Surveys Manager NTD Operations at Sightsavers

About the role 

Globally, after many years of effective treatment of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), there is the potential to stop mass drug administration (MDA) for Lymphatic Filaraisis (LF) and onchocerciasis (OV). To stop MDA, Disease Specific Assessment (DSA) must be conducted in line with World Health Organization guidelines. In Nigeria, supported by Bill and Melinda Gate Foundation (BMGF), Sightsavers is supporting critical efforts to assess eligibility in hundreds of local government authorities (LGAs) to stop MDA – meaning millions of people will no longer require annual treatment. This necessitates a coordination effort; internally, between the various surveys Sightsavers will support the FMoH to deliver, and externally, with the other OV and LF surveys BMGF will support other partners to deliver. The role will lead this project, working closely with Sightsavers Nigeria country office and other stakeholders, as well as supporting DSAs in other countries to progress the elimination and control of NTDs.

As the Survey Manager you will enhance elimination and control agendas for OV/LF, Schistosomiasis (SCH) and Soil-transmitted Helminths (STH) by; 

• Coordinating the survey delivery process, with specific accountability for the management of the BMGF project that provides direct assistance to the Nigerian FMoH in undertaking OV and LF DSAs;  

• Coordinating Sightsavers technical and logistical assistance of both government and partners to deliver high quality and timely DSAs;  

• Strengthening the use of survey data, including timely data flow to ESPEN (Expanded Special Project to Eliminate NTDs) and WHO  

The principal accountabilities of this role include; 

• Conduct and co-chair, alongside FMoH, regular monitoring calls with COs, partners, and government officials to ensure delivery of at least 90% of DSAs are completed, safely, on time, within budget, according to agreed standards and in so doing provide quality assurance to all stakeholders;  

• Work with Sightsavers technical advisors and NTD Risk Finance and Performance, FMoH and partners to develop budget formats as required, and review and approve DSA budgets;  

• Develop and maintain a survey forecast that aligns with the FMoH annual survey plan, project specific outputs and outcomes, and is reflected in both the Sightsavers Financial Management Forecast (FMF) and Procurement Supply Chain (PSC) forecast;   

• Support FMoH, Nigeria Survey Coordinator and other partners to submit timely requests to WHO for the donation of LF diagnostics and positive controls, and monitor expiry dates of donated items, coordinating among all partners to ensure shortest dated stock is used first  

• Contribute to improved understanding of DSA unit cost;   

• Chair internal Sightsavers Survey Sitrep calls.  

• Coordinate timely, quality assured delivery of appropriate technical advice and assistance 

• Raise both awareness and understanding of ESPEN Collect;  

• Working with the ESPEN Collect team, FMoH, COs and partners to:  

• Complete annual bulk registration of DSAs with ESPEN Collect;  

• Finalise lists of communities/schools;  

• Validate/Approve the final forms; and,  

• Schedule training.