SPARC’s approach – key pillars:
Coaching and mentoring: Build a cadre of regional experts who can work alongside and provide contextualized support to country-led strategic purchasing processes.
Country engagement: Broker tailored packages of strategic purchasing support to address country needs and demand.
Knowledge management and joint learning: Build a learning agenda on strategic purchasing and capture and share practical lessons and experiences.
THE POSITION
Under the leadership of the Program Manager, the Coaching and Mentoring Lead will guide work on SPARC’s coaching and mentoring pillar, which aims to build and support a cadre of regional experts from sub-Saharan Africa who can work alongside and provide contextualized support to country-led strategic purchasing processes. SPARC is working with other initiatives like the USAID African Collaborative Health Financing Solutions (ACS) and the USAID Health Systems Strengthening Accelerator (HSS Accelerator) to co-create this “coaching approach,” which is exploring how to provide technical assistance, as well as who should provide the support, to better facilitate country-led health systems change.
The Coaching and Mentoring Lead will be responsible for identifying and developing a pool of regional experts with strategic purchasing expertise who are prepared to provide coaching support to countries. When SPARC country engagements emerge, the Coaching and Mentoring Lead will work closely with the Program Manager and the Executive Director to generate a shortlist of coaches for countries to choose from, and will prepare, support, and monitor coaches throughout their country engagements. The Coaching and Mentoring Lead will also work with the Knowledge Management Lead to ensure that coaching engagements are documented, and knowledge products are developed to support SPARC’s coaching engagements.
The Coaching and Mentoring Lead will also be expected to collaborate with the coaching focal persons from ACS and the HSS Accelerator around the following areas:
Provide thought leadership around development of the “coaching approach.”
Engage with and facilitate the FORCE – a regional community of health systems experts dedicated to co-creating the “coaching approach” and learning from one another as they implement this approach.
PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES
KEY AREA
Activity
Support to SPARC’s country engagement process (in consultation with Executive Director and Program Manager)
Develop TORs for regional resource persons to provide coaching support (i.e., “coaches”) to SPARC country engagements; Lead identification of coaches for SPARC country engagements; Prepare coaches for their engagements, including orienting them to the “coaching approach.”; Serve as the SPARC key focal person for coaches throughout their engagements; Monitor coaching engagements and ensure that quality assurance is provided from the SPARC team, as necessary; Work with the Knowledge Management Lead and Communications Manager to ensure coaching engagements are documented; Develop tools to support use of the “coaching approach” in SPARC country engagements, as needed.
Stakeholder engagement
Develop a pool of regional experts with strategic purchasing expertise who are prepared to provide coaching support to countries; · Collaborate with the Coaching Leads from ACS and the HSS Accelerator to engage with and facilitate the FORCE – a regional community of health systems experts dedicated to co-creating the “coaching approach” and learning from one another as they implement this approach.
o Help convene regular meetings of the FORCE; Maintain and circulate a weekly newsletter; o Facilitate linkages between the FORCE and SPARC country engagements.
Knowledge management
Work with the Knowledge Management Lead to develop knowledge products related to the “coaching approach.”
Work with the Knowledge Management Lead to produce additional learning modules to prepare SPARC coaches.
Thought leadership
Collaborate with the coaching focal persons from ACS and the HSS Accelerator, as well as the FORCE, to continue co-creating the “coaching approach.”; · Provide inputs into the development of tools and resources to support the “coaching approach” at a global level (e.g., development of a global database of experts).
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
SPARC is a small team with an ambitious work plan and works in a fast-paced, results-driven environment. The ideal candidate is highly-motivated, a fast learner, resourceful, flexible, independent, energetic, with excellent communications skills, cultural sensitivity and experience working with senior leaders.
MINIMUM EDUCATION
Advanced degree in Public Health, Health Economics, Public or Social Policy, International Development or other relevant field.
EXPERIENCE
At least 8-10 years of relevant professional experience of working alongside and supporting government health agencies and/or other key health stakeholders on issues related to health financing or health systems strengthening.
Experience providing process facilitation support on issues related to health systems strengthening is a highly desired – i.e., supporting a country-led process that has broad stakeholder buy-in, develops the capacity of country partners, and leads to contextually appropriate and technically valid solutions.
Demonstrated track record in building and maintaining strong stakeholder relationships.
COMPETENCIES
· Highly collaborative working style; Ability and enthusiasm to work with multicultural partners; · Strong stakeholder management skills; Excellent oral and written communication skills; · High level of organization, attention to detail, professionalism, and reliability; Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; Proficiency in Microsoft Office including Excel, PowerPoint and Word; · Fluent in speaking, reading and writing in English. Proficiency in French is highly desired; · coaching certification or Mentorship Training is a requirement
