Uganda: Health Program Associate - Nyaka AIDS Foundation

About Global Health Corps

Global Health Corps (GHC) is a leadership development organization focused on building the next generation of diverse, disruptive global health leaders. Founded in 2009, we competitively recruit talented professionals (ages 21-30) from a range of sectors and backgrounds and place them in high-impact roles within partner organizations — including Clinton Health Access Initiative, Partners in Health, Planned Parenthood Global, and Government Ministries in Zambia, Rwanda, and Uganda — working on the front lines of health equity in Malawi, Rwanda, Uganda, the US, and Zambia.

GHC is seeking fellows from a wide range of backgrounds, geographies, and expertise. Through a one-year paid fellowship program, fellows provide the expertise and leadership potential needed to fill capacity gaps in global health.

About Placement Organization

Established in 2001, The Nyaka AIDS Orphans Project (NAOP) is working on behalf of HIV/AIDS orphans in rural Uganda to end systemic deprivation, poverty and hunger through a holistic approach to community development, education, and healthcare.

NAOP operates two primary schools in two rural villages in Uganda. When students complete Primary education, they join the Nyaka scholarship program and continue with secondary education or vocational training. This year Nyaka has started construction of the Nyaka Secondary and Vocational School, which is scheduled to open in February 2015. Other Nyaka projects include the Mummy Drayton Clinic, Kutamba School Clinic, Nyaka and Kutamba Blue Lupin Community Libraries, and grandmother projects.

Position Overview

The Health Program Associate will be based in Kanungu. The strategic priority area is the health program and grandmother projects. The fellow will contribute to the management of the health program, with a focus on the Mummy Drayton Clinic in Kanungu. A doctor from Kambuga Hospital works two days a week at the clinic and the fellow will work closely with him to ensure the clinic runs smoothly and to make improvements to the referral system. The fellow will assist in building out the monitoring and evaluation systems for the health program, health counseling for students and grandmothers, as well as the surrounding community. Additionally, the fellow will address other health issues that affect the students and grandmothers, aid in improving the outreach program (including home visits), and strengthen linkages between the health program and other Nyaka programs.

Responsibilities

Technical Support, Oversight and Quality Control

• Responsible for ensuring quality of health programs in Kambuga


• Ensure adherence to donor guidelines and to national/international standards


• Technically support clinical health staff in health assessment design and planning, and the ongoing implementation and monitoring of NAF’s current and upcoming health projects


• Provide technical program support and training to NAF health staff


• Ensure stronger integration and better links across the various program sectors through enhanced organization, coordination, and supervision


• Hold regular meetings with health staff to identify problems and challenges in programming and implementation and to identify areas in need of additional support/training


• Develop overall integrated health program strategies for the two locations (Nyaka and Kutamba) and design technically sound work plans and timelines to achieve overall health sector objectives and indicators


• Integrate best practices on comprehensive health programs into technical trainings for health staff

Program and Staff Management

• Ensure program planning, design, management, monitoring, evaluation, and phase-out plans are in keeping with NAF and international standards and practices


• Train and support health staff in identifying problems and appropriate responses for their resolutions (including training in computer and administration/management skills)


• Liaise with the medical doctor as well as NAF head office technical health staff on technical and programmatic issues, plans, implementation, and development of ideas


• Develop systems for the technical support of health staff, including capacity building and other activities with national and local partners


• Organize and manage clinic staff and ensure effective supervision including staff training and capacity building that is needed to maintain high quality programs and services


• Contribute to staff retention by contributing to the development of field staff through training and mentoring and assisting with professional advancement


• Identify the needs of international and national staff and support them to attend workshops and trainings, including distance learning opportunities


• Responsible for developing standard job descriptions for international and national health staff positions and conducting health employee orientations


• Assist in implementing the partnership approach, strengthening linkages and relationships with national, local, and international partners to ensure effective program implementation

Required Skills and Experience

• Demonstrated experience working in very remote settings


• Demonstrated technical knowledge of primary health care delivery context


• Strong understanding of monitoring and evaluation processes


• Ability to produce analytical and well-presented project reports and funding proposals


• Capacity to communicate and maintain tactful relations with relevant local authorities, donors, and other implementing partners


• Strong participatory leadership and team-building skills, and ability to motivate staff


• Excellent oral and written communications skills, especially negotiating skills


• Computer literacy – Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint required; Access a plus


• Knowledge and understanding of political and social environment in Uganda preferred

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Graduate degree related to public health or social work, or related field


• Capacity to multitask; flexible and capable of working under pressure and tight deadlines


• Ability to live and work in very remote environment with limited resources


• Minimum of 3-5 years of progressive field experience in developing countries in health program design and implementation, with a focus on field-based technical training, preferably with an international NGO in Africa

Fellowship Logistics

During the fellowship year, all fellows are provided with:

• A living stipend of $550/month


• Housing and utilities


• Health insurance


• A professional development grant of $600


• An award of $1500 upon successful completion of the fellowship year


• Travel costs covered to and from placement site, training and retreats

*Note: The living stipend and the completion award may be paid out in USD or local currency, as determined by the placement organization.

Living and Working in Uganda: Fellows are provided with housing and utilities during the fellowship year. Housing arrangements vary based on the placement organization and location within the country. Fellows will stay at the Nyaka Guest House, located on the Nyaka Primary School compound in Kanungu District, a rural community in Uganda. Certain housing rules apply.

*Note: the living stipend and completion award may be paid out in USD or local currency, as determined by the placement organization.

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