Program Associate, Deworm the World at Evidence Action

Job purpose

The Program Implementation Associate, Kenya, Deworm the World, ensures that drugs and materials are provided in the correct quantities in the correct places at the correct times. S/he works closely with team members to ensure successful planning and execution of deworming treatment under the National School-Based Deworming Program.

Duties and responsibilities:

Under the supervision of the Associate Manager:

Program Management Support:

• Update training materials based on recommendations and requests received from programme partners.
• Contribute to the review of training materials at all stages of implementation.
• Participate in programme strategy development meetings and contribute to logistical implications of proposed decisions.
• Contribute to the annual programme implementation design and planning that informs the contracting processes with donors.
• Participate in field activities in which government and other partners are invited to ensure clarity of implementation components as observed in the field.
• Document the challenges experienced during programme implementation and provide recommendations for future adjustments in approaches and activities.
• Participate in the execution of programme training activities, meetings, and donor reporting as assigned.
• Scheduling county meetings for National School Based Deworming (NSBD) and communicating with county leadership on cascade dates and any revisions.
• Follow up events of the deworming day for any reports of severe adverse events and report to the Associate Manager.
• Documenting any unique features from counties and sub-counties requiