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Analyst, Access Severe Malaria

In 2002, the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) began as the Clinton HIV/AIDS Initiative to address the HIV/AIDS crisis in the developing world and strengthen health systems there. Taking the lead from Governments and working with partners, CHAI works to improve markets for lifesaving medicines and diagnostics, lower the costs of treatments, and expand access to life-saving technologies — creating a sustainable model that can be owned and maintained by Governments.
In 2005, CHAI signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Malawi (GoM) to strengthen health systems in the most challenged districts, provide national support to HIV/AIDS drug pricing and programmatic work, support the pilot and scale-up of prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) initiatives, expand access to ART for children, strengthen the Malawi’s lab system, and scale-up an integrated nutrition programme for children. CHAI’s support to Malawi has expanded to include Human Resources for Health (HRH), Vaccines (pneumococcal and rotavirus), and Health Financing.
For more information, visit http://www.clintonhealthaccess.org
Background
Malaria remains a disease of major public health importance in Malawi. As of 2012, the incidence of malaria was at 385 per 1,000 population and the parasitaemia prevalence of malaria in under-five children was at 28%. In 2012, malaria accounted for 30% of outpatient visits. Severe malaria, if left untreated has a mortality rate of 100%, 40% of all deaths from severe malaria are children under the age of five.

Injectable Artesunate promises to revolutionise the treatment paradigm for severe malaria. It has proven to be safer and more efficacious than quinine. In August 2013, CHAI helped introduce injectable artesunate in Malawi through the revision of the countries National Malaria Guidelines. A broad-scale national roll-out is currently underway to introduce the injection at health facilities across the country. Ease of access allows lower level facilities in hard to reach areas the ability to treat severe malaria patients on site; therefore significantly reducing barriers to access and saving lives. Additionally, CHAI Malawi works across the malaria commodity universe from developing a strategy around inter-residual spraying (IRS), to understanding usage patterns around RDTs (Rapid Diagnostic Tests), ACTs (Artemisinin-based Combination Therapies) and other malaria treatments; to comprehensively map Malawi’s malaria resources and needs across a broad donor landscape.

Position Overview
The Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) seeks a Programme Analyst - Malaria to help the Government of Malawi (GoM) in addressing acute challenges around the long-term sustainable control and eventual elimination of malaria in Malawi in a resource-limited setting.
The Programme Analyst - Malaria will be based in Lilongwe, Malawi and will report to the Programme Manager of the Malaria Team within the Health Financing Cluster. He/she will provide critical support to the analytical needs of the Severe Malaria programme. The Programme Analyst - Malaria will also lead key areas of work that require in-depth forecasting, quantification and data analysis in evaluating optimal interventions to maximise the potential patient impact of National Malaria Control Program (NMCP) as its MoH counterpart. He/she will support the Programme Manager - Malaria in leading CHAI’s involvement with the National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP), including, but not limited to, the nationwide rollout of Injectable Artesunate, rolling out integrated community level interventions that target early childhood disease (pneumonia, diarrhoea and malaria), and more broadly furthering the development of public private partnerships in Malawi around vector control.
Responsibilities:
Working in close collaboration with MoH/NMCP, the Programme Analyst – Malaria will:
  • Work closely with the MoH and partners to forecast and quantify the need for injectable and rectal artesunate in Malawi;
  • Developing a roadmap for roll-out of Injectable Artesunate at the facility level;
  • Conduct comprehensive data analysis to produce concrete findings from the operational pilots to inform MoH and partners on optimal uptake of new products;
  • Design and implement monitoring and evaluation (M&E) systems to measure the impact of different malaria interventions;
  • Assist in the development of effective training programs, service and maintenance guidelines and data management tools for the NMCP;
  • Support partners in implementing enhancements in the supply chain to streamline procurement and delivery of malaria commodities;
  • Provide additional analytical support as needed to other programs such as HIV Systems, Family Planning and Access to Medicines; and
  • Provide regular reports to the Senior Programme Manager of Health Financing Cluster, Country Director and Global Teams on progress of activities.
Qualifications:

  • A minimum of a Bachelors’ degree (preferably in Business or Public Health) from a well-recognised, high-calibre institution;
  • A minimum of 2 years’ professional experience in a private or public sector setting (i.e. management consulting, finance) with increasing levels of responsibility and experience;
  • Strong analytical skills and advanced technical proficiency with MS Excel and PowerPoint (analytical skills and proficiency levels will be tested during recruiting process);
  • Demonstrated experience building and analysing quantitative models to inform decision-making, including experience developing or evaluating financial models;
  • Demonstrated ability to identify key trends from complex datasets and translate them into clear advice for decision makers;
  • Demonstrated ability to navigate political discussions objectively and diplomatically;
  • Natural ability to build strategic relationships and interact with individuals of different backgrounds;
  • Strategically minded, able to think creatively around long-term programme objectives and the detailed steps necessary to achieve these goals;
  • Demonstrated ability to multi-task, be effective in high-pressure situations and adapt to fast-paced and changing environments with a strong commitment to excellence, both internally and externally, and with limited-structural support;
  • Demonstrated ability to work independently on complex projects and solve challenging problems with limited structural or operational support;
  • Excellent organisational and problem solving skills;
  • Excellent verbal, visual and written communication skills; and
  • English language fluency, both written and verbal.

Advantages
  • Previous work experience in management consulting, finance and/or similar private sector enterprises and/or in economics and public sector financing;
  • Experience managing demanding work plans and tight budgets;
  • Experience developing training materials and/or reports for broad consumption;
  • Experience with supply chain and operations informatics;
  • Previous experience working in Malaria treatment or testing field in Africa or a similar context;
  • Knowledge of and/or experience with the Global Fund proposal development process and other donor funding mechanisms (e.g. DFID, Gates, IHP, SWAp, HIPC funds);
  • Knowledge, experience and interest in innovative financing approaches for developing countries;
  • Knowledge of computer programming languages proficiency such as Python and good facility with Microsoft Access or similar open source software;
  • Chichewa fluency, both written and verbal;
  • Experience working in developing countries, particularly in the health sector and in Sub-Saharan Africa; and
    • Experience with and/or interest in shaping national health policy decisions;
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