Health NGO Coordinator (Cluster Co-Lead), Juba

Overall Description of the Role

Liaise between NGOs, UN agencies, WHO and MoH RSS Provide technical assistance to MoH RSS as required Represent health NGOs where appropriate Strengthen the NGO Health Forum Assist in developing MoH strategies / policies / work-plans related to health - Assist in problem solving issues and identifying gaps as they arise in the health sector and facilitate donor/other actors' involvement in finding solutions. Provide key NGO perspectives, challenges and lessons learnt.Assume Co-Lead responsibilities within the Health Cluster

Summary of existing arrangements

Under the sector and cluster coordination system in South Sudan, for each sector there is a Lead Agency (which is WHO for Health) plus a Co-Lead from an NGO. From January 2008 to December 2010, WHO used Common Humanitarian Fund (CHF) to fund Tearfund and then Medair to second a health professional full time to do the Health Sector Co-Lead role. In 2011 Malaria Consortium took on the administration of the role and this has now transferred to GOAL.

The main purpose of this role has been to assist with coordination and communication between health partners in South Sudan (MoH RSS, NGOs, UN agencies, WHO, etc.). With over 140 NGOs in health (Health Matrix 2011), coordination needs remain intensive so this has needed to be a full time dedicated post.

Since June 2009, the Co-Lead post holder has been based within the Directorate of External Assistance and Coordination rather than an NGO office, to promote liaison with the Ministry of Health. This has been a very successful way of improving working relationships and communication between the MoH, NGOs, UN and donors.

In August 2010, the Health Sector coordination system transitioned to become a Health Cluster under the continued leadership of WHO. However, there remains an ongoing need for an NGO Health Co-ordinator irrespective of Lead/Co-Lead configuration. The Basic Services Fund (BSF) has agreed to fund a Health NGO Coordinator (who will also continue the Health Cluster Co-Lead function) to continue this important work. It is anticipated that the Directorate of External Assistance will continue to host the post holder so that they can continue to be based within the Ministry.

This position will be hosted by South Sudan and therefore will be covered by all GOAL policies. The position reports directly to the Head of Programmes of GOAL South Sudan.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

A. Communication & Coordination (10%)

Facilitate communication between donors, MoH and NGOs on.
Assist the MoH set up donor meetings and provide briefings as required, including for senior NGO staff.
Provide secretariat support to the former Health and Nutrition Consultative Group and Health Cluster
Assist the MoH, WHO and OCHA with communication and signposting in emergency preparedness and response. Assist WHO with the development of the sector contingency plan and Security Risk Assessment.
Ensure liaison with Cluster Co-leads on a regular basis.
Provide NGO representation where required e.g. BSF Steering Committee, MDTF Oversight Committee, MoH Technical Working Groups etc.
Communicate regularly with the National NGO Health Group in order to strengthen their position in advocating for more resources /capacity building.
Share NGO perspectives on decentralisation approaches at state and county levels

B. Administration (20%)

Act as secretariat of the monthly Health Forum meeting (45-50 participants) including NGOs, MoH, donors and UN Agencies.
Moderate the Health Forum googlegroup which now has over 1,000 members.Support the UN work-plan/CAP process for the Health Cluster; participate in identification of priorities, drafting of health sections, reviewing project sheets.
Assist in collation of CHF Reporting, which is lead by the Health Cluster Coordinator
Participate in other coordination forums as required, such as the Country Coordinating Committee (CCM) of the Global Fund (GFATM).

C. Information (30%)

Facilitate information flow for conducting gap analyses on basic service provision, alongside donors and the health cluster
Maintain NGO health matrix mapping of who works where and assist with discussions on databases such as HMIS
Set up and maintain mapping of NGO exits and transitions.
Support information sharing with donor coordination groups
Coordinate regularly with NGO secretariat to create synergies around advocacy and information sharing.
Attend and share outcomes of key meetings with NGOs more widely; technical working groups (TWGs)/coordination meetings e.g. EPR meetings/HR/M&E

D. Direct MOH Support (20%)

Support various directorates with individual initiatives as appropriate
Provide technical assistance to MoH in budget planning process as required.
Act as a resource for Technical Assistants to the MoH – information provision for consultants and donors to identify overlaps and gaps.
Provide regular briefings to new NGOs and visiting TAs/consultants signposting them to MoH policy, registration process etc.
Advocate and assist in process of developing prioritised services and indicators in the Basic Package of Health Services (BPHS).

E. Specific Cluster Responsibilities (20%)

WHO is the lead in health, and hence responsible for providing a focal person for the Cluster Coordinator position. The Cluster Co-Lead Agency is not expected to be the provider of last resort in the cluster. The Co-lead plays a support role which can include: 1. Leading on information from NGOs such as the Health Matrix or comprehensive other mapping tools. 2. Supporting regular cluster meetings and ad-hoc meetings, including commenting on agendas and priority information to be distributed. 3. Supporting information gathering for CAP, CHF or other common humanitarian information. 4. Liaising with the ISWG, OCHA, MoH and donors with the Cluster Coordinator.

It is hoped in 2012 the Health NGO Coordinator will also be involved with:

Supporting the MOH in implementing the HMIS through the Directorate of Monitoring, Evaluation and Research;
Support the roll out of updated policies, strategies and guidelines of the MoH to NGOs
Provide adhoc mentoring of staff selected by the MoH RSS (Dr Samson Baba, Director General of Directorate of External Assistance and Coordination);
Support relevant training initiatives to do with coordination, information or ministry systems;
Advise on information sharing between state and central levels.

Reporting To:

The post holder will be directly line managed by the Head of Programmes of the seconding NGO (GOAL). Functionally, they will also be accountable to the MoH RSS (Dr Samson Baba, Director General of Directorate of External Assistance and Coordination) and the Health Forum Advisory Team (HFAT).

The post holder will work closely with WHO Health Cluster Coordinator, Emergency Health Officer and the OCHA Humanitarian Affairs Officer responsible for Health; providing quarterly reports to the Team Leader of the BSF plus verbal updates.

Essential Requirements
At least three years overseas experience of working in health, at a senior management level in coordination / policy or a related role
Postgraduate degree in health or related discipline;
Experience in dealing with institutional donors such as OFDA, ECHO, USAID, and DFID
Excellent interpersonal, motivational and management skills;
Excellent analytical, writing and presentation skills;
Extensive experience liaising with governmental / local authorities and NGOs.
Proven advanced IT literacy levels
Experience of leading technical workshops (both large and small groups)

Desirable Requirements:
Experience of South Sudan, either working with the MoH or running health programmes at senior management level in South Sudan
Experience of Pooled Fund Mechanisms

How to apply:

If you would like to apply for the above position, please send your CV and covering letter to applications@goal.ie, ensuring that the job title and location of the role are clearly stated in the subject line of your email. Thank you.