Program Officer, Reaching Zero Dose and Underimmunized Children at John Snow Inc - JSI

Description

• The MOMENTUM Routine Immunization Transformation and Equity (M-RITE) project is part of a suite of innovative awards funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to holistically improve family planning and maternal and child health in partner countries around the world.
• The project applies best practices and explores innovations to increase equitable immunization coverage in USAID-supported countries around the globe. It works to build countries’ capacity to identify and overcome barriers to reaching zero-dose and under immunized children and older populations with life-saving vaccines and other integrated health services. M-RITE works at multiple levels and in alignment with global strategies such as the Immunization Agenda 2030 and Gavi 5.0.
• The project also contributes to ongoing global efforts to mitigate the impact low routine immunization coverage and support states to prepare for and introduce vaccines new vaccines against vaccine preventable disease once they are available. In Nigeria M-RITE works to strengthen routine immunization (RI) services and supports COVID-19 vaccine rollout at the state level and in 5 focus states.

Job Summary

• The primary role of the Program Officer, Reaching Zero Dose and underimmunized children will be to support the NPHCDA and SPHCDA  in five State of Bayelsa, Edo, Imo, Jigawa and Lagos to support implementation of the GoN’s ‘zero dose’ strategy and support other efforts for routine immunization strengthening.
• The PO will report to the Country Director to support all aspects of the catch-up phase/Recovery plan of NPHCDA in focused states.

Responsibilities

• The Program Officer will be responsible for providing technical assistance to the NPHCDA, including other local partners.
• Serve as a strategic, high-level technical Officer to the NPHCDA/SPHCDA, and technical sub-committees and working groups responsible for advancing the GoN Recovery and Catch up plans. Exploring approaches and potential policies to reach unreached communities more effectively in fragile and conflict settings
• Provide support to meeting agenda development (including identification of topics), scheduling and leading of relevant meetings, synthesis of meeting notes, and follow-up of key action items across Zero Dose workstreams.
• Work in collaboration with the NPHCDA/SPHCDA and technical partners to support local rapid, iterative learning approaches that understand root causes and in turn innovate and test strategies to address those causes and reach zero dose communities with sustainable solutions.
• Ensure measurement of results to generate takeaways that feed into the Gavi zero dose learning agenda and other dissemination platforms that can influence similar efforts by other actors.
• Establish and maintain collaborative and healthy partnerships with priority country officials, Gavi staff, grantees, partners, and other M-RITE teams supporting efforts to reach zero dose communities and strengthen routine immunization.
• You will advise grantees to achieve the desired impact of grants; conduct site visits when appropriate, provide technical guidance, convene meetings and apply and evaluate milestone-based performance objectives.
• Prepare and write briefs and synthesize existing literature. Provide written analysis of key topics for M-RITE management. Fulfill data requests from leadership.
• Work with SPHCDAs to develop strategies to reduce zero dose and under immunized in the states and work with LGAs and PHCs to continue to identify, reach, monitor, measure and advocate for support from key community stakeholders.
• Work in collaboration with the SPHCDA technical working groups and sub-committees to define and implement COVID-19 vaccines, and to align state-level support to national strategies including SCALES 3.0.
• Provide technical assistance to analysis of program performance.  Collaborate with partners to collect and analyze data, monitor performance, and support SPHCDA with strategic leadership for planning and implementing corrective actions.
• Provide linkages between M-RITE and local partners (NGOs, etc.) to mobilize them and provide support and technical assistance to program activities. Work with these organizations to ensure technical support at all levels.  
• Support the development and submission of reports to M-RITE and partners, including regular reporting and final report.  
• Remain in regular contact (by email, phone, Slack, etc.) with the M-RITE Nigeria leadership team and the M-RITE global level team.
• Under the guidance of the M-RITE State Team lead, oversee the LGA level support and supervise the M-RITE state immunization advisors to perform the project activities at the state level.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or an Advanced Degree in Public Health, or equivalent experience in immunization programming..
• Minimum of 3 years of relevant work experience in Maternal and Child Health (MCH) projects with a focus on planning, implementing, and evaluating vaccination and immunization services.
• Demonstrated ability to work with, organize, and analyze data and develop insights from it (e.g., identifying issues, forming hypotheses, synthesizing conclusions, and helping to implement change).
• Experience in projects that involve liaising with County governments, other government institutions, WHO, USAID, UNICEF, other stakeholders, and NGOs.
• Experience managing and coordinating nuanced partnerships and to support countries and Gavi Alliance partners to successfully connect immunization and other health services with zero dose communities
• Strong writing and verbal skills for communicating with a broad and diverse audiences.  
• Excellent attention to detail, systematic thinking and leading workflow while coordinating multiple priorities in a highly dynamic environment.
• Experience in implementing and measuring agile learning approaches.
• Proven ability to multi-task and collaborate work effectively with senior staff, colleagues, donors, partner organizations, stakeholders, local institutions, and others at all levels.
• Ability to work in a complex environment with multiple tasks, short deadlines, and an emphasis on quality.
• Excellent analytical, communication, presentation and report writing skills.
• Excellent skills in facilitation, team building and coordination.
• Demonstrable problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Proficiency in application of Microsoft Office Suite with an emphasis on proficiency in Word, PowerPoint, and SharePoint.
• Fluency in English.