GH-TAMS is seeking candidates for a Global Health Security Advisor for USAID Ghana.
The assignment is based in Accra at six-months duration. The level of effort will be 130 days, with start mid- October. There will be six internal trips in Ghana at one week each.
Background
In 2014 multilateral partners and the US Government launched the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA). USAID’s Global Health Security (GHS) portfolio works to strengthen countries’ multi-sectoral capacities to reduce the risk and impact of zoonotic disease threats that are of greatest public health concern. The program emphasizes systems strengthening at national and subnational levels and in multiple sectors for preparedness; laboratory; surveillance; workforce/human resources; risk communications and community engagement; supply chain and related countermeasures.
GHS embraces the One Health approach, recognizing the critical role that wildlife, livestock, other domestic animals, and environment play in emerging zoonotic diseases with pandemic potential and antimicrobial resistance. Identifying and minimizing zoonotic disease spillover risks at their source in animals and a comprehensive approach to antimicrobial resistance that includes the livestock, agriculture, and environment sectors are essential components of USAID’s contribution to GHS.
The GHS program also leverages other USAID programming priorities in the areas of public health, food security, economic growth, and disaster assistance. Healthy animals provide a safe and nutritious food supply component, and additionally, jobs and livelihoods all along the value chain from producer to final consumer. Livestock industries are huge contributors to national and regional economies in the area.
Ensuring that animals are safely, economically managed and food is safe for human consumption not only minimizes the risk of transferring zoonotic diseases and antimicrobial resistance, but also greatly assists with enhancing partner countries’ capacity for agricultural development and participation in international trade.
Role and Responsibilities
USAID seeks to employ a short-term consultant who will be responsible for ensuring well-coordinated and effective delivery of program implementation across the Agency’s Global Health Security (GHS) portfolio in Ghana. The GHS consultant in Ghana will fill a critical role for USAID to meet the expectations of the White House and Congress for rapid, effective, and coordinated implementation of the U.S. Government’s commitment to GHS. This consultant will support USAID/Ghana health team and help them work closely with USAID/Washington (GHSA Team and A/COR’s) and with other United States Government (USG) partners, particularly the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which also provide support for GHSA implementation, thus presenting a “whole of government” approach.
The GHS consultant will also work very closely with the Government of Ghana including the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Agriculture, and other government stakeholders at the national and sub-national level. The GHS consultant will play a crucial role to help facilitate multi-sectoral coordination in support of effective One Health strategies to prevent, detect, and respond to emerging infectious diseases.
A. Technical Leadership (40%)
Provide technical leadership to introduce, design and lead implementation of all GHS interventions based on USAID guidelines and best practices to detect, mitigate, control and prevent infectious diseases.
Guide USAID inputs into interagency planning, execution and implementation of GHS portfolio and investments.
Provide technical support and mentoring to Cooperating Country National (CCN) GHSA specialist in accelerating implementation of activities.
Maintain knowledge of Ghana’s GHSA capacities and priorities.
Establish and maintain a coordination network among key stakeholders in Ghana to include:
– USG agencies in Ghana especially CDC, Department of State and U.S. Embassy
– Government of Ghana ministries both at national and sub-national level
– United Nations (UN) organizations, other donors, private sector, international, and local Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) and other civil society organizations, etc.
Analyze reports, performance statistics and other available data and, make strategic recommendations to the Health Office leadership, the USG interagency and to USAID/Washington on GHSA trends and programming in Ghana.
Establish regular communication and update modalities and work jointly with other USAID/Ghana offices and other relevant USG agencies at post.
Keep abreast of new developments and emerging issues that affect USAID‘s priorities and share relevant information and recommendations with USAID, USG and other technical counterparts.
B. Program Management and Coordination (40%)
- Ensure coordination across all assets and activities of the USAID/Ghana program.
- Establish and maintain coordination networks among USAID implementing partners in Ghana whose activities are related to GHSA. This will include:
– Facilitate opportunities for USAID implementing partners (IPs) to collaborate and leverage each other’s activities.
– Communicate and promote to IPs USAID’s expectations for IPs to function as a cohesive program working together to advance GHSA targets in Ghana.
– Use the network of IPs to facilitate GHSA implementation, achieve results and maximize USG investments.
– Identify and cultivate strategic relationships with senior policy level stakeholders across multiple related sectors and ministries in Ghana.
– Review performance (and financial) reports to ensure that partners are in compliance with bilateral government agreements and with the performance expectations outlined in their work plan and in their contract/agreement with USAID.
