Health Population and Nutrition (HPN) Consultants- Family Health, USAID/KEA Mission Organizational Development Support (MODS)

Job Description

Dexis is a professional services firm that solves the most pressing social challenges in complex environments, paving the way for a more secure and prosperous world.

Dexis embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion and strives to build and maintain a safe environment where we celebrate diverse backgrounds, treat everyone with respect, and value the unique lived experiences each person brings based on their race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, military or veteran status, national origin, age, marital status or family status and related conditions.

At Dexis, you will experience a corporate culture of inclusiveness, fairness, and trust. You will be given the means and mentorship needed to succeed, and your creativity will be rewarded.

Dexis consulting Group is recruiting three consultants under the USAID Mission Organization Development Support (MODS) Project. The consultants will support the Family Health (FH) Center of excellence (COE) of the Health Population and Nutrition (HPN) Office of the USAID Mission in Kenya and East Africa (USAID/KEA). The consultants will be experts in the following three areas:

1. Maternal Newborn Health Specialist
2. Family Planning Specialist
3. Pediatrics/ Child Health Specialist

The three consultants will provide technical leadership in the implementation of the FH program in HPN which delivers results through the provision of technical assistance at the national level (Department of Family Health, Primary health Care, Department of standards, UHC secretariat) and to 9 priority counties where FH programming is integrated with the HIV and Malaria Programs.

These positions require experienced professionals in public health, and specifically RMNCAH/FP programming. The Consultants are expected to build and maintain relationships with government counterparts and implementing partners to ensure USAID’s Family health activities are aligned to and support National and county priorities in collaboration with stakeholders at National and county level. The Consultants will provide support to the MOH FP/RMNCAH programs at national level, and to implementing partners such as KHPQS, MCGL and HSS activities as advised. The consultants will be involved in strategic and technical planning at national and county levels and will work closely with Contract/Agreement Officer Representatives (C/AORs) and Activity Managers (AMs) at both levels. The consultants will support the FH COE in the development of the annual operational plan, field monitoring activities, generating reports and in development of the annual performance report. The Consultants will support the FH COE in coordination of national and county level activities across the health portfolio, integration with HIV, DREAMS, OVC, Malaria as well as multisectoral collaboration. The Consultants will keep HPN informed on emerging developments in FP/RMNCAH at national and focus counties and advise on the technical direction of the program.

USAID is placing substantial reliance on the Consultants’ skills and abilities to work closely with national and county governments. They must therefore be recognized experts and well-qualified professionals in MNCH/RH/FP who are able to independently plan, prioritize and carry out the duties and responsibilities of the position. The Consultants will be expected to analyze and address problems by applying relevant guidance and evidence-based strategies to implement the Family Health Integrated strategy. The use of initiative, discretion, cultural sensitivity, collaboration, and teamwork is expected, to resolve challenges for which there are no clear or immediate solutions.

Location of work: Nairobi, with travel to counties throughout Kenya

Period of performance: Six (6) months

Start date: March 1, 2022

Application closing date: February 10, 2022. Consultants will be considered on a rolling basis until the positions are filled.

These positions have no authority to make commitments on behalf of the USAID and the USG.

Responsibilities

TECHNICAL AND STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP (50%)

• Articulate and extend USAID’s strategic partnership vision, strategies, and tactics at the National and FH focal counties. Enhance understanding of the Family health integrated strategy towards achieving National and County results for the health of women, children, adolescents and youth.
• Leads and/or facilitates the delivery of technical assistance for the development and oversight of strategic partnerships on a key national and county health strategic plans’ priority result areas through use of data and guided by current FP/ RMNCAH policies and strategies.
• Provide high level technical guidance in FP/RMNCAH to assigned Counties including senior-level officials.
• Work in collaboration with USAID HPN staff, A/CORs and Activity Management Teams (AMTs) to plan and implement USAID’s FP/RMNCAH programs using an integrated approach.
• Work closely with other units within the HPN office and across the Mission, including with the County Liaison Teams (CLT) to optimize opportunities for cross-sectoral integration and leveraging of resources across the different program components and sectors.
• Provide updated technical information on MNCH/RH/FP issues in line with USAID’s program policies to partners and a wide group of public health collaborators as it becomes available. This information generally involves how to implement, monitor, and evaluate Family health programs using data, and report progress to key stakeholders.
• Develop and nurture formal and informal partnerships with civil society, faith-based organizations, county-based academia, and private organizations and provide technical assistance to counties on barriers towards achieving RMNCAH goals. This will involve working with broad based partners on the development and implementation of high impact interventions including modalities to develop, sustain and expand partnerships.
• Provide technical expertise on MNCH/RH/FP issues at national (e.g., UHC) and county level and advise HPN on opportunities to collaborate and synergize with other donors, multilateral and private sector organizations working in the counties.
• Provide strategic and technical leadership in the preparation of key annual and mid-term planning and reporting documents including the County Development Plans, and the Quarterly, Semi-Annual and Annual Progress Reports, and facilitate regular programmatic reviews with national FP/RMNCAH programs, counties and other relevant stakeholders.
• Through literature review and proactive engagement stakeholders, keep abreast of emerging developments in the national and global issues, and advise accordingly on how these policies, strategies and technical guidelines can most effectively be incorporated to enable the Mission to maintain the fidelity and relevance of Family Health programs.
• Provide an advisory role to the Family Health COE on partnership development and management and methodologies to improve the performance of USAID’s health investments for improved FP/RMNCAH outcomes in 9 focus counties.

