Job Description
Background and Objectives of the FCDO Ending Preventable Deaths (EPD) Programme
The EPD Support Programme aims to aid FCDO central and country teams in their efforts to end preventable deaths of mothers, babies, and children by 2030.
The programme will enhance health systems, promote human rights, and foster healthier environments in 11 flagship countries. The programme will provide long-term and short-term technical assistance (TA) through local and international consultants and a strategic flexible fund to support FCDO teams.
The IRC is recruiting expert technical consultants to join our consultant pool for the EPD Support Programme. We are seeking short-term (20 to 40 days) and long-term (150 to 220 days per year) consultants to provide technical assistance to FCDO country teams to influence policy, legal, and strategic frameworks necessary for progress on EPD in line with centrally managed and bilateral country programs such as Kenya.
The technical assistance required for EPD Kenya country program will be determined through consultations with Kenya government. The long and short terms consultants will provide tailored assistance designed for ensuring effective support for FCDO EPD project in central and Somalia teams.
Scope of Work:
Ensuring the delivery of program outcomes and performance management of EPD program deliverables as per the FCDO EPD performance contract.
Responsibilities for Long Term Technical Assistance (LTA) include:
- Fostering a long-term EPD partnership approach and building strong relationships with FCDO, host governments, and partners.
- Provide high-caliber technical advice on addressing deep and complex ‘bottleneck’ issues identified in flagship countries.
- Collaboration with FCDO, government, and partners to strengthen country institutions, systems, policies, and coordination to support the EPD goals, focusing on specific areas such as strengthening health systems and broader health determinants, including WASH, nutrition, and SRHR.
- Operate effectively in complex political environments, to ensure strong working relationship with government officials and FCDO in Coordination and strategic.
- Communication to achieve key performance indicators (KPIs) and foster sustainable partnerships with government and other stakeholders.
- Responsible for monitoring KPIs to ensure contract deliverables are delivered effectively and efficiently.
Responsibilities for Short Term Technical Assistance (STA) include:
- Provide short-term consultancy services for assignments ranging from one week to three weeks or more depending on LoE.
- Offer deep specialist engagement on specific issues aligned with the three pillars of EPD: health systems, human rights, gender equality (including SRHR), and healthier environments (WASH, nutrition, climate, and health).
- Support FCDO central teams, strategically important countries, and the wider diplomatic network with catalytic activities furthering EPD aims.
- Collaborate with donor partners to improve alignment and coordination of EPD investments.
- Ensure SRHR, nutrition, and WASH integration within large health investments.
Qualifications
- Public health specialists with strong experience providing technical assistance on health system strengthening, primary health care, and reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health.
- Broad knowledge of the wider determinants of health (including nutrition, climate, etc.) and able to engage meaningfully on WASH, nutrition, and other aspects of SRHR.
- Familiarity with FCDO’s EPD strategy and key barriers to progress.
- Skills in program design and development networking with international and national institutions and development agencies which promote primary healthcare, reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health.
- Policy and advocacy skills and experience advising government actors.
- Specialized expertise in one or more technical areas: health systems strengthening, reproductive health care, health policy and administrative management, essential nutrition, family planning, and primary drinking water supply and sanitation.
- Flexibility and adaptability to provide focused technical support in various settings and experience advising government actors in policy and the design of investments.
- Experience and ability to provide leadership and direction to political leaders and operate in a flexible environment.
- Ability to navigate a flexible and dynamic environment where priorities may shift, requiring adaptability and resilience to respond to changing directives and evolving program needs.
- Ability to work in complex and fragile settings.
- Fluency in English is required.
- Qualified candidates from the local technical experts in Kenya are strongly preferred.
