****Overall Responsibilities****
The Senior Technical Advisor (STA) for Malaria Supply Chain provides support and technical assistance to the National Malaria Control Program (NMCP), Central Medical Store, and to Global Fund activities to ensure the continuous availability of quality malaria commodities for the delivery of malaria prevention and treatment programs in Niger
The STA will be posted at the NMCP and will provide support to the Malaria Program Coordinator to strengthen supply chain systems for malaria products addressing issues related to quantification, procurement, transportation, warehousing and inventory management, distribution and logistics management information systems.
S/he assists the development and implementation of supply chain policies and procedures and the deployment of other appropriate tools that can improve the effectiveness of the supply chain for malaria products. S/he will work closely with USAID, technical partners such as WHO-RBM, international and local stakeholders to ensure that up-to-date strategic information related to malaria commodities are shared and disseminated amongst donors and partners for prompt and appropriate decision making. The STA supports malaria program monitoring and documentation activities and ensures the capacity and ownership of the national program to support and sustain supply chain activities.
This incumbent is not expected to play any supervisory role at the NMCP. S/He will receive technical support and administrative supervision from the SIAPS/HQ
****Specific Responsibilities****
The Senior Technical Advisor for Supply Chain provides technical leadership guidance and support to the NMCP for the realization of its objectives as set in its strategic plan with emphasis on the implementation of the Procurement and Supply Management Plan (PSM) of the Global Fund malaria grant. Specific responsibilities include:
- Assist the NMCP in the development and implementation of the national malaria PSM plan ensuring compliance with Global Fund requirements.
- Work with NMCP and other stakeholders to ensure the implementation of a comprehensive approach for assuring the quality of procured Global Fund malaria commodities and those available for use in Niger
- Provide technical assistance to the NMCP and local partners for the quantification of malaria commodities including the establishment of appropriate forecasting and supply planning coordination mechanisms, capacity of partners to carry out quantification exercises and the establishment of commodity information systems to assure the availability of necessary data for adequate quantification.
- Support the NMCP and local partners to ensure that effective and efficient warehousing and distribution systems are in place throughout the health system for malaria commodities.
- Collaborate with the NMCP to develop and implement standard operating procedures (SOPs) for inventory management and for tracking malaria commodities throughout the supply chain in a manner to assure the continuous availability of malaria commodities.
- Provide support to the NMCP in identifying and prioritizing capacity development and training activities aimed at strengthening the capacity of pharmaceutical supply chain staff at the national, regional, and district level.
- Assist the NMCP to develop and implement appropriate supervision programs to strengthen supply chain practices at the different levels of the health system
- Work closely with NMCP staff and local partners for the development and implementation of a malaria supply chain monitoring and evaluation framework to allow tracking of system improvements and effectiveness
- Liaise on regular basis with the Global Fund country team.
****Qualifications****
The work involves complex and interrelated processes. The political environment requires a high degree of sensitivity and diplomacy in supporting the NMCP, establishing dialogue, and developing activities to ensure availability of malaria commodities. This position will require a depth of expertise that will allow the incumbent to provide leadership in malaria commodities management****.****
- Graduate degree in Public Health, Logistics Management, Pharmacy, Medicine or other appropriate related field.
- Significant experience implementing and strengthening supply chain systems including procurement management, warehousing, distribution and logistics management information systems in developing countries.
- Experience working with ministries of health and local supply chain organizations in Malaria programming with focus on data collection, analysis, and presentation to stakeholders.
- Experience in developing training materials and the delivery of training programs.
- Strong organizational and communication skills with ability to work in a team-oriented environment.
- Demonstrated computer skills in Microsoft Office Suite applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook; knowledge of appropriate methods for data analysis and reporting.
- Excellent representational skills with written and oral proficiency in French and English.
- Experience working with USAID-funded programs highly desirable.
- Willingness and ability to travel within Niger as needed; experience working in Niger desired.
Management Sciences for Health is an equal opportunity employer offering employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, citizenship, physical or mental handicap, or status as a disabled or Vietnam Era veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces.