COORDINATION AND REPRESENTATION (50%)

• Using diplomacy and technical acumen, establish strategic working relationships with senior health officials and committees at county and lower levels, donor agencies, civil society organizations, and private sector health counterparts to enhance coordination and regular and timely sharing of information on health programs at county level, including changes in key policies, and legal and regulatory environments that could affect FP/RMNCAH in the implementation of USAID programs.
• Provide guidance to USAID on identifying and developing relationships with stakeholders at National and county levels and ensure that results and impact of FP/RMNCAH programs
• Participate in technical consultations and meetings at National and county technical working groups and related partnership meetings with cross-sectoral teams and the private sector and share follow up actions with USAID
• Document and develop materials on processes and lessons learned in outcome-based programming for FP/RMNCAH programs.
• Work in close consultation with counties to provide required guidance on how best to collaborate and coordinate FP/RMNCAH programs with county governments and other stakeholders such as civil society and the private sector at county level.

DELIVERABLES:

• Monthly report on activities undertaken during the month, outlining the outputs, outcomes, challenges, opportunities, and learning.
• Monthly plan detailing planned activities, resources required, support required from HPN.

Minimum Requirements:

• Master’s degree in Public Health, Pediatrics, Obstetrics & Gynecology or Social Sciences.
• Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible professional experience in health program management for a development organization, including managing FP/RMNCAH programs or other relevant public health programs that involve coordination with a wide variety of stakeholders in a government department, international agency or implementing partner.
• Excellent oral and written English and Kiswahili.
• Knowledge of public health and FP/RMNCAH programs, strategies, methods, processes, and techniques used to plan, develop, implement, and evaluate FP/RMNCAH programs.
• Extensive knowledge of the country and county health context including national priorities such as UHC, Linda Mama etc and challenges in reducing maternal, newborn and child mortality.
• Knowledge of key stakeholders engaged in health at national and county level in the regions of Kenya.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the overall health sector context and thorough public health knowledge regarding status of the health of women, children and adolescents and youth.
• Knowledge and understanding of the different levels of the county governments, and the role of units within each level, to enhance effective communication, and to develop consensus on program/project strategy and implementation plans.
• Strong skills in communication, advocacy, and networking. S/he must have strong conceptual and analytical skills to be able to quickly grasp and translate new concepts into operational plans and results.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills and the ability to exercise flexibility in analyzing and reacting to evolving planning and implementation contexts.
• Excellent computer skills, including Microsoft Office, web-based databases, and electronic filing.
• Demonstrated timely action on decisions and informed judgement in planning and carrying out tasks using diplomacy and tact.

Preferred Requirements:

• Professional-level knowledge of development principles, concepts, and practices, especially as they relate to the devolution of the health sector and the increasing roles and responsibilities of the counties.
• Understanding of donor, multilateral, and private sector involvement in FP/RMNCAH in Kenya.

About the Organization

Dexis is on a mission to help solve today’s most pressing global political, social, and economic challenges and create a world where all people are safe and prosperous. As a Dexis employee, you will be challenged, empowered, and mentored. Our motto is “find a way or make a way” — that’s how Dexis goes “all in.” How will you?

If you are passionate about this opportunity, apply now!

Only those applicants who meet the above criteria will be contacted for interview.

Dexis is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, religion, pregnancy, disability, age, genetic information, military service, veteran status, ethnicity, citizenship, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, childbirth and related medical conditions, including lactation, or any other protected class under applicable law.