Latest Jobs at Solina Centre for International Development and Research (SCIDaR)

Description and Objectives

• Solina Centre for International Development and Research (SCIDaR) is seeking an experienced Chief of Party for the anticipated USAID Integrated Health Program (IHP) Activity in Nigeria. The IHP Activity aims to support USAID’s approaches to health systems strengthening (HSS) and reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health (RMNCH). This role will enhance the capacity of the Federal and State Ministry of Health (F/SMOH), local organizations, and communities to deliver quality, integrated health services.
• The Chief of Party will lead the Senior Management Team and is responsible for strategic and technical leadership, financial, management, and administrative oversight of the Activity. This includes ensuring an integrated vision among different components and actors and focusing on achieving the results defined in the project’s scope of work.

Technical responsibilities

The Chief of Party will support the delivery of the following:

• Coordinate effective implementation of program activities, including development of a dynamic learning agenda and adaptive management approach;
• Ensure that project objectives, outcomes, and deliverables are met and that financial, operational, and USAID reporting requirements are followed;
• Make programmatic decisions and troubleshoot implementation challenges; oversee program data quality compliance, including development of data tracking and monitoring systems;
• Oversee sub-grant development, including compliance with programmatic objectives and SCIDaR/donor financial and administrative regulations;
• Serve as spokesperson and advocate, representing the Activity to the donor, central and local government officials, private sector leaders, and other stakeholders;
• Serve as a key point of contact for USAID/Nigeria, the Government of Nigeria, and all other stakeholders;
• Directly supervise members of the Senior Management Team.

Required competencies

Education and Experience

• Academic training: Master’s Degree in public health, health management, medicine, or a related field.

Experience:

• Minimum of 12-15 years of experience designing, implementing, and managing large, complex USAID or other donor-funded health programs in Nigeria or a relevant context;
• At least twelve years of relevant experience in global public health and development, including in senior technically relevant positions with large and complex projects;
• Senior leadership experience on USAID projects;
•  Technical experience in integrated health programming with expertise in one or more of the following areas: health systems strengthening, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health, reproductive health/family planning, and nutrition;
• At least 10 years of relevant experience managing, designing, and implementing similar international, multi-million, donor-funded programs;
• At least five years of PHC/QoC activity design and implementation experience in Nigerian contexts;
• In-country experience implementing large and complex HSS/PHC/QoC programs;
• Expertise in maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH);
• Demonstrated record of technical leadership in integrated PHC/QoC;
• Demonstrates current technical understanding of the PHC/QoC evidence base;
• Experience in Northern Nigeria, particularly in Sokoto, Kebbi, and Bauchi, is strongly preferred;
•  In-depth knowledge of the Nigeria healthcare system;
• Experience working with Nigeria local government officials is strongly preferred;
• Proven supervisory experience involving leadership and team building of professional and support staff; oversight and evaluation of staff performance and deliverables, and contract management;
• Experience collaborating with senior policymakers, and host-country entities, including central and local governments, development partners, and civil society organizations to foster innovation and locally-led public health initiatives and activities;
• Demonstrated ability to provide support to and oversight of local capacity development efforts;
• Strong oral and written communication skills in English;
• Experience working with the private sector is a plus;
• Commitment to diversity, equity, social inclusion, and accessibility.

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Description and Objectives

• The Program Associate will provide technical and operational support for the execution of assigned SCIDaR programs. This will involve the day-to-day management of all program workflows and the provision of direct oversight for program analysts and interns who are executing assigned program activities.

Technical Responsibilities – Program Support

Program implementation

• Support day-to-day execution of the program activities;
• Monitor program workstreams and escalate program challenges;
• Gathering and analyzing information, formulating and testing hypotheses, and developing and communicating recommendations;
• Participate in client management discussions and implement recommendations in collaboration with the team.
• Ensure close collaboration and coordination with cooperating partners to guarantee smooth implementation of activities and achievement of results;
• Participate in routine technical problem-solving sessions with the primary client and relevant stakeholders to brainstorm implementation challenges and align on decisions to guide the path forward;
• Program monitoring and reporting
• Regularly monitor and review program activities to ensure quality, accountability, and contractual compliance with agreed deliverables and performance indicators as per the scope of work;
• Contribute to the preparation of monthly/quarterly technical and financial reports (the latter will be in collaboration with the designated Finance Officer);
• Participate in structured mid-term and end-term program evaluations;

