Health System Strengthening (HSS) Country-Lead

RTI International is an international, independent not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving the human condition by turning knowledge into practice. With a worldwide staff of more than 4,000 people, RTI offers innovative research and development and a full spectrum of multidisciplinary services that meet the highest standards of professional performance.

Act to End Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) | East, shortly referred to as Act|East, is a five-year (2018- 2023)   cooperative agreement through which RTI supports national neglected tropical disease (NTD) programs to reach WHO NTD control and elimination goals through proven, cost-effective public health interventions which span the regions of Oromia, Tigray, Beneshangul-Gumuz and Gambella. The project funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) helps national NTD control programs for the control and elimination of five targeted NTDs: lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis, schistosomiasis, soil-transmitted helminths, and trachoma.

Position Summary:

The health systems strengthening (HSS) Country-Lead is responsible to support the Act | East program in its efforts to strengthen health systems that respond to the NTD needs of the Ethiopia program. The HSS Country-Lead provides cross cutting HSS technical leadership and networking to support achievement of the HSS priorities of the Ethiopian MOH, the goals outlined in the Sustainability Action Plan for NTD Control, Elimination and Eradication 2021-2025, and the 3rd NTD Strategic Plan. The HSS Country-Lead will report to the Act | East Ethiopia DCOP-Programs & COP and liaise with the headquarters (HQ) Act | East HSS team for technical guidance. The position requires in-country and international travel.

Responsibilities:

• Lead in-country efforts to mainstream NTD activities into national, regional, and district-level health systems.
• Leverage professional understanding, experience, and relationships to partner with national, regional and district-level MOH stakeholders and other public and private sector stakeholders.
• In collaboration with the Act | East HQ and in-country teams, the HSS Country-Lead will work with MOH to:
  • design strategies for incorporation of reasonably funded NTD activities in annual plans and budgets,
  • develop NTD domestic resource mobilization strategies,
  • clearly designate responsibilities for NTD control and morbidity management within the existing workforce and job descriptions,
  • monitor and support effective integrated supply chain management for NTDs,
  • ensure NTD data use for program enhancement by leveraging national and regional platforms,
  • support national policies and strategies to integrate and mainstream essential NTD activities,
  • integrate gender equity and social inclusion (GESI) perspective into NTD and other related plans and activities,
  • embed sustainability into disease specific elimination and control plans and activities, and
  • coordinate NTD interventions across sectors.
• Support implementation of mainstreaming activities, including participatory planning activities, fiscal gap and space analysis, accountability and stakeholder mapping, advocacy and policy development, and relevant activities under fixed amount awards (FAAs).
• In close collaboration with Act | East HQ and in-country teams, use sustainability plans to develop and implement strategies and activities that support NTD control program ambitions for sustainability at national and subnational levels.
• In collaboration with Act | East HQ and/or other resource persons, leverage non-NTD sectoral platforms to support sustained MDA coverage and disease surveillance and coordinate support for advocacy activities with civil society and the NTD control program.

Minimum Required Education & Experience

• A Master’s degree in public health, international development, public policy, or related field. Master’s degree and 10 years of experience or bachelor’s degree and 12 years of experience.
• Minimum of 6 years global and/or in‐country experience in implementation of health systems strengthening programs and/or policy reform preferably addressing cross-sector issues.
• Demonstrated experience in implementing robust HSS programs in developing country context, with technical expertise in at least two or more of the following areas: advocacy & policy reform, health care financing, information systems, and workforce alignment.
• Demonstrated experience implementing health systems programs that incorporate non‐health sector and/or multi‐health sector programs.
• Neglected Tropical Disease experience desired, but not required.

Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrated capacity to operate within the HSS community and function as a technical lead/advisor on diverse matters related to HSS in developing countries.
• Demonstrated management, leadership, networking, decision making, and interpersonal skills.
• Full professional proficiency in Amharic and English with excellent oral and written communications skills. Working knowledge of other Ethiopian language is a plus.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Demonstrated ability to create and maintain effective working relations with senior Government personnel, international organizations, NGO partners, host country governments, and U.S. Government Agencies.
• Willingness and ability to travel internationally and domestically, as required, up to 30% of time.