Health Policy Specialist at Cuso International

Cross River State Primary Health Care Development Agency is the coordinating agency for Primary Health Care in Cross River State, Nigeria and amongst others:

- Started as Roll Back Malaria (an initiative to reduce the prevalence of malaria) in 200 metamorphosed into Department of Community and Primary Health dealing with community and primary health in the state with a Special Adviser who was a state executive council member
- The departmenbecame self accounting as it only shared reports to other members of the health cluster but reports to the Governor
-The Departmenworked towards ensuring access to interventions at the community level; established facilities (to increase access) closer to the people in communities; training and retraining of staffs across the state; equipping of new facilities at PHCs
-Also entered into collaborations with other partners to train doctors and midwives in the primary health sector; training of health workers at community level on obstetrics care; training of 1,200 Traditional Birth Attendants across the state in a bid to reduce maternal and infant mortality in Cross River State.
-The Departmenhas been transformed into the Primary Health Care Development Agency since December 2015 and;
- Currently requires collaborations to upscale the TBAs integration, replenishment of delivery kits for TBAs, train more TBAs and support for the Health Workers/ TBAs platform as well as M&E

The volunteer's role

The purpose of this placement is to support in the development, review and implementation of a robust Primary Health Care plan in line with the VOICE AQHS project in Cross River State.

The volunteer will:

- Support review of Primary Health Care Operational Plan.

-Support the alignment of operational plan with the State Health Strategic Development Plan.

- Support organizational capacity development of partners.

- Ensure Gender mainstreaming and social inclusion in activities and plans.

-Support the development of monitoring and evaluation systems.

Essential Academic Qualifications

Degree in relevant area (Global Health, Health Management, Social Sciences) or equivalent professional qualification

Essential Professional Background/Competencies

-Knowledge of development of operational plans and strategies
-Capacity to develop policy briefs
-Ability to conduct research
-Knowledge of monitoring and evaluation

Desirable Academic Qualifications

-Relevant professional training is desirable
-Experience in development, global health issues
-Should be familiar with health systems in developing countries

Desirable Professional Background/Competencies

-Skills and experience in policy analysis
-Previous professional experience
-Proficiency with design of systems and tools for measuring processes and progress

Important information for candidates

Cuso International covers the following costs:
- Travel and accommodation for the five-day pre-departure training course and in-country training orientation
- Return airfare and visa/permit costs
- The cost of required vaccinations, antimalarial medication and health insurance
- Access to Employee Assistance Program while overseas and upon return
- Accommodation while overseas
- Modest living allowance while overseas
- Modest support for accompanying partners and dependents going on placement with you for 12 months or longer
- Travel and accommodation for reintegration debriefing weekend

Fundraising: We ask each volunteer, regardless of placement length, to raise $2,000. All volunteers receive support from Cuso International to help achieve the goal through fundraising. If the volunteer chooses not to fundraise or is unable to achieve the fundraising goal, he/she can make a one-time donation or become a monthly donor to support our work.

- E-volunteering: Depending on the nature of the placement, the volunteer might be required to provide e-volunteering support to the local partner or Cuso International before or after the field placement.