Program staff development and team building

• Participate in the assessment of candidates to affirm suitability for program roles;
• Contribute to program onboarding briefing with the program team at the beginning of a new program (or new staff upon joining an existing program) to communicate the program expectations, staff roles, deliverables and performance indicators;
• Support individual team members to identify and document learning goals at the beginning of the program (or new staff upon joining an existing program), and facilitate feedback sessions to track their progress;
• Facilitate periodic (at least monthly) individual performance reviews and provide feedback to program analyst on their strengths and re-direction needs as is it applies to program activities and deliverables;
• Contribute to all team management issues, including but not limited to team communication, data storage, and sharing modalities, team workstation, facilities, and other logistics, team bonding activities, etc.
• Participate as required in the comprehensive in-house professional development program that includes periodic training needs assessment; new staff onboarding and orientation; in-class training sessions; and staff mentoring program;
• Support Program Managers to anticipate project staffing requirements and planning staff placements to satisfy both employee professional development needs and project needs;
• Request ICT infrastructure and support services required for the effective execution of program activities;

Required competencies

Core requirements

• Compelling evidence of interest in and commitment to the mission of SCIDaR;
• Demonstrated strong strategic thinking and thought leadership abilities;
• Advanced computer usage skills with proficiency in Microsoft® Word, Excel, and PowerPoint;
• Exceptional analytical and quantitative problem-solving skills;
• Ability to work effectively with people at all levels in an organization;
• Reliable people manager, able to manage and promote inclusive and diverse teams within the organization;
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment;
• Fast learner, open to learning from peers, subordinates, and supervisors collaboratively and at a rapid pace;
• Strong logical reasoning and creative thinking skills;
• Results-oriented performer, experienced in developing and tracking self and team with clear KPIs;
• Strong verbal and written communication skills,

Education and Experience

• Academic training: Minimum of Bachelors’ degree in International Development, Policy and Strategy Development, Medicine, Public Health, Microbiology, Epidemiology, Health Management or similarly relevant field;
• Experience: Minimum of three (3) years of progressive experience implementing development programs; strong record of leadership in an academic, professional, or extracurricular setting. In strategy, systems strengthening in a major consulting firm is a plus.

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Description and Objectives

• The Access to Finance Associate will be responsible for providing technical guidance and implementing PACS access to finance workstream activities in Lagos state. The role will facilitate all engagements between SCIDaR, financial institutions, project participants and other relevant partners, for the purpose of enhancing access to and use of appropriate finance products and services, with a focus on micro-credit. S/he will coordinate engagement with Business Development Service Providers and other relevant market actors in the state to provide tailored support required to upscale the capacities of both the supply and demand side stakeholders to achieve the overall objectives of the project.
• The Access to Finance Associate will be responsible for providing technical guidance and implementing the project’s workstream operations in Lagos state. The role will assist all interactions between SCIDaR, financial institutions, project participants, and other relevant partners with the goal of increasing access to and usage of appropriate finance products and services, with a focus on microcredit. S/he will manage engagement with Business Development Service Providers and other key market actors in the state to provide personalized support needed to increase the capacity of both supply and demand side stakeholders to meet the project’s overall goals.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate engagements between project participants, financial institutions and Business Development Service Providers (BDSPs) in collaboration with other key market actors to achieve the project objectives;
• Work together with the SCIDaR Access to Finance Specialist and the PACS team to develop effective strategies to support the implementation of the Access to Finance activity workstream in Lagos State;
• Provide technical support to broaden access to finance for target beneficiaries by deploying fit-for-purpose credit facilities, to meet their demands;
• Coordinate the engagement of potential beneficiary SMEs to understand the needs and requirements of partner financial institutions and investors;
• Assist in the provision of technical support to make potential project participants SMEs investment ready, complete, and submit applications;
• Plan, develop, and implement strategies for quality business development services, and mobilise required materials and resources for daily/weekly/monthly program activities;
• Support in portfolio management and due diligence process for beneficiary SMEs and lenders;
• Work with project collaborators and service providers to provide relevant training for target beneficiaries;
• Ensure proper monitoring, evaluation, and learning systems are incorporated into the deployed interventions for all beneficiaries;
• Execute any other tasks as required by designated Program Directors.

Duty Station

• The role is based in Lagos (PACS project site) but will require periodic visits to the SCIDaR Headquarters in Abuja.

Required competencies

• Knowledge of credit, credit guarantee systems, and value chain financing;
• Financial analysis skills and assessment of the financial viability of target group credit needs and constraints;
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple stakeholders concurrently;
• Strong collaboration and partnership skills with people and teams across organizational levels;
• Analytical approach to work with strong problem-solving skills.

Required Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and/or Statistics, Financial Management, Accounting, Banking and Finance, Business Administration, or another related field;
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience in directly supporting targeted demographics to access finance through loans, impact investment, grants, equity investment, blended financing, etc.;
• Demonstrated experience in working with financial institutions or development organizations with access to finance focus;
• High proficiency in data management and reporting with relevant professional certifications;
• Experience in complex planning and budgeting processes, including the ability to provide clear guidance on finance policies and procedures.