POSITION OBJECTIVE
The National Coordinator, Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child & Adolescent Health(RMNCAH) as a key member of the AKF health and nutrition sector, aims to contribute to improving the health, nutritional status, and well-being of women, mothers, newborns, children, and adolescents in AKDN-targeted provinces of Afghanistan.
The Nationa coordinator will work in close coordination with AKF and other AKDN health agencies at the national and provincial levels to improve the quality of, access to, and utilization of existing essential maternal, child, and adolescent health services at the health facility level, to promote the extension of preventive and curative maternal, infant, and child health services and behaviours of known effectiveness at the community level and to contribute building resilience in the local systems to improve their functioning aligned with national RMNCAH strategy. The position will lead the implementation of RMNCAH interventions/Projects at the AKF level, Undertake regular supportive supervision from AKDN core provinces, Coordinate/Contribute in the implementation of RMNCAH strategies, improve quality and ensure provision of RMNCAH services according to the BPHS/EPHS standards, ensure appropriate RMNCAH indicators monitoring, tracking and regular reviewing for identifying gaps and building capacity of program staff through facilitating of trainings/provision of on-the-job training and technical support.
The CBHC Senior Officer is a key member of the technical/health program management team and will report to the EPR coordinator position of AKF health department.
JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Technical/RMNCAH
Lead and support the implementation of Reproductive Maternal Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) projects and activities at the national level in close coordination with technical managers, project coordinators and AKDN program and RMNCAH focal points.
Lead and support the quality improvement interventions of existing services in health facilities and at the community level.
To strengthen community-based RMNCAH care in AKDN-targeted provinces.
To improve referral systems between the community and health facilities through supporting and leading innovative approaches in close coordination with provincial stakeholders and communities.
Coordinate RMNCAH interventions with relevant stakeholders (UN agencies, MoPH, National/international NGOs as BPHS/EPHS implementers and the private sector) for synergy and smooth implementation.
Undertake regular supportive supervision from AKF core provinces RMNCAH interventions implemented at the health facility and community level, and provide on-the-job coaching and training for the RMNCAH staff and focal points.
Provide technical support to the RMNCAH focal points of AKDN partner agencies in RMNCAH-related services, quality improvement, data analysis, utilization and reporting.
Strengthen RMNCAH in-service training and support at the AKDN level through regular meetings, review in-service training activities with the intention of harmonizing roles and responsibilities, avoiding duplication of efforts and conducting supervisor visits.
Assess all in-service training resources to identify gaps, particularly in ensuring that the materials reflect the latest evidence-based thinking and the importance of RMNCAH and other multi-sectoral factors for RMNCAH outcomes.
Conduct RMNCAH needs assessment (Annual basis) and identify the area need for improvement, develop an action plan, and coordinate resource mobilization and implementation.
Meet regularly with beneficiary communities and leaders (women-focused) to ensure RMNCAH services' effectiveness and community involvement in decision-making on the services with a focus on both demand generation and supply side interventions.
Work closely with other AKF sectors and agencies to support the implementation of a multi-sectoral approach in in implementation of RMNCAH interventions and achieving the best results.
Ensure the provision of RMNCAH services according to the BPHS/EPHS standards and increased utilization by women in coordination with other AKDN-involved agencies.
Improve the quality of RMNCAH services provision (Maternal Health, Newborn Care, Birth Spacing and Family Planning, Child Health, Adolescent Health, Reproductive Morbidity and Mortality) through technical support, guidance, tracking and follow-up regularly.
Ensure appropriate RMNCAH indicators monitoring, tracking and regular reviewing for identifying gaps.
Assist AKF senior management team in developing of proposals, concept notes, and annual reports relevant to RMNCAH at the organizational level.
Attend all RMNCAH-related coordination meetings, task forces and ad-hoc meetings within AKDN and with all relevant stakeholders/UN agencies and keep AKF team updated of the RMNCAH contexts, strategies and projects at AKF program area level.
Maintain an updated matrix of RMNCAH-related grants/interventions at AKDN level.
Represent AKF at internal and external meetings as RMNCAH focal point.
Participate in joint monitoring visits planned by AKHS, UNICEF and/or MoPH to facilitate visits (RMNCAH related) and do follow up of the findings for improvement.
Attend AKF internal review/coordination meetings, and provide progress to the team at AKDN level.
Maintain good and effective relations with donors (UNICEF/WHO), vertical projects donors, and health and humanitarian organizations working in targeted provinces through regular communication, reporting and attending meetings and workshops.
Ensure proper filling, record of all project-related soft and hard documents at the national office level.
Provide overall support to the health grants management team whenever needed.
Gender Equality and mainstreaming/RMNCAH focused
Provide technical support in the delivery of the programs to enhance its impact on gender equality.
Ensure timely implementation of gender-related activities in the project and program.
Coordinate/facilitate gender-related capacity-building efforts at the AKF level.
Identifying gender-related challenges and recommending practical solutions on the design and implementation of projects, including humanitarian and emergency projects.
Ensure that AKF Health treats gender as a cross-cutting issue in all its response activities, by the project coordinators and AKF gender and women empowerment unit.
Integrate gender concerns from a programmatic perspective through training, guidance, one-on-one support, commenting on strategy plans, providing input to program design and proposal writing and orientation on the use of Gender in all health and nutrition projects.
Conduct field visits.
Coordinate gender activities with AKDN agencies.
Present the AKF health department as the gender focal point for health and nutrition projects.
To carry out the responsibilities of the role in a way which reflects AKF (Afg)'s commitment to safeguarding staff, beneficiaries and protecting children from harm and abuse in accordance with AKF (Afg)s Safeguarding policy.
To report any suspicions or actual violations of the Safeguarding Policy and/or Child Safeguarding Policy as per the given training.
OCCASIONAL SIGNIFICANT DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Contribute in program development/Proposal writing efforts in the areas of RMNCAH and maternal nutrition when ever needed by providing input and field related update information.
DECISION-MAKING & AUTHORITY
Aligned with AKF HR Policy.
