Job description
Job title
MamaYe Lead, Malawi
Department
E4A-MamaYe Programme
Post holder
Vacant
Reporting to
MamaYe Assistant Programme Director
Responsible for
MamaYe Malawi Evidence and Advocacy team
members
Liaison with
E4A-MamaYe Malawi team, London-based Technical
Support Unit, activists and partners
Hours
40 hours/week
Location
Lilongwe
Type of contract
Fixed term: August 2015 to March 2017
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.
Programme or department background
Evidence for Action/MamaYe is a programme managed by Options Consultancy Services and funded by the
UK Department for International Development (DFID) and the Gates Foundation. E4A-MamaYe aims to
improve maternal and newborn survival by using better evidence for improved advocacy and accountability to
save lives. The programme works across six sub-Saharan African countries: Ethiopia, Ghana, Malawi,
Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Malawi, and works closely with Africa regional institutions and campaigns, including
CARMMA and the African Health Budget Network.
E4A-MamaYe is designed to engage and inspire the public around positive messaging for maternal and
newborn health, challenging the apathy around maternal and newborn deaths and putting evidence on
maternal and newborn health in the hands of those with the will to take action and make change. In Malawi
the programme is currently expanding the national MamaYe campaign and rolling-out MamaYe activities to
more districts.
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Main purpose of job
As MamaYe Lead, you will be the driver of MamaYe in Malawi, representing the MamaYe campaign on a
national stage. The ongoing success of MamaYe will depend on your commitment and energy to make it
work.
A well networked individual, who is respected in either the fields of health or advocacy, you will also have the
strong management skills required to further develop and deliver the MamaYe Malawi strategy and workplan.
Additional technical and management support will be provided to you by a Technical Support Unit (TSU)
based at Options and other MamaYe consortium partners including experts from academic institutions,
internationally recognised advocacy and accountability coalitions and civil society organisations.
You will oversee the MamaYe core team at PACHI, and directly line manage some team members. You will
report to the MamaYe Programme Director in London and work in close partnership with the PACHI CEO.
You will also work with other Options’ and PACHI team members; the in-country E4A/MamaYe Steering
Group; advocacy coalition partners, district and national level health officials, media representatives and other
key MamaYe partners.
Note that no relocation allowance is included.
Main duties
1. Strategic Leadership of MamaYe Programme in Malawi
 Working closely with the PACHI CEO, provide strategic direction for MamaYe in-country including the
effective coordination of efforts across the 3 pillars of MamaYe: evidence, advocacy and accountability;
 Co-ordinate activities of the MamaYe team and consultants (and engage in trouble-shooting where
necessary) to support the smooth implementation of the programme, in line with the deliverables identified
in MamaYe results frameworks;
 Proactively plan and identify technical assistance and thematic support needs;
 Actively look for opportunities to drive forward MamaYe’s work in-country and establish national and
Africa regional linkages as appropriate.
 Ensure MamaYe efforts in Malawi are value for money and that this value can be demonstrated (with
support from Options);
 Leverage resources and identify partners/synergies to deliver and expand MamaYe in Malawi
2. Managing, monitoring and reporting on MamaYe performance
 Oversee implementation of MamaYe activities according to the annual Country Operational Plan (COP),
developed annually and updated regularly in consultation with PACHI and Options; lead the design of the
next operational plan
 Oversee reporting of progress against the COP in line with MamaYe reporting requirements
 Ensure MamaYe is on course to meet the milestones/deliverables to the two programme donors as
agreed in results frameworks, working with Options and PACHI to identify strategies for strengthening
performance
 Ensure timely reporting to Options of all deliverables identified in MamaYe results frameworks and
respond to ad hoc requests for information
3.
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MamaYe Campaign
Lead on the expansion and implementation of maternal and newborn health (MNH) advocacy/MamaYe
campaign at national, district and community levels
Build and strengthen MNH civil society coalitions in Malawi, working closely with MNH partners,
including WRA, to jointly campaign for shared advocacy goals
Support the expansion and capacity building of district activist networks, building upon the work of
MamaYe clubs, blood drives and other MamaYe activities to generate a momentum behind the
MamaYe campaign and ensure district activists feel engaged with and are able to contribute to national
level MNH advocacy/MamaYe campaign activities for example through social media and mobile
technology;
