Health Systems Advisor (National) at Medecins du Monde (MdM)

Medecins du Monde (MdM) is an international humanitarian organization whose mission is to provide medical care for the most vulnerable populations, the world over, including France. It seeks to stimulate voluntary commitment from doctors, other health care providers, and from those whose expertise in other fields is needed for its activities, to enlist all competent support required for the achievement of its projects, and to seek at all times to encourage close working relationships with populations in its care. MdM operating in Nigeria, Borno state since October 2016.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Health Systems Advisor (National)

Location: Abuja
Employment Type: Full-time

Main Responsibilities 

• The Health Systems Advisor will oversee and lead the strategies aimed at enhancing the capacity and functionality of the health system, and in the integration of community outreach activities.
• This role will focus on strengthening health services, improving health outcomes, and ensuring comprehensive outreach initiatives to vulnerable populations.
• The Advisor will work closely with Program Managers, the Ministry of Health (MoH), implementing partners, and other relevant stakeholders to ensure the sustainable delivery of quality health services.

Collaboration with MoH Health System:

• Coordinate the development of a capacity development plan in collaboration with the LGA Primary Healthcare Department (PHC), the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (SPHCDA), and align it with the Ministry of Health’s plan.
• Conduct comprehensive health system assessment, including a capacity gap analysis of health workers across the targeted LGAs.
• Support field teams in the Coordination with the State and Local Government Primary health care to develop health facility improvement plan in close collaboration with the Community Health Committee.
• Facilitate training programs for individuals drawn from various health cadres, including Nurses, Midwives, Community Health Extension Officers, and Community Health Influencers.
• Facilitate trainings and mentorship on administrative functions and management
• Monitor and report on the implementation of HSS activities, ensuring alignment with project goals and timelines.
• Liaise with the field team, SMOH and LGA primary health care for provision of essential Nutrition & Health supplies in Health facilities including data tools.
• Ensure monitoring mechanism are in place at field level to guarantee rational use of all medical equipment and stationaries in health facilities supported.
• Support the organization and management coordination meetings between key health stakeholders, line ministries, agencies, and the Ward Development Committee.
• Facilitate discussions during these meetings to address issues related to access, uptake, and barriers to providing quality health interventions.
• Provide technical support to medical supervisor of the health facilities for the development and review of facility plans to ensure gaps identified in health service delivery are addressed.
• In collaboration with programs managers, organize and facilitate training to the ward development committee.

Outreach Program Development & Partnership management:

• Design, and monitor community outreach activities to enhance health awareness, prevention, and access to essential health services in underserved and vulnerable communities 
• Support and monitor the partners and field team on implementation
• Lead the development of outreach strategies that integrate key messages on maternal and child health, immunization, nutrition, SRH, MHPSS, and GBV.
• Support collaboration with community leaders, local health workers, and volunteers to ensure effective outreach to targeted populations through door-to-door visits, group discussions, and community-based health education sessions.
• Ensure the delivery of IEC materials to communities and health facilities, and monitor their effectiveness in raising awareness and influencing behavior change.
• Assist in the institutionalization of community health programs such as the CHIPS (Community Health Influencers, Promoters, and Services) program in selected LGAs.
• Organize training for Community Health Influencers and Promoters service on identification and referrals of cases from community to health facility.

Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting:

• Support the field team and program managers in monthly monitoring and supervision plan for the LGA.
• Use specific supervision checklist during supervision visits and archive filled supervision checklists with summary report – every month.
• Organize and participate in joint supportive supervision visits to health facilities, conducted by the SMOH and other relevant line ministries.
• Document and report on the findings of supervision visits, including action plans to address any identified gaps.
• Support program team in engagement with facility staff and LGA health officials to ensure the timely submission of reports and data on health service delivery.
• Engage with the LGA M&E department on consolidation and reporting of data into the DHIS platform.
• Regular monitor the targeted health facilities, give feedback follow and report.
• Ensure any compliance and feedbacks are addressed.

Skills Required

• Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing, MBBS, Public Heath or other relevant qualifications;
• Minimum of three (3) years’ experience in primary health care program;
• Demonstrated experience and knowledge of primary health care and nutrition services in Nigeria;
• Previous role of supervisory level is an asset;
• Ability to engage and build effective working relationships at multiple levels with Ministry of Health personnel, implementing partners, NGOs and INGOs;
• Demonstrated ability to develop individual and institutional capacity;
• Fluency in local languages (Kanuri, Babur, Hausa) and English;
• An excellent report-writing skill is required including MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint;
• Fluent in written and spoken English and Hausa;
• Good communication and Interpersonal skills;
• Team management experience with similar programs;
• Ability to observe and to provide feedback on the activities;
• Ability to manage staff according to local culture and organization policies.

Personal Skills Required:

• Excellent organisational, training and coaching skills is required;
• Strong interpersonal and intercultural skills;
• Capacity to create relationships with the communities, government authorities, INGO and UN agencies.
• Able to prioritize; Be flexible;
• Ability to work under stressful situation;
• Has a good team spirit;
• Able to work and live in specific security context.
• Because of the emergency relief nature of MdM’s work, working hours may be irregular and employees are expected to be flexible in their approach to working hours under emergency conditions.

Background of the candidate:

• Sex: Indifferent
• Humanitarian experience: Yes  
• Nationality: Nigerian   
• Emergency experience:  Yes       
• Cultural experience: Yes
• Language:  English (Fluent)     

Computer skills: 

• Windows environment   
• Ms word: Yes  
• Ms Excel: Yes      
• Power point: Yes

  Others:

• Hausa: An asset   
• Kanuri: An asset    

Links:

• Hierarchical link: Medical Coordinator
• Collaboration: Other technical advisors, Grant Manager, Program Managers

Important Notice:

• Only successful applicants will be called for the next steps and are obligated to disclose any information about family member(s) currently in the employment with MDM-France in any location. 
• No monetary transactions, neither demands of favors in kind, nor other types of favoritism will be tolerated in the MDM recruitment process.
• MDM reserves the right to refuse hiring a candidate having benefitted from any such acts. All illicit demands may be pursued through the judicial system.
• MDM is an equal opportunity employer and encourages any Nigerian citizen to apply irrespective of race, gender, religion, creed, political affiliation.
• Dual Employment is considered gross misconduct and hence not acceptable.
• MDM reserves the right to cancel any step or whole of the recruitment process at any stage.
• MDM France takes this opportunity to thank all potential candidates for their application.
• Candidates are required to submit references upon application.

Salary
N500,000 – N750,000 Monthly.

Application Closing Date
21st January, 2025.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should send their CV to: recruitment.nigeria@medecinsdumonde.net using the job title as the subject of the mail.