Responsible To: Provincial Health Director
Works With: Field medical and non medical team members and Provincial Management Team (PMT)
Location: Kindu, Maniema, DRC
Contract Duration: 6 Months
Starting Date: ASAP
Salary: £31,850 - £32,600 per annum (dependant on relevant experience), inclusive of annual Cost of Living Allowance
Benefits: Insurance cover, accommodation, R&R, annual leave entitlement of 24 days per annum rising to 30 days at the completion of 12 months of continuous employment with Merlin.


Only short-listed applicants will be contacted. Due to the urgency of this position, applications will be short listed on a regular basis and we may offer this post before the closing date.

Please note that this is an unaccompanied position

Merlin
Undaunted and determined, Merlin saves lives. We deliver medical expertise to the toughest places. And we stay to help build lasting health care.

Our mission is to end the needless loss of life in the poorest countries caused by a lack of effective health care. We help communities set up medical services for the long term including hospitals, clinics, surgeries and training for nurses and other health workers.

We do whatever it takes and we stay for as long as it takes.

Context and Background
The Democratic Republic of Congo is the third largest country in Africa and one of the poorest. Decades of dictatorship and an ongoing, unresolved civil war has left much of the national infrastructure destroyed.
Merlin has been operational in eastern DRC since 1997 when it established emergency medical support to populations in Maniema Province. Merlin teams have been providing emergency medical care to the most vulnerable, accessible populations in Maniema Province, Kasai Oriental Province, North Kivu and Orientale Province, and in response to the Goma volcanic eruption of Jan 2002. Activities include: emergency response, primary and secondary health care support including, reproductive health, institutional capacity building, nutrition, WASH, rehabilitation of health facilities.

Currently, three main programs are being implemented by Merlin in Maniema:
• Support to primary health care across ten health zones Maniema: This 3 year program covers health centre rehabilitation, drug and medical equipment supplies, training, partners capacity building, reproductive health, gender-based violence activities, specific support to reproductive health activities and support to immunization campaigns.
• Support to Kindu Provincial Referral Hospital: Funded by DFID, this program started in September 2002 and aimed at reviving Kindu hospital through rehabilitation, medicines supplies, re-equipment and staff training. Capacity-building of the team to enhance hospital self-sustainability.
A SIDA 2 year’s funded multi-provinces Emergency Obstetrical and Neonatal Care project which is implemented in Punia and Ferekeni health zones


Main purpose of the role
The health Systems and Policy Specialist will facilitate and assist the PMT with strengthening of the organizational capacity of the provincial and zonal health teams and managerial processes responsible for the management of health services in the province. The prospective post holder will focus on the following areas: strategic planning, financial management, Health Management Information Systems (HMIS), leadership and governance, partner and stakeholder coordination, human resource management, logistics and supply chain management support. The officer will be embedded within and provide direct technical assistance to the provincial medical inspector (MIP).

Programme Implementation & Monitoring
• Collaborate with Provincial director and health director to provide technical and operational guidance to the national health authorities in organizing, developing, strengthening and management of health systems;
• Assist with provincial capacity development and normative contributions in provincial health system strengthening at all levels including community health services, adopting appropriate tools, quality assurance and safety of health care, health system performance assessment and health system management;
• Work with the provincial and Zonal health managers to coordinate all activities in health system strengthening, provincial capacity development in health system management. This includes support to programme and interventions in an integrated approach
• Coordinate, promote and support evidence-informed policy making, particularly in the context of advancing Primary Health Care with emphasis on reduction of maternal newborn and child mortality rates;
• Support activities of the Organisation as required, including mobilising financial resources for health systems related development;
• Support and ensure monitoring and evaluation of all health activities implemented in accordance with Merlin policies, DRC MoH guidelines and internationally recognised standards through quarterly visits to the zonal and district offices;
• In collaboration with the other members of the PMT, organize and support the technical leadership in assessing institutional capacity of the BCZ and/or identify priority areas that need strengthening
• Assist with the implementation of integrated package of services along the line of continuum of care at individual, Household, community and health facility levels; setting clearly defined objectives and plans activities for self, own team or department.
• Contribute and provide quality quarterly reports to PHD highlighting key achievements and constraints Provide technical assistance, guidance and support to BCZ in order to strengthen their HR, M & E, HMIS, logistics (including supply chain management), and Finance, administration and planning functions
• Assist in recruitment planning and where relevant contribute to job descriptions and staff selection process

