No. of  Position:  2

Location: Rural Municipality of Karnali Province

Supervisor: Program Coordinator ( Karnali)

Overall Responsibilities 

Under the direct supervision of Program Coordinator (Karnali) and technical guidance of district based Technical Officers (Health Systems Strengthening, Health Information system and MNCH/FP) the Health System Officer (HSO) will be responsible to support Municipal health officials  in strengthening municipal health systems including but not limited to; hands on support in annual and periodic health sector planning, budgeting and its execution, monitoring and periodic review of the program including ensuring data quality, full functioning of Logistic supply management, LMIS, HMIS and DHIS2, updating and dissemination of municipal health profiles, evidence-based planning, health related policies development, promoting governance and accountability mechanism, capacity strengthening of Health Facility Management Committees (HFOMCs). 

Specific Duties and Responsibilities

A. Technical Assistance - Health Systems and Governance

• Provide hands on technical support to municipality on annual and periodic planning (in line with seven-step planning process) and budgeting (by utilizing tools and guidelines prepared by MOFAGA, MOHP and Karnali Province), resource mobilization, developing annual Calendar of Operation, budget execution (activity implementation), monitoring and evaluation, human resource management and other health systems areas as required.
• Provide technical support to prepare/update municipal level health profile, inclusive of stakeholder analyses (working in the Municipality)
• In consultation with and guidance of HSS technical officer, provide hands on support to the municipalities to prepare municipal health policy, Act, Strategies, Protocols and other guiding documents and their dissemination as appropriate. Support and guide municipal health managers to deliver needs-based coaching and mentoring sessions and monitor the results.
• Work with municipality officials (both elected and staff members) to enhance governance, accountability (citizen charter, social audit, client exit interview) and citizen engagement with the health service delivery and health management.
• Facilitate municipality to coordinate with Health Service Offices/province authorities to ensure continuous supply of essential medicines, commodities, and supplies, receive adequate technical support to address stock out of commodities at municipal/health facility level.
• Provide hands on technical support to municipal authority to conduct periodic and annual reviews and planning meetings; help to establish a system for annual/periodic review, ensuring GESI issues are adequately addressed (including activities to reach un-reached/underserved population, and incorporated in plan, promoting best practice in the use of evidence to monitor progress and performance, identify gaps and support to design feasible solutions to address gaps in service coverage and health systems performance. 
• Provide technical support to strengthen the effective functioning of Health Facility Operation and Management Committees (HFOMC) and Social development committee (SDC)/Municipal Health Committee (MHC)
• Provide hands on support to municipality in preparation, implementation and progress tracking of health emergency preparedness and response plan (in close coordination with health emergency response team) 
• In collaboration with MNCH/FP Technical officer reinforce the functionality of Quality Assurance mechanisms (including HPMSS) in municipalities/health facilities by facilitating discussions of quality-of-care issues with Municipal Social Development Committees and/or health committees.
• Provide technical support for quality improvement initiatives in municipalities and health facilities which includes joint monitoring visits to HFs, follow-up of action plan prepared.
• In collaboration with MNCH/FP Technical officer and HIS Technical Officer (as appropriate) facilitate municipality to identify and develop Municipality level clinical as well as non-clinical mentors for the sustainability of coaching/mentoring at municipality and health facilities.
• Advocate municipality to allocate maximum budget in health sector with evidence. 
• Engage with municipal executive committee, social development/health committee and health section staffs to provide hands on support to strengthen municipal health systems. 

B. Technical Assistance – Generation and Use of Data

• Ensure that municipal and facility-level HMIS and LMIS are functioning well, municipalities are able to access, analyze, interpret and use data in support of evidence-based planning and resource allocation.
• In collaboration with HIS Technical Officer, facilitate to develop HMIS and Basic Health Logistics champion in all municipalities and DHIS2 champion in selected municipalities.
• Facilitate/coordinate, supply and support proper use of facility-based recording and reporting tools. Support to update facility-level information of HMIS tools, encourage municipality and/or health program coordination bodies to ensure timely supply of those tools. Ensure quality of information/data during recording and reporting process.
• Provide hands on support to municipalities and health facilities primarily in low performing health facilities to analyze health data to identify un-reached/underserved populations, barriers, and to prepare micro-plans to improve their utilization and to link with annual planning, budgeting, and monitoring activities
• In coordination with HIS technical officer, support municipalities and health facilities in using DHIS2 and eLMIS platform to report, review and use municipal HMIS and LMIS data respectively. Support on maternal and newborn death reporting where MPDSR program is implemented.  
• Facilitate visualization of facility and municipal level health data (dashboards, infographics) and assist municipal and provincial health sections to ensure that the data is widely available to the public through appropriate communication channels.

C. Program Management and Coordination

• Actively engage and work with other partners, stakeholders and private sector service providers at municipal level to promote effective collaboration, create synergy and reduce the duplication of work in planning and implementation of the activities.
• Ensure accurate and timely submission of required technical and financial reports and deliverables, including lessons learned, exemplary practices for the health systems strengthening and information system components in assigned geographical area.
• Assist in project planning meetings, training sessions and consultations, collecting additional information from Municipalities, health facilities etc as needed and assigned.
• Make logistical arrangements for project team travelling to their assigned municipalities, as needed.
• Ensure timely and accurate reporting of project intervention in SSBH database and other formats as required.
• Attend on regular review and planning meeting at municipal and district level.

Qualification and Requirement

• Bachelor’s Degree in public health, or other relevant field.
• Minimum two years of relevant professional experience in health systems and/or monitoring, evaluation, and learning in the public health field.
• Understanding of Government of Nepal’s health system including service availability, utilization, quality aspects in federal context.
• Experience working with USAID program and other health-related projects preferred.
• Strong interpersonal skills, advocacy, coordination and networking, excellent team leadership and problem-solving abilities
• Good report writing skills in English and Nepali, communication, and advocacy skills, including oral presentation.
• Computer proficiency (MS Word, MS Excel, Power points and information systems)
• Willing to work in remote municipality of Karnali; those who are from and/or working in the Karnali province preferred.

SSBH is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender and culture. Individuals from minority groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. Only the shortlisted candidates will be contacted for the further selection process. Canvassing at any stage of the process shall lead to automatic disqualification.