GRADE: 7

TEAM/PROGRAMME: Saving New-Born Lives III

Type of Contract: Fixed term till September 2017

LOCATION: Kathmandu

CHILD SAFEGUARDING: Level 3 – the responsibilities of the post may require the post holder to have regular contact with or access to children or young people.

ROLE PURPOSE:
The MNH Specialist is responsible for providing technical support to activities related to Maternal and New-born Health in Nepal through the SNL III phase Nepal. S/he will work in close coordination with other technical staff of SNL and Health and Nutrition Team of SCI to ensure effective implementation of SNL III project goals.S/he will play a vital role in advocating for maternal and new-born health and supporting development of new-born (and related maternal) health programs within the Family Health Division and Child Health Division.S/he will provide technical supportrelated to testing and advocacy fornew-born health interventions and will ensure institutionalisation of maternal and new-born health within the Department of HealthServices and also within SCI. S/he will work with government and partners to advocate improving the quality of services at different levels of health care for maternal and new-born health and advocate for adoption and scale of proven newer approaches and interventions. 

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

• Provide technical support to the FHD and CHD in maternal and new-born health.
• Provide technical input in design, implementation and monitoring of MNH interventions based at health facility level and community level.
• Build capacity of health facility-based staff on clinical areas related to MNH.
• Work with government and partners to advocate improving the quality of services at different levels of health care for maternal and new-born. 
• Provide technical input in the revision of new-born training packages, preparation of quality standards and guidelines for strengthening of community and facility level maternal and new-born health programs that are undertaken by the government.
• Provide technical input in development and revision of MNH policies, strategies, guidelines and actions and ensure that they are effectively implemented. 
• Advocate for strengthening the quality of referrals at different levels of health care.
• Lead approaches and innovations such as community care of small new-borns, self-practice of NB resuscitation, etc. that are currently being tested, and travel to the field as and when necessary.
• Provide technical support to CHD and FHD for effective implementation of innovative approaches for maternal and new-born health.
• On behalf of SNL provide technical leadership in effective coverage and impact at scale of various interventions prioritized by SNL in Nepal. This entails coordination with various government and non-government institutions and other partners. Advocate for scale-up proven interventions and approaches.
• Ensure institutionalization of MNH within Department of Health Services and other institutions.
• Design and support assessment/studies on innovative approaches including other MNH interventions working closely with MEAR Specialist.
• Attend regular TWG and Stakeholder meetings in national forums for sharing success, lessons learnt and challenges in maternal and new-born programs implemented by SNL III for consistent uptake.
• Assist in developing annual work plan and budget for SNL 3.
• Documentation, writing reports and technical briefs, developing dissemination and advocacy strategies, and contribute to communications and KM efforts.
• Provide technical inputs to the KM coordinator for documentation and knowledge management related to maternal and new-born health programs in Nepal.
• Work closely with Manager- Technical and Quality, and maintain productive and consistent communication with SNL staff to keep them fully updated on progress.

QUALIFICATIONS  

• MBBS from a reputed institute/ university.
• MPH degree is desirable.

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

• 7 years* (5 years for GSI group*) of responsible, professional level experience indesign, implementation and monitoring of facility and community based maternal and new-born health interventions.
• Experience of working with government system.

"Qualified candidates from minorities, indigenous groups, women and people with disabilities from local level are highly encouraged to apply"