Job description
Identification
• Job title regional project officer, western africa
• Reporting to regional program manager, sll
• Programme saving lives and livelihoods initiative
• Duration one year
• Duty station Dakar, Senegal

Amref Health Africa was founded in 1957 and has since grown to become the largest African-based international health development organization; currently implementing more than 180 programmes, reaching more than 40 million people across 35 African countries; and a staff complement of over 2,000. Headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, Amref Health Africa has offices in ten countries in Africa – Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Guinea (Conakry), Kenya, Malawi, Senegal, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. An additional eleven advocacy and fundraising offices are located in Europe and North America.
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Amref Health Africa is driven by its vision of ‘Lasting health change in Africa’ and its mission ‘To catalyse and drive community-led and people-centred health systems while addressing social determinants of health’. We believe that the power to transform Africa’s health lies within its communities, and therefore strive to ensure that health systems are not only functional but that communities are empowered to hold these systems accountable for the delivery of quality and affordable health care.


About the Saving Lives and Livelihoods Programme
Global Health Security (GHS) seeks to build strong and resilient public health systems to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease threats, wherever they occur. The Amref GHS Unit in collaboration with Amref West Africa Office coordinated and strengthens capacity of health systems to reduce vulnerabilities to emerging and re-emerging disease threats for communities in sub-Saharan Africa. To address the increased threat to disease outbreaks, the programme is complementing the efforts of regional partners such as the Africa CDC, national players through the Ministries of Health and other strategic partners to protect lives and livelihoods of people in sub-Saharan Africa.
The Saving Lives and Livelihoods project is a joint programme between Africa CDC and the Master Card Foundation launched in June 2021 to save the lives and livelihoods of millions of people in Africa and hasten the economic recovery of the continent from COVID-19 pandemic. The USD 1.5 billion unprecedented partnership supported the COVID-19 vaccination of more than half of Africa’s target population, trained, equipped, and deployed 40,000 healthcare workers, created 25,000 additional jobs in the health sector, and expanded Africa’s genomic testing laboratories from 2 to 40. Mastercard Foundation and Africa CDC reviewed the program’s impact as a primary emergency response initiative and made a strategic shift on the Saving Lives and Livelihoods Program. Phase II will be a continuation of the commitments made under phase I. The next phase will primarily focus on pandemic preparedness and readiness through basic health and security, which enables broader community education. Additionally, the program is aimed at economic development, which includes activities related to education, capacitation, and/or financial inclusion of the health workforce, among others. This second Phase of the Saving Lives and Livelihoods Programme will primarily focus on strengthening Africa’s ability to respond to future pandemics through programmatic activities designed to build and protect the health workforce, as well as improving the lives and livelihoods of Africans.
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Amref Health Africa is amongst the key partners supporting COVID-19 vaccination in 22 countries in Eastern, Southern and western Africa. Under this programme, Amref along with other local implementing partners will be focusing on protecting Health Care Workers and Pandemic Preparedness while supporting integration of COVID-19 Management into Routine Immunization.



Job summary
The Regional Project Officer will provide planning, coordination and technical support to countries implementing SLL in the Western Africa hub for quality execution of project activities as per Ministry of Health COVID-19 vaccination priorities and monitor the achievement of project deliverables as per the overall Project’s objectives. The role will be based in West Africa.


Primary duties & responsibilities
Key area activities
• Program Planning and Implementation Oversight (40%) Support the development and implementation of West Countries’ SLL implementation plans.
• Ensure that the Countries’ implementation plans are closely monitored and reviewed periodically.
• Ensure quality implementation and performance of all projects.
• Work closely with the Regional Programme Managers and Country Managers for follow through of recommendations made during weekly review sessions.
• Provide technical input in the growth of the GHS program portfolio and overall management of health initiatives in the Unit.
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Key area activities
Technical Program Support (30%)
• Provide technical support to country teams in development and review of project documents such as budgets, workplans and M&E plans.
• Provide technical support to strengthen the capacity of country teams to align with MOH priorities and enhance COVID-19 vaccine deployment in the respective countries.
• Support development of technical briefs for GHS Unit.
• Identify promising practices and models for follow through and incubation.
Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting (20%)
• Organize and Lead periodic program review meetings (Monthly, Quarterly and Annual Program Review meetings).
• Participate in weekly review sessions with the countries and flag any issues that need management attention in a timely manner.
• Work closely with the GHS M&E team for timely compilation of technical reports on a weekly, monthly, quarterly, biannual, annual basis observing donor-specific deadlines and requirements in compliance with relevant Amref policies and regulations.
Knowledge Management and Learning (10%)
• Leading research work including documentation, dissemination and publications of project innovations and impact stories.
• Convene periodic cross learning platforms and forums for the SLL program.


Required qualifications
Education and Knowledge
• Bachelor’s degree in Public Health or related field
• Master’s Degree is an added advantage.

Required Qualifications and Experience
• Six (6) years relevant work experience in management of national/regional health programs;
• Solid experience leading diverse teams and preferably regional teams;
• Demonstrated experience of contributing to national/international public health emergency discourse to influence public health programming;
• Experience and strong reputation working with or liaising with Ministries of Health would be an advantage;
• Demonstrated leadership showing strategic thinking in design and execution of projects, including steering work planning, managing and mentoring colleagues, and overseeing compliant and cost-effective use of resources to deliver on objectives.


Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
• Knowledge of current issues in UHC, Public Health emergencies and GHS;
• Project management skills;
• Strong skills in process facilitation and stakeholder management across diverse groups, including government and development partners;
• Strong interpersonal skills and experience working with cross-cultural teams,
• Fluency in English, including excellent written and verbal communication skills;
• Report writing and presentation skills.


Languages
Fluency in spoken and written English and French.