Health System Strengthening Specialist

Functional Title: Health System Strengthening Specialist

Responsibility Level: Specialist
Department/Project/PN:The Mother and Child Wellbeing Partnership Program
Work Station: Birendranagar, Surkhet
Incumbent’s Name: Vacant
Supervisor/Principal Evaluator: TBD

BACKGROUND
CARE Nepal is a not-for profit organization that works across the spectrum of humanitarian action and long-term development programs to address gender-based violence, women and girls’ leadership and voice, inclusive governance, sexual & reproductive health, livelihoods, food and nutrition security, disaster risk reduction, and climate change. It draws on its global experience to address the underlying causes of poverty and social injustice, with a distinct focus on the most marginalized and vulnerable women and adolescent girls. It works in partnerships with state agencies, donors, NGOs, civil society organizations, research institutes, private sectors, and also closely collaborates with community members. It currently has presence in all seven provinces of Nepal.

The Mother and Child Wellbeing Partnership Program (MCWPP) in Nepal will be implemented in Sudurpaschim, Karnali, Lumbini, and Madhesh Provinces, targeting six districts with high rates of poverty, poor health and nutrition outcomes, and high rates of food and nutrition insecurity. The MCWPP aims to improve the wellbeing of children and their mothers in targeted districts of Nepal. Activities aim to strengthen the health system; improve care and feeding practices; increase household food security; promote food safety and hygiene; and promote women’s empowerment and leadership.

JOB SUMMARY
Reporting to the Team Leader, the Health Systems Strengthening Specialist (HSSS) will be responsible for planning, managing, and monitoring the implementation of MCWPP to support various health systems strengthening and governance activities at district, and municipal particularly focusing on maternal child health and nutrition (MCHN). The Incumbent will work closely with the Kathmandu-based thematic (health, food, and nutrition) leading to carrying out these responsibilities. The position is based in Surkhet. The HSSS Specialist’s duties and responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

Major Responsibilities and Tasks:
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACTIVITIES:

• Provide technical leadership for the project’s health systems component, including activities to support province, district, and municipal level policymakers on quality improvement of health and nutrition services
• Support health counterparts in project districts to plan and manage functioning health systems – with emphasis on health and nutrition policy development and implementation, strategic planning, approaches to equity in MCHN service delivery
• In collaboration with the project’s provincial leadership and other technical specialists, support district-based health and nutrition system officers to implement project’s health system strengthening activities.
• Provide technical mentoring and facilitation support to the district teams and ensure that all the planned activities related to the health system are implemented effectively and efficiently.
• Participate in and facilitate provincial, district and municipal level annual reviews and project planning.
• Ensure that health systems related interventions are well coordinated with other project components like food and nutrition system and WASH, including evidence generation and use.
• Responsible for ensuring the achievement of expected outcomes and quality review/assurance in the area of health systems strengthening and governance.
• Advocate for policies that support the integration of maternal and child nutrition services within the broader health system.
• Engage with relevant government bodies to influence policy changes and ensure alignment with international standards and best practices in maternal and child nutrition.
• Analyze the strengths and areas of improvement of the health and nutrition systems to address issues of women, poor and the excluded and enhance gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) integration.
• Assist partner team to prepare quarterly, monthly, and weekly operational plan and support in its implementation.
• Support partner team to prepare and follow CARE Program Quality Standards.
• Ensure quality of training, meetings, workshops, and programs related to food and nutrition security at operation level.
• Ensure the proper implementation of the project activities as per Partner Funding Agreement (PFA).
• Ensure adherence to CARE policy and programming principles at implementation.

STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT

• Collaborate with key stakeholders, including government health agencies, NGOs, and community-based organizations, to assess their capacity and involvement in maternal and child nutrition programs.
• Build and maintain strong partnerships to facilitate effective implementation of health system strengthening activities.
• Support the province and district in development and implementation of capacity-building programs for health workers, focusing on MCHN, to enhance their knowledge and skills.

CAPACITY BUILDING

• Develop capacity development plan for partners, local government, relevant stakeholders, and communities and execute it.
• Support partner organization to prepare agriculture development and nutrition behavior change related training plans, curriculum, training materials and training reports.
• Engagement and support capacity enhancement of different committees and other relevant platforms at different levels.

MONITORING AND EVALUATION

• Support project monitoring and evaluation team to implement monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to track the impact of health system strengthening interventions.

DOCUMENTATION AND REPORTING

• Ensure accurate and timely submission of all required technical reporting and deliverables for the health systems strengthening component of the project.
• Document best practices and lessons learned for future reference and dissemination.

Upholding CARE’s Core values and ensuring its principles.

• Link and demonstrate CARE Nepal’s core values, programming principles, strategic objects, gender equity, diversity and inclusion in programming and behaviors.
• Comply and exercise organizational values and culture.
• Help to promote rights and good governance.
• Responsible for gender responsive behavior in all actions and decisions.
• Demonstrate positive behaviors following CARE code of conduct and uphold implementation of CARE Safeguarding policy at all levels.
• Conduct awareness raising on CARE Safeguarding policy, feedback and accountability channels and code of conduct.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s degree in public health, health systems strengthening, or a related field.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience working in health system strengthening, with a focus on maternal and child health and nutrition.
• Experience in project implementation and health systems strengthening in Nepal.
• Strong understanding of Nepal’s health system and policies related to maternal and child nutrition.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders.
• Fluency in English and Nepali languages
• Ability to independently plan and execute complex tasks while addressing daily management details and remaining organized and focused on long-term deadlines and strategy.
• Willingness to work in Karnali and Lumbini, with at least 50% field visits in hill and mountain municipalities.

Tagged as: Care Nepal, NGO INGO, Surkhet