Organization: Ministry of Health – Malawi
Location: Malawi
Eligible Citizenship: Malawi
Application Code: M08-Int
Job Function: Communications, Partnership Development, Program / Project Management
Issue Area: Child Health, Maternal and Reproductive Health
About
The Ministry of Health’s Reproductive Health Directorate (RHD) works to coordinate the integration of Reproductive Health (RH) services at all levels, develop RH policies, strategies and guidelines, and guide RH implementation and monitoring and evaluation of RH services across Malawi. Within this, the Safe Motherhood Program works to strengthen the capacity of individuals, families, communities, civil society organizations and government to improve maternal and neonatal health through the interventions outlined in the Road Map for Accelerating the Reduction of Maternal and Neonatal Morbidity and Mortality. In pursuit of it’s objectives, the RHD collaborates closely with government and non-profit organizations.
One of its main partners is the Presidential Initiative on Maternal Health and Safe Motherhood (SMI), a country-wide initiative in the Ministry of Health that seeks to improve Malawi’s maternal health indicators by investing in infrastructure, expanding the professional health workforce, and mobilizing traditional authorities as agents of change.
Position Overview
The Partnership and Program Support Officer will be based in Lilongwe and has two core functions: (1) Enhancing the RHD’s capacity by providing programmatic, administrative and logistical support to RHD staff, and (2) facilitating collaboration and communication between the RHD and external partners and stakeholders.
Responsibilities
- Contribute to the design, planning, implementation and evaluation of national, district–level and local events organized by the RHD
- Draft proposals and reports for maternal health programs
- Provide administrative support for community based maternal health trainings
- Organize monthly meetings between RHD, SMI, and SMI’s implementing partners
- Manage membership lists, coordinate meeting preparations and correspondance with attending partners, and compile and circulate minutes for quarterly subcommittee meetings
- Assist Safe Motherhood officers on all other programmatic tasks as needed
- Support the adolescent and youth program in reviewing training materials, strategies and policies
- Contribute to community youth SRH programing
- Support the implementation of the youth SRH strategy (which will be finalized by June 2015)
- Provide support and assistance to the implementation of SMI activities when required
Required Skills and Experience
- Strong interpersonal skills
- The ability to build and nurture relationships in settings of political and cultural complexity
- Prior experience with event planning and logistics management
- Experience drafting external-facing documents, including concept notes, articles/blog posts and correspondence
- Ability to multi-task, manage multiple priorities, and take independent initiative
- Ability to report to several different supervisors/organizations simultaneously
- Experience with policy and program management
- Ability to communicate effectively with high ranking officials
- Ability to work flexibly, including handling an erratic schedule and/or location changes
Preferred Skills and Experience
- Experience designing and delivering training and events
- Experience working with the media
- Experience writing grant proposals and reports
- Experience, knowledge or background in reproductive health or maternal and child health
Fellowship Logistics
During the fellowship year, all fellows are provided with:
- A living stipend of $650/month
- Housing and utilities
- Health insurance
- A professional development grant of $600
- An award of $1500 upon successful completion of the fellowship year
- Travel costs covered to and from placement site, training and retreats
*Note: The living stipend and the completion award may be paid out in USD or local currency, as determined by the placement organization.
Living and Working in Malawi: Fellows are provided with housing and utilities during the fellowship year. Housing arrangements vary based on the placement organization and location within the country. Fellows at the MOH will be housed near the office in Lilongwe, an urban center and capital of Malawi.
