Country Director – Burkina Faso

About the Programme

Since 2009, MSI Burkina Faso (MS BF), a branch of MSI Reproductive Choices (MSI), has provided voluntary family planning (FP) information and services across Burkina Faso, with a focus on high-quality long-acting and permanent methods (LAPM), to increase method choice and complement existing access and availability to short term methods.

Over the last 5 years MSI BF has reached over 1,108,713 million women, men, adolescents, and young people with high quality, client-centered voluntary FP services. In 2023 alone, MSI Burkina Faso served over 310,024 thousand voluntary FP clients, generated over 504,145 thousand FP couple-years of protection (CYPs), averting an estimated 197,092 thousand unintended pregnancies and 328 maternal deaths. We estimate that more than 20% of the total demand for FP in Burkina Faso in 2023 was satisfied by services supported by MS BF, contributing to an increase in the modern contraceptive prevalence rate.

MSI BF’s programming is specifically designed to meet the needs of the most vulnerable groups, with a focus on adolescents, those living in poverty, those without alternative access to care, and other marginalized groups, such as people with disability, and survivors of gender-based violence. In 2023, 19 % of MS BF’s clients were under 20 years old; 46 % under 25 % were living in poverty and 45 % were adopters of FP according to 2023 client exit interview data.

MSI BF differentiates itself from others in the sector through our: client-centred care; clinical expertise; focus on service delivery at scale; use of evidence to constantly improve; and our emphasis on ensuring last-mile voluntary contraceptive access, beyond the reach of existing health infrastructure

As a service delivery organization MSI BF is well placed to gain community, facility, and client-level insights on what works for those with the greatest need.

We currently operate three centres of excellence, located in Ouagadougou, Bobo Dioulasso and Koudougou, 9 mobiles outreach teams serving remote rural populations in partnership with government providers, 23 MS Ladies providing voluntary FP and sensitization activities in the urban and peri-urban area of Ouagadougou, Bobo, Koudougou, some of them specializing in reaching adolescents in schools and Universities and provide support to over 140 public sector facilities, through our proven health systems strengthening program. MSI BF also engages a network of community-based mobilisers and peer educators to raise awareness of services. They provide SRH information using various strategies such as community talks, focus groups, and health talks in secondary and tertiary institutions, and are equipped with sensitisation tools and inclusive FP job aids.

All service delivery channels are supported by MSI BF’s toll-free 3005 contact centre hotline for clients, which provides information on voluntary FP services, follow up care for clients and referrals for voluntary FP.

About the Role

The Country Director, Burkina Faso, is responsible for delivering results for women and their families, driving programmatic excellence, and implementing best practice at scale in Burkina Faso. They provide high quality services where they are needed the most, and their work directly contributes to preventing maternal deaths and making a sustainable impact on the lives of thousands of people every year. The CD is also responsible for ensuring Burkina Faso’s social business model has a strong footing on both the social and business side.

The Country Director, Burkina Faso is a key leadership position. The CD represents the organisation in Burkina Faso and is responsible for the overall strategy, management (programmatic, financial, and administrative), and development of Burkina Faso’s national family planning and SRH programmes. CD is leading skilled, professional country teams to deliver life-saving services through clinical centre, mobile outreach teams, MS Ladies, public sector support, and social marketing.

In addition, CD is responsible for preparing and executing annual budgets, marketing plans and work plans; developing new business opportunities; overseeing financial, administrative, and logistical resources; ensuring adherence to MSI minimum standards; and assuring quality operations in line with annual and long-term strategic goals and objectives. The Country Director manages for results, valuing and rewarding high performance, accountability, speed and efficiency and innovation, while keeping the client at the heart of everything we do.

