POU Programme Officer (Ascend)

• Reports To: Manager Implementation (Integrated NTDs/WASH/SBCC)
• Directorate: Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) 
• Location: Haywards Heath, UK or West Africa Region
• Direct Line Reports: N/A

Scope of Ascend

Accelerating the Sustainable Control and Elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases (Ascend) is a high profile, high value, multi-partner programme. It will make a significant contribution to the control and elimination of five NTDs - onchocerciasis, lymphatic filariasis, trachoma, schistosomiasis and soil transmitted helminths - in 13 countries of west and central Africa. 

Sightsavers is the lead supplier for Ascend West & Central Africa, working with the

Liverpool School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSTM), Mott MacDonald, the Schistosomiasis Control Initiative Foundation (SCIF), and other partners including WaterAid, M&C Saatchi and Accenture. 

Sightsavers is responsible for its overall delivery of Ascend in line with contractual agreements within the consortium structure. As an integrated programme, the minimum results expected from this contract are expected to be:

• Provision of 450 million NTD drug treatments.
• Provision of surgeries to prevent 100,000 cases of blindness due to trachoma.
• Reduction of morbidity and disability in 26,000 people with lymphatic filariasis.

Job purpose

Working within the Programme Optimisation Unit, as directed by the Manager

Implementation (Integrated NTDs and WASH/SBCC), the Programme Officer will ensure the smooth delivery of integrated NTD activities according to the contractual milestones, together with the designated country principal and delivery partners in 13 designated countries as part of the Ascend West & Central Africa programme. 

The position will be based either at Sightsavers Headquarters in Haywards Heath or in a Sightsavers office in the West Africa Region, and will be expected to undertake international travel, up to six weeks per year.

DARO Job Description | March 2020

Responsibilities

Data reporting and oversight: 

• Provide direct programme support to country teams on the roll out of integrated NTD activities, including the use of all ASCEND management and programme implementation tools and protocols;
• Log, coordinate and track progress on all recommendations made to the consortium through an action tracking log; 
• Assist with behaviour change strategies, messages, and materials where required; 
• Support contract management and engagement with Ministries of Health and Consortium for WASH/NTD/BCC activities in francophone countries;
• Ensure alignment and consistency of activities across partners and within designated countries;
• Facilitate the delivery of capacity building support in close coordination with the health systems strengthening team that enhances the effectiveness of integrated programming to government and implementing partners;
• Facilitate the deployment of timely, appropriate technical assistance and capacity building support within the ASCEND structure to the designated countries; 
• Provide content for communications teams and knowledge innovation and learning teams;
• Coordinate and contribute to the ‘leave no one behind’ and ‘beneficiary feedback’ working groups
• Align learning, documentation and reporting systems with designated countries to that adopted across the Ascend programme;

Planning, monitoring and organisation: 

Working in a team approach: 

• Plan, organise and support designated country level activities within recognised global standards as they apply to NTD interventions;
• Ensure that programme delivery is in line with WHO NTD control/elimination guidelines and technical guidance on WASH and NTDs;
• Deliver timely, evidence based reports in line with organisational requirements;
• Work with the Finance and Risk Team to ensure that agreements and contracts, due diligence reports, individual country and consolidated log frames are up to date and stored;
• Facilitate effective internal communications in respect of project reporting and documentation;
• Provide practical support to Capacity Building Support Personnel;
• Ensure alignment and progress within the logical framework and theory of change;
• Support communication initiatives; 
• Support organisation and facilitation of technical workshops related to behaviour change and WASH coordination.

Problem solving: 

• Undertake tasks or projects as required by multiple task managers (matrix management system)
• Develop and roll out learning processes and systems;
• Develop a workable approach to accurately identify and disseminate learning with the knowledge learning and innovation unit;
• Working together with relevant Technical Advisors, knowledge learning and innovation unit, identify and disseminate standard best practice;
• Ensure interventions uphold a commitment to gender, equity, social inclusion, value for money and sustainability through development and use of integrated plans;
• Keep up to date with relevant cross cutting issues and debates that may impact control/elimination of NTDs and WASH/SBCC interventions; Provide quick responses to emerging technical challenges by liaising with the Manager Implementation (WASH/SBCC), revising tools and protocols as per their guidance. 

The principal accountabilities are not meant to be an exhaustive list of tasks. The need for a high degree of flexibility is required and the job holder is expected to carry out any other duties that may be required to assist the wider team if within the employee’s skills and abilities, whenever reasonably instructed.

Person specification

Job Holder Entry Requirements: the knowledge, skills and behaviours required: 

Knowledge (education and related experience): 

Essential

• Relevant undergraduate degree
• Demonstrable communication skills in English and French.
• Experience working and supporting staff in different contexts (face to face, online). 
• Understanding of international development issues and a commitment to equality of opportunity for disabled people. 
• Understanding of cultural and ethnically sensitive issues.

Desirable

• Master’s degree in international development, public health, international relations, or appropriate equivalent. 
• A successful track record of working in multiple country projects, preferable within NTDs or the public health sector.

Skills (training or competence): 

Essential 

• Demonstrated ability to think quickly, responsively and effectively to communicate information, practices, concepts and ideas to a non-technical audience. 
• Excellent organisational skills with the ability to identify important issues and communicate these effectively to colleagues. 
• Able to work with multiple stakeholders in a global team, and ensure differing concerns and priorities are effectively managed. 
• Able to manage multiple tasks and work with multiple teams simultaneously within a matrix management system. 
• Proficient in using the Microsoft Office suite.
• Ability to prioritise work in a fast-moving environment with competing deadlines. 

Key relationships

• Manager Implementation (Integrated NTDs/WASH/SBCC)
• Coordinator Project Delivery - Ascend and GiveWell
• Team Lead – Ascend Programme Optimisation Unit
• Team Lead - Ascend Integrated Systems Unit
• Ascend Central Operations Unit
• Sightsavers Regional and Country Offices
• Wider Ascend programme team
• Other Sightsavers departments including NTD Technical Hub, DART, MEL, Finance and Risk, Communications.

Core behaviours

• Flexible and adaptable approach
• Communicating and influencing 
• Team working
• Planning and organising  
• Ability to work independently and on own initiative