Technical Advisor III: Family Planning Policy and Governance Senior Advisor

Global Health Fellows Program II

Technical Advisor III: Family Planning Policy and Governance Senior Advisor

Policy, Evaluation and Communication Division, Office of Population and Reproductive Health, Bureau for Global Health, United States Agency for International Development

Location: Washington, DC

Assignment: Two year fellowship

GHFP II-P2-073 

The Global Health Fellows Program (GHFP-II) is a five year cooperative agreement implemented and managed by the Public Health Institute in partnership with CDC Development Solutions and Management Systems International. GHFP-II is supported by the US Agency for International Development (USAID).

GHFP-II’s goal is to improve the effectiveness of USAID health programs by addressing the Agency’s immediate and emerging human capacity needs. The program seeks to accomplish this goal first through the recruitment, placement and support of diverse health professionals at the junior, mid and senior levels. These program participants include fellows, interns, corporate volunteers and Foreign Service National professionals. The program then provides substantial performance management and career development support to participants, including annual working planning assistance, and ensures that professional development opportunities are available.

Looking to the future, GHFP-II also seeks to establish a pool of highly-qualified global health professionals that will ensure the Agency’s ongoing technical leadership and effectiveness. This objective is supported by an extensive outreach program that brings global health opportunities and specialized career advice to a diverse range of interested individuals, with a particular focus on those underrepresented in the field of global health.

BACKGROUND:

The Family Planning Policy and Governance Advisor (Senior Advisor) will be based in the Policy, Evaluation and Communication (PEC) Division, one of four divisions in the Office of Population and Reproductive Health (PRH) in USAID’s Bureau for Global Health. The Division supports improved collection, analysis and use of data in policymaking and program planning, and promotes policies, behavior change, and community norms that result in improved family planning (FP) and reproductive health (RH) outcomes. 

The policy portfolio of PRH is focused on policy, governance, financing and advocacy. Illustrative examples of work in each of these areas include: 1) policy: drafting legal and regulatory frameworks, developing and implementing operational policies and plans, as well as developing FP/RH and multi-sectoral strategies;  2) governance:  promoting multisectoral engagement to improve accountability and transparency of FP programs; 3) financing: costing FP programs, resources tracking, conducting National Health accounts, developing performance-based financing schemes, and developing both national and community-level insurance schemes; and 4) advocacy:  increasing political will and commitment for FP, building the capacity of civil society to advocate for FP/RH policies and programs, and working with journalists to raise awareness about the importance of family planning.

The Office’s Health Policy Project (HPP) is designed to exercise global leadership and provide field level programming in health policy, governance, advocacy and financing, particularly in family planning, HIV/AIDS, and maternal and child health. The project accepts both central core funding for global impact work and field support funding for in-country work.  The HPP maintains a crosscutting focus on capacity development for strengthened country ownership, gender equity, increased access to underserved populations and improved health systems.

INTRODUCTION:

The Family Planning Policy and Governance Senior Advisor will serve as a senior technical advisor to the Office, and will work across the policy portfolio of the Office of Population, particularly supporting HPP. Serving as a member of the HPP Management Team, the Senior Advisor will substantively contribute to the oversight, implementation and management of the HPP, including technical review of project work plans, budgets, monitoring and evaluation plans, project products and annual management reviews.

In addition, the Senior Advisor will focus on a family planning agenda with intersection into HIV/AIDS and maternal and child health policy work.  S/he will also contribute to the overall goals of the Office and the Division through participation in PEC Division projects and activities as assigned.

The Family Planning Policy and Governance Senior Advisor will receive day to day guidance from the Agreement Officer’s Representative (AOR) of the HPP.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The primary responsibilities of the Family Planning Policy and Governance Senior Advisor include:

A.      Project Oversight for the Health Policy Project

·         Provide overall technical and strategic guidance to the HPP, and focused support to the project in policy and governance.

·         Provide oversight and input as requested across the range of HPP substantive issues, including policy, advocacy, financing, governance, accountability and crosscutting issues of capacity development, gender equity, access for underserved populations and health systems.

·         Support project implementation through participation in developing and reviewing documentation prepared by the implementing partner, including core budget requests, work plans, performance monitoring plans, progress reports, and technical products and publications.

·         Prepare and present HPP results reviews, budget requests and financial reviews as requested.

B.     Technical Support to USAID Missions and In-Country Partners

·         In concert with Office team colleagues, establish and maintain communications with USAID missions; coordinate support for field activities through work planning; monitor project implementation, performance and results in country programs. Respond to mission requests and questions related to HPP. Monitor HPP progress in the field.

·         Travel to USAID missions to provide technical guidance on the design and implementation of policy, advocacy, financing and governance activities and accountability measures, sharing leading practices and lessons learned.

C.     Coordination and Collaboration Activities on behalf of the PEC Division and the HPP

·         Provide technical support, coordination and collaboration on behalf of the PEC Division and the HPP as a subject matter expert in family planning policy and governance to the Bureau for Global Health, other Bureaus, Agency programs and initiatives and missions.

·         Develop effective linkages and coordinated approaches to improve global family planning efforts. 

·         Provide specific family planning policy and governance expertise to the USAID Health Systems Office.

International travel: approximately 2-3 trips per year and for 2-3 weeks’ duration.

Other tasks or responsibilities may be assigned based on (a) organizational and programming need and/or (b) the Advisor’s own interests.

REQUIRED SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

·         Master’s degree or higher in public health, health policy, international health or relations, social sciences or related field.

·         Minimum 10 years’ experience in family planning/reproductive health with at least 3 years’ experience in an international or resource challenged setting.

·         Strong knowledge of and demonstrated experience with policy and governance (including accountability) programming in international or resource poor environments.

·         Demonstrated understanding of public health issues:  family planning/reproductive health, maternal and child health, HIV/AIDS, health systems.

·         Experience in design, administration, management and implementation of health programs in public, NGO and/or private sectors in developing countries or resource poor settings.

·         Knowledge or experience in crosscutting issues of capacity development, gender equity, access for underserved populations, and /or improving health systems desirable.

·         Strong communications skills and ability to present information clearly in English both verbally and in writing.

·         Ability to work well with multiple stakeholders.

·         Working proficiency in French or Spanish desirable.

·         Ability to travel internationally.

·         US citizenship or US permanent residency required.

SALARY AND BENEFITS:

Salary based on commensurate experience and earnings history. The Public Health Institute offers a comprehensive benefits package including professional development programshttp://www.ghfp.net/docs/2013_Benefits_Booklet_GHFP.pdf

TO APPLY:

All applicants are required to apply for this position through GHFP-II’s online recruitment system athttps://www.ghfp.net/recruitment/, which allows you to store your CV, profile and bio data form in our database. A separate cover letter describing your qualifications and experience, interest and familiarity with issues relating to this position, and how this position relates to your career goals is required for each application. All applications must be submitted by 5:00 pm Eastern Time June 28, 2013. 

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