The Country Director is Burkina Faso’s senior representative in the country of assignment. Reporting to Africa Regional Office of MSI, MSI Burkina Faso is an implementing partner of the MoH, with whom MSI Burkina Faso works closely across all its projects and service delivery channels partnering at national, provincial, district and facility level. They work closely with government to overcome barriers that prevent women and men from accessing safe, affordable, reliable family planning and other sexual and reproductive health services

About You

We recruit talented, dynamic people with diverse backgrounds and experiences, all united by a belief in our mission and a focus on delivering measurable results. We’re proud to be an equal opportunities employer and are committed to creating a fully inclusive workplace, where everyone feels able to participate and contribute meaningfully. You must be open-minded, curious, resilient, and solutions-oriented, and committed to promoting equality, and safeguarding the welfare of team members and clients alike.

To perform this role, it is essential that you have the following skills:

• Proven experience of driving impact, quality and sustainability in programmes and improving operational standards
• Effective interpersonal skills, with the ability to lead, motivate and guide Country Programmes. Proven ability to effectively communicate ideas, proposals, issues, and implications at senior level.
• Excellent project management skills related to organisational development projects and international, cross- functional teams with a proven history of delivering results.
• Highly developed problem solving, diplomatic, networking and negotiation skills.
• Demonstration of ‘making things happen’, operating at pace and delivering effectively through others.
• High capability on change management within fast-paced environment
• Fluent French oral and written communication skills.

To perform in this role, it is essential that you have the following experience:

• Experience of developing and successfully implementing business plans and growth strategies, with a track record of aligning resources with key priorities, keeping management teams focused on critical milestones and consistently achieving results.
• Experience of communicating a range of complex issues with the ability to convey an inspiring vision and purpose both within operations and where appropriate across other business functions.
• An understanding of major policies/ issues of large bilateral/multilateral donors strong working knowledge of business practices
• An international mind-set, with an understanding of, and empathy for, the development sector, together with an appreciation for cultural differences
• Experience in leading a social business preferably in a developing country.
• Experience of formulating and controlling budgets to ensure effective monitoring takes place.
• Understanding of the issues surrounding provision of reproductive health care services internationally
• A reputation for ‘making things happen’, operating at pace and delivering effectively through others.

Personal Attributes:

We seek exceptional individuals who are aligned to MSI’s mission and entrepreneurial mindset. You must be a strong communicator, self-motivated and solutions-seeking, committed to driving social change in an environment that measures sustainable results and impact at an individual and global level. You must be able to work effectively with and across diverse teams and be comfortable with ambiguity.

For this role, we’re looking for an individual who is:

• Energy, drive and unwavering commitment for MSI’s mission, with the ability to push boundaries, and make tough decisions and challenge others in line with our mission.
• Passionate about our clients and strives to consistently meet and exceed expectations, putting the clients at the centre of everything, and ensuring we deliver high quality, high impact services that meet their individual needs.
• Highly motivated with the ability to motivate and develop the skills of the team and inspire individuals and teams through situational leadership and by providing clear direction.
• Works as part of a team, providing support and flexibility to colleagues, demonstrating fairness, understanding and respect for all people and cultures.
• Ability to influence key stakeholders at all levels both internally and externally within the organisation. Acts as a true MSI ambassador.
• A commercial mind-set, understanding the levers for profitability for success within the marketplace. Focuses on results, ensuring long term sustainability and increased impact.
• Takes accountability for the decisions made and the behaviours demonstrated.
• Aware of the emerging developments within our sector, with the ability to focus and articulate a vision of the future which inspires and excites others, while understanding the detail and looking for the evidence
• Highest levels of integrity, and a strong ethical sense
• Knowledge and experience of the region
• Ability to travel throughout Africa and internationally to represent the cluster both internally and externally.

Location: Burkina Faso.

Full-time: 40 hours a week, Monday to Friday.

Contract type: 3-year fixed term appointment.

Salary: Competitive Salary + Bonus + Benefits

Salary band: BG 11

Please see job description

Closing date: 30th April 2024 (GMT+1)

For internal employees applying from an MSI country programme, the role will be positioned within the existing salary structure of the country. Local terms and conditions of the country will apply.