Senior Public Health Adviser – Hargeisa, Somaliland

Vacancy: Senior Public Health Adviser

Terms of Reference

Position: Senior Public Health Adviser

Position type: Diaspora Participant

Date of Issue: 24.10.2022

Beneficiary Institution:  Ministry of Health Development

Duty Station:  Hargeisa

Stream/Band:  Stipend commensurate with degree and experience

Duration of Assignment: 12 months

Deadline for Applications:  07.11.2022

II. Background Information 

About the MIDA FINNSOM Health Phase V Project

The past decades have seen continued migration from various African countries, causing a “brain drain” that has debilitated various public sector systems across the continent. Through the IOM Migration for Development in Africa (MIDA) FINNSOM Health project, Somali diaspora professionals have supported institutional capacity building, service delivery, and policy development of health institutions across Somaliland since 2008.

The project is currently in its fifth phase (2022-2025), building on lessons learned from the previous phases, and continues its progress towards improving health outcomes in close partnership with the Ministry of Health Development in Somaliland. Through the short-term deployment of diaspora health professionals, the objective is to transfer their skills and knowledge to the local staff in targeted institutions. Local professionals will remain an integral part of this project to contribute to sustainable outcomes in the health sector in Somaliland and to benefit from the knowledge and skills exchange with the diaspora professionals.

The new phase of the MIDA FINNSOM Health project aims to strengthen sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for women and girls whilst providing mentoring and training opportunities for local health professionals. The project will give particular attention to gender mainstreaming strategies by promoting women´s participation as MIDA experts, their participation in trainings as local staff, and women´s and girls´ access to quality SRHR services as project beneficiaries. The project will target regional and district hospitals in Borama, Berbera, Buroa, Lasanod and Erigavo as well as some district-level health facilities in underserved areas of Zaylac, Badhan, Ainabo, Odwayne, Buhodl Sheikh, Arabsiyo, Gabilay, Baligubadle and Salahley, under the leadership of the Ministry of Health Development. The project will also continue to support Hargeisa Group Hospital. MIDA FINNSOM Health project is funded by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland.

About Somaliland Ministry of Health Development

The Somaliland Ministry of Health Development (MoHD), headquartered in Hargeisa, comprises six main departments:  (1) Administration & Finance; (2) Public Health; (3) Reproductive & Child Health; (4) Human Resource Development; (5) Planning & Policy; and, (6) Health Facilities & Medical Services. (7) Mental Health Services.

III. Duties & Responsibilities 

The Somaliland Ministry of Health Development, with assistance from the IOM MIDA FINNSOM Health project phase V, seeks to build the institutional capacity of the Ministry by identifying a qualified Senior Public Health Adviser who can technically support MoHD.

The Senior Public Health Advisor (SPHA) will serve as a technical advisor to the Ministry of Health Development of Somaliland. S/he will provide high-level technical and programmatic guidance on a wide range of health areas including maternal and child health (MCH), reproductive health and family planning (RH/FP), infectious disease prevention, International Health regulation, Health in All Policies, Human-animal diseases interface. S/he will contribute to the strategic planning, development, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of program activities in order to achieve short-term and long-term results aligned to the Health Strategy of MOHD. S/he will also work with the Health Departments and teams including Health Services, Health Systems, Tuberculosis, Zoonosis, and other health Programs and Operations, as well as supporting other Mission Program areas in identifying and operationalizing ways to maximize interventions across the health programs, i.e., identifying opportunities for complementarities in health and education, food security, nutrition, humanitarian assistance, and health communication.

The SPHA will also provide technical guidance on the development and execution of the activities implemented by collaborating agencies such as THL. S/he will engage with a range of partners, such as other Ministries, Private Voluntary Organizations (PVOs), local Nongovernmental Organizations (NGOs), Cooperating Agencies, and private partners, to help ensure that activities are consistent with the National Health Strategy and Health priorities with emphasis on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and maternal and child health. The advisor will help ensure the communication flow between public and private health partners, and actively contribute towards bringing the various actors together. S/he will also engage with other donors active in the health sector and identify opportunities for collaboration and coordination of interventions.

The SPHA will further support the health team’s engagement with senior-level Somaliland government officials in planning, designing, and implementing public health activities of the health program and policy development. This involves regular contact and collaboration with counterparts in the Ministry of Health Development, and other government ministries and agencies. The SPHA will also support engagement with a wide range of civil society organizations, private organizations, other donors, and international organizations (UNICEF, UNFPA, European Union, WHO), as well as other agencies working in the public health sector in Somaliland.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Technical Leadership

1. The SPHA will keep the Ministry of Health Development updated on relevant health-related research, developments, and emerging issues, and formulate strategies and technical recommendations to improve program implementation.
2. S/he will draft briefing papers, operational plans, reports, talking points, and other documents related to the health-assigned activities and issues. The SPHA will also provide cross-cutting health support to other IOM MIDAFINNSOM V technical issues as needed.
3.  S/he will foster partnerships with a variety of internal and external stakeholders to advance health programming in Somaliland.

Management of Activity Implementation

1. The SPHA will provide strategic technical guidance and advice to the health teams and implementing partners to ensure sound management of health interventions and provide recommendations for improvement.
2. The SPHA shall help review activity work plans, conduct monitoring site visits, and evaluate deliverables provided by health teams and grantees, in accordance with MoHD policies and strategic plan for program management regulations and procedures, and practices.
3. S/he will review and analyze data and information on relevant technical areas as a basis for providing up-to-date information on impact, effectiveness, output, and inputs to programs.
4. S/he will help to ensure that MIDA FINNSOM health V project activities are complementary to the efforts of other donors and the Somaliland Ministry of Health Development.

Partner Relationships

1. The SPHA will establish and maintain productive collaborative relationships with a wide range of partners and stakeholders including senior and central divisions of the MoHD and their Regional Health Teams, Global Fund, WHO, UNICEF, other donors, and NGOs dealing with issues focusing on health.
2. S/he will develop and maintain relationships with these partners and stakeholders in order to support the Ministry of Health Development in ensuring that all health activities are complementary to other stakeholder efforts to enhance the impact of health programs in Somaliland.
3. S/he will participate in donor technical working groups and provide senior technical leadership in influencing the health sector in Somaliland.

The project will give particular attention to gender mainstreaming strategies by promoting women´s participation as MIDA experts, their participation in trainings as local staff, and women´s and girls´ access to quality SRHR services as project beneficiaries.