State Child Health Consultant - International Development Agency

1. POSITION VACANT: State Child Health Consultant, International Development Agency, Patna, Bihar

2. ORGANIZATION BACKGROUND:

Our client is a respected, International Development Agency, that works across the globe to promote children's survival, protection and development.

Project Background:

The confluence of key factors creates a pivotal opportunity to accelerate progress toward achieving the Government of Bihar’s (GoB) 2018 targets for reductions in rates of mortality, fertility and malnutrition, and increases in immunization coverage.
These factors include:
(a) Consistent political support from GoB to improve the health of women and children, exemplified most recently by the selection of Aspirational districts;
(b) Recent launch of the Government of India’s (GoI) Home based Young Child care (HBYC) program;
(c) Agreement with GoB on a Common Minimum Package (CMP) formulated by all development partners to support these goals
(d) Coordinate and facilitate roll out of IAPPD across the state.

IDA, being a valued partner of GOB, is keen to provide technical and managerial support to attain the SDG 3 and implementation of IAPPD is a step forward to accelerate the efforts. Needless to mention, any good policy, guidelines or action plan requires effective implementation to get best of it.

The role of Child Health Consultant is crucial along with other development partners who will work closely with GoB to develop effective strategies to achieve GoB’s 2018 targets for reductions in rates of mortality, fertility and increases in immunization coverage.

3. JOB DESCRIPTION/ RESPONSIBILITIES:

Reporting to the Health Specialist, UNICEF Office, Bihar, Patna, the State Child Health Consultant will play a critical role in ensuring that key child health interventions receive sufficient technical support to achieve high rates of coverage and that the program is continuously supported with state of the art knowledge, best practices and new and adapted tools and technologies. S/he will co-ordinate integration of child health with other technical areas such as maternal health, newborn care, and nutrition. She/he will play crucial role in roll out of IAPPD within the state.

Key Deliverables:

(1) Work closely with Child Health Cell of SHSB in providing technical support to a range of child health interventions, particularly roll out of Integrated Action plan for prevention and control of Pneumonia and diarrhoea in Bihar;
(2 Work closely with DHS of IDA supported districts for implementation of Home Based Young Child care (HBYC) interventions;
(3) Provide technical inputs to reinforce skill, identify operational issues and devise corrective measures for improvement of programme performance of ASHA Facilitators;
(4) Provide technical inputs to reinforce skill, identify operational issues and devise corrective measures for improvement of programme performance of ASHA Facilitators;
(5) Provide orientation and hands on support to ASHA Facilitators on tracking and follow up of high risk new-born and SNCU graduates. The processes to include: ASHA will be guided to prepare a detailed line list of high risk new-born (either sick and/or < 2000 gm weight) of all new-born visited by her and submit to ASHA Facilitator;
(6) Support the preparation of operational guidelines, tools, training and communication materials related to IDCF campaign, Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK), and other child health interventions;
(7) Support SHSB for strengthening ARSH clinics under RKSK program;
(8) Work closely with the new-born care expert to ensure seamless integration of neonatal and child health interventions in programs;
(9) Plan activity implementation aligned with State Action Plan and strengthen MIS based tracking of RBSK program;
(10) Work closely with the monitoring systems to ensure that child health related indicators and correctly and adequately captured in the monitoring data.;
(11) Track progress in implementation and results of child health interventions based on the range of available data sources, and direct observations in the field, and produce analyses for review and mid-course corrections of these interventions;
(12) Candidate should be willing to travel in state of Bihar for more about 30 % of time.

4. QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE AND COMPETENCIES:

Qualification:
(1) Applicants must have a degree in Social Science/ Health Management;
(2) Applicant having Diploma in Public Health and Nutrition will be preferred.

Experience:
(1) Minimum five years of post-qualification work experience in RCH programme;
(2) At least three years of State level work experience in MCH program/project management with adequate knowledge of Reproductive, maternal, neonatal, child health and IMNCI/FBNC/HBNC.

Skills and Competencies:
(1) Good negotiation and influencing skills supported by excellent communication skills;
(2) High level of computer proficiency with specific familiarity with commonly used Windows and MS Office software and database software;
(3) Excellent oral and written communication & presentation skills in English and Hindi;
(4) Demonstrate ability to work in a multi-disciplinary team environment with strong facilitation skills, ability to analyze reports, plan and monitor projects.

5. NATURE OF ENGAGEMENT:

The SCHC shall be hired on a consultancy contract through Strategic Alliance Management Services P Ltd. (SAMS), a respected HR Agency.

6. PROFESSIONAL FEES:

Professional fees of the selected candidate shall be Rs. 1,25,000 per month for the period of the consultancy assignment. (Note: Subsistence, Mobility and Contingency support shall be separately provided, to address field travel and related costs incurred by the SCHC).

7. LOCATION: Patna, with need base travel to field.

8. DURATION: The consultancy assignment will be effective from the date of joining till December 31, 2018.

9. REFERENCE: SCHC

10. CONTACT INFORMATION:

Senior Consultant
Strategic Alliance Management Services P Ltd.
1/1B, Choudhary Hetram House, Bharat Nagar
New Friends Colony, New Delhi 110 025
Phone Nos.: 011- 2684 2162; 4165 3612
Email: schc@sams.co.in

11. APPLICATION PROCESS:

Eligible candidates interested in this position are requested to apply to schc@sams.co.in with a cover letter, discussing their interest in and suitability for the position, along with an updated resume, giving details of three references, current cost to organization and expected compensation, by or before July 14, 2018.