Technical Lead

Job Description

The IRC is seeking a qualified Health Technical Lead for an anticipated three-year World Bank-funded project, which will be managed by the Federal Ministry of Health. The project is titled “Improving Healthcare Services in Somalia (Damal Caafimaad)”. The Health Technical Lead will be responsible for providing technical leadership, guidance and quality assurance for the project, which is focused on expanding the coverage of high-impact health and nutrition services in select geographic areas. The Health Technical Lead will be based in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, with frequent travel to project locations.

Background

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is a leading humanitarian and development organization working in more than 40 countries and 26 U.S. cities to help people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster including the climate crisis to survive, recover and gain control of their future.

The IRC began working in Somalia in the early 1980s - initially to assist people seeking refuge in the aftermath of the Somalia-Ethiopian conflict. The focus of IRC Somalia programming is on Health, Nutrition, Economic Resilience, Recovery and Development, Governance, WASH, Women’s Protection and Empowerment interventions to crisis affected communities in most of the targeted locations. With headquarters in Mogadishu, the IRC oversees field offices in Dhusamareb, Gaalkayo and Garowe within the regional states of Puntland, Galmudug and Benadir Region. IRC programming in Somalia adopts an integrated approach, in which each sector provides mutually reinforcing services to at-risk populations.

The upcoming Damal Caafimaad project will support the rapid expansion of high-impact health and nutrition services within the Government of Somalia’s Essential Package of Health Services (EPHS). The project also aims to develop the Federal and State Ministries’ of Health capacity to act as stewards of the health sector. The project will focus on strengthening primary healthcare, improving the availability of pharmaceuticals, quality of care improvement, and developing strong management systems. Robust community level health services and engagement will also be a critical part of the project. The World Bank is funding the project, which will be delivered through Federal Ministry of Health contracting of NGOs.

Scope of work

The Health Technical Lead will provide technical leadership and direction, drive performance and efficiencies, define and enable activities to achieve the project goals and objectives. The Health Technical Lead will be responsible for providing quality assurance and advising on quality improvement for technical activities. They will conduct regular field monitoring visits to ensure the quality and timeliness of the project activities and to ensure that project targets are met. The Health Technical Lead will work closely with the Project Director and Deputy Project Director to ensure that service delivery is of high quality, that the project takes an adaptive approach to incorporate learnings and overcome challenges, and that implementation follows IRC, Ministry of Health and World Bank requirements.

This is a senior position that requires excellent leadership, strategic thinking, team-building and representational skills. This position reports to the Project Director. It is contingent on the IRC being awarded funding; we anticipate that the project will begin in early 2022.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the project’s technical team, providing technical direction for strengthening health systems in Somalia.

• Stay abreast of developments and evidence generation in health technical areas and integrate them into the project.

• Provide IRC representation and ensure project visibility in relevant maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH) technical working groups at Federal and Federal Member State level.

• Design and lead program quality assessments to monitor project performance and provide technical troubleshooting.

• Engage consortium / local partners to review technical content and implementation planning prior to activity implementation, including collaborative technical assistance as indicated.

• Provide high level coordination with the MoH, other line ministries, and key stakeholders on technical issues for smooth implementation of national policies and strategies and project activities.

• Develop technical components of annual work plans, draft technical sections of quarterly reports, and ensure project technical objectives and deliverables are met in a timely manner.

• Engage necessary technical assistance and support as needed and ensure Project team responsiveness to technical assistance inputs and formal recommendations.

• Work with the MEAL Lead to identify and develop program learning reports, quarterly and annual project reports, and other knowledge products (technical briefs, learning events, etc.).

Requirements

• Minimum of 10 years of increasingly responsible experience in implementing large and complex, multi-partner, multi-year international health sector development projects (approximately $15million)

• Demonstrated credibility and experience as a leader in public health, especially in community health, maternal, newborn and child health, and/or reproductive health. Familiarity with proven and high impact approaches and innovations in maternal and child health programming is essential.

• Medical/health degree required, preferably post-graduate (MD, MPH, RN, PA or midwife)

• Extensive experience in working in East Africa, preferably in Somalia

• Experience and ability to provide leadership and technical direction that harnesses the different skills of the technical staff in the project (both IRC and partner staff) within complex and high-risk environments

• Excellent diplomacy skills and a proven ability to develop and maintain interpersonal and professional relationships with donor community, partners, host country governments, and other key stakeholders (e.g., INGOs, NGOs, CSOs, private sector)

• Use of results-based management and Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL) frameworks as a primary management tool

• Excellent analytical, communication and writing skills, and ability to articulate arguments and positions backed with evidence in order to promote ideas.

• Fluency in English required.

• Highly motivated, possesses strong sense of integrity and a positive attitude

• Willingness to travel within Somalia (remote settings), as needed

Please note that the JD may be subject to change once the Terms of Reference for the programme is released and as the opportunity develops.

Safety & Security Situation

All staff must comply with all IRC Somalia security policies and procedures.

Standards for Professional Conduct: The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Equality, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status or disability.

Qualifications