Technical Specialist – Vulnerable population

DAI Global Health, LLC seeks a Technical Specialist for Jalin, USAID’s Flagship Maternal and Newborn Health Activity, based in Jakarta Indonesia.

Program:           Jalin, USAID’s Flagship Maternal and Newborn Health Activity

Reports to:      Technical Director

Location:          Jakarta, with regional travel up to 30%

Position Summary: 

The Technical Specialist-Vulnerable Populations will work under the supervision of the project’s Technical Director and with Jalin staff in Jakarta and field offices to support efforts to improve utilization of quality maternal and newborn health services by the poorest and most vulnerable populations.  In addition, he or she will provide technical assistance to subnational health offices, civil society organizations, communities, and other relevant stakeholders to ensure that the design and implementation of local solutions to improve maternal and neonatal health reach populations such as the economically disadvantaged, racial and ethnic minorities, the uninsured, low-income children, the elderly, the homeless, and other marginalized groups.  The Technical Specialist-Vulnerable Populations will look beyond the mainstream poverty reduction target indices to reach the poorest and most vulnerable groups, and engage them in MNH program initiatives. 

Program Description:  Through Jalin, USAID’s Flagship Maternal and Newborn Health Activity, USAID/Indonesia’s role as a development partner will shift from funding implementation of specific interventions to facilitating and supporting partnerships across a variety of stakeholders to catalyze local solutions through co-creation processes; leverage public and private financing; and increase the pace at which good quality local evidence is made widely available and utilized. 

In six populous provinces across Indonesia, Jalin will work to create opportunities to strengthen civic engagement and commitment to create a movement for maternal and newborn health aligned with strong political commitment from the Government of Indonesia (GOI). The Jalin Project aims improve delivery and utilization of essential health and other services to reduce preventable maternal and newborn deaths, particularly among the poorest and most vulnerable populations

Roles and Responsibilities:

•       Provide technical assistance on subjects related to health inequalities associated with essential maternal and newborn care during the development and implementation of local solutions focusing on:

•       Increasing health seeking behaviors for quality maternal and neonatal health services among the poorest and most vulnerable;

•       Improving health system responsiveness to specific needs of the poorest and most vulnerable;

•       Improving appropriate identification of the poorest and most vulnerable;

•       Improving access to information on health care options for the poorest and most vulnerable;

•       Coordinate with and provide technical assistance to the Ministry of Health, other governmental bodies as well as relevant nongovernmental and private stakeholders on health inequality issues that affect poorest and most vulnerable;

•       Provide technical leadership to the co-creation process to develop local solutions that address the needs of vulnerable populations;

•       Coordinate closely with Jalin staff and partners who are implementing local solutions to ensure that systemic health inequality issues are detected and addressed as needed;

•       Develop strategies and technical concept notes related to health inequalities associated with the poorest and most vulnerable;

•       Support Jalin staff for the timely preparation and submission of reports and other deliverables including annual performance reports, annual work plans, and ad hoc presentations and reports;

•       Strengthen the capacities of project and partner staff with technical updates, sharing of new evidence, and learning and supportive supervision;

•       Work with the monitoring, evaluation, research, learning and adaptation (MERLA) team to analyze data and assess changes in health inequality indicators related to the poorest and most vulnerable and to track progress and results for documentation and dissemination;

•       Travel to field sites to provide technical assistance and oversee the implementation of programs that address health inequalities for the poorest and most vulnerable; and

•       Perform other duties as assigned by the Technical Director.

Qualifications:

·       A minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree in International Development, Women’s Studies, Education, Public Health, Medicine, Social Sciences (such as Medical Anthropology), Education, or another related field.

·       Minimum of 7 years of experience working within Indonesia’s health system with a focus on issues related to access to quality services for poor and vulnerable populations.

·       Experience working with national and subnational government, nongovernmental organizations, donors, and other relevant stakeholders;

·       Demonstrated understanding and familiarity with issues related to disabled groups and vulnerable populations as well as evidence-based solutions, 

·       Excellent interpersonal and oral and written communication skills; fluency in English required (oral and written);

·       Computer literacy, specifically in Microsoft Word and Excel, is required;

·       Previous work experience and knowledge of USAID or other donor projects a plus;

·       Knowledge of maternal and newborn health issues desirable;

·       Ability to work in changeable and complex environments with multiple tasks, competing priorities, and short deadlines

Interested and qualified applicants should send their CV and a cover letter to indonesiamnh@dai.com  with the words “Technical Specialist – Vulnerable Population” in the subject line. Deadline for application is 15 February 2018.