The MNCH, FP Advisor will be responsible for developing, leading and implementing a range of MNCH/ FP strategies for the five-year, USAID-funded Afya Jijini project. This position will provide technical support to the project activities to scale up quality Basic and Emergency obstetric and neonatal care (EmONC) in the county. Working with the county health management team, she will be responsible for setting up the RH/FP TWG, the MPDSR committee and relevant quality improvement structures at both county and facility level and through the cluster UHAI teams the work Improvement teams (WITs). Further she will support the scale up of family planning services in the county with a focus on availing modern method mix at all supported facilities. Working with the community engagement advisor and the MNCH/FP technical team, she/he will develop innovative community level models that support uptake of FP, early ANC attendance and retention to 4th ANC, and finally increased facility based deliveries, aggressive c-MNCH approaches in informal settlement with high perinatal deaths. The MNCH/FP advisor will also be responsible for child health activities aimed at increasing immunization coverage by reaching every child and while working with the WASH and nutrition advisor will aim to reduce diarrheal and nutrition related illnesses for children under five years old within the informal settlements. S/he will also work with the HIV/TB advisor to ensure RH/HIV integration in supported facilities including those reaching the priority population. S/he will ensure that the adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) under the DREAMS project are reached with MNCH/FP services. Working closely with rest of technical team and the communication manager, she will support knowledge management in the technical area (success stories, routine case studies, high level case studies, newsletters, relevant posters and other needed publications). The MNCH/FP advisor will represent Afya Jijini project in relevant technical meetings.
Duties and Responsibilities
In collaboration with the project team and stakeholders, provide technical leadership and management of Afya Jijini’s MNCH/FP activities
In collaboration with the CHMT, strengthen the county RH/FP TWG and ensure regular meeting
Attend national level RH/FP technical fora’s to represent the program as needed
Prepare regular program updates for presentation to USAID
Prepare monthly and quarterly activity plans, budget plans and reports on behalf of the MNCH/FP technical team
In collaboration with CHMT strengthen/establish the RH/FP QA/QI sub-committee that will be reporting to the county QA/QI TWG and UNIT
In collaboration with the CHMT establish/ strengthen the county MPDSR committee and ensure:-
All maternal deaths and near misses including cases of obstetrics fistulas, emergency hysterectomies and due to PPH have been documented and audited within 24-48 hrs with an improvement plan
Working with the rest of the technical teams, ensure that all perinatal deaths are audited with an improvement plan
Work with county and senior Monitoring and Evaluation advisor to establish/operationalize a database for MPDSR
Coordinate with the rest of the technical team and the HRH advisor to oversee the training of all maternity and MCH clinic staff on EmONC, EPI, IMCI and FP using the national curriculum and documentation of the same in the TraiNet
Support the UHAI teams in establishing the facility based WITs for maternity and MCH clinics across all the supported sites
Working with the UHAI team ensure timely reporting of all MNCH/FP monthly reports
Coordinate with the supplies chain advisor to support facilities in forecasting of MNCH/RH/FP commodities, ordering, and inventory management.
Utilizing the MPDSR data (including a rapid baseline survey) identify MPDSR hotspots within the informal settlements to aggressively implement c-MNCH with focus on reducing perinatal mortality in the said hotspots
Working with the gender and youth advisor ensure that the RH/FP package including PAC is available for ASYRH in supported facilities
In collaboration with the project communication manager and rest of technical teams develop relevant knowledge documents (reports, success stories, case studies, conference abstracts and others as maybe required).
Participate in relevant stakeholders TWGs and other key technical meetings.
Specific Deliverables
MNCH/RH/FP specific process of care indicators improving with a target of >80%
Supported facilities offer the 8 EmONC signal functionsIncrease in 4 ANC attendance, SBD and MPDSR at the target facilities
Increased PNC attendance and new-born review in target facility
Increased immunization coverage in the supported facilities
Increase in number of children able to access treatment for diarrhoea using ORS and zinc
County MNCH/RH/FP TWG in place and functional
County MNCH/RH/FP QA/QI subcommittee in place and functional
Facility maternity and MNCH WITs in place and functional (a functionality assessment tool for team is available)
MPDSR subcommittee in place and functional
All (100%) Maternal deaths and near deaths audited within 24-48 hours with rapid improvement plan.
EmONC surveys conducted as scheduled by PIMA & USAID
Model in place for male engagement in ANC, Labour and postpartum.
Model(s) in place and rolled out to support preterm birth initiative in high volume facilities
Model(s) in place and rolled out to support c-MNCH in MPDSR hotspots
Model(s) in place and roll out for mobilization for RH/FP services at community level
Timely reports (weekly, monthly, quarterly and as needed)
All supported sites have fully integrated MNCH/HIV as per the minimum service package
Case studies, success stories and other publications as needed.
Key Technical Skills and Knowledge
Master’s degree in public health, nursing, midwifery, or other related areas, or a bachelor’s degree with at least 5 years of additional relevant experience.
Has been in successful field implementation of MNCH/RH/FP programs in Kenya
Demonstrated skills in designing and rolling out GoK-endorsed approaches that result in improved uptake of services for maternal, neonatal, child health, family planning and reproductive health
Strong linkages and relationships with County, and sub-county government; health facilities; and implementing partners within Nairobi County working on FP and RH.
Strong communication skills both written and verbal.
Knowledge of USAID and PEPFAR program strategies in Kenya
Ability to work in a complex environment with multiple tasks, short deadlines and intense pressure to perform; ability to manage several major multidimensional activities simultaneously.
Ability to travel extensively to supported sites.
Ability to recognize limitations and seek appropriate expert advice
