Kenya Coordinator – Data Impact Program

Vital Strategies, headquartered in New York City, is an international public health organization. Our programs strengthen public health systems and address the world’s leading causes of illness, injury and death. We currently work in 73 countries, supporting data-driven decision making in government, advancing evidence-based public health policies and mounting strategic communication campaigns. Vital Strategies’ priorities are driven by the greatest potential to improve and save lives. They include non-communicable disease prevention, cardiovascular health promotion, tobacco control, road safety, obesity prevention, epidemic prevention, overdose prevention, environmental health, vital statistics systems building and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis treatment research. Our programs are primarily concentrated in low- and middle-income countries in Africa, Latin America, Asia and the Pacific. Please visit our website at www.vitalstrategies.org to find out more about our work.

About the Data Impact Program of the Data for Health Initiative

The Bloomberg Philanthropies Data for Health (D4H) Initiative aims to enhance public health data collection and use in low- and middle-income countries. The goal of the initiative is to ensure that a billion more people live in countries where data are used to steer public policy and program decisions. Under the Initiative, Vital Strategies, in partnership with the Department of Civil Registration (CRS), Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government, Ministry of Health (MOH) and Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) is launching a Data Impact program to significantly enhance Kenya’s use of public health data to improve programs, characterize health outcomes and their risk factors, and promote evidence-informed policy development. The program involves data reporting and visualization systems improvement, direct analysis of data, the use of data for evidence briefs, and training and capacity building of personnel to enhance and distribute analytic skills.

About the position

The Data Impact Coordinator, based in Nairobi, Kenya, will be responsible for ensuring that the implementation of Initiative-funded activities in Kenya is country-owned and country-driven, technically sound and sustainable as well as in line with program goals and objectives, best practice standards, approved work plans, and budgets. S/he will ensure that Initiative activities are continuously monitored, and that implementation obstacles are identified and reported in a timely manner.

Specific duties may include:

• Lead in-country capacity development including mentoring, facilitation of workshops, coaching and training, guiding and performing data analysis, producing reports and data visualizations, in close collaboration with the Vital Strategies country lead
• Develop a relationship with and serve as Data Impact’s primary point of contact to MOH, CRS and KNBS
• Help develop country objectives and workplans, mutually agreed upon by the government Focal Points and Vital Strategies
• Lead implementation of workplan activities
• Organize, set agendas for, and convene appropriate meetings with governmental and non-governmental stakeholders
• Monitor Data Impact’s activities and ensure that issues are identified and reported in a timely manner
• Produce standard reports as defined by Vital Strategies and the government partners
• Coordinate with other in-country or external stakeholders/development partners, if relevant
• Coordinate with other in-country D4H and Vital Strategies initiatives
• Monitor in-country expenditures and ensure that all such expenditures are made in accordance with agreed work plans, budgets and protocols, obtaining all required approvals before expenditures are committed or made
• Communicate regularly with and report on Initiative progress to senior government officials, Vital Strategies Technical Advisor, and Initiative partners
• Work closely with Vital Strategies’ communications teams for public events, document production, and strategic communication

Qualities and Qualifications

• Minimum of 10 years of increasing experience working in the health sector, international public health organization, or as manager of public health projects
• Post-graduate degree in relevant field (community medicine, public health, epidemiology) or equivalent experience
• Strong analytic skills and experience
• Written and oral English language proficiency
• Ability to work independently, with an overseas supervisor
• Strong organizational and verbal and written communication skills
• Proficient user of Microsoft office suite, as well as statistical and database management software
• Willingness and ability to travel in country and internationally, pandemic dependent
• This Vacancy Advertisement is open to Kenyan Nationals and candidates holding a valid work resident permit for Kenya
• Vital Strategies strongly encourages qualified female candidates to apply

Term of Service

Initial contract will be up to 31 March 2023 and may be renewed, subject to satisfactory performance and availability of funding. A three-month probationary period will apply, after which Vital Strategies, in consultation with government partners, will decide about completing the contract.