Closing Date: Thursday, 06 January 2011
Health Coordinator (Turkana)
Medical Emergency Relief International (Merlin)
Closing date: 06 Jan 2011
Location: Kenya
Job Description
Position: Health Coordinator Turkana
Location: Turkana, Kenya (Lodwar Town, Turkana District) with frequent travel to programme sites and Nairobi
Programmes: Integrated Primary Health Care (including Safe Motherhood), Nutrition, Sanitation, Hygiene Promotion and EP & R programmes in Turkana district
Responsible To: Turkana Project Coordinator
Start Date: ASAP
Duration: 12 Months
Salary: £25,350 to £26,100 per annum (dependant on relevant experience) inclusive of annual Cost of Living Allowance.
Benefits:Insurance cover, accommodation, R&R and annual leave entitlement of 24 days per annum rising to 30 days at the completion of 12 months of continuous employment with Merlin
Closing date for applications will be the 6th January 2011
Only short-listed applicants will be contacted. Due to the urgency of this position, applications will be shortlisted on a regular basis and we may offer this post before the closing date.
Please note: this is an unaccompanied position.
Merlin International Profile
Merlin specialises in health, saving lives in times of crisis and helping to rebuild shattered health services. Each year, Merlin helps more than 15 million people in up to 20 countries.
Context and Background
Merlin has been operational in East Africa since 1997 with programmes in Kenya since 1998 and Somalia since 2004. During this time Merlin has developed a strong reputation in the respective health sectors through its emergency response programming, provision of technical assistance and support to longer term health system strengthening. In Kenya Merlin currently operates in two regions - Nyanza Province in the Western Highlands and Turkana Province in the Arid and Semi Arid region of northern Kenya. Currently Merlin's programmes in Nyanza focus on the prevention and control of highly prevalent malaria, HIV/AIDS and TB. In Turkana, Merlin is responding to the humanitarian needs of pastoralist communities caught in the vicious cycle of drought, food insecurity and lack of access to essential health services.
Main purpose of the role
The PHC will be based in Lodwar town in Turkana district, will have overall responsibility for the techinical management of Merlin's integrared health, nutrition, sanitation, hygiene, emergency preparedness and response (EP&R) and safe motherhood projects in Turkana districts in collaboration with the Project Coordinator and Country Health Coordinator. The PHC will have overall responsibility for the management and development of Merlin health programmes in the district and ensures that the implementation of the projects are carried out in line with Kenya Ministry of Health policies and guidelines and Merlin's strategy, internal procedures and policies.
Overall Objectives (scope)
· Plan and implement Merlin's response to the present unmet health needs in Greater Turkana, in close collaboration with the PC and Country Health Coordinator, Merlin existing programme site teams, MoH and other actors
· Assist in the analysis of health / humanitarian contexts in Greater Turkana
· Establish mechanisms and strategies for providing response to further identified needs
· To lead in assessments and contribute to the development of the longer term Merlin strategy and programming in Greater Turkana
Responsibilities
Technical Programme Management/Development
· In collaboration with the Project Coordinator, be technically responsible for the implementation and further development of Merlin supported primary health and nutrition programmes in the Greater Turkana district.
· Develop and implement quality programmes in the district in close coordination and collaboration with the district health authorities.
· Co-ordination of all health related project activities in close collaboration with local partners and stakeholders to ensure objectives are achieved.
· Liaise with key representatives of the Kenyan Ministry of Health at national, provincial and district levels to ensure that the programme remains in line with national strategy and to ensure the sustainability of activities at the end of the project period.
· Develop, plan and implement project activities in close collaboration with medical and non medical personnel, ensuring coherence and integration of activities and contingencies for changes in project direction and priorities related to the humanitarian context.
· Ensure accurate collection and analysis of data. Compile epidemiological reports for inclusion in project situation reports and any other pertinent reports, including dissemination of the same.
· Regularly monitor progress of project implementation and conduct assessments of the health needs of the community and prioritize project activities based on findings.
· Together with the Project Coordinator responsible for encouraging community participation in health activities to ensure the long term ownership and effectiveness of the programme.
§ Ensure that the medical supply stocks are sufficient and that drugs are stored and used correctly.
