BIRCH Coordinator

This role was posted on June 21, 2024. Please note that we will review applications on a rolling basis.

The Role

At Last Mile Health, we make bold commitments that inspire innovation. Do you have experience with professional optimization in healthcare, or health systems design, or demonstrated years of experience with Global Fund financing?  If so, you may be our next Project Coordinator for the Building Integrated Readiness for Community Health (BIRCH) project in Malawi. 

As part of the technical assistance delivered under project BIRCH, the BIRCH Project Coordinator must provide technical assistance to the Community Health Services Section (CHSS) of the Ministry of Health  to carry out the following:

1. Prepare and facilitate stakeholder consultation meetings for the development of a detailed costed operational plan for implementation of the National community health strategy, covering at minimum the CHW activities in Global Fund grants to facilitate implementation of CHW investments funded by Global Fund grants.
2. Support MoH in the dissemination of the NCHF to relevant stakeholders – including implementing partners, civil society organizations
3. Support the MOH/CHSS to assess the Maturity of the Malawi Community Health System through a CH stakeholder engagement meeting
4. Support the MOH through the Reproductive Health Department (RHD)  and the Community Health Services Section (CHSS) to revise and update roles and selected standard operating procedures (SoPs) for community health workers (CHWs) in the country
5. Prepare and facilitate stakeholder consultation meetings including the Country Dialogue Workshop, ensuring all relevant stakeholders are informed about the meeting and representations, ensure documentation of the process and prepare a summary of discussions.
6. Coordinate with capacity building program  on Leadership skills for CHS officials together with other technical assistance providers supporting the MOH to minimize duplication
7. Support the MOH to respond to requests for clarification/revision from the Global Fund partners who will be engaged in the operationalisation of the CH implementation plan.
8. Support the MOH in preparing work plans, budgets and other relevant documents in preparation for the implementation of the operational plan
9. Facilitate the Country Dialogue Process  and dissemination of  information in a timely manner
10. Other support as needed by the MoH and Last Mile Health (LMH)

About the Building Integrated Readiness for Community Health (BIRCH) project

The Global Fund has launched the Building Integrated Readiness for Community Health (BIRCH) project, whose main goal is to provide Technical Assistance and strengthen community health programming in eleven countries, including Malawi between January to December 2023. Through project BIRCH, technical assistance will empower countries to enhance the design and effectiveness of existing and upcoming Global Fund investments in CHWs for pandemic preparedness, including investments through the Community Systems and Responses (CS&R) matching fund.

The Global Fund has contracted Last Mile Health to manage this stream of funding across all BIRCH countries. Last Mile Health is working with a consortium of organizations to provide technical assistance to 11 countries during the funding application process to advance community health priorities.  

This position is open to candidates located in Malawi and candidates must have authorization to work in Malawi.

Consultancy Details

• Project Duration: 6 months
• Total Estimated Fees Amount: $2,500- $3000 USD per month
• Location: Lilongwe, Malawi

Scope of Work

The consultant will be expected to undertake and be responsible for the following tasks:

1. Costed operational plan: This will be a comprehensive report as well as a PowerPoint presentation with 10-12 slides. The operational plan will be developed in consultation with the Ministry of Health (CHSS) and other community health GC7 recipients under community systems strengthening.  The consultant will be expected to submit and present these to LMH the Ministry of Health (CHSS) and the Global Fund Program Implementation Unit (PIU). All relevant documents and requirements for the process will be shared with LMH/ MoH.  The consultant will also be expected to submit any Meeting/workshop minutes contributing to the finalization of this deliverable.
2. Community Health Investments monitoring framework: Based on the operational plan developed above, the consultant will be expected to engage the implementing stakeholders in M&E sections to develop a monitoring framework for the same. Minutes for the various engagement platforms, together with the final framework will be consolidated by the consultant and submitted to LMH for approval processes.

From the developed monitoring framework, the consultant will take the lead in ensuring implementation of the same, through supportive supervision exercises; and review meetings at both the district and National levels. The consultant will be responsible for consolidating documentation surrounding these engagements at both levels as follows:

• Supportive supervision reports (Both at the district and National level)
• Review meeting reports (Both at district and National level)
• Activity reports

1. Annual Community Health Systems Maturity assessment: This will be preceded by a Community Health Technical Working Group meeting where stakeholders will be briefed on previous assessment reports and plans for the upcoming assessment.

The consultant will be expected to facilitate the TWG meeting as well as the annual assessment exercise making sure that relevant CH stakeholders are part of the process. Outcomes from this intervention will include:

• Powerpoint presentation of the 2023 Maturity assessment outcomes
• Annual maturity assessment report (2024)
• TWG meeting minutes

1. Updated Scope of Practices (SoPs) and Community Health Roles clarified: In collaboration with LMH Malawi, CHSS, Reproductive Health Department (RHD) and other relevant departments, the consultant will be expected to lead the process of revising and clarifying roles for community health workers in the country. The consultant will be expected to take the lead on consolidating all revisions for validation/ approval in formats as recommended by the Ministry of Health. Together with the consolidated versions, the consultant will also be responsible for drafting meeting minutes, workshop reports and all relevant documentation surrounding this process.

IMPLEMENTATION ARRANGEMENTS AND COORDINATION

The consultant will work under the oversight of the LMH Malawi Director of Programs and Ministry of Health, through the Community Health services section (CHSS). The consultant will be expected to coordinate with the Ministry of Health’s (MOH) Community Health Services Section (CHSS) in the execution of this assignment.  All deliverables will need to be reviewed and approved by the Director of Programs (LMH) and CHSS. The location of the consultancy is Lilongwe, Malawi.

The consultant will be seated within the CHSS office of the Ministry of Health (4 days a week- Tuesday to Friday) and 1 Day (Mondays) at LMH offices. 

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree in public health, health management, behavioral sciences, organization strengthening or equivalent or recognized and long experience in supporting the health sector
• Progressive years of professional experience related to optimization in health care, and design of health systems
• Demonstrated years of experience working with Global Fund financing, including experience working with civil society
• Detail-oriented and passionate about the cause of community health.
• A proactive and persuasive communicator with strong interpersonal skills and professional values.
• Excellent knowledge of the health context in Malawi.
• Good knowledge of issues related to pandemics and health systems strengthening, including community health systems strengthening
• Fluency in English with excellent writing, analytical, conceptual and communication skills; Persuasive and excellent report writing and presentation skills are a requisite.

Preferred Qualifications

• You have  experience implementing community health programs in Malawi
• You have Experience in the design, monitoring and evaluation of development projects
• You have Experience in community health advocacy

About Last Mile Health
Last Mile Health (LMH) saves lives in the world’s most remote communities by partnering with governments to bring critical primary care services to the doorsteps of people living in the last mile. LMH is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization and currently works in Ethiopia, Ghana, Liberia, Malawi, Ethiopia, Uganda, and Sierra Leone with US offices in Boston. For more information, visit www.lastmilehealth.org. We are an equal-opportunity employer and value diversity at LMH. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.