community and Facilities: An Action Plan for Smart Integrated Programming in Family Planning, Maternal and Child Health, and Nutrition under the Global Health Initiative” to advance high impact interventions and related health systems programming. The Bureau worked with 28 countries to develop BEST plans in 2009. Signs of progress in reduction in maternal mortality are being seen in a number of high burden countries where USAID is supporting programs with other partners following national strategies.

The Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Division of the Office of Health, Infectious Diseases and Nutrition (HIDN) within the Bureau for Global Health (GH) has leadership responsibility forstrategic planning, innovations in technologies and program design, and monitoring and evaluation in maternal, newborn, child and environmental health programs globally and in collaboration USAID country field Missions. The work is closely coordinated with nutrition, water and sanitation, family planning, infectious disease, health system strengthening and research in other HIDN divisions, GH offices, and USAID bureaus. The Division plays a leadership role in identifying and furthering key partnerships and alliances with other governments, UN agencies, foundations, NGOs, universities, and the private sector.

The Senior Maternal Health Advisor will serve as a senior technical advisor on the Maternal Health Team within the MCH Division, with the following major areas of responsibility: (a) technical assistance to the Agency for MH, (b) technical assistance to USAID missions, regional bureaus and other GH offices and divisions, and (c) technical assistance to and oversight of GH projects and programs. S/he will receive overall programmatic guidance from the Maternal Health Team Leader.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Senior Maternal Health Advisor will:

1.) Technical assistance to the Agency on MH issues:

Provide expert technical assistance regarding MH issues and priorities; Analyze global MH issues and develop/review GH center guidance; Serve as a resource to strengthen monitoring and evaluation of MH within Agency programs; Contribute to USAID’s MH research agenda, designs, monitoring and dissemination; Contribute to the development of Activity Approval Documents, Requests for Applications program descriptions and Requests for Proposals scopes of work; Serve as a team member on technical evaluation panels for solicited and unsolicited proposals and applications; Collaborate with US Department of State, other US Government (USG) partners, especially the Departments of Defense and Health and Human Services, bilateral donors, multilateral organizations, foundations, universities, and nongovernmental/private voluntary organizations in policy and programming related to MH; Make presentations to Congressional staff, outside audiences, new health officers, state-of-the-art conferences, etc.; Bring new findings from technical literature to the attention of program directors and the MH team.

2.) Technical assistance to field missions, GH offices, and regional bureaus as part of the MCH Division:

Serve as country coordinator or country team member for one or more MCH priority countries; Serve as an expert resource for individual countries, as needed; Provide high level expertise to countries in design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of MH programs; Promote and support collaboration and coordination of USAID missions and bureaus with development partners; Serve as an expert resource for GH offices and regional bureaus in integrated strategy development for MH; Provide expert technical assistance and support coordination with other USG partners.

3.) Technical advice for MCH Division and other GH projects:

Provide expert technical guidance on developing, implementing, and monitoring annual work plans; Monitor programs through reviewing financial and technical reports, making field visits, and analyzing outcome and impact data; Review quarterly and annual reports of progress and problems; Design and conduct management reviews, monitoring and evaluation plans, and external evaluations, as needed.

4.) Implementation of GH programming for MH:

Take the lead in defining and evaluating progress toward meeting quantitative MH performance monitoring goals; Identify qualitative examples of performance problems and accomplishments; Provide expert technical assistance to program managers and cooperating agencies in integrating MH into their strategies and programming; Provide expert technical assistance for the development of MH sections of the annual USAID reports to the Agency and to Congress; Provide informed analysis and recommendations for MH budget requests; Develop/revise strategic and action plans and coordinate work on the MH focus within health systems and infectious diseases, and on special initiatives including obstetric fistula, postpartum hemorrhage, pre-eclampsia/eclampsia; Provide expert technical input to the development of the MH components of the MCH research agenda; Contribute to coordination of the Maternal and Neonatal Health Technical Series.

5.) Assistance to the MCH Division

Contribute to the day-to-day management of MCH Division’s work on MH in close collaboration with neonatal/child health; Provide expert technical updates for the MH sections of the USAID website and e-learning modules; Collaborate with other USAID offices and bureaus and with other USG partners; Present the Division’s perspective in meetings and conferences; Prepare background and briefing documents, as necessary; Draft responses to external inquiries, as necessary; Serve as a senior member of working groups and technical committees.

6.) Training and Professional Development:

Keep abreast of the technical literature; Participate in international working groups and professional meetings; Participate in professional continuing education and skills training within the purview of the Global Health Fellows Program II.

REQUIRED SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE:

Master’s or PhD degree in Public Health, Midwifery, Nursing, or related disciplines, or M.D. with specialization in Obstetrics and Gynecology; Minimum ten years’ experience in design, implementation and evaluation of international health, especially MH programs, with at least three to five years’ experience in international or resource challenged settings; Demonstrated skill in conducting critical analysis and evaluation of technical and programmatic aspects of proposals and programs; Ability to think and operate strategically and programmatically, analyzing complex situations in order to assist in the development of USAID strategic plans, and assessing the impact of host country policies and practices on USG or USAID programs in the health sector; Excellent understanding of current issues in international MH programs; Demonstrated experience in working directly with developing country program clinicians, managers and policy makers in MH, preferably acquired by having lived in one or more developing countries; Understanding of field realities, especially in the context of working with communities; Good understanding of programs and organizational aspects of major international donors, multilateral agencies, and nongovernmental/private voluntary organizations supporting the social sector, with a focus that includes reproductive/maternal and child health; Excellent interpersonal skills and experience in working effectively in an independent capacity and as a member of a team; Excellent verbal and written communications skills, including ability to write technical documents and give state-of-the-art presentations to colleagues in and outside of USAID; Good computer skills; Ability and willingness to travel domestically and internationally;US Citizenship or US Permanent Residency required.

SALARY AND BENEFITS:

Salary 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/2011_Benefits_Booklet_GHFP.pdf