– Ensure that implementing partners are in compliance with all relevant USAID regulations and procedures.
– Proactively report to USAID/Ghana on developments in the GHSA portfolio and policy directions from USAID/Bureau for Global Health.
Proactively communicate GHSA activities, plans, and results to the USAID Health and Program Offices, and share with appropriate teams including technical advisors from the USAID/Bureau for Global Health, USAID implementing partners, other USG agencies, and the Government of Ghana.
Maintain close coordination with USG partner agencies to ensure mutual understanding, coordinated, synergistic, and non-duplicative GHSA plans, activities, results, and reporting for Ghana.
Serve as the source of information on GHSA to enhance USG awareness and collaboration and to address concerns/questions from USAID and Embassy leadership.
Regularly communicate with USAID/Washington technical advisors and AORs/CORs to report on, and discuss, Ghana’s GHSA portfolio.
Lead development of USAID contributions to the Ghana Interagency team for submission of bi-annual GHSA progress reports and annual reports to Congress and the National Security Council via the U.S. Embassy/Ghana.
Have strong knowledge of assessments and scoring related to Ghana’s GHSA Joint External Evaluation Report
Monitor implementation progress, ensuring that actions are completed on schedule or adjusted to meet changing conditions and identifying constraints to activity implementation as well as proposing solutions for their resolution.
Conduct site visits and attend relevant meetings and events to ensure programmatic quality is maintained.
Work closely with partners to ensure that program achievements and lessons learned are widely disseminated in Ghana and back to USAID Washington.
Lead USAID inputs for preparation of key mission, Embassy and agency reporting documents, cables and other inputs as required
Qualifications
GENERAL: Must be willing to travel throughout Ghana.
LANGUAGE SKILLS: Minimum Level IV (Fluent) English and proven ability to communicate quickly, clearly, and concisely, both orally and in writing.
EDUCATION: The Consultant must have a degree in Medicine (MD), Veterinary Medicine (DVM) or a master’s degree in Epidemiology, Public Health, or relevant technical field.
PRIOR WORK EXPERIENCE:
The Consultant is required to have at least five years of progressively responsible experience in One Health, Animal Health, Public Health or Epidemiology. Prior experience working with a bi-lateral or multilateral donor in development programming is required. Direct experience working on the GHS activities or implementation is also highly desirable.
KNOWLEDGE AND TECHNICAL SKILLS:
Professional knowledge of a broad range of infectious disease, one health, antimicrobial resistance, health systems, and development issues; knowledge of the Ghana cultural/work environment. Knowledge of how to engage with senior level executives and officials in government and development sector contexts, and to build trust-based relationships with senior-level executives. Knowledge of how to engage with technology entrepreneurs, researchers, and innovators. Knowledge of how to work with stakeholders across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. The applicant must possess strong management, negotiation, collaboration, team building, networking and interpersonal skills. Candidate must have a proven ability to work independently with minimal supervision. Strong interpersonal skills are required to establish and maintain strong contacts with counterparts both inside and outside of USAID and in order to explain USAID objectives and procedures to government officials, private businesses, corporations, foundations, NGOs, and other non-traditional development organizations. The incumbent must also have a high degree of technical, analytical, and quantitative skills in scientific approaches and in analysis of development activities and policies. Demonstrated ability to work as a member of a team and to foster teamwork is required as is the ability to develop and maintain productive working relationships at all levels. Given the nature of the position, effective written and oral communications are absolutely critical to perform successfully in this position. The candidate should have a demonstrated ability to produce professional quality analytical pieces and make oral presentations. The incumbent must be able to communicate effectively with Mission employees; local government officials at the Senior Minister level; international and local organizations, donors and other embassies; and various Washington based U.S. Government agencies.
INTERPERSONAL AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS: Exceptional leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability and willingness to function collaboratively and productively as both a leader and a member of a multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural team, and must have the ability to work effectively in a team environment to achieve consensus on policies, activities and administrative matters and to influence relationships positively.
Proven ability to work well in complex institutional settings and to develop networks of relationships that facilitate collaboration among colleagues and a genuine interest in assisting USAID staff with expedient program implementation. Must exercise discretion, tact and diplomacy especially when dealing with politically sensitive issues, must be able to interact effectively with a broad range of internal and external partners and USAID clients, international organizations, and host country government officials or NGO counterparts. Strong oral and written communication skills, and an ability to work with a range of senior and technical officials in a collegial and productive way.
How To Apply
Interested persons should CLICK HERE TO APPLY
Deadline: 30 October 2022
