Federal Technical Expert at Palladium Group

Project Overview and Role

• The UK Support to Health transformation in Nigeria through the Lafiya Programme is a flexible, demand-led strategic partnership with the Nigerian Federal and targeted State governments designed to address equity, improve and sustain health outcomes for the most vulnerable States with the worst health statistics.
• The desired objectives of the programme included fostering an enabling environment for UHC policy reform and implementation, institutional management capacity building and health system strengthening. This required the full engagement and participation communities with a view to contributing to ending preventable maternal and new-born deaths.
• The programme operated at the Federal level; and geographically in five states of - Borno, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano and Yobe, and in targeted LGAs with the State. Following the ODA cuts, from 0.7% to 0.5% and the spend review handrails, the FCDO reprioritisation and business planning exercise beginning in the last quarter of 2020 the programme had to scale down some key interventions and consider reviewing the geographic scope going into 2022-2023 financial year.
• The programme will also contribute to improved Covid-19 vaccine access, early recovery and health security improved in targeted States.
• The programme now focuses on contributing to two intermediate outcomes 1) Morbidity amongst women, newborns, children and adolescents significantly reduced in targeted states and 2. Covid-19 transmission and vaccine hesitancy reduced including improved plans and capacity for emergency preparedness and response in the targeted States by delivering the following five outputs:
  • Output 1: Leadership and Governance of PHC Services structure or teams (planning and delivery) functional in targeted states
  • Output 2: Adequate health workforce for PHC including RMNCAEH and BHCPF service delivery available and sustained in targeted States
  • Output 3: Health Information Management Service capacity to support decision-making for PHC including RMNCAEH and BHCPF service delivery in targeted States
  • Output 4: Health financing and public financial management to strengthen and sustain access to high quality and affordable PHC in targeted States
  • Output 5: Increased Health Security and EPR plans developed and operationalised within the targeted States.
• The Federal component of the programmes engages with the Department of Health Planning, Research and Statistics and Department of Family health, of the Federal Ministry of Health and agencies such as National Primary Health Care Development Agency, National Health Insurance Scheme and National Centre for Disease Control, providing technical and financial support. Support is extended to States through these Federal institutions in ensuring that policies, plans, programmes and guidelines are domesticated in States.
• The National Primary Health Care Development Agency, National Health Insurance Scheme gateways of the Basic Health Care Provision Programme (BHCPF) programme are also supported to ensure effectiveness of flow of information and decision making have desired effect at state, LGA and health facility levels.
• The Technical Expert will work with these MDAs and partners in the implementation of the LAFIYA programme activities at federal and states’ levels.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities
Scope of Work:

• Support the department of family health of FMOH to complete RMNCAEH+ N domestication processes in Lafiya focal States.
• Facilitate the domestication of National Health Promotion Policy in five Lafiya Focal States.
• Support the implementation of NPHCDA and NHIS BHCPF Accountability Framework at Federal and subnational levels.
• Facilitate the development and domestication of family planning blueprint, development of guideline for Adolescent Health Programming in Public health emergencies and a research agenda for Adolescent Health and Development.
• Support the convening of a national workshop on BHCPF and federal facilitation of the implementation of resolutions.
• Provide support for federal initiated health security activities in Lafiya focused States.
• Work with the Federal Technical Lead to coordinate activities across MDAs and partners and oversee the delivery of other STTA at federal level.
• Account for the federal level workplan implementation.

Deliverables:

• Completed RMNCAEH+ N domestication processes in Lafiya focal States
• Domesticated National Health Promotion Policy assisted sub-nationally in Lafiya States
• Implementation reports of NPHCDA and NHIS BHCPF Accountability Framework at Federal and subnational levels implementation.
• Domesticated family planning blueprint, guideline for Adolescent Health Programming in Public health emergencies and a research agenda for Adolescent Health and Development.
• Reports of national workshop on BHCPF and the implementation of resolutions.
• Reports of federal lead support to states. 

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s Degree or Higher in Public Health, Policy and Governance, Health Economics, or another relevant field required.
• Progressive experience in a Senior Programme Management capacity including experience designing, implementing, and managing or evaluating complex health programme.
• Proven technical experience in health systems strengthening; health system security; health financing; health management information systems, health sector policy and strategies, working with the private sector, advocacy and accountability and family planning
• Demonstrated technical depth and understanding of the health policy environment and governance in Nigeria.
• Team management, strategic planning and leadership experience, with ability to multi-task, work under pressure, inspire high quality work, demonstrate firm but sensitive leadership, provide support and supervision, and empower team members across a broad range of health-related specialist areas.
• Knowledge of government health systems and proven experience building national and sub-national capacity of government, service providers and civil society organisations.
• Experience in coordination and collaboration of stakeholders including government agencies, host country governments and counterparts, and international donor agencies.
• Strong interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills in English required.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English.
• Demonstrated problem solving, analytic, financial, and evaluative skills.
• Attention to detail and ability to perform multiple tasks and balance competing priorities effectively and efficiently often within a required timeframe.