Consultant Job Vacancy at USAID in Uganda- Career Opportunity

USAID Health Care Improvement Project is seeking to hire a Consultant to run their Maternal and Newborn health services and Research components of the Project. This person will support the implementation of newborn health activities expected to contribute to reducing neonatal mortality in Uganda.

The Health Care Improvement (HCI) Project funded by USAID is dedicated to improving health, population and nutrition services through technical support to service delivery institutions, USAID country missions, and cooperating agencies.

The goal of the MNCH Unit is to support HCI MNCH work at all levels including both global initiatives and in-country activities. Visit our website at http://www.hciproject.org/ for more information on this project.

The goal of the Research and Evaluation Unit of the HCI Project is to support country-initiated research on institutionalization, effective design and implementation of improvement work, spread of improvement, cost effectiveness, and comparing the improvement collaborative to other improvement methodologies.

In November 2009, HCI obtained the approval of USAID/ Uganda and the MOH for starting a new program, funded by HCI core funds, to improve the quality of essential newborn care (ENC) including newborn resuscitation in Luwero and Masaka districts in Uganda. Subsequently, at the request of USAID, active management of third stage labor was incorporated into the ENC training. The improvement collaborative approach is being used to implement this program with the establishment of improvement collaboratives at both facility and community levels

In 2010, we began work to develop a comparative study that will include an evaluation and cost-effectiveness analysis of the essential newborn care improvement collaborative (IC) compared to clinical content training (CCT) alone. The protocol and data collection tools for this study are already complete. HCI is seeking a consultant who will coordinate data collection and cleaning and participate in analysis and report writing.

HCI is also conducting several other research studies in Uganda. While these studies are the responsibility of other HCI staff and consultants, this consultant may be called upon to contribute to some or all of these studies as needed.


TERMS OF REFERENCE

(a) Work in close collaboration with the HCI Uganda Quality Improvement Advisor responsible for the ENC facility improvement collaboratives in Luwero and Masaka districts
(b) Communicate regularly with the Quality Improvement Advisor based at HCI headquarters in Bethesda, Maryland assigned to provide technical assistance and guidance to the project
(c) Participate in bi-weekly teleconferences with the HCI Uganda Quality Improvement Advisor, the HCI Uganda COP, the HCI Quality Improvement Advisor based at HCI headquarters in Bethesda, Maryland, and the HCI Director of MNCH
(d) Update and coordinate with other implementing MNCH partners and stakeholders in Uganda
(e) Provide training and support in ENC and quality improvement to selected Village Health Teams in Luwero and Masaka districts in Uganda
(f) Assist in the implementation of the health facility improvement collaborative in addition to work in the community improvement collaborative
(g) Develop a workplan for implementation of improvement collaborative activities at community level and revise quarterly as indicated in collaboration with the HCI Uganda Quality Improvement Advisor, the HCI Quality Improvement Advisor based at HCI headquarters in Bethesda, Maryland, and the HCI Director of MNCH
(h) Be responsible for meeting the objectives in the workplan on time
(i) Ensure the quality of data collection for the comparative study and other R&E studies as needed
(j) Support the design and implementation of research on maternal and newborn health as needed
(k) Participate in the cleaning and analysis of data from the comparative study and other other R&E studies as needed
(l) Draft sections for the comparative study report and other R&E studies as needed
(m) Write a monthly report and submit to HCI Uganda and HCI headquarters in Bethesda, Maryland
(n) Contribute to writing HCI quarterly and annual progress reports and other reports, as needed
(o) Other tasks as assigned

METHOD OF WORK

This person will work under supervision of HCI Chief of Party and in collaboration with the HCI project coordinator and project Quality Improvement Advisors. He/she will participate in MCH meetings, National Newborn Steering Committee meetings, and HCI staff meetings.

DURATION OF THE CONTRACT
The activities should be completed in 12 months from the date of the award of the contract.

REQUIREMENT OF THE COORDINATOR
The coordinator should:

• be knowledgeable and conversant about national MNCH health policies, newborn and child health programs, capacity building and the operation of the decentralized health system
• have advanced training at least of masters level in public health or related field (preferred)
• have clinical background in maternal/newborn health
• be fluent in English and Luganda
• be experienced in primary health care
• have a solid understanding of research, monitoring and evaluation, including quantitative skills and principles of research design
• have experience in conducting health related research
• be willing to travel within Uganda and interact with both facility and community level staff and health workers
• have good writing and presentation skills
• have effective written and verbal communication skills and interpersonal skills
• have experience in coordination and management of project activities

APPLICATION PROCESS:

Qualified applicants must submit all relevant documents to the URC Office by 5pm on Friday, 13, May 2011. Please send your CV, photocopies of certificates and testimonials as well as names and contact information for 3 professional references to the following address or e-mail:

University Research Co., LLC – Centre for Human Services,
Plot 40 Ntinda II Road,
P.O Box 28745 Kampala,
UGANDA. Email: urcuganda@urc-chs.com

SALARY: Attractive and negotiable in accordance with the level of training, experience and skills mix.