Institute Overview

Ifakara Health Institute (IHI) is a leading research organization in Africa with a strong track record in developing, testing and validating innovations for health. Driven by a core strategic mandate for research, training and services, the Institute’s work now spans a wide spectrum, covering biomedical and ecological sciences, intervention studies, health-systems research, service delivery and policy translation.

Position Summary

Ifakara Health Institute is seeking a Technical Officer to join the PMI | Tanzania Malaria Surveillance Activity (TMSA) team. The Officer will provide technical and programmatic support in malaria case management and malaria in pregnancy services. The Officer will ensure the technical and methodological soundness of activities at service delivery both in facility and community settings, based on sound and current scientific evidence. The Officer will work closely with the TMSA Regional Manager and the Technical Advisor, on malaria case management and malaria in pregnancy, to ensure TMSA activities are successfully implemented, monitored, and reported in all councils of Katavi. The Officer will also maintain working relationships and collaboration with project stakeholders including health care workers, R/CHMT members, and other partners.

The PMI | Tanzania Malaria Surveillance Activity is a five-year program (August 2022 – August 2027) implemented by Ifakara Health Institute, which supports the Government of Tanzania (GOT) in reducing malaria burden and in moving towards malaria elimination. The Activity is made possible by the support of the American people through the US President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

The PMI | TMSA works with the GOT to reduce malaria burden and move towards the long-term goal of malaria elimination―while achieving USAID’s strategy to support institutional growth and capacity development for local institutions. The PMI | TMSA will address the urgent healthcare needs of malaria at-risk populations, especially vulnerable pregnant women and children under five, and support Tanzania partners to grow and execute malaria programs sustainably and successfully.

The PMI | TMSA project will primarily work to support both facility- and community-based malaria activities in all districts of Katavi region, as well as making a contribution to the national malaria priorities through the National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP).

Duties and Responsibilities

Provide technical support in implementing ANC, particularly malaria in pregnancy strategies and interventions.
In collaboration with RHMT, CHMTs and other project staff, implement and evaluate strategies to improve the knowledge, skills and attitudes of health providers in MiP services.
Provide support to council teams to ensure quality malaria case management and MiP services at the community and facility level.
Support dissemination of latest national guidelines and protocols in ANC and MiP to the facility level.
Build capacity of regional, district and facility-based supervisors and service providers in ANC and MiP, through mentorship and periodic assessments guided by national tools.
Ensure timely planning, development and implementation of MiP activities in the region.
Support the R/CHMT in planning and conducting Malaria Service Data Quality Improvement (MSDQI) supportive supervision of all health facilities in Katavi.
To ensure the MSDQI activities are conducted, monitored and reported as planned.
Provide technical support to the R/CHMTs to interpret and use MIP services and programmatic data for decision making.
Provide technical support towards strengthening facilities for providing comprehensive quality ANC services including MiP.
Provide clinical mentorship in ANC and MiP services in accordance with national protocols.
Identify evidence-based practices related to ANC and MiP programming and facilitate application.
Ensure proper documentation of TMSA developments and generated information in an appropriate format including success stories and reports.
Contribute in the preparation of the project’s quarterly reports.
Facilitate quarterly data review meetings for CHMTs and health care workers.
Participate in CHMTs meetings to share project findings and challenges and provide technical support where necessary.
Ensure availability of tools for data collection in all facilities within the council.
Participate in malaria training, mentorship, meetings and workshops.
Work closely with social behavior change (SBC) officers and community health care workers (HCWs) in community mobilization and advocacy to increase timely utilization of ANC and malaria services.
Working closely with the data manager, and monitoring and evaluation officers to ensure data integrity in the database.
Attend all duties as assigned by senior staff.
Participate in project/staff meetings.

Qualification and Experience

A qualified midwife/nurse with an advanced diploma and/or a degree in nursing/midwifery.
A valid midwifery practice license.
At least 5 years of work experience in a public, private sector or NGO, with at least 3 years of midwifery practice.
Experience working with donor-funded projects is an added advantage.

Skills and Competencies

Ability to work in a team and maintain a productive working relationship with colleagues and the host government.
Ability to coach, mentor and develop technical capacity in regional/councils and service providers in the areas of malaria case management and malaria in pregnancy.
Self-management is necessary (i.e., motivation, dealing with pressure, adaptability).
Ability to communicate effectively, instilling trust and confidence.
Be cooperative, competent, hardworking, flexible and dependable.
Excellent verbal, written communications and presentation skills.
Demonstrated skills in English and Swahili, both written and oral.
High level of integrity, commitment and team working spirit.
Computer literacy, particularly in the use of MS word, Excel and PowerPoint experience.

Remuneration

An attractive and competitive remuneration package will be offered to successful candidates as per IHI salary scales.

Equal Opportunity

IHI is an equal opportunity employer. We prohibit intentional biases or discrimination and harassment of any kind at the work place and during recruitment. All employment decisions are based solely on job requirements and individual qualifications, and our recruitment process is governed by the labour laws of Tanzania.

Mode of Application

All candidates who meet the above job requirements should send their application letters together with their detailed curriculum vitae (CVs) showing contact addresses including email, telephone/cell phone numbers and copies of academic and professional certificates to the email address below.

The deadline for this application is 23:59hrs on Tuesday, October 11^th, 2022. All e-mail application subject lines should include: TEHCNICAL OFFICER - MALARIA IN PREGNANCY (MIDWIFE) – TMSA. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for an interview.

Human Resources Manager

IFAKARA HEALTH INSTITUTE

#5 Ifakara Street Plot 463 Mikocheni

P.O. Box 78,373

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Email: recruitment@ihi.or.tz