Strengthen new strands of advocacy for MamaYe and MNH coalition partners, for example around
budget transparency; identify and respond to opportunities for MNH advocacy, playing a facilitation role
with MNH partners as required
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Work closely with journalists, bloggers etc to communicate MNH advocacy/MamaYe messages to the
widest audience possible
Strategic oversight of the MamaYe website and social media
4. Oversight and Strategic Management of E4A/MamaYe Activities
 Evidence activities
o Oversee evidence activities implemented in partnership with PACHI, generating and presenting
national and district level evidence in simple to interpret and visually appealing formats which
are targeted for specific audiences, support decision-making, encourage transparency and
accountability for quality of MNH services. These include: development of district data
dashboards, roll-out of the Quality of Institutional Care (QuIC) approach to monitoring and
communicating facility readiness, and Maternal Death Surveillance and Response (MDSR)
evidence.
 Accountability activities
o Oversee accountability activities implemented in partnership with PACHI, which use evidence as
a lever for strengthening accountability, including overseeing the building and strengthening of
accountability mechanisms at district level through decentralized structures ,
o Oversee the provision of support to the MDSR system with a particular focus on the MDSR
system
o Work closely with PACHI to build and strengthen national level accountability mechanisms
 Work closely with PACHI and Options to strategically link district level evidence and accountability
activities to the national MamaYe campaign, and to work in partnership with government and advocacy
partners to sustain achievements around the evidence and accountability pillars beyond the current
period of donor support
 Oversee the roll-out of MamaYe activities to 3 new districts in northern Malawi
 Ensure MamaYe team is engaging in monitoring and evaluation activities for evaluation purposes and to
inform strategic direction and implementation.
 Management of the MamaYe activities budget.
5. Leadership of the E4A/MamaYe team
 Direct line management of MamaYe team members directly employed by Options, including the
Advocacy and Communications Coordinator, Evidence Co-ordinator and short-term consultants
 Provide leadership and supervisory management of the E4A/MamaYe team within PACHI, working
closely with Options and the PACHI CEO
6. Drive Partnership and Collaboration
 Represent the programme at key national, regional and international meetings and conferences as
required;
 Look for strategic opportunities to collaborate with other in-country stakeholders and add value to and
build the E4A/MamaYe programme;
 Keep abreast of and share key activities and lessons learnt across the programme
 Lead engagement with key stakeholders and current partners, including NGOs, taskforces, working
groups, media, civil society, advocacy coalitions and the private sector.
7. Liaison with Options, London
 Represent Options in Malawi
 On behalf of Options, support the management of partner relationships that are essential to MamaYe
implementation.
 Identify linkages with other Options’ managed programmes in Malawi including Results for Health and
Malawi Health Sector Strategic Plan (MHSP).
Note: this job description reflects the present requirements of the post. As duties and responsibilities change
and develop the job description will be reviewed and be subject to amendment in consultation with the job
holder.
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Person specification
Criteria
Essential
Desirable
Qualifications

Masters degree or equivalent professional qualification in public health or
other relevant areas
Experience
Experience working in health development management/oversight at a senior
level

Experience of close working relationships with partners and consortia

Experience working on international donor funded programmes in Malawi or
other country contexts

Track record in monitoring and evaluation of donor funded programmes

Successful experience of packaging information for different audiences

Experience of programme budget management

A key advocate for improved maternal and newborn health, and a track
record of bringing about MNH change

Experience of writing and editing donor reports

Experience in quality assuring advocacy or health programmes

Knowledge and skills
Solid understanding of the maternal and newborn health landscape in Malawi
and globally

Proven leadership and people management skills

Excellent written and oral communication and networking skills

Fluent in English

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Knowledge of international donors, including DFID and the Bill and Melinda
Gates Foundation
Attributes
Well-connected with key stakeholders in maternal and newborn health
(programmes, policy, advocacy and/or accountability) to help drive
E4A/MamaYe forward

Self-starter, who can work independently and as part of a team
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Other requirements
Commitment to equal opportunities

Eligible to work in Malawi
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