Namibia: E8 Global Fund Grant Coordinator

Background

The Elimination 8 is a SADC ministerial initiative, designed as a platform for regional collaboration towards malaria elimination within the SADC region. The eight countries which make up the E8 are Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. These countries are highly interconnected by population movement as well as shared malaria ecologies, making it impossible for one country to eliminate malaria without collaboration with its neighbours. The Ministers of Health of these eight countries have therefore committed to develop this platform for joint planning and accountability. Achieving elimination involves the design and meticulous execution of advanced disease and entomological surveillance systems, establishment of capacity for quality diagnosis, and control of parasite movement through the region’s porous borders. The E8 Ministerial and Technical Committees have developed a 5-year strategic plan to develop innovative, game-changing programs that will steer the region closer to its goal of zero transmission of malaria by 2030.

The Ministerial and Technical Committees of the E8 are supported by an E8 Secretariat, which coordinates diplomatic and programmatic collaboration between the eight countries. The Secretariat is also responsible for coordinating the execution of the Strategic Plan, in partnership with the funding and technical partners of the E8. The Secretariat is based in Windhoek, Namibia.

The Position

The E8 has been awarded an US$18million regional grant by the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. The E8 Secretariat serves as the principal recipient (PR) for the grant, overseeing program performance and impact, robust financial management, and monitoring and evaluation. The role of the Secretariat also includes management of the implementation by the Secretariat as well as its contractors across the eight member states of the E8, ensuring capacity building for the contractors. Implementation of the project began on 1 October 2015 and the project is scheduled to conclude on 30 September 2018.

The Grant Coordinator will supervise a program management unit (PMU) of 7 staff, and support coordination for 8 country focal persons based in the National Malaria Control Programs in the countries. The PMU team is dedicated to implementation of grant activities and delivery of targets. The Grant Coordinator is responsible for leading and managing the operational performance of the PMU, particularly pharmaceutical supply chain management, procurement and contracting, and monitoring & evaluation, thus playing a key role towards the attainment of the grant’s performance objectives, while complying with Global Fund and E8 policies.

The Grant Coordinator will be an experienced professional with a track record of proven results in steering transformational results in complex environments. He/she will be an innovative problem solver, with a strong work ethic, experience interfacing with a wide range of senior officials from governments and donors, and a commitment to serving the SADC region. Flexibility and ability to operate in a complex and dynamic context are important attributes for success in this role. The Grant Coordinator will be expected to bring laser focus on monitoring and compliance, while being able to work in the Secretariat’s fast-paced and entrepreneurial culture.

Key Performance Areas.

A. The programme management unit and contractors receive adequate operational and planning support to ensure the implementation of quality programs and the establishment and implementation of optimal standards of accountability, effectiveness and efficiency in the achievement of the grant outcomes, terms and conditions.

Objectives include:

· A performing and dedicated PMU team is sustained with clear objectives and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

· Roles and workplans of the PMU staff are coordinated to deliver effective grant performance

· The grant’s annual program workplan and budget are developed to high quality and its execution monitored on an ongoing basis;

· Annual work plans are adequately prepared and on time;

· Technical and other capacity needs for staff and contractors are identified and sourced, to optimize performance and results

· Technically proficient and cost-competitive contractors are identified to implement aspects of the grant · The E8 Board and Technical Committees receive timely reports on grant performance · Capacity of Sub Recipient’s capacity to implement assigned activities is monitored and developed to deliver on the grant objectives, while meeting the E8 and Global Fund compliance standardshe PMU has a grant monitoring and performance system that generates information enabling learning and adjustment for increased impact

B. The PMU has a grant monitoring and performance system that generates information enabling learning and adjustment for increased impact.

Objectives include:

· All contractual targeted results based in the E8 grant agreement are met and exceeded

· Targets and objectives of contractors are closely monitored through use of dashboards and other tools, and sound programmatic and financial reports are received in a timely manner

· Data reported by contractors is quality assured and verified; appropriate and accurate methods are used to verify results

· Necessary coordination and communication with the various stakeholders involved in the implementation of the grant is well facilitated and managed · Progress reports to the Global Fund are submitted in a timely manner

C. Efficient business planning processes are designed and implemented to maximize coordination of grant implementation by different stakeholders, including national malaria programmes, and contractors.

· Financial and programmatic performance of the E8 regional grant are closely monitored for alignment between, and remedial actions recommended and adjustments made where there is no alignment

· Requests for disbursements from the contractors are received in a timely manner and analyzed to ensure their compliance with the outcomes of the grant

· Requests for disbursement are approved in a timely manner, with input and coordination with national malaria programmes and other beneficiaries

· Projects are executed by contractors according to the work plans and budgets and in accordance with the guidelines and grant manuals

· A high standard of compliance is maintained in the E8 Secretariat’s grant administration functions, with compliance and consistency of delivery of reports and financial management by the contractors · Procurement and contract management, as well as PSM is done in accordance with Global Fund guidelines and policies.

D. Perform other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned, being flexible and adaptable to respond to this complex and dynamic regional initiative

Qualifications and Requirements

• Master’s degree in Business, Economics, Public Administration or any development related degree
• 6 years’ experience in management of large and complex donor-funded projects, in a developing country.
• Previous experience of GFATM grant management in a senior position
• Excellent knowledge of financial rules and regulations, accounting
• Experience in planning, programming and monitoring and evaluation of projects
• Ability to operate in a fast-paced, demanding environment, and demonstrable track record of high performance
• Dynamic, with strong leadership, interpersonal, problem-solving skills
• Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously, set priorities and work independently
• Proven ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced environment and to troubleshoot and follow individual tasks and projects as a whole through to completion, a task-oriented approach and ability to adhere to strict deadlines, without loss of attention to detail
• Experience in building and managing partnerships in a complex, multicultural environment, including with ministries of health, as well as development partners
• Robust experience in the formulation of large budgets, managing both contributions and expenses, conducting financial analysis, reporting and cost-recovery
• Ability to design and implement new systems, and to use innovative approaches to build a strong and committed team and drive teamwork and high performance
• Willingness to travel frequently across the region, up to 25 percent.
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Detail-oriented with good organization skills
• Advanced Microsoft Office skills
• Knowledge of SADC context through experience in various SADC countries is a distinct advantage
• Candidates who are citizens of one of the fifteen SADC countries are preferred

Language:

• Fluency in English with good verbal and written skills. Portuguese is an advantage.

Applicants are requested to send their CV to vacancies@elimination8.org no later than January 16, 2017, clearly indicting the job for which they are applying in the email subject line.