Malaria Technical Advisor – Capacity Strengthening & Localization

THIS POSITION IS CONTINGENT UPON FUNDING

The successful candidate may be based remotely in the US (DC/MD/VA area) if they already possess the ability to legally work in the US; or in a global remote capacity.

About CRS

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of health, emergency, education, agriculture, and capacity strengthening of partners. In 2022, CRS implemented a portfolio of 21 malaria programs globally, in 14 countries (Africa and the Greater Mekong Region).

Job Summary:

CRS seeks a Technical Advisor for Capacity Strengthening and Localization for the anticipated USAID-funded Reaching every at-risk community and household with malaria services (REACH Malaria) global project. The purpose of the anticipated contract is to provide implementation support services and technical assistance to countries to accelerate progress in comprehensive delivery of facility and community-based malaria services, including malaria case management, prevention of malaria in pregnancy, seasonal malaria chemoprevention, health systems strengthening, data collection and use for service delivery, and other malaria prevention interventions. CRS will be a sub to a prime organization and this position will be part of the REACH Malaria’s core team.

The primary objective of this position is to ensure that new, nontraditional, local partners and governments have the capabilities and resources to serve as prime partners for USAID programming. You will address any one or combination of the following focus approaches to compliance and capacity support for partners, as each approach is appropriate for different contexts and needs. The approaches include:

• Donor compliance focused on organizational ability to effectively manage donor funds and donor programming
• Strengthening organizational performance to achieve self-defined priorities (inclusive of government institutions)
• System-level strengthening, where leverage points within a system are identified and the focus is on the collective ability of the system to deliver results.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the application of USAID and REACH Malaria branded, or the development and implementation of, principles, strategies, standards, policies, tools, and best practices in donor compliance so partners can effectively manage donor funds and donor programming. Ensure a cross-sectoral approach that integrates gender, protection mainstreaming, and risk reduction.
• Support USAID/PMI localization efforts by bringing malaria prevention and treatment services nearer to communities, making sure services are accessible, reliably available, and provided in a manner that promotes local leadership, ownership, and dignity.
• Support PMI to shift how they engage and evaluate local partners [actors] technical knowledge, program management capacity, and fiduciary systems to expand malaria case management services.
• Lead the application of USAID and REACH Malaria branded, or the development and implementation of, principles, assessments, strategies, standards, policies, tools and innovative approaches to strengthen partner organizational performance.
• Lead the application of USAID and REACH Malaria branded, or the development and implementation of, principles, assessments, strategies, standards, policies, tools and innovative approaches for system-level strengthening to deliver results. Support evolution of PMI assessment tools, programming models, award types, funding arrangements, staffing patterns, performance incentives, budget allocations, and the way that PMI defines results so that PMI can better support local partners [actors] in responding to local challenges.
• Contribute to the provision of targeted technical assistance to support the full spectrum of capacity development support to local partners [entities] (compliance, performance, systems strengthening, mentoring, coordinating stakeholder groups, fostering an enabling environment, etc.). Work with PMI missions to integrate country-level approach to support localization efforts based on country contexts.
• Oversee and lead the delivery of capacity strengthening initiatives for REACH Malaria globally for staff and partners through helping develop learning and training strategies and agendas/curriculums; organizing and/or facilitating trainings, workshops and conferences; and mentoring and coaching staff in innovative approaches and tools.
• Provide mentoring and coaching to technical advisors, as well as country program and partner staff.
• Contribute to the agency knowledge management and learning agenda in partnership and capacity strengthening through collective learning that ensure the capturing, documenting, and sharing of key successes, promising practices, lessons learned, and evidence-based findings, internally and externally, including publications in peer reviewed journals.
• Represent REACH Malaria in targeted regional or global forums to develop opportunities and better ensure collaboration and shared learning in malaria to influence technical partner approaches, future funding opportunities, and policies.

QUALIFICATIONS

Basic Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in International Development, Public Health or a field related to Organizational Development. PhD a plus.
• Minimum of seven years of work experience in Partnership and Capacity Strengthening with progressive responsibilities, ideally with an international NGO, with three years overseas in multiple regions as a technical advisor and/or program manager of a capacity strengthening of partners and/or multi-sectoral project with a capacity strengthening of partners component.
• Strong understanding and application of technical principles and concepts in partnership and capacity strengthening of partners. Good knowledge of related disciplines to ensure proper cross-sectoral approach.
• Experience in the development and production of curricula, tools, and other products to support capacity strengthening of partners interventions and programming. Demonstrated experience to transfer knowledge to diverse audiences through training, mentoring, and other formal and informal methods.
• Experience with program monitoring and evaluation including development of indicators, data collection tools and methodologies, data analysis, and data presentation.
• Experience and skills to represent the organization at meetings with donors, government, international NGOs, local partners – faith-based and civil society. Understanding of partnership principles.
• Proficient in MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications and strong understanding of information and budget management systems and knowledge-sharing networks.
• Technical and/or academic publications a plus.

Required Languages – Fluent English required, and French preferred

Travel– Must be willing and able to travel up to 30%.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Excellent relationship management skills with ability to influence and get buy-in from people not under direct supervision and to work with individuals in diverse geographical and cultural settings.
• Very strong strategic, analytical, problem-solving and systems thinking skills with capacity to see the big picture and ability to make sound judgment
• Very strong written and oral communication skills
• Very strong presentation, facilitation, training, mentoring, and coaching skills
• Proactive, resourceful and results-oriented

Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff)

These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.

• Integrity
• Continuous Improvement & Innovation
• Builds Relationships
• Develops Talent
• Strategic Mindset
• Accountability & Stewardship

Supervisory Responsibilities: None

Key Working Relationships:

Internal REACH Malaria Senior Coordinator, CRS’ Partnership and Capacity Strengthening unit, CRS’ health and malaria teams, internal REACH Malaria staff

External National Malaria Programs, local organizations, USAID representatives, REACH Malaria consortia partners

***Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. We welcome as a part of our staff people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need. CRS’ processes and policies reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.

CRS’ talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer