COVID-19 Technical Coordinator Consultant At FHI 360

BACKGROUND:

FHI 360 is a nonprofit human development organization dedicated to improving lives in lasting ways by advancing integrated, locally driven solutions. Our staff includes experts in health, education, nutrition, environment, economic development, civil society, gender, youth, research, technology, communication and social marketing- creating a unique mix of capabilities to address today’s interrelated development challenges. FHI 360 serves more than 70 countries and all U.S. states and territories.

FHI 360 is seeking a COVID-19 Technical Coordinator Consultant, based in Fiji, under the Meeting Targets and Maintaining Epidemic Control (EpiC), a five-year global project funded by U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). EpiC receives COVID-19 funding to prevent, prepare for, respond to and bolster health systems to address COVID-19 and reduce cases of reemergence.

With support from USAID, the EpiC project is implementing COVID-19 response activities in the Pacific Islands, with the objective of reducing morbidity and mortality from COVID-19, mitigating transmission, and strengthening the health system to prevent, detect and respond to pandemic threats. As part of the COVID-19 activity, EpiC and partners focus on collaboration with ministries of health (MoHs) in five countries across several areas, these include 1) strengthening the cold chain for COVID-19 vaccine delivery, 2) building capacity for infection prevention control (IPC) for vaccine administration, 3) developing and implementing communications campaigns on COVID-19 transmission and vaccination, ad 4) strengthening health information systems and data collection and reporting for COVID-19 surveillance. To deliver project activities, EpiC partners closely with a regional organization based in Fiji.

EpiC is seeking a Technical Coordinator, based in Fiji, to lead key tasks and provide overall coordination of COVID-19 activities in the Pacific Islands, including activities in Fiji, Tonga, Solomon Islands, Kiribati and Marshal Islands. The consultant will oversee completion of the project workplan within the set timeframe, monitor progress against targets, address potential bottlenecks and serve as a liaison and key focal point for FHI 360 partnering organization(s) and ministries of health (as required). The consultant will support regular reporting to the project donor and identify project learnings, highlights and success stories.

This consultancy has an initial period of performance through 22 December 2022 and an initial level of effort of 60 days, with a potential extension.

Candidates must currently be based in Fiji.

CONSULTANCY SCOPE OF WORK

The consultant will be required to complete tasks similar, but not limited to the below:

• Coordination with FHI 360 partner organizations in the Pacific Islands on a regular basis, and MoH officials as may be required

– Hold introductory meetings and subsequent regular meetings and on-site visits with partner organizations and MoH (as required) to plan and track project activities;

– Work closely with partnering organizations to define project timelines, track progress against performance targets, and troubleshoot barriers to timely completion of activities;

– Work with partnering organizations on workplans and estimated operational costs if any and share with FHI 360 / EpiC headquarters and USAID for review;

– Hold regular meetings with MoH officials, as necessary, to share updates on the project activities;

– Ensure that partners are aware of and able to follow USAID branding guidelines (USAID stickers to be pasted on the manuals for ventilator use).

• Overall coordination of the EpiC activities across five Pacific Islands

– Support provision of monthly progress updates to FHI 360, USAID and MoH asrelevant;

– Address field level bottlenecks, if any, during the execution of TA activities;

– Attend coordination meetings with partners and MoH, as relevant, and relay critical information to the EpiC Technical Monitor;- Support timely completion and the high-quality of all project milestones as defined in the approved workplan;

– Coordinate the receipt and importation of medical supplies/consumables to designated countries;

– Support knowledge sharing from EpiC activities in the Pacific Islands with other EpiC countries;

– Identify opportunities to share project learnings, challenges, successes and highlight stories and collaborate with EpiC staff to develop write-ups.

• In collaboration with project partners, oversee completion of project deliverables:

– Work closely with partnering organization(s) to ensure high quality and completion of

• A cold chain assessment, assist with development of action plans / procurement lists as an output of the assessment;
• Communications strategies, assist with development of action plans / communications collateral as a follow-up to strategy development;
• IPC training materials and training lists;
• A needs assessment for strengthening data collection and systems for COVID-19 case surveillance;
• A scope of work and associated deliverables for delivering telemedicine services.

– Support quality control of all deliverables, identifying the need for inputs and reviews from technical experts on the EpiC project as needed.

QUALIFICATIONS EDUCATION:

• Bachelors degree in public health, communications, medical sciences, sociology or a similar field.
• Graduate degree in public health field preferred.

WORK EXPERIENCE:

• At least 5 years’ experience managing and/or coordinating health-focused projects in the Pacific Islands.
• At least 2 years’ experience working on the delivery of donor-funded programming, USAID and Pacific Islands experience preferred.
• Experience working with the health systems in in the Asia-Pacific region preferred.
• Experience working with MoH officials at the national as well as subnational levels
• preferred.

SKILLS/ABILITIES:

• Strong coordination and capacity building skills.
• Strong communication skills, including writing and oral presentation.
• Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail.
• In-depth understanding of local health sector context and capabilities preferred.
• Prior experience working with USAID and/or other donors preferred.
• Working proficiency in English.

LOCATION:

• Willing to travel to facilities to assess needs and/or provide training.
• Candidates currently based in Fiji encouraged to apply.

COST AND PAYMENT SCHEDULE: The total work anticipated under this consultancy is for up to 60 days. The consultant will be paid at a daily rate and any required travel and accommodation costs (if required) will be paid by FHI 360 in accordance with EpiC policy.

The consultant will be paid upon satisfactory completion of asks and upon receipt of an invoice.