Sudan: Health Coordinator

GOAL has had a long and successful history of humanitarian operations in North Sudan. Currently GOAL main program is Kutum North Darfur with potential for partnerships in other states. The main donors for the health programme include: USAID/OFDA, UN SHF, ECHO & Irish Aid.

The current programme focuses on four main sectors: an innovative adult education programme (GOAL Sudan implements approach called REFLECT for women’s literacy and empowerment), water, sanitation and hygiene promotion (WASH), nutrition and primary health care, which is the largest programme sector. All interventions are carried out with local partners as appropriate and in the health sector GOAL has well established relations with the Ministry of Health.

Health Activities

GOAL’s health programming traditionally includes three strands of interventions that respond to the many health needs in remote and marginalized areas. GOAL programmes include primary health care, emergency preparedness, nutrition interventions and community behaviour change programing, environment, gender and child protection themes cross-cut all programme sectors and activities.

Moving forward, a major focus of our health programming will be increasing GOAL’s commitment to our local partners (Ministry of Health and local NGOs and CBOs) utilizing health systems strengthening. A second and closely related priority will be to define steps toward a long term exit strategy that maximizes ownership and sustainability among both our community and implementing partners. In each area the health programme responds to a unique set of opportunities and constraints that seldom remain constant. It is critical that health programming maintains a longer term vision but remains responsive to the changing context

General description of the role

The Health Coordinator will be responsible for providing technical support, management and strategic direction to field-based health staff who oversee programme implementation. The health coordinator will assume overall responsibility for health-related reporting requirements and ensure that health data (M&E system) is accurate and consistently recorded.

S/he will suggest practical strategies for responding to changes in the operating environment as well as maintaining a focus on longer term objectives, based on regular monitoring efforts and periodic visits to field sites. S/he will represent GOAL at health sector meetings and to other key stakeholders appropriately and on behalf of field based teams.

Key duties

Technical support

· Ensure evidence-based and timely programme activities.

· Build capacity of key staff who are ultimately responsible for delivering programmes (mentoring, delivery of specific trainings, feedback regarding site visits, data analysis).

· Assist in development of donor reports and proposals.

· Periodically visit field sites, based on agreed TOR with the AC and ACDP;

· Assist in the recruitment and induction of new GOAL health staff

· Review all donor Budgets on a monthly basis with Country Finance Coordinator/ACDP

· Support the timely spend out of donor grants, ensuring that health staff place procurement orders as required facilitating this process.

Programme Support

· Support field based staff to maintain accurate, consistent monitoring and evaluation system through the nutrition and community health coordinators

· Provide regular analysis of data with feedback to field based health staff

· Submit timely donor reports, in coordination with the ACDP

· In close communication with ACDP, develop health-related proposals and programme strategies based on emerging opportunities and changes in programme context

· Ensure that HIS data is collected from each site monthly, analysed, and distributed to appropriate personnel

· Ensure that each field site submits a monthly health report in a timely manner

· Submit monthly health report to ACDP

· Contribute to GOAL M&E including LQAS, MICS and KAP methodologies

Representation

· Represent GOAL at health sector and cluster forums, cultivating close relationships with donors, ministries and other key national stakeholders.

· Routinely participate in meetings related to health as well as other key issues that are convened at the

· state level as well as at the county level and feedback of discussions/ outcomes to ACDP and field health staff

· Track national level discussions regarding key issues relevant to the field and feedback ACDP/CD

· Regularly inform and update the state ministry of health authorities as well as other state government officials of the on-going and planned activities

· Support programme coherence in line with donor proposals, the country strategic plan, and in close coordination with the ACDP

· Ensure close coordination with community processes team and appropriate sequencing of health activities

· Cultivate health partnerships (MOH, local NGOs)

· Support the integrated programme approach with other GOAL Sectors

Manage Health Technical Support team:

· Ensure Health team conducts regular field visits, w develop detailed TORs for the field visits

· Ensure that Health team submits comprehensive field reports in a timely manner

· Carry out annual staff appraisals for capital/roving Health Technical Support Team per GOAL HR guidelines

· Provide continuous appraisal of capital/roving health staff to ensure personal and professional growth and achievement of organisational objectives

· Be fully conversant with GOAL policies and guidelines, including HR, finance, administration and security protocols

· Ensure job descriptions are well understood.

· Other related tasks at the request of the ACDP.

Emergency response

· Coordinate with the relevant partners/authorities and other sector actors working within the state as may be necessary

· Assist in a rapid needs assessment as well as other operational research

· Assist in the analysis of health / humanitarian needs and the existing contexts.

· Update emergency preparedness plans

Support Health System Strengthening

· Play the central role in developing the health strategic plans for transition to health system Strengthening

· Participate in the context analysis planning and execution

· Promote new ways of working and facilitate change by creatively applying technical knowledge

· Articulate and strongly understanding the wider political, and social environment within which GOAL works in

· Advice, challenge and work closely with health advisors

Donor Compliance and Finance

· Maintain adherence to donors commitments, regulations and timely delivery of quality programme

· Ensure donor guidelines, formats and processes are understood and adhered to

· Lead in monthly/routinely financial review of expenditure against programme plan

Staff Health

· Ensure that appropriate PEP stocks and procedures are in place

· As Sudan Health focal point (SHFP) - Meet with all new international staff (and staff visiting as appropriate) for a Staff Health induction within the first 24-48 hours of their arrival

· Ensure First aid kits are in all offices and all GOAL residences.

· Outline designated local health care facilities

Requirements:

· Primary professional degree qualification as Doctor/ Nurse or related health qualification.

· Demonstrated analytical and conceptual skills to plan projects, timetable agreed activities and oversee staff activities.

· Excellent English speaking and writing skills.

· Good team player, flexible and capable of working with a multi-national country team.

· At least 5 years of practical experience working in health and nutrition programmes for an international NGO internationally with management and coordination responsibilities.

· Excellent communication and training skills with track record of building/developing cohesive teams.

· Ability and willingness to travel to remote locations and live in basic conditions.

· Good computer skills, including Word and Excel

Desirable

· Master's degree in Public or Community Health

· Postgraduate study or relevant work experience in Public Health, Reproductive Health/ HIV/ development studies programming

· Spoken/ written abilities in Arabic and experience of the Sudan context

· Proven experience in behaviour change approaches / programming and working with national partners

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