New GHFP Position Available: Population and Reproductive Health Advisor
New GHFP Position Available: Population and Reproductive Health Advisor (Washington, DC)
Global Health Fellows Program
Technical Advisor II: Population and Reproductive Health Advisor Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean, United States Agency for International Development
Location: Washington, DC
Assignment: Two year fellowship
GHFP-11-212
The Global Health Fellows Program (GHFP) is a five-year cooperative agreement implemented and managed by the Public Health Institute (PHI) in partnership with the Harvard School of Public Health, Management Systems International and the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. GHFP is supported by the US Agency for International Development (USAID).
The goal of GHFP is to improve the effectiveness of USAID Population, Health and Nutrition programs by developing and increasing capacity of health professionals in Washington, DC and overseas. This is accomplished through the recruitment, placement and support of junior, mid and senior level health professionals; a diversity initiative focused on providing internship and mentoring opportunities in international public health to underrepresented communities; and professional and organizational development activities to bolster USAID’s ability to maximize results and strengthen its leadership role in global health.
BACKGROUND
USAID has provided assistance to launch, expand, manage, and sustain family planning programs in developing countries since 1965. USAID’s Family Planning program is among the Agency’s greatest contributions to health and development work worldwide. Voluntary family planning has profound health, economic, and social benefits for families and communities:
* Enabling couples to determine whether, when, and how often to have children, in accordance with their abilities to provide for them
* Protecting the health of women by reducing high-risk pregnancies
* Protecting the health of children by allowing sufficient time between pregnancies
* Fighting HIV/AIDS through providing information, counseling, and access to male and female condoms
* Reducing abortions
* Supporting women’s rights and opportunities for education, employment, and full participation in society
* Protecting the environment by stabilizing population growth
To advance voluntary family planning as a part of its development assistance, USAID provides intellectual leadership and financing for activities that:
* Improve the quality of health care services delivered to women and couples by setting standards, training personnel, and strengthening management systems
* Provide clear and understandable information to clients and patients in formats that are culturally appropriate
* Help women and men advocate for policies to ensure the availability of a choice of family planning methods irrespective of people’s income level
* Assist government and nongovernmental organizations in building the health systems required to make modern family planning widely available, including acquisition of supplies; supply chain logistics; human resources management (including pre- and in-service training); financing through the public and private sectors; and policy and administration
USAID conducts its family planning programs in strict compliance with a set of rules that ensure adherence to Congressional mandates and Agency guidelines.
INTRODUCTION
The Population and Reproductive Health Advisor (the Advisor) will oversee USAID’s family planning and reproductive health (FP/RH) programming in the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region. USAID’s FP/RH work aims to improve the access, quality, efficiency, and sustainability of host countries’ family planning and reproductive health programs. The Advisor will provide technical and policy support to USAID’s bilateral FP/RH programs in the region, work to foster effective cross-country collaboration, and carry out the day-to-day management of regional FP programs based in the LAC Bureau’s Office of Regional Sustainable Development (RSD). The Advisor will be a member of the LAC/RSD Health Team and will receive programmatic guidance by the Health Team Leader. S/he will work in consultation with the team’s Senior Advisor on Family Planning and HIV/AIDS. S/he will coordinate closely with the Bureau for Global Health in planning and carrying out his/her work. In addition, s/he will work with a range of external organizations, including USG agencies, nongovernmental organizations, private firms, and international donors.
S/he will have a broad understanding of USAID’s family planning and reproductive health programs throughout the LAC region and how they are related to other health programs, reflecting the Agency’s commitment to improve the integration of primary health care services.