Coordination and Representation
• Provide support to the Provincial and Zonal health authorities to coordinate all stakeholders in the health sector within their areas of jurisdiction
• Ensure effective communication with and information exchange between the medical team members and the rest of the provincial team
• Maintain constructive working relationships with MoH counterparts and members of the PMT and rest of the Merlin staff in the province
• Represent Merlin's work to the MoH (at all levels), to international donors, UN agencies and (I)NGOs, through formal and informal contacts/meetings
• Contribute towards the dissemination of Merlin's work through publications (general, health sector, academic) in consultation with the field technical teams, the London Health Department and the London Communication Department
• Advocate at provincial and national level for adequate responses towards removing any financial barriers to access to essential health services particularly for pregnant and lactating women, children under five years, people with chronic conditions and other physically challenged individuals.

Security
• Full adherence to Merlin Maniema Security procedures.
• Full adherence to field communication protocols and standard operating procedures, informing fellow team members immediately of any security incident.
• To behave at all times in a manner which positively promotes Merlin and its work and actively maintaining Merlin’s acceptance strategy with both civilians and parties to the conflict.
• Actively participate in the updating of security guidelines

Person Specification
Essential
Qualifications, experience and competences
• Masters degree in health planning or Policy and management, Or Medical Doctor / Nurse with MPH and extensive experience in health planning and management
• Strong communication skills, with excellent written and spoken English and French
• A good understanding of health systems, especially primary health care
• Previous working experience in capacity development in the International health sector
• Strong knowledge and practical experience of Programme Management
• Proven experience of providing high quality advisory services, on-the-job training and mentoring to local partners of government departments in an international context.
• Strong understanding of issues and problems affecting smooth functioning of health systems in fragile countries and how to identify bottlenecks and address them.
• Demonstrable experience and skills in health programming, health system strengthening, and capacity building of organizations
• Strong negotiating, influencing and consultative skills, with the ability to form strong internal and external working relationships
• Ability to effectively prioritize multiple tasks and deadlines
• Experience in representation and interaction with donors, government officials, international organizations, and NGO representatives concerning health issues and initiatives in complex humanitarian emergencies.
• Good team player, flexible and capable of working with a multinational country team.
• Ability and willingness to travel to rural locations and live in sometimes basic conditions.
• Appreciation of and sensitivity to local culture.
• Experience of a flexible approach to managing and prioritising a high workload and multiple tasks in a fast paced environment with tight deadlines
• An understanding of and commitment to Merlin’s mission and values
• Confident and proficient in the use of MS Office

Desirable
• Previous working experience in the region

To apply for this position
To apply for this job, please go to www.merlin.org.uk/jobs and apply using our online recruitment system. In order to apply for a job with Merlin online you will need to complete a short registration process and create an account – the online recruitment system explains how to do this. Once your account has been created, you will be able to save the information that you have entered in your application and re-visit it at any time before you submit it.

If you are unable to apply online for any technical reason, please contact applications@merlin.org.uk.

Please note that we do not accept CVs. Unfortunately due to the number of applications we receive, only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

Data Protection
Please note that in accordance with the 1998 Data Protection Act, Merlin will hold and use personal information that you have given for the purpose of recruitment and employment. This information can be stored in manual and/or electronic form. This information may also be disclosed to third parties in accordance with the Data Protection Act. In cases where a job offer is conditional on ensuring that potential employees’ names do not appear on counter terrorism lists generated by the United Nations, European Union or the United States due to donor funding requirements, Merlin will use the information that you have given for checking that your name does not appear on these lists.