Insecticide Treated Nets (ITN) Specialist, Multiple positions

The Insecticide Treated Nets (ITN) Specialist shall work for the RBM Country/Regional Support Partner Committee (CRSPC) to provide technical support and guidance to national malaria control programmes in optimizing the quality and effectiveness of country and regional programming of malaria including developing plans, conducting reviews, providing ongoing technical support in programme implementation, addressing bottlenecks, resource mobilisation and advocacy.

Strategy, planning and implementation technical assistance

• Provide technical inputs to the definition of the campaign strategy, including microplanning approach, allocation of ITNs to households and household identification, methods for ITN distribution and digitalized components

• Provide technical inputs to the development of the plan of action (based on the defined strategy), timeline of activities and macro budget for mass distribution of ITNs including: roles and responsibilities of campaign partners; quantification of human resources and materials required; identification of specific issues related to multi-product and digitalized campaigns; adjustments and modifications for the security context

• Facilitate the discussions related to digitalization of campaign processes with a focus on improving effectiveness, efficiency and overall campaign outcomes 

• Assist with developing the timeline of activities and budget for mass distribution of LLINs

• Provide guidance in the development or modification of tools for campaign implementation, such as training guides, data collection forms, training simulation exercises, supervision and monitoring checklists, etc. 

• Facilitate the discussions about strategies to ensure 100% of targeted households are reached, including mapping and registration team planning, independent monitoring of household registration and/or ITN distribution and in or end process evaluations

• Provides technical inputs to the development of materials for microplanning for all levels of activity and/or implementation of the microplanning workshops for operational planning and budgeting, as well as consolidation of the data 

• Support the implementation of activities during key phases (e.g. training, household registration, ITN distribution)

• Give guidance during post-campaign review meetings, including development of tools for collection of information from decentralized levels, to provide final inputs to national malaria programmes and partners for reporting

Logistics and in-country supply chain management technical assistance

• Provide technical input to the definition of the logistics and supply chain management strategy: warehousing, transport and security of ITNs and overall supply chain management

• Provide technical input during the development of the logistics plan of action, timeline and budget, as well as supporting documents: roles and responsibilities of campaign partners, quantification of macro storage and transport requirements, human resources, and methods for ITN distribution, waste management and reverse logistics; identify specific issues related to digitalization, multi-product campaigns and security in the macroplanning

• Provide technical input during the development of the logistics timeline and budget, as well as the risk assessment and mitigation plan

• Facilitate discussions related to digitalization of logistics processes with a focus on improving effectiveness, efficiency and overall supply chain management outcomes 

• Review  final logistics tools for campaign implementation, such as training guides, logistics tracking tools, training simulation exercises, standard operating procedures, supervision and monitoring checklists, etc. 

• Gude in identification of strategies to ensure optimal ITN accountability, including standard operating procedures for warehouse and transport management, planning and tools for spot checks and ITN reconciliation for each stage of the campaign and each level of the supply chain

• Provide technical input during the development of materials for microplanning for all levels of activity and/or implementation of the microplanning workshops for operational planning and budgeting, as well as consolidation of the data 

• Provide technical input during development of feasible waste management plans and budget aligned to the infrastructure/context of the country 

• Provide technical input during the development of materials and/or implementation of commodity management assessments, including in-country training and oversight during data collection, analysis and reporting 

• Provide guidance during the implementation of activities during key phases (e.g. ITN reception, logistics training, warehouse assessments, ITN transport, ITN distribution, ITN reconciliation/reverse logistics, waste management)

• Support independent process evaluations of campaign implementation to provide external feedback to national malaria programmes and partners

• Provide guidance during post-campaign review meetings, including development of tools for collection of information from decentralized levels, to provide final inputs to national malaria programmes and partners for reporting

Social and behaviour change (SBC) technical assistance

• Provide technical input during the development and write up of the comprehensive SBC plan of action (including advocacy, social mobilization and social and behaviour change communication [SBCC]), timeline, and budget for pre-distribution, distribution and post-distribution phases; set SBC objectives with clear and measurable indicators that can be considered during monitoring and evaluation, identify specific issues related to multi-product campaigns, digitalization and security in the macroplanning

• Provide technical input during the development of key messages for advocacy, social mobilisation and SBCC activities for all phases of the campaign, including household registration, ITN distribution, and promoting the acceptable use, care, maintenance and/or disposal of expired nets, as well as the disposal of net packaging

• Provide technical input during the development of social mobilization strategies and other appropriate communication approaches including the use of mass media for target groups with different communication requirements, as well as the development of advocacy and engagement packages for specific audiences

• Provide technical input during the development of SBC tools and materials for all SBC activities that are defined in the SBC plan of actionReview fina communication modules in a campaign’s training manual for Training of Trainers and of teaching and learning tools for training of supervisors, monitors, and implementers at regional and local levels.

• Provide technical input during the development of the templates and materials (agendas, guides for filling and cleaning the microplans, etc.) required for SBC microplanning, including supporting national malaria programmes to identify digital options for microplanning

• Provide technical input during the development of the rumour management plan aligned to the context and risks in the areas targeted for the ITN distribution

• Facilitate discussions related to digitalization of SBC processes with a focus on improving effectiveness, efficiency and overall SBC outcomes 

• Guide in the identification of gaps in SBC planning or resources for high quality execution of the campaign for follow up

• Provide guidance during post-campaign review meetings, including development of tools for collection of information from decentralized levels, to provide final inputs to national malaria programmes and partners for reporting

Monitoring and evaluation

• Provide technical input during development of the M&E framework, including key indicators based on the technical, logistics and SBC strategies defined for the campaign 

• Provide technical input during the development of the monitoring and evaluation plan (either standalone or as part of the global campaign plan), timeline of activities and macro budget including: roles and responsibilities of campaign partners; quantification of human resources and materials required; identification of specific issues related to multi-product and digitalized campaigns; adjustments and modifications for the security context

• Provide technical input during the development of protocols and questionnaires for in process, end process, independent or rapid monitoring or post-campaign evaluation

• Review final data collection forms, training simulation exercises, supervision and monitoring checklists, etc.

• Guide in the use of the database for the household registration and ITN distribution, including troubleshooting over initial days of data entry to ensure that the key information can be extracted daily for programmatic actions 

• Support discussions related to digitalization of M&E processes with a focus on improving effectiveness, efficiency and overall campaign outcomes 

• Participate in independent process evaluations of campaign implementation to provide external feedback to national malaria program  and partners

• Participate in wrap up meetings following campaign implementation to provide final inputs to the national malaria program  and partners for final reporting

• Advanced university (master’s) degree desired, preferably in public health or social science or related field.
• A Bachelor’s degree may be considered with two additional years of experience.

Work Experience 

Essential:

• Minimum 5 years (or more, based on educational credentials) of professional experience working on mass LLIN distribution campaigns, mass vaccination campaigns, or other large-scale health commodity delivery operations 

Within the above 5 years, a minimum of 3 years of experience in at least one of the core LLIN campaign areas:

• Strategy, planning and implementation assistance

• Logistics and in-country supply chain management

• Social and behaviour change communication

• Monitoring and evaluation

Desirable:   

• Knowledge of broader health policies and National Malaria Control Programmes 

• Knowledge of the Roll Back Malaria Program 

• Familiarity with The Global Fund, PMI and other donor procedures and processes 

• Work experience in challenging contexts

Languages