nternational Health NGO
Location: Somalia (Gedo Region)
Closing date: 30 Jul 2007
http://www.merlin.org.uk
Job Description

Programme: Gedo Health Consortium (GHC)
Location: Gedo Region, Somalia
Responsible to: The Director, (GHC)
Period of contract: August 2007 for one year with possibility to extend
Salary Range: 15,574-20,765 per annum plus cost of living allowance, insurance cover, accommodation & flights.

Please note that this is an unaccompanied position.

Only short-listed applicants will be contacted. Due to the urgency of this position, applications will be short-listed on a regular basis and we may offer this post before the closing date.Merlin International Profile

Merlin is the only UK specialist charity which responds worldwide, with vital healthcare and medical relief for vulnerable people affected by natural disasters, conflict and healthcare collapse. Each year, Merlin assists more than 15 million people, in up to 20 countries, through working with local healthcare actors including government, community groups and NGOs. For more information about Merlin, please visit our website at www.merlin.org.uk.

Merlin currently implements primary healthcare programmes in Liberia, Ivory Coast, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Ethiopia, Sudan, Somalia, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Georgia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal, and occupied Palestinian territories. The current portfolio of global programs can be characterized as a continuum from emergency relief projects, transition PHC programs to longer term development programs. Institutional donor support includes OFDA, DFID, ECHO, Global Fund, DEC, Rockefeller Foundation, Austcare, DCI, BUZA, UN, Japanese Government, USAID, JOA, Futures Group, Finnish Government and Band-Aid.

Merlin in Somalia

The goal of this mission is to address humanitarian and health crises within Somalia while increasing capacity of local structures to deliver effective and quality health care services.

Purpose and objectives

The Public Health Coordinator will provide day to day management support and supervision for all public health aspects of the Gedo Regional Health Programme. The position holder, working jointly with the Clinical Services Coordinator, will provide strategic direction, capacity building support and leadership to district health teams. S/he will be directly responsible for the planning and monitoring of all public health interventions.
S/he will be recruited through Merlin as the technical agency for health on the programme however s/he will be part of the GHC management team and report to the GHC Director. Technical line management support will be provided to the post holder by Merlin.

Duties and Responsibilities

- Working closely with other senior staff, will provide supportive guidance, supervision and management support to the District Medical Officers and the District Health Management teams and guidance/advice/capacity building to the District Health Boards on all aspects of public health, community mobilisation and preventive services, to ensure objectives are achieved and that an appropriate quality, functioning and accessible health service is maintained.

- Will jointly line-manage the District Medical Officers with the Clinical Services Coordinator

- Will manage and supervise all health promotion and prevention aspects of the programme (develop protocols and guidelines; plan, design, implement & monitor project activities and; advise on medium to longer-term health strategy for the region)

- Working with the District Medical Officers and the Public Health tutors, will be responsible for managing capacity building interventions for Outreach and Health Centre staff. This will include; identification of needs and existing competencies; development of curricula; coordination; supervision; facilitation support and; progress assessment.

- Working with the District Medical Officers and the Public Health tutors will be responsible for building the capacity and skills of the Village Health Committees, CHWs and TBAs to provide appropriate preventive and curative services at the village level.

- Promote and work with a variety of community groups and CBOs to strengthen and encourage effective community access, participation and representation in all programme activities to promote local ownership and durability of programme gains, and effective linkages between all levels of services.

- Manage and supervise the functioning of the community based (Outreach, Health Centre, Health Post and Community) aspects of the safe motherhood and nutrition projects.

- Manage and supervise the HIV/AIDs Officer and the community based work of the HIV/AIDS programme.

- In close collaboration with the Director and other senior staff, make recommendations for project strategic direction and prioritisation, taking cognisance of current best practice on health/medical support for countries in chronic crisis, changing health needs and the capacity for local management of same. Assist in the preparation of donor proposals and reports when required.

- In collaboration with the Clinical Services Coordinator, is responsible for mentoring, supporting, and encouraging all staff to maximise use of skills and knowledge, and ensure their full, effective participation in programme activities.

- Ensure the effective use of health data collection tools through training and support, and the collation and sound epidemiological analysis of the health data collected to inform programme direction.

- Responsible for coordinating the timely preparation and submission of weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual public health reports for internal use and for forwarding to donors and other health partners.

- Responsible for management and monitoring of relevant components of the programme budget.

- With Clinical Services Coordinator and District Health Teams, will set-up emergency preparedness plans/SOPs, including emergency surveillance systems and pre-positioning of emergency supplies.

- With Clinical Services Coordinator and District Health Teams will ensure documentation and dissemination of models developed and lessons learned throughout the programme.

- Collaborate with the Programme Support Manager and logistic staff to ensure the maintenance of routine medical supplies and stocks for outreach, health centres and health posts, including ordering systems and inventory control.

- Represent GHC in various coordination fora and ensure coherence of GHC strategy and priorities with that of the Health Sector for Somalia.

- Deputise for Clinical Services Coordinator or Director when required.

Experience / Skills

Essential

- Medical doctor, Registered Nurse/Midwife or Public Health Nurse with extensive mid-level management experience in developing countries, with Masters Degree or equivalent in Health promotion and/or Public Health.
- Good management and personnel skills, with proven ability to manage people
- Excellent team-worker with track record in working in a multicultural team with local health workers/partners, ensuring their sound participation in planning, implementation and monitoring
- Track record in innovative response/planning to public health issues.
- Experience in capacity development
- Good communication, diplomacy and negotiation skills, with excellent spoken and written English
- Ability to collate, manage and analyse epidemiological data, providing high quality narrative and data reports
- Experience of working in insecure areas and ability to withstand stress.
- Flexible and innovative.

Desirable

- Previous working knowledge of Somalia
- Somali language ability
Vacancies Contact
To apply for this position
Please download an application form from our website www.merlin.org.uk Completed form should be emailed to applications@merlin-uk.org stating in the subject field the job title, country and reference number (if any).
Reference Code: RW_75AHV6-17