Comitato Collaborazione Medica (CCM) Health Activities Coordinator Job in Isiolo County, Kenya

Vacancy: Health Activities Coordinator

CCM (Comitato Collaborazione Medica) is an Italian NGO operating in Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mali, Somalia, South Sudan and Uganda implementing a variety of health-related projects.

In January 2014, CCM shall start the implementation of a programme funded by the Italian Development Cooperation in Isiolo County, meant at improving health, hygiene and sanitation conditions of pastoralists groups and local communities. 

The health component of the project entails the provision of technical assistance and support to 15 health centres offering primary health care services in the area. 

The priority gaps to be filled include 

(i) health staffs’ poor competencies/skills, 

(ii) inadequate/exhausted medical equipment and supplies and 

(iii) lack of supervision. 

Further, community health education needs to be strengthened to promote a broader access to and utilization of available health services. 

The main project partner is the Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation County Office. 

The project is implemented in consortium with the Italian NGO LVIA, which holds the leadership of the partnership.

Closing date: 06/07/2014
 

Location: Isiolo County, Kenya (with quarterly missions in Nairobi and/or in other locations in Kenya for professional purposes)
 

Contract duration: 1 year (possible extension)
 

Start date: July 2014
 

Duties and Responsibilities of the Health Activities Coordinator
 

The Health Activities Coordinator will ensure a qualified technical assistance for the implementation of the project.
 

S/he will be responsible for the effective and timely planning, implementation and monitoring of health technical activities of the project, respecting any Ministry of Health guidelines and protocols;
 

S/he will ensure a close technical coordination with LVIA Project Manager and CCM Country Representative and Regional Health Advisor, with the aim of guaranteeing the full integration of the action in the framework of the programme and the respect of the guidelines and procedures envisaged by the Donor and by the MoU signed with LVIA (i.e. visibility, reporting, M&E, etc.);
 

Under the supervision of CCM Country Representative, s/he will recruit, manage and assess the performances of CCM personnel deployed on the project (including volunteers and consultants). S/he shall also guarantee their safety in the project area;
 

(S)he is responsible of the:

• management of CCM project budget, including the preparation of monthly cashbooks, the verification of budget follows-up, the formulation of the fund requests to the Head Office and the assistance to CCM Country Administration in the preparation of financial reports, in line with donor and LVIA/CCM’s MoU requirements;
• draft of quarterly project progress reports in line with donor and LVIA/CCM’s MoU requirements, including the collection and/or elaboration of all the necessary supporting documents (i.e. narrative and technical reports on specific activities, minutes, etc.);
• critical analysis of the experiences gained during the project, highlighting lessons learnt and best practices;
• timely Info-sharing with the project partner (LVIA) and CCM Country Representative on any change/problem about the project, that may compromise the respect of contractual bonds and/or the staff management and/or the presence and the good name of CCM in the country;
• In agreement with LVIA, the continuous and effective collaboration and partnership with local project partners (i.e. County Ministry of Health) throughout the project life.

S/he will participate to the analysis of health needs in the area of intervention and, when required, in other Kenyan locations, for the identification of possible actions and the elaboration of new projects proposals

In particular s/he will:

• Supervise the implementation and follow-up of a clinical needs assessment in the project area, close collaboration with the County Health Office and with the project health staff, in order to identify the main health needs in the catchment area;
• Manage the project health staff (2-3 Primary Health Care Supervisors and 155 Health Promoters), timely assessing their performances and providing technical advice to stimulate their improvement. When required, s/he will directly collaborate with the abovementioned PHC Supervisors, directly carrying out the supportive supervisions and providing technical assistance to the health staff employed in the 15 target health facilities;
• Draft/elaborate theoretical and on-the-job training programmes for the health staff (the modules will be carried out in collaboration with international experts, i.e. specialized medical doctors), to improve the quality of PHC service provision and provide technical assistance to the health staff employed in the 15 target health facilities;
• Coordinate the procurement and distribution of drugs and medical supplies for the 15 target health facilities;
• Supervise the organization of health and hygiene education/promotion sessions at health facilities and schools, in collaborations with concerned stakeholders (teachers, school/HF directors, Village Health Committees, etc.);
• In each target village, promote the creation of 15 Health Committees, responsible for the health surveillance and health promotion at community level, as well as to assess health facilities performances;
• Ensure the timely preparation and submission of narrative and technical activity reports to CCM Country Office in Nairobi, as envisaged by donor’s requirements and LVIA/CCM MoU;
• Define, based on the expected results and on the project IOVs, the M&E Framework, ensuring also the monthly collection of all relevant data.

Mandatory requirements:

• Relevant academic background (This is a mandatory requirement for all candidates):
• University degree in medicine or related field (Nursing Care, Midwifery, Pharmacy, Biology, etc.). Otherwise, University degree in Development Economics or related fields (Political Sciences, Development Cooperation, etc.) with a Master/Specialization in Public Health;
• At least 2 years of relevant work experience in the coordination/implementation of health projects in developing countries;
• Good knowledge of Project Cycle Management (including the identification/drafting of project proposals, the utilization of management and M&E tools, the revision/update of work plans and budget);
• Good communication and interpersonal skills with national and international stakeholders;
• Demonstrated ability to work in a multi-disciplinary teams;
• Demonstrated capacity to organize the work and to be focused on the achievement of expected results;
• Willingness to work under pressure and long hours, and ability to cope with strict deadlines and complex situations;
• Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office package;
• Fluency in both written and spoken English;
• Fluency in Italian (Italian nationality is a donor’s mandatory requirement).

Additional preferential requirements:

• Master/post graduate Degree in Tropical Medicine or related fields;
• Previous knowledge of the Kenyan contest, in particular related to the health sector;
• Previous experiences in the management of project financed by the Italian Development Cooperation;
• Previous experiences in the coordination of health activities;
• Previous experiences with INGOs.

How to apply
 

Please send to recruitment@ccm-italia.org the following documents (in English):

• motivation letter
• CV with references

Please indicate the vacancy reference in the email subject (health_activities_coordinator_kenya).
 

Applications will be reviewed as they are received. 

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

Closing date: 06 Jul 2014
 

For further information on the organization, please visit the website at www.ccm-italia.org.