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The Population and Reproductive Health Advisor plays a key role in the design and evaluation of the LAC Bureau’s Family Planning programs and LAC Bureau-managed grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts associated with family planning. Specifically, the Advisor will:
Technical Assistance
* Assist USAID Missions through provision of technical and policy guidance, consultation on and review of strategies, program designs, operational plans, and reporting documents related to FP/RH
* As a member of a technical team, develop, assess and make recommendations on plans for graduating countries from USAID family planning support
* Provide guidance to USAID Missions regarding the Agency’s family planning compliance requirements and serve as the LAC Bureau’s representative to the USAID inter-Bureau Family Planning Compliance committee
* Develop scopes of work for technical assistance teams to support USAID and national governments as well as coordinating with short- and medium-term assessment/capacity building teams from USAID, other USG agencies, international organizations (e.g., UNFPA), and other donors
* Maintain current knowledge of and contribute to the state-of-the-art in issues related to prevention of unintended pregnancy, cultural and behavioral aspects of family planning programming, best approaches to systems strengthening, and lessons learned from ongoing programs
* Prepare and deliver presentations and other materials for colleagues, Bureau and Agency leaders, contractors, and other partners
* Participate as a member of the FP Graduation Working Group and in the Reproductive Health Supplies Coalition, especially for matters related to the LAC region
Strategic Planning and Program Management
* Collaborate with LAC/RSD Health team colleagues to produce strategic planning documents for the LAC regional health program
* Identify opportunities for USAID assistance at the country and regional level, and assist in developing strategic approaches to supporting family planning in the Americas
* Develop a USAID/Washington-based program with graduating and graduated countries to provide limited post-graduation monitoring and support
* Assist with overall management of the LAC portfolio and work in close cooperation with the LAC Contracting or Agreement Officer’s Technical Representatives, as needed
* Assist in developing and evaluating programs/activities, serve as a regional technical advisor, and function as a liaison between the LAC Bureau and Global Health Bureau
USG and International Coordination
* Serve as the family planning representative with USAID Missions in the LAC region. Provide regular updates to the Missions on key FP activities, assist in coordinating travel, reporting, and technical assistance activities in the host countries related specifically to FP
* Represent LAC Bureau and Missions at Global Health Bureau Office of Population and Reproductive Health meetings, and other technical, planning, and administrative meetings
* Travel to target countries to support USAID Mission activities in these countries
* Participate in interagency coordination and dialogue among USG agencies, and develop briefing memos and talking points for USAID and other USG officials as needed
* Work with USAID’s Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance to address FP/RH health issues in disasters, as needed
* Attend regional and US-based meetings on FP/RH
* Coordinate with other international organizations, donors, and USG agencies (e.g., Departments of State, and Health and Human Services) that are supporting country and regional activities in the Americas
Analysis and Reporting
* Analyze assessments of current host country capacities as well as inputs from other donors, USG agencies, international organizations, etc., to inform programs to strengthen contraceptive security and other FP/RH matters
* Analyze trends and new developments related to FP in the region, and keep abreast of relevant events in other regions
* Maintain briefs and reports on FP/RH activities and plans by other USG agencies and international organizations, and records of related meetings
* Perform reporting as required for monitoring foreign assistance and for day-to-day requests
Other tasks or responsibilities may be assigned based on (a) organizational and programming need and/or (b) the Advisor’s own interests.
REQUIRED SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE
* Master’s degree in public health, international development, or related field
* Minimum five years’ progressively responsible experience that includes project management with an emphasis on strategic planning and program monitoring and implementation. At least two years’ experience working in a developing country or resource challenged setting, preferably with an emphasis on family planning and reproductive health
* Experience in the design, implementation, and coordination of international public health programs
* Ability to learn about, understand, and work effectively with private sector organizations, and with the appropriate parts of the UN system and the USG
* Demonstrated flexibility and openness in responding to changing work priorities and environment
* High level of judgment, maturity, ingenuity and originality to develop strategies, and to analyze, develop, monitor, and evaluate program implementation
* Ability to interact with subject matter experts and to rapidly acquire an understanding of the cultures and needs of the different organizations within which they work
* Excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills, as well as analytical and quantitative skills
* Ability to work effectively with host country counterparts, cooperating agencies, and donor organizations
* Ability to work effectively both independently and in diverse team environments
* Willingness to travel extensively to developing countries where USAID works, as necessary
* Ability to speak/write and make presentations in both Spanish and English. Ability to speak French a plus
* US Citizenship
SALARY AND BENEFITS
Salary will be based on commensurate experience and earnings history. The Public Health Institute offers a comprehensive benefits package including professional development programs http://www.ghfp.net/docs/2011_Benefits_Booklet_GHFP.pdf
TO APPLY
All applicants are required to apply for this position through GHFP’s online recruitment system at https://www.ghfp.net/recruitment/, which allows you to store your CV, profile and bio data form in our database. A separate cover letter describing your qualifications and experience, interest and familiarity with issues relating to this position, and how this position relates to your career goals is required for each application. All online applications must be submitted by 5:00 pm Eastern Time July 18, 2011.
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