Location: Mali or Senegal with work in Senegal, Mali, and Sierra Leone
Last Date: July 18, 2010
Email: info@ministerial-leadership.org
Contractor Position Announcement
Reproductive Health Regional Policy Advisor
Ministerial Leadership Initiative for Global Health (MLI)
Terms of Reference
Position Location: Based in Mali or Senegal with work in Senegal, Mali, and Sierra Leone
ORGANIZATIONAL DESCRIPTION
THE ASPEN INSTITUTE
The Aspen Institute, founded in 1950, is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering enlightened leadership and open-minded dialogue. Through seminars, policy programs, conferences and leadership development initiatives, the Institute and its international partners seek to promote nonpartisan inquiry and an appreciation for timeless values. The Institute is headquartered in Washington, DC,
MINISTERIAL LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE FOR GLOBAL HEALTH (MLI)
The Ministerial Leadership Initiative for Global Health (MLI) is a major program of the Aspen Institute’s Global Health & Development (GHD), a legacy program of Realizing Rights: The Ethical Globalization Initiative. GHD’s mission is to identify, assess, and support highly innovative strategies for global health and poverty alleviation.
MLI, a four- year program (October 2007 – September 2011), is funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the David and Lucile Packard Foundation and works in partnership with Results for Development and the Council for Women World Leaders. MLI is pioneering a practice-based model of leadership development designed to strengthen capacity within ministries of health. MLI works inside ministries to build political commitment, advance policy reform, and strengthen health systems to improve the health status of the people in their countries. MLI provides ministry leaders with proven models of ministerial-led reform and the evidence necessary to implement changes with significant impact. MLI works with ministries of health in Ethiopia, Mali, Nepal, Senegal, and Sierra Leone in order to advance policy in three interrelated areas: health financing for equity, donor harmonization in health, and reproductive and maternal health. Key to MLI’s approach is the belief that stronger political leadership will improve health systems and ensure respect for the right to health, especially for the most vulnerable populations.
MLI’s Work in Reproductive Health (RH)
MLI links its health financing and aid effectiveness policy reform efforts to reproductive health outcomes in three RH focus countries: Mali, Senegal and Sierra Leone.
In Mali, MLI works with the Department of Planning and Statistics (Cellule de Planification et de Statistique) and the three ministries it serves (health, social development and protection of women and children) to increase financial access to health care through the expansion of community-based health insurance (or “mutuelles”). A key objective of this effort is to increase the coverage of reproductive health and family planning.
In Senegal, MLI works with the Ministry of Health to develop new formulas for the more equitable allocation of resources and strengthening of the Sectorwide Approach (SWAp). MLI supports the Division of Reproductive Health (DSR) to build its institutional capacity to be able to use evidence more effectively to advance RH policy.
In Sierra Leone, MLI works with the Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MOHS) to build institutional capacity for financial management and donor coordination units and to improve the communications capacity of the ministry to more effectively get its messages out to the public and within the government. Moreover, MLI is supporting the work of the MOHS Reproductive and Child Health Director to manage the implementation of the government’s new free care program for pregnant and lactating women, as well as children under five, and to use evidence more effectively to further advance policy.
POSITION DESCRIPTION
Basic Functions
The Reproductive Health Regional Policy Advisor (RPA) will provide high level technical assistance and advice around policy development and strategy to help build the capacity of Ministry of Health leaders to advance reproductive health in MLI’s three RH focus countries (Mali, Senegal, and Sierra Leone). The RPA will work on the ground in MLI’s three RH focus countries, coordinating closely with the MLI Country Lead and will serve as an advisor and a resource to the MLI global team in Washington, DC to ensure that that MLI’s efforts in reproductive health achieve measurable impact. Moreover the RPA will work closely with MLI to further the goals and objectives of the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development and the Millennium Development Goals #4 and 5.
This position reports to the Director of the Ministerial Leadership Initiative for Global Health in Washington and works closely with MLI Program Officer, the Country Lead in each MLI RH focus country, and other members of the MLI Washington based team.
Key Deliverables:
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• Work with Ministry of Health RH Directors and other high level ministerial leaders in each MLI RH focus country to design and implement a Ministry of Health RH policy/advocacy plan that includes, but is not limited to:
o Conducting policy assessments in reproductive health in order to identify policy gaps or policies in which implementation has not been successful;
o Identifying gaps in policy-related data needed to advance policy;
o Developing a strategy to use evidence to advance reproductive health policies more effectively; and
o Identifying where political and civil society leadership could play a more effective role in advancing reproductive health policy and engaging high level members of the Ministry of Health in facilitating this process.
• Conduct regular visits to MLI’s RH focus countries to meet with ministerial leaders and other stakeholders to further MLI’s policy agenda and identify opportunities for new and expanded program development as appropriate.
• Liaise on a regular basis with the Director of MLI and the MLI Program Officer in Washington providing updates on the status of RH activities, especially those related to policy in the three RH focus countries.
• Work closely with MLI’s Country Leads in the three RH focus countries to ensure ongoing communication, as well as coordination of proposed RH activities with the overall MLI country plan.
• Meet on a regular basis with representatives of other organizations working on RH policy in all three countries.
• Creatively document “success stories”, to be shared with donors, development partners and on the MLI website, on progress made with regards to RH policy advancement in each of the three MLI RH focus countries.
• Identify areas of cross-learning between the three MLI RH focus countries and provide recommendations for potential study tours/exchange visits.
QUALIFICATIONS:
• 5 to 10 years of experience in international reproductive health policy and advocacy at the country level.
• Experience working with high-level policy makers, including ministers of health and senior members of ministry teams.
• Experience assessing evidence and developing strategies to use evidence effectively to advance policy.
• An advanced degree in public health, public administration, social sciences, and/or other fields relevant to reproductive and maternal and child health highly desirable.
• Work experience and/or extensive knowledge of the issues affecting reproductive health in West Africa and globally essential.
• Demonstrated expertise in working well with multiple development partners working in reproductive health.
• Knowledge of USAID’s guidelines and programs in health helpful as well as those of other donors such as the EU, DFID, the World Bank, etc.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to work effectively and independently in team situations.
• Fluency in both English and French required.
• Must currently be based in either Dakar, Senegal or Bamako, Mali and have ability to travel to each of MLI’s three RH focus countries up to four times per year and once a year to participate in an MLI strategy session in Washington, DC.
Compensation
The equivalent of approximately 60% of full time (or up to three days or 24 hours a week). As a contractual position, the contractor will not be eligible for benefits provided to employees of the Aspen Institute.
Application Instructions
To apply, please e-mail a resume and cover letter detailing your qualifications to info@ministerial-leadership.org. Please include the words “MLI Reproductive Health Regional Policy Advisor” in the subject line of your e-mail. MLI will contact only those applicants who are selected for further screening. No phone calls please.
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