Service/Quality Improvement Consultant (Non-Communicable Diseases -NCDs) at Jhpiego - John Hopkins University

Locations: FCT (1) and Lagos (1)
Reports To: Project Director, MSD for Mothers Q0C Project
Supervisees: TBO
Duration: 7 Months -
Slot: 2 Openings

Objectives of the Project

• The MSD for Mothers project is tasked with the key objectives of supporting women to reduce their risk of Maternal Morbidity and Mortality due to indirect causes (Hypertension, Diabetes, Anemia and Obesity) via an integrated women centered Quality of Care (QoC) model.
• This project aims to augment existing Maternal/Reproductive health (MH/RH) service platforms to deliver woman-centered interventions for prevention, detection and treatment of indirect causes of Maternal Morbidity and Mortality across a woman’s reproductive life cycle.

Overview

• NCD/Quality Improvement Consultant will report to the Project Director and should be able to facilitate a complex process of stakeholder decision making and implementation of project.
• The person will also be responsible for providing technical leadership in capacity building, clinical mentoring and supportive supervision in the technical area of quality of care for non- communicable diseases (Hypertension, Diabetes, Anemia and Obesity) along the pregnancy continuum on the MSD for mother’s project.
• Key activities to be undertaken include the provision of technical assistance at the Federal and State Ministries of Health, Federal Capital Territory Administration, and State Primary Health Care level, to optimize existing platforms of quality of care for NCD’s in the two implementing states (Lagos State and FCT).

Responsibilities

• Support the Program Director to implement and provide technical guidance on service and quality of care package for Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) like gestational and chronic hypertension, diabetes mellitus, anemia and obesity prevention, management and treatment that is sound, evidence-based and responsive to the needs of women of reproductive age (WRA).
• Support service/quality of care efforts, approaches and tools for selected public and private health care facilities in the twofocus States.
• Establish and nurture the external partnerships that will contribute to the success of programs - Project Consortium partners (mDoC and HSDF), Ministry of Health, State Primary Health Care Development Agency, LGAs/Area Councils and selected health facilities (public and private), etc.
• Provide technical leadership, and contribute to the development of NCD care packages and training curriculum using evidence based information and proven training approaches and quality of care methodologies for NCDs (e.g. gestational and chronic hypertension, diabetes mellitus, anemia and obesity).
• Provide on-site capacity building trainings (providers and training of trainers) as well as follow-up support and clinical mentoring as necessary for QoC for NCDs/MH around gestational and chronic hypertension, diabetes mellitus, anemia and obesity prevention, management and treatment at selected health care facilities,
• Develop strategies for increasing the percentage of WRA, including married adolescents, who have access to information for prevention, management and treatment of NCDs - gestational and chronic hypertension, diabetes mellitus, anemia and obesity.
• Support advocacy efforts and awareness creation of the project by being the link person to the focused states (Lagos State and the FCT),
• Support the implementation of the program’s monitoring and evaluation (M&E) framework and the MSD for Mothers metric definitions for the project and ensure the relevant data is collected and collated from selected health facilities.
• Participate with the MSD for Mother's project team to review and/or manage and execute activities in support of completion of program activities with desired outcomes as per the respective program work plans.
• Provide support to synthesize and document results and lessons from programs, including preparation of briefings and program reviews for presentation to leadership.
• Facilitate relevant meetings, workshops, or other events as per the work plan for smooth technical and clinical project management and coordination.
• Participate at state level stakeholder meetings and technical working groups in relation to service/quality improvement of NCD/MH and related technical areas.
• Travel within and outside the State to support project activity implementation and monitoring as and when needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Management:

• Contribute to timely, accurate and appropriate reporting of program activities and results.
• Ensure quality program implementation is consistent with MOH Nigerian Guidelines, global best practices and Donor Nigerian Strategic Directions.
• Contribute to the evaluation of program progress against deliverables on a quarterly basis.
• Participate in program design, implementation, quality assurance and monitoring of work plan.
• Perform other duties as assigned by supervisor, which contribute to the achievement of program goals.

Required Qualifications
NCD/Quality Improvement Consultant must be a proven leader in the field of MH/RH or NCD service and quality improvement with management experience in public health programs. The Consultant must be familiar with the MH/RH context in Nigeria and have in-country experience with Donor-funded programs. Additional qualifications include:

• An experienced Midwife/Nurse or any other closely related health care professional; other related courses (e.g. MPH MSC or other relevant degree) will be an advantage.
• Minimum 8 years of experience working in MH/RH or NCDs in Africa, preferably in Nigeria.
• Demonstrated expertise in working directly with host-country senior government officials and policy makers in MH/RH-NCD.
• Experience working with host-country partners, organizations, and institutions
• Strong skills in design, implementation and monitoring of program components; e.g. services, training, supportive supervision, clinical mentoring, advocacy and coordination.
• Demonstrated capacity to work with stakeholders and partners in developing technical materials and providing training to improve service delivery, advocacy and resource mobilization for expanding quality improvement of MH/RH-NCD services.
• Strong verbal, listening, writing, and intrapersonal skills essential for effective coordination among several institutions and staff involved in a broad range of activities.
• Must be fluent in English, (written and oral communication) and ability to communicate in Hausa or Yoruba language is desirable.
• Excellent in the use of computer Microsoft packages e.g. Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• Willingness to travel within Nigeria as necessary.