Job description
*Application deadline: Friday, July 31st, 2015
Please mail your application to m.cavanagh@options.co.uk before or on the
closing date
Job Title
E4A-MamaYe Nigeria Regional Coordinator
Department
Technical Team
Reporting to
Country Director E4A-MamaYe Nigeria
Liaison with
Technical Team
Options Staff
In-country Staff
Consultants
Hours and timeframe
Up to 40 hours per week, 1 year contract
Organisation
Options Consultancy Services Limited (Options) was established in 1992 and is a wholly owned
subsidiary of Marie Stopes International. Options is a leading provider of technical and management
expertise in the health and social sectors. We work in partnership with national and state
governments, international development agencies, the private sector and civil society to strengthen
programmes and policies to support the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals in health
and poverty reduction.
Our work focuses on providing expertise in sexual and reproductive health, maternal newborn and
child health, HIV and AIDS, citizen voice and accountability, gender, social inclusion and equity to
enhance institutional effectiveness to support strengthening of health service delivery.
One of Options’ largest on-going programmes is the Evidence for Action to Reduce Maternal and
Neonatal Mortality in Africa (E4A) Project. E4A is a five-year programme which aims to improve
maternal and newborn survival in six sub-Saharan countries (Ethiopia, Ghana, Malawi, Nigeria, Sierra
Leone and Tanzania) by focusing on using better evidence and improved advocacy and accountability
to save lives. E4A uses evidence more effectively to generate political commitment, strengthen
accountability and improve planning and decision making at sub-national and national levels. E4A
also works to strengthen international and regional accountability.
E4A has developed a public engagement campaign to proactively engage people from all walks of life
in the 6 focus countries and internationally to play their part in improving maternal and newborn
survival; the campaign is known as MamaYe! For more information visit: www.mamaye.org
Main Purpose of Role
This post will be based in Abuja, Nigeria and will include

Technical leadership on E4A-MamaYe work-streams on national and state level
accountability mechanisms, maternal death reviews, monitoring & evaluation, donor reporting
and evidence based advocacy

Manage and quality assure the work of state coordinators in supported geographical areas.
Scope of Work
Reporting to the E4A-Nigeria Country Director and liaising with members of the country team
and the E4A Technical Team (TSUs and Core Team), the Regional Coordinator will be
responsible for the following:
Lead Technical and Management Inputs

Lead on technical inputs and support on MNH evidence and accountability related
strategies/activities implemented through E4A-MamaYe

Oversee and quality assure work of Ondo, Bauchi, Taraba and Gombe state
coordinators and provide technical and management backstopping support to ensure
deliverables are met

Contribute to the generation, analysis and packaging of evidence to inform and
influence the MamaYe campaign at national and state level and to further strengthen
accountability efforts

Support relevant ministries, health care providers and others in strengthening
maternal death review processes with a focus on the use of findings to improve
quality of care

Ensure regular meetings of the state and national level accountability mechanisms
including support to the production of MNCH scorecards and their use in strategic
plans and budgeting cycles as well as to spur advocacy initiatives

Collaborate with stakeholders committed to strengthening MNH evidence and its use
to facilitate data for decision-making, advocacy and accountability in Nigeria

Conduct quality assurance of programme technical outputs, in collaboration with the
Country Director and TSU lead

In collaboration with the Communications specialist, help to collect, compile and
record data sources and publications on MNH in Nigeria, and ensure the MamaYe
website is up to date with information/publications on Nigeria

Represent the programme at key national, regional and international meetings and
conferences as required
2. Delivery of Operational Plan

Lead on the country operational plan in focus states, coordinating activities of the
programme team and consultants in focus states (and engaging in trouble-shooting
where necessary) to support the smooth implementation of the programme

Provide technical input to the overall E4A-MamaYe strategy, using best practice from
the sector

Ensure sound technical implementation of the operational plan and quality assure
state led outputs and deliverables

Monitor progress of operational plan to ensure it is on track, and regularly report on
progress to the Country Director

Proactively
anticipate
and
participate
in
identifying
technical
assistance/subcontracting needs relating to work in focus states, in conjunction with
Options, and management of TA including development of TORs, contracting of TA
and monitoring of TA outputs

Actively look for opportunities to drive forward and expand E4A-MamaYe’s work in
focus states, and opportunities to collaborate with other in-country stakeholders and
add value to the E4A programme

Lead on institutionalisation of accountability mechanisms including maternal death
reviews with key partners
3. Information Packaging and Dissemination, and Sharing of Lessons Learned

Identify the information needs of target audiences and package/tailor evidence
according to formats which are most relevant and meaningful to each one

Develop tactful strategies to promote the effective use of evidence into action (policy,
programme, advocacy, accountability) among different stakeholders

Work with advocates and those working to strengthen accountability mechanisms to
ensure they have the evidence required to be more effective

Use evidence to support the development and populating of accountability tools to
track MNH progress and commitments

Package complex scientific information for a range of stakeholders in an easily
understandable and appropriate format for non-scientists, and disseminate as
appropriate

Prepare scientific papers and reports using findings from the programme to
document and publicise issues pertaining to the programme’s work, as required

Identify opportunities for sharing lessons learned and tools, and dissemination within
and beyond E4A-MamaYe

Prepare case studies and relevant documentation articulating E4A-MamaYe results
and impact
Person Specification
Criteria
Essential
Qualifications
 MPH/MSc in relevant area.
Essential

PhD in relevant area
Desirable
Experience
 Substantial
experience
quantitative/qualitative research
newborn health related issues.
on Essential
and
working
on maternal

Strong experience in monitoring and evaluating MNH Essential
programmes

Strong experience on communicating evidence Essential
effectively to different stakeholders to better inform MNH
planning, decision making, advocacy and accountability
efforts

Experience of close working relationships with partners Essential
and consortia

At least 5 years’ experience working
development management/oversight.

Experience in quality assuring programmes
Essential

Experience of writing and editing donor reports
Essential

Experience and understanding of advocacy for improved
MNH and a track record of bringing about MNH change Essential
and impact in-country
Experience working
international donors
on
programmes
in
health
funded
Essential
by
Knowledge and Skills
 Solid understanding of the maternal and newborn health Essential
landscape in-country

Awareness of how to apply political economy analysis or Essential
stakeholder analysis

A key advocate for improved maternal and newborn Essential
health,
Essential
Proven leadership and people management skills

Attributes
Desirable
Desirable

Well-connected with key stakeholders in maternal and Essential
newborn health (programmes, policy, advocacy and/or
accountability) to help drive E4A forward

Self-starter, can work independently and as part of a Essential
team

Fluent in English

Nigerian national with the right to work in Nigeria
Essential
Essential
Other Requirements
Commitment to Equal Opportunities
Essential