Technical Advisor Position (Consultancy), The Carter Center/South Sudan Guinea Worm Eradication Program 211 views4 applications

On behalf of The Carter Center, Technical Advisors (TAs) provide technical, managerial, and administrative support to the Ministry of Health, Republic of South Sudan, Guinea Worm Eradication Program (SSGWEP) within a specific coverage area (county, State, or district). TAs are responsible for the implementation and oversight of all interventions to stop guinea worm disease transmission and, as assigned, conduct M&E activities in Level I, II, III areas. Primary responsibilities include:

1). Managing 5-25 field-level staff to implement interventions to stop guinea worm transmission. Field staff management includes training, co-ordination, planning, and direct field-level supervision. The majority of TAs time (80%) is spent with field staff in villages/cattle camps working in a supportive / supervisory capacity. These field staff responsibilities include:

a. Overall maintenance and supervision of volunteer-based surveillance system, including:

i. Village/Cattle Camp level supervisory visits with a focus on endemic and at risk villages and cattle camps based on needs, planning calendars, and program guidelines;

ii. Facilitation of community meetings and community mobilization for intervention implementation / health education;

iii. Accurate recording of case information and interventions in Village or Boma level registers;

iv. Volunteer and program staff technical training; and

v. Monthly meetings conducted with volunteer staff

b. Intervention implementation through volunteer network with direct supervision, including:

i. Distribution of cloth and pipe filters;

ii. Health education and training on cloth and pipe filter use / care and Guinea Worm transmission / prevention; and

iii. Village/cattle camp based containment of guinea worm cases: daily treatment, health education, prevention of patients from entering water sources, case detection, and case confirmation

c. Application of chemical larvaecide (Abate), including measurement of water sources and correct summary of information

d. Oversight of monthly summary of village/Boma-level case and summary data

e. Collection of geographic coordinates for mapping

f. Maintenance of positive relationships and sharing of relevant information with community leaders and local authorities

g. Review and screening of monthly data reports to be sent to MoH, when feasible.

2). Overseeing of transportation assets (motorcycles and vehicle) and stock (intervention materials, compound supplies), which includes submission of vehicle maintenance sheets and stock inventory cards.

3). Providing administrative support for staff, which includes submitting leave requests and related calendars, filing disciplinary reports, and facilitating other HR-related issues. Overseeing of all technical aspects of GWD eradication, including surveillance, implementation of interventions used to interrupt transmission of GWD, and staff compliance with the SSGWEP operational guidelines. Supporting the capacity building and training of surveillance officers in Level I, II, and III areas (as assigned) in order to build ownership of the SSGWEP at the level of County Health Department and ensure an active village based surveillance system.

4). Responding to rumors, suspects, and cases of GWD outside of coverage area as requested by the Secretariat.

5). Conducting Monitoring and Evaluation activities, which include:

a. Assessing Cash Reward Awareness for reporting Guinea Worm disease

b. Assessing the capacity of SSGWEP and/or IDSR to detect, report, investigate, and respond to GWD.

c. Supporting field teams to immediately address gaps and issues detected during relevant assessments, as directed by Secretariat.

d. Helping develop training curricula that includes health education, data collection and reporting, and awareness activities designed to detect and contain cases of GWD

6). Developing an effective relationship with residents of endemic communities to engage their active participation in the eradication of GWD, including their participation in: 1) keeping residents/visitors with the disease from contaminating sources of drinking water, 2) ensuring all residents always filter all drinking water, and 3) promptly reporting any cases of GWD in their community.

7). Effectively communicating with local, county, state, and national authorities regarding the status and needs of the GWEP, particularly advocacating for the provision and or rehabilitation of safe sources of drinking water.

8). Maintaining a full-time presence in a remote field setting, of which 80% is spent working within villages/cattle camps. Must be willing and able to walk long distances in extreme geographical (i.e. hot and/or wet) environments. TAs are based out of SSGWEP sub-offices in these remote settings.

9). Maintaining professional behavior in a challenging and resource-limited environment. TAs are primarily supervised by the Director of the SSGWEP, The Carter Center’s Country Representative and Deputy Country Representative, and more regularly and directly by the Senior TA of the SSGWEP.

Other requirements are:

• At least 2 years of public health experience with community-based programs, preferably in Africa. MPH or other graduate degree preferred but not required.
• Demonstrated experience with the preparation of technical reports, budgets, plans of action, and management of inventories.
• Demonstrated ability to build team work.
• Ability to be flexible in a fast paced, dynamic, and changing work environment
• Sound personal and professional conduct, and respect for the work of The Carter Center and the Ministry of Health of South Sudan.
• Ability to make sound work judgments under difficult conditions, and to become technically effective with minimal level of attention from supervisors.

TAs are independent contractors that are offered short term contracts up to 180 days (6 months). A contractor may be offered multiple successive contracts over time. The contract provides a daily honorarium commensurate with experience and education.