I.        Introduction

Solina Health Limited is an indigenous consultancy firm that strives to accelerate positive health, social and economic reforms through high quality program design and implementation, capacity building, implementation science research and knowledge generation, as well as agenda setting and stakeholder convening in the field of human development. Our work is primarily aimed at benefiting the disadvantaged and underserved populations. Our work is primarily aimed at benefiting the disadvantaged and underserved populations. We implement transformational programs in Africa, primarily in Nigeria and expanding to several countries in West and Central Africa such as the Republic of Niger.

II.        Description and objectives

Solina is seeking to recruit a Regional Consultant for cross-border coordination to support the Ministry of there Health Public, Population and Social Affairs, in its efforts to stop the transmission of poliovirus across the borders of Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon and Chad by the end of 2025, through strengthened and coordinated vaccination strategies, robust surveillance systems and full vaccination coverage of all high-risk and underserved populations.

The Consultant will serve as a focal point for cross-border interventions and provide technical assistance to the Public Health Emergency Operations Center (PHOC) for the creation/revitalization of functional health coordination committees, the implementation of special strategies to identify and reach mobile populations for an improvement in the quality of cross-border health interventions, but also polio control activities and equitable access of populations to quality, effective and efficient care within the framework of the strengthening of routine immunization.

III.        Technical responsibilities

1. Mapping of cross-border actors and populations
2. Support the mapping of stakeholders, all health facilities, official and unofficial border crossings, community leaders, special populations and coordination committees bringing together actors from Health, Immigration or any other state service, bordering Nigeria
3. Support the development of target questions to understand underlying causes and identify best practices in implementing cross-border activities

• Collect and analyze qualitative and quantitative data on cross-border activities through review of health intervention documentation, interviews with key targets, focus groups and field visits
• Contribute to the joint formulation of targeted solutions among national stakeholders and partners to ensure that every child, regardless of their location, is identified and vaccinated, with a view to improving the quality of cross-border health interventions

• Planning and coordination of cross-border health interventions
• Serve as the focal point for cross-border health interventions at the COUSP level, ensuring compliance with cross-border best practices, including operational procedures for polio eradication, national guidelines for strengthening routine immunization.
• Provide support to establish/reinvigorate cross-border health coordination committees. This includes addressing cross-cutting challenges, coordinating efforts, drafting/revising committee terms of reference, jointly developing meeting agendas with technical leads, drafting meeting minutes, and monitoring implementation of recommendations.
• Support state technical officials, implementing partners and communities and beneficiaries in organizing joint health intervention planning working sessions, in order to develop comprehensive micro-plans and budgets.
• Support the conduct and consolidation of health district risk assessments to update microplans, but also design and implement specific interventions
• Support State services in preparing health interventions using monitoring tools such as monitoring files and dashboards, and ensure that planned activities are carried out on time.
• Actively contribute to advocacy and stakeholder engagement meetings, including developing advocacy materials, preparing launch ceremonies for synchronized interventions

• Support the implementation of synchronized health interventions
• Ensure joint supervision of health campaigns, including Supplementary Immunization Activities (SIAs) and mobile and advanced vaccination sessions, in collaboration with technical teams from health districts and health facilities.
• Support vaccination teams, skilled health personnel, and technical teams in the use of digital tools for collecting and monitoring vaccination coverage data, identifying gaps, and making real-time decisions to ensure that all populations are covered. This may include training local focal points and vaccination teams in border localities
• Provide technical assistance for the preparation and holding of health intervention assessment meetings as well as the development of recovery plans with concrete implementation activities
• Monitor the implementation of recovery plan activities, documenting their implementation, progress and challenges

• Data management and reporting
• Support the regional technical team in the periodic review of health intervention data to ensure their reliability, accuracy and completeness.
• Promote the use of harmonized data collection, monitoring and evaluation tools in border areas to foster exchange and sharing between countries
• Provide weekly updates on cross-border activities to Regional Coordinator and Project Manager
• Archive all documentation of health interventions

IV.        Managerial responsibilities

• Set clear and specific priorities for a team of consultants and review their priorities weekly, providing feedback as needed
• Conduct problem-solving brainstorming sessions with district consultants
• Review the quality of project deliverables before submitting them to stakeholders
• Manage administrative tasks, including validating district consultants’ work statuses and reviewing requests for advances and justification of funds prior to submission for validation
• Strengthening the capacities of district consultants and local partners through a practical approach

V.        Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Public Health, Epidemiology, Statistics or a related field; Master’s degree is an advantage
• 5 to 10 years of professional experience in Primary Health Care (PHC) interventions, particularly in Polio support programs , routine vaccination
• Fluency in Hausa or any local language spoken on the border
• Good command of English (spoken and written)
• Proven ability to manage and coordinate programme activities, ensuring effective and efficient implementation
• Strong analytical skills to identify challenges and implement effective solutions
• Proven experience in data collection, analysis and reporting
• Excellent communication skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (PowerPoint, Excel and Outlook)
• Good knowledge of digital data collection tools such as koboToolbox, Open Data Kit (ODK)

   VI.        Other requirements

• Must reside in the above target regions
• Experience working in hostile and security compromised locations
• Dual nationality (Niger-Nigeria) or residence in Niger is an added advantage

• How to apply

Click here to apply

Application deadline: November 25, 2023

VIII.        Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Solina is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate against any person employed or seeking employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national or ethnic origin, age, marital status, genetic information, or any other status or characteristic protected by applicable laws.