WAHO Regional Malaria Coordinator

RBM Partnership to End Malaria
The past fifteen years have seen tremendous gains in reducing the burden of disease and progressing towards malaria elimination. Since 2000, global malaria deaths have been cut by more than half, saving 7 million lives, primarily among children less than five years of age. Expansions in financing, strong political commitments, novel diagnostic and preventative measures, and multi-sectoral co-ordination have facilitated this progress. Since 1998, RBM Partnership to End Malaria has been central to the global fight against malaria. It has been essential to mobilizing resources and scaling up innovative interventions, putting the world onto a path towards eliminating malaria. The Partnership comprises more than 500 partners committed to end malaria, including malaria endemic countries, their bilateral and multilateral development partners, the private sector, nongovernmental and community-based organizations, foundations, and research and academic institutions.


The RBM Partnership's Vision is of a world free from the burden of malaria. The RBM Partnership is based in Geneva and hosted by UNOPS




Although malaria is entirely preventable, the disease continues to be an obstacle to both human and economic development. The devastating effect of malaria on development can be traced from national to household and family level. Malaria is associated with poor socio-economic development, marginalization and exploitation. Malaria morbidity and mortality is associated with industrial and agricultural losses due to loss of person-hours and decreased worker productivity. 

Even with concerted efforts to increase effective coverage of vector control interventions – especially with insecticide treated long lasting mosquito nets, the disease burden remains significant and points to the fact that these interventions (and other conventional ones) are not enough to sustain gains achieved in the control and subsequently to malaria elimination. The effects of malaria extend well beyond the health sector, calling for a multi-sectoral response. For example, sustained gains in malaria control and elimination in developing countries has been seen in countries where action is being taken to address the broader socio-economic determinants like improving living conditions, promoting smarter agricultural and industrial practices, and addressing barriers to accessing health services.  

The Multisectoral approach to malaria, based on social and environmental determinants will remain a dream unless the relevant communities are empowered, engaged and effectively play their role. Community participation is not about giving them tasks to do, but involves communities taking active part in the analysis, decision-making about priorities and resources, doing and monitoring, as well as holding authorities and others accountable. A multisectoral approach to malaria control means that a wide range of stakeholders is engaged, and the aims of malaria control are met by joint efforts. Resourcing such efforts is not simply a matter of securing cash donations; major advances can be made at little or no cost to health or malaria programmes. Being ‘malaria smart’ means making actions and operations in all relevant sectors contribute to reducing, rather than producing, malaria, while achieving their sector-specific outcomes as well as the malaria-specific outcomes. The latter will in turn benefit all stakeholders.

The West African Health Organization (WAHO) is a specialized health institution of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). WAHO implements activities aimed at providing the health of the populations of the ECOWAS region.

Reporting to and under the leadership and guidance of the Country/Regional Support Partner Committee (CRSPC) Manager, in collaboration with the Head of Health Department at WAHO secretariat as part of the execution of this assignment, the WAHO Regional Malaria Coordinator will undertake, among others, the following specific tasks:

A. Programmatic

• Coordinate and provide technical inputs and capacity building to the national malaria programmes;

• Support and strengthen the cross-border initiatives and interventions geared towards malaria elimination including some Regional Malaria Elimination Initiatives;

• Provide technical inputs to the establishment of a regional cross-border malaria data-sharing and visualization platform for complementary action in response to active transmission across borders, including harmonization with the existing ones in the Member States;

• Provide technical inputs to the establishment of a regional M&E framework and monitor all regional malaria control activities including the cross-border activities; 

• Coordinate and strengthen and scale up partnerships with the Global Fund, PMI and other funding agencies for harmonized actions and better resource sharing to leverage and complement, but not duplicate bilateral partner investments across the Region;

• Lead and provide technical inputs in  the development and dissemination in collaboration with ALMA, RBM of the Regional Malaria Scorecard and action tracking mechanism;

• Coordinate and provide technical inputs to a joint data collection and information tracking mechanism including antimalaria commodities stock status at Regional level;

• Provide technical inputs to the advocacy for harmonizing regulatory policies related to pharmaceuticals and vector control products including fast tracking introduction of new commodities related to malaria;

• Lead the advocacy efforts to secure resources to support the regional elimination plan, including resource mobilization through the private sector and regional malaria financing facility to ensure the long-term sustainable financing for the region’s elimination efforts;

• Lead in the strengthening of the multi-sectoral approach in malaria elimination at Regional level;

B. Advocacy

• Lead regional malaria commemorative campaigns such as the world Malaria Day by developing malaria related messaging;

• Lead Regional Social and Behavior Change Communication campaigns/initiative to amplify the importance of malaria control and elimination at Regional level;

• Facilitate the identification of malaria champions and key influencers including Regional End Malaria Councils and Parliamentary Groups;

• Provide technical inputs  in collaboration with ALMA, in the designation of Heads of State and Government awards for excellence in malaria.

C. Coordination

• Lead in the elaboration of a joint regional annual work plan, capturing activities planned, estimated cost and execution modalities;

• Participate in a periodic face-to-face meeting with REC, ALMA and RBM to discuss common joint programmatic and advocacy activities, and monitor the implementation;

• Provide technical inputs in partnership coordination and collaboration with key players in the malaria sector at Regional level;

• Lead  in preparation of reports, strategies and in organizing meetings as required or requested.

Monitoring and Progress Controls

By design, the assignment will require broad stakeholder engagement and consultations. The consultation will propose the approach and methods for ensuring extensive engagement at different stages of the development process. Key informant interviews, consultation, consensus and validation meetings should be considered for wider buy-in and involvement. The RBM will support the Regional Coordinator to mobilize stakeholders for consultations. The framework and plan will be presented to different multi-sectoral platforms and input and buy-in including WAHO.

a. Education

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Public Health, or other health sciences, Business Administration, Economics, Development Studies or related field.

• A Bachelor’s degree in a related field with an additional 2 years of experience may be considered in lieu

b. Work Experience 

Required:  

• At least 7 years of relevant experience in planning, managing and implementing programs at national and/or international levels, of which at least 3 years’ experience in managing malaria control or any health projects, programs and/or Partnership networks; 

• Extensive knowledge in Monitoring and Evaluation of Health Programs. 

• Experience in Multisectoral collaboration at country level and/or regional levels

Desirable:  

• Experience or sound understanding of international development and the political agendas as related to malaria;

• Relevant experience working in West and Central Africa is an added advantage.   

c. Languages

• Fluency in oral and written English and French is required.

• Knowledge of other UN languages is desirable.  

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few Mandatory Courses (around 4 hours) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS.
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns. Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

Working with us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.