§ Work with district health facilities, community representatives and persons responsible for training health workers at different levels to ensure close links between health facilities and communities.
§ Be the lead in emergency preparedness and response planning including design of mitigation, response and recovery interventions.
· Prepare monthly, quarterly, mid-term and final technical project reports for submission to the PC.
· Assist the Project Coordinator, Country Health Coordinator and senior management team at country level in designing new programmes including undertaking assessments, proposal and log-frame writing, and budget preparation.
· Deputise the Project Coordinator and perform any other duties assigned
Representation and Coordination:
· In liaision with the Project Coordinator, co-ordinate and represent Merlin with the provincial and district health authorities and ensure all project activities are carried out with their approval in line with national startegy and, as far as possible, their participation. Ensure that local health authorities receive regular activity reports.
· Contribute towards the dissemination of Merlin's health work through publications (general, health sector, academic) in consultation with Country Health Coordinator and health department.
· Co-ordination and representation with the MoH and other NGO's in the region to avoid project activity overlap whilst sufficiently addressing the full needs of the communities.
· In consultation and coordination with the Project Coordinator and Country Health Coordinator, liaise with relevant project donors over matters related to specific projects inclduing reports, amendements and extensions, funding for continuation of projects, as well as answering questions raised by donors.
Programme Support
· Provide technical support to all project team members and review all work plans for technical soundness.
· Assist Turkana Project Coordinator and Country Health Coordinator to establish systems and standards for regular assessment, monitoring and evaluation of the programme against its strategic aim, objective and expected output.
Staff Management / HR
· Assist with recruitment of technical project personnel.
· Support project personnel, with the aim of ensuring that individuals work effectively together to achieve project objectives.
· Responsible for organizing training of all health staff and local partner staff to ensure the maximum use of their skills and their full and effective participation in project activities whilst conforming to Merlin and MOH protocols.
· Ensure that staff are fully conversant with and trained in donor and Kenya health authorities guidelines, protocols and data collection forms.
· Conduct indcution in the field for new staff on Merlin health policy as well as project aims, objetives, and activities.
· Responsible for international staff health within the project areas including first aid provisions, medical evacuation and general monitoring of staff welfare with the CHC.
Other
· To respect all Merlin organisational and country specific policies, procedures and regulations.
· Carry out any other responsibilities as requested by the Project Coordinator or Country Health Coordinator
Person Specification
Essential
Qualifications, experience and competences
· A medical doctor or nurse with post graduate degree in health related field such as public health with substantial experience in managing health programmes in a developing country context.
· Previous experience in managing Primary Health Care and Nutrition programmes.
· Proven experience in project proposal development, logical framework and report writing
· Experience in budget management
· Experience of assessing evolving health needs quickly and calmly under pressure as required.
· Good computer skills to allow reporting and representation.
· Flexibility and relationship building skills.
· Ability to succesfuly work in a multi-cultral and diverse team
· Excellent communication skills, with good spoken and written English
· Ability to understand the cultural and political environment and to work well with local representatives and programme staff in a consultative and participatory approach.
· Proven problem solving and organisational skills
· Excellent management and capacity builidng skills to enable the motivation, encouragement, participation and development of team members
Desirable
· Experience in epidemiological analysis
· Previous experience within a humanitarian aid organisation
· Experience in the processes and techniques involved in developing and using appropriate IEC/BCC resources and materials.
· Experience of working in Kenya and knowledge of the Kenya context in an advantage
· Ability to reflect on from personal and programme performance and act upon lessons learnt.
· Willing to travel extensively and ability to work in dynamic work environments
· Understanding of security management necessary to live and work in insecure environments.
Data Protection
Please note, on submitting your application, you are agreeing to Merlin holding and using the information that you have given for the purposes of recruitment and employment - should an offer be made. Where required by donors funding requirements, some job offers are conditional on our ensuring that potential employees' names do not appear on counter terrorism lists generated by the United Nations, European Union or the United States. On submitting your application, you are agreeing to Merlin using the information that you have given for checking that your name does not appear on these lists.
How to apply
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 ”Health Coordinator, Kenya”
Reference Code: RW_8CNLH4-49
