Job Title: Program Manager II- Health Systems Strengthening, Guinea

Job Type: Regular, Full Time

Job Location: Conakry, Guinea

Reports To: Project Director, Global Fund Malaria

About CRS

Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. We welcome as a part of our staff and as partners of people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need.

Background

CRS is operating in Guinea since 2000 supporting relief and development operations and programming focused on health, governance, education and working in close partnership Caritas (Organisation Catholique pour la Promotion Humaine – OCPH/Caritas Guinea) and other local organizations. CRS has also developed strong relationships with the government line ministries, partners and communities we serve in the country. CRS Guinea Program is largely health oriented though diversifying with emergency, agriculture and livelihoods, Peace Building and WASH. Our current portfolio includes a Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria (the Global Fund) grant on malaria prevention, a $2.4 million OMVS grant for fight against Malaria and Tropical Neglected Diseases, a $1.1 million USAID grant for Cultural Cohesion for Peace and Prosperity and other programs in WASH, migration, and COVID-19 prevention.

CRS Guinea is the Principal Recipient (PR) in Malaria prevention program continuation grant by the Global Fund for the new cycle of funding (NFM) (January 2021-December 2023). Community health is a top priority of the Ministry of Health as a primary strategy to increase accessibility and coverage to basic health services. Under the new Global Fund grant, the community health component will be expanded to six districts, in addition to two pilot districts, Kindia and Telimele. CRS will also support coordination with other donors, including World Bank, UNICEF, Gavi, European Union and the Guinea Ministry of Health to implement the national community health strategy in 12 health districts supported by Global Fund malaria project.

Community health activities are housed under CRS Guinea’s Global Fund malaria prevention project. Given the importance and strategic value of community health and health system strengthening for CRS and the Ministry of Health, CRS seeks a Program Manager II to oversee this project area.

Job Summary

You will manage and provide technical oversight of the development and implementation of the community health component of the Country Program (CP) community health and health systems strengthening portfolio, particularly for a large and complex project, ensuring effective systems and processes are in place that support high-quality programming advancing CRS’ work in serving the poor and vulnerable. Your management skills and knowledge will ensure that the CP delivers high-quality programming and continuously works towards improving the impact of its health systems strengthening and community health programming.

Roles and Key Responsibilities

The Program Manager will provide technical support to the National Program for Community Health and Traditional Medicine of the Ministry of Health, building the capacity of staff and ensuring that key tools and processes are successfully implemented including partnership development. Key tasks of this role will include, but are not limited to:

  • Provide technical support to the National Director of National Program for Community Health and Traditional Medicine (DNSCMT).
  • Support the DNSCMT in harmonizing and aligning community health interventions among partners and key stakeholders.
  • Provide technical support for the review and elaboration of the country’s action plan on health systems strengthening and community health programming.
  • Build the capacity of key DNSCMT staff in project management and integration of community-health indicator into reporting.
  • Foster ICT4D integration into community health service delivery and monitoring and evaluation.
  • Build the capacity of CRS Global Fund malaria project subrecipient organizations in quality community health project planning, implementation and evaluation
  • Provide guidance on and develop resource mobilization strategies for the professionalization of community health workers (e.g., state co-financing options, key partnerships, advocacy).
  • Support finalization and dissemination of an impact evaluation of the Kindia and Telimele community health pilot project.
  • Support the review, adaptation and operationalization of normative documents and key processes related to community health (e.g., monitoring and evaluation plan, integrated supervision) based on lessons learned from pilot phase.
  • Prepare essential documents for the implementation of the community health scale-up in new districts while maintaining achievements in existing districts (e.g., terms of reference, work plans, and budgets) in collaboration with the Global Fund malaria team and the DNSCMT.
  • Coordinate the implementation and monitoring of community health interventions in collaboration with CRS programs and operations teams.
  • Prepare project reports including monitoring and evaluation data, and support the preparation of financial reports, and progress reports.
  • Lead the development of program learning - identify opportunities for learning, research and publications in the area of community health and implementation of MEAL policy. Facilitate the dissemination of promising practices and lessons learned to contribute to the agency knowledge management agenda. Ensure integration of innovations and best practices.
  • Ensure timely and appropriate project expenditures in line with financial plans and efficient use and stewardship of project material sources.
  • Ensure collaboration with and coordination of private and faith-based health system in targeted areas
  • Document best practices and lessons learned for program improvement and scale up
  • Actively participate in CRS West Africa Regional Health and Nutrition Community of Practice
  • Ensure that all community-based interventions are gender sensitive

Basic Qualifications

  • Master's Degree in Public Health required. Additional experience may substitute for some education.
  • Minimum of 5 years experience in relevant field-based project management experience required, with preferably at least 2-3 years working in the area of public health and health systems strengthening in an international development setting.
  • Experience in managing moderately complex projects preferably with an international NGO.

Required Languages – French, professional level of spoken and written; English.

Travel - Must be willing and able to travel up to 30% of time.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with ability to make sound judgment and decisions and offer innovative solutions
  • Strong relations management abilities. Ability to relate to people at all levels internally and externally. Strategic in how you approach each relationship.
  • Good presentation and facilitation skills
  • Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented and results-oriented

Preferred Qualifications

  • Good experience in project grants management, including project design, preferably for grants from multiple public donors, including The Global Fund.
  • Demonstrated ability to write high quality technical proposals.
  • Experience engaging with partner organizations
  • MEAL skills and experience required.
  • Staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment.
  • Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information management systems.

Supervisory Responsibilities – Community Health Specialist

Key Working Relationships

Internal: Head of Programs, Deputy Project Director – Global Fund Malaria, ICT4D specialist, HMIS manager, MEAL team, Head of Operations, Finance Manager, Programs Team, Administration Team, Finance Team

External: Ministry of Health, West Africa Regional Office (CRS), implementing partners and other technical partners.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications

· Master's Degree in International Development, International Relations or in public health field required. Additional experience may substitute for some education.

· Minimum of 5 years experience in relevant field-based project management experience required, with preferably at least 2-3 years working in the area of health programming,

· Experience in managing moderately complex projects preferably with an international NGO.

Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff)

These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.

· Integrity

· Continuous Improvement & Innovation

· Builds Relationships

· Develops Talent

· Strategic Mindset

· Accountability & Stewardship

***Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. We welcome as a part of our staff people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need.

Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.

CRS' talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer

This vacancy is archived.

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