Associate, Entomologist 58 views0 applications

Founded in 2002, by President William J. Clinton and Ira Magaziner, the Clinton Health Access Initiative, Inc. (“CHAI”) is a global health organization committed to strengthening integrated health systems and expanding access to care and treatment in the developing world. CHAI’s solution-oriented approach focuses on improving market dynamics for medicines and diagnostics; lowering prices for treatment; accelerating access to lifesaving technologies; and helping governments build the capacity required for high-quality care and treatment programs. Since its inception, CHAI’s programs have helped more than 11.8 million people in more than 70 countries have access to CHAI-negotiated prices for HIV/AIDS medicines, saving the global health community billions of dollars. For more information, please visit: www.clintonhealthaccess.org.

Malaria is one of the world’s most important causes of illness, death, and lost economic productivity.  Over the past decade, dramatic increases in donor funding have facilitated scale-up of effective interventions to prevent, diagnosis, and treat malaria. This investment has successfully reduced the burden of malaria in many settings, and some countries have begun planning to eliminate it altogether. CHAI’s malaria program provides direct management and technical support to countries around the globe to strengthen their malaria programs and reduce the burden of this preventable, treatable disease. We support governments to scale up effective interventions for prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and surveillance, with the goals of sustainably reducing the number of malaria-related illnesses and deaths worldwide in the short-term and accelerating progress towards malaria elimination in the long term. Over the past several years, CHAI has partnered with governments across Southern Africa to help them accelerate reorientation towards malaria elimination by devising targeted, evidence-based plans, identifying sufficient resources to enact them, strengthening surveillance systems, scaling-up parasite-focused and vector control interventions in high risk and hard-to-reach populations, and coordinating activities regionally. CHAI’s country teams provide direct operational support to national and sub-national malaria programs to achieve their elimination goals.

Summary of Position:

The Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) seeks a highly qualified entomologist to support the Namibia Ministry of Health and Social Services and National Vector-borne Diseases Control Programme (NVDCP) on work streams related to entomology and vector control.  Entomological capacity has been identified as a significant gap in the Namibia malaria programme, particularly as it relates to the work streams described herein.  The entomologist will provide critical capacity building, planning, and M&E support to the NVDCP and regions, including but not limited to (1) Planning and implementation of the National Insecticide Resistance Monitoring Plan, (2) support to regional Environmental Health Practitioners in beginning routine evaluation and surveillance of the key entomological determinants of malaria vectors, (3) support strong systems of monitoring and evaluating existing vector control interventions, (4) support capacity improvement for the Oshakati insectary.  S/he will work in collaboration with the Integrated Vector Management unit at the NVDCP, as well as Environmental Health staff from the regions.  S/he must be able to manage multiple tasks and drive multiple work flows forward.  S/he must exhibit a passion for results and commitment to excellence.  CHAI places great value on the following qualities in its staff: resourcefulness, responsibility, patience, tenacity, humility, independence, energy, and work ethic.

The Associate will be expected to develop and manage strong relationships with the NVDCP and relevant country partners, help design evidence-based strategic plans, and provide dedicated day-to-day operational support to ensure execution of effective, high-impact programs.  The position requires a highly motivated individual with outstanding analytical, problem-solving, organizational, and communication skills.

Applicants should be open to placement in the northern office of the NVDCP in Oshakati.

Applicant information will be reviewed by external partner.

Responsibilities:

• Provide day-to-day support to the national malaria program to help to make evidence-based plans and execute effective programs, particularly the Vector Control team
• Support the NVDCP Vector Control team to implement strong systems for vector control monitoring and evaluation
• Support planning and implementation of the National Insecticide Resistance Monitoring Plan
  • Review current sentinel site placement, and advise on optimal implementation
  • Support regional Environmental Health Practitioners in implementation of routine evaluation and surveillance of key entomological parameters of malaria vectors – including, but not limited to, routine susceptibility testing, WHO cone bioassay testing
  • Evaluation, monitoring and management of vector populations’ resistance/susceptibility to commonly used insecticides in the public health sector
• Support capacity strengthening of the Oshakati Insectary, with aim of maintaining a highly functional national insectary
• Build strong relationships with stakeholders across government and non-governmental organizations
• Serve as a trusted advisor to the national malaria program, particularly in relation to the vector control technical team
• Work with CHAI’s technical teams, Namibia’s malaria program manager, and regional manager to develop and implement a coordinated program of support
• Identify key impediments to programmatic goals and help devise targeted solutions to them
• Develop high quality presentations and reports for internal and external stakeholders
• Coordinate meetings and facilitate knowledge sharing between the government program and partner organizations in the region to ensure coordination
• Other responsibilities as needed

Qualifications:

• PhD in medical entomology or related field strongly preferred; or Bachelor’s degree with exceptional experience
• Minimum one year experience in applied entomology and malaria vector control.
• Exceptional problem-solving solving skills and analytical capabilities
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Skill in making persuasive presentations and written reports
• Strong organizational abilities and detail-oriented approach
• Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously, set priorities, and work independently
• Strong interpersonal skills and proven ability to build and maintain strong relationships in a multicultural environment
• Patience and thoughtfulness even in high-pressure, stressful situations
• Strong spoken and written English
• Experience working in developing country context, with willingness to spend up to 50% of time in the field

Advantages:

• Experience working in Namibian and/or Southern Africa context