Terms of Reference
Vacancy: Pediatrician
I. General Information
Post/Title: Pediatrician
Position Type : Diaspora expert
Date of issue: 18 December 2023
Duty Station: Dhusamareeb General Hospital
Duration of Assignment: 12 months
Deadline for applications : 08 January 2024
II. Background Information
About the MIDA FINNSOM III, Health and Education Project
The past decades have seen continued migration from various African countries, causing a “brain drain” that has debilitated various public sector systems across the continent. Through the IOM Migration for Development in Africa (MIDA) programme, Somali diaspora professionals have supported institutional capacity building, service delivery, and policy development of health and education institutions across Somalia since 2015.
The MIDA FINNSOM PHASE III – Health & Education project – contributes to strengthening the Health and Education sectors in Somalia towards achieving specific priorities in the Education Sector Strategic Plan (ESSP) and the Essential Package for Health Services (EPHS), as prioritized and outlined by the government. The project aims to do so by engaging and enhancing the role of qualified Somali diaspora experts willing to temporarily return to their country of origin. In particular, through assignments within key ministries and public institutions (including hospitals and universities), Somali diaspora experts contribute addressing gaps and enhancing strengths in the planning and delivery of health and education services, coherently with the needs identified through the dedicated baseline assessment conducted during the inception phase of the project. Furthermore, a component of the project is devoted toward contributing to the creation of stable and sustainable access to employment opportunities in the health and education sectors for local experts and interns, who will work in close coordination with the Somali diaspora experts – therefore reaping long-terms benefits of knowledge transfer, competencies sharing and skills development.
III. Duties and Responsibilities
The Federal Government of Somalia’s Ministry of Health and Human services (MoHHS), through the technical assistance provided by the IOM MIDA FINNSOM III Health and Education project, seeks to build the skills of its national health workforce, including its pediatricians.
Under the guidance and supervision of the Director of the Hospital, and with the MoHHS Coordinator and the MoHHS M&E Specialist overseeing the running of the task, the pediatrician will carry out the following duties and responsibilities:
- Perform his/her professional duties, according to the Ministry of Health and local Hospital guidelines, ensure national standards are maintained and adhere to universal precautions.
- Interpret testresults, discuss treatment and medication, andadvise patients and the general public on issues pertaining to child health care,according to the Hospital guidelines.
- Transfer skillsand knowledge in explaining diagnoses to staff of the department, local medical students, internship students and residents.
- Educate local experts and interns attached to the host institution, as well as patients, on family planning options, for the prevention of diseases underfive years of age, administering vaccinations for commonviruses or allergies and/or other medical care.
- Carry out daily ward rounds in the hospital department of pediatrics with other medical doctorsand nurses, healthprofessionals, local experts, interns, medical students, internship students andresidents working in the pediatric department, according to good clinical practice.
- Attends to children’s needs during theirfirst year of life.
- Perform procedures and provide on-the-job training to localstaff and students on pediatrics emergency cases.
- Carry outdiagnostic tasks, complete and duly file treatment documentation.
- Admit and discharges patients with appropriate instructions for further follow up and out-patient care.
- Refer patients to specialists, basedon their needs.
- Participate in case studies and weeklypresentations, write, file and disseminate relevant notes.
- Be on-call for night shifts and the emergency department.
- Actively participate in existing health sector coordination mechanisms and liaise with health sector stakeholders to contribute to: 1) addressing the unmet needs in reproductive health; 2) optimizing the allocation of available resources; and 3) developing clinical protocols, guidelines, and standards.
- Perform any other tasksrequired by the Hospital.
- Ensure that all documentation meets local medico-legal requirements, and that statistical data is collected, using the health monitoring system, and to incorporate information in regular reports.
IV: Requirements:
Besides the specific outputs mentioned in section III, the MIDA FINNSOM III Heath and Education project is requiring the following deliverables to be submitted throughout the assignment. These are the standard requirements for all assignments under this project:
- Transfer of skills: The main responsibility of the qualified Somali expatriate—which he/she will be measured against—will be to ensure continuous and systematic transfer of knowledge and skills as related to the assignment. It will have to be agreed with the beneficiary institution that staff will benefit from this knowledge.
- Work plan: A work plan must be developed with the Supervisor during the first week of the assignment to provide clear and time-bound activities to successfully implement the outputs of the assignment. This work plan will be shared with the supervisor, MoHHS coordinator, MoHHS M&E Specialist and IOM project team. This work plan can be revised during the assignment to reflect on new developments or changes.
- Quarterly and Final Reports: Quarterly progress reports will be submitted by the expert to the supervisor, MoHHS Coordinator, MoHHS M&E Specialist and IOM project team. At the end of the assignment, the participant must also provide a final report covering the duration of his/her assignment.
- Exit interview: An exit interview will be conducted to ensure that a proper exit plan has been put in place to sustain the achievements, upon completion of the assignment.
V: Qualifications
Level of Education: Master’s degree, with pediatrics specialization
Area of Study: Pediatrics
Years of work experience in what area(s): More than 5 years
Languages needed:
- Fluent in English.
- Fluent in Somali.
General Skills / Other Requirements:
- Ability to work long hours, often under pressure.
- Have excellent practical and management skills.
- Capacities to communicate with colleagues and staff in a clear and concise manner.
- Have compassion and good bedside manners.
- Have a drive to teach and learn throughout their career.
- Good interpersonal and cross-cultural skills.
All applications must be sent via email to: [email protected] with the following reference as a subject in your e-mail: APPLICATION – as mentioned in the vacancy announcement.
For further inquiries about the MIDA FINNSOM positions, you can reach out to Hussein Isse [email protected] and cc [email protected].
To be considered, applicants must provide a cover letter, CV, and the contact information (email and phone number) of two professional references by the closing date of this vacancy. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. The closing date of this application is 08 January 2024, at 12.00 PM EAT.
While this project is geared toward the Somali-Finnish diaspora, members of other Somali diaspora communities are also welcomed to apply. Females are highly encouraged to apply and participate in the MIDA FINNSOM III Health and Education Project.
VII: Security and insurance modalities
Health insurance—including evacuation due to a medical emergency—will be covered by the project. However, experts will be requested to provide a recent medical certificate stating that they are physically fit and able to work in a ‘hardship’ country.
Please note that IOM, according to the contract, will not be responsible for the security of qualified Somali expatriates. The host beneficiary institution will be responsible for the security of the individual.
Before leaving the country of residence or upon arrival in Somalia, the qualified Somali expatriate will receive a pre-service briefing including security advice and cultural background.
