Program Officer – Benin 60 views1 applications

Over the past 40 years, Medical Care Development International (MCDI), the international health division of Medical Care Development, Inc. (MCD), has worked to strengthen health systems through practical, evidence-based and high-impact interventions in over 40 countries. MCDI collaborates with donors, national governments, the private sector, health agencies, communities, and other stakeholders to improve the health outcomes of vulnerable populations in the following areas: malaria prevention and control; maternal, neonatal, and child health; water, sanitation, and hygiene; HIV/AIDS; and other communicable diseases. At MCDI, employees join a diverse network of highly capable individuals around the world.

MCDI is actively seeking two Program Officers to provide support to the PMI Impact Malaria project. Based in Benin, the Program Officer will support the implementation and coordination of the Group-ANC study in Atlantique Department.

Duties and Responsibilities
• Offer continuous support in the implementation of study activities, including a baseline household survey, an endline household survey, and ongoing surveillance of the group antenatal care intervention (G-ANC) at health facilities
• Assist in design, creation and refinement of research instruments as necessary to ensure quality data are collected that correlate with research objectives
• Monitor implementation progress as per the activity matrix; ensure that study activities are executed successfully and are completed within time frames to meet research objectives
• Support in the organization and facilitation of capacity building activities including trainings, supervision, and mentorship (particularly at the health facility level)
• Support data collection, entry, cleaning, and storage in secure database
• Ensure that all study processes and activities protect study participant privacy and confidentiality, by ensuring guidelines on confidentiality and de-identification of participant data are met
• Assist in the recruitment, orientation, training, and supervision of short-term data collectors
• Use CommCare mobile application to collect data and help data collectors to troubleshoot problems with the application in the field
• Ensure that data collectors adhere to the data collection standard operating procedures (SOPs) and study protocol through quality control supervision in the field
• Review and manage all study data submitted by data collectors for completeness and quality as they are uploaded to the study database, assist in data cleaning/ checking as needed
• Develop reports based on study database, identify any gaps, and give feedback to the data collectors to ensure that problems are corrected and data issues are solved (via refresher trainings or coaching of individual data collectors)
• In coordination with local health authorities, review data reported to DHIS2 or SNIGS
• On a monthly on bi-monthly basis, visit 40 participating health facilities to observe the implementation of G-ANC activities
• Coordinate with the Ministry of Health (MoH), PMI Impact Malaria consortium partners, and other relevant stakeholders when needed
• Oversee implementation of qualitative study components such as focus group discussions
• Present the study and represent PMI Impact Malaria at regional technical forums and meetings with MoH and other stakeholders as assigned by the Project Coordinator
• Sensitize the health districts and health zones on issues related to the G-ANC study
• Foster integration with other teams contributing to the study for maximum leverage (from MOH, DSME, DPP/SNIGS)
• Document project success stories during routine programming according to USAID guidance
• Prepare programmatic reports on a quarterly and annual basis
• Submit supporting documentation for expenses in a timely manner in accordance with MCDI finance policies
• Support local logistics for MCDI activities and other PMI Impact Malaria consortium partners’ involvement in the study
• Other duties as necessary, to be assigned by the Project Coordinator

Reporting line: This position reports directly to the Cotonou-based Project Coordinator

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
• Degree/Diploma in Public Health, Nursing, Midwife or related field ( epidemiology, biostatistics) or equivalent experience
• 3+ years of work experience in supporting or coordination of research/donor funded programs
• Demonstrated experience and familiarity with research methodologies, sampling methods, implementation of household surveys, behavioral surveillance, data analysis, report writing
• Proficiency with MS Office applications. Knowledge of statistical packages is an added advantage
• Familiarity with CommCare or DHIS2 is an advantage
• Excellent analytical, communication, presentation and report writing skills
• Ability to communicate in French and Fongbe
• Ability to be based in Atlantique department with local travel up to 70% of the time, as well as monthly travel to Cotonou
• Collaborative outlook with experience working on teams, team-building and coordination skills

Duration of project: Up to 18 months
Start of activities: Immediate
Location: Atlantique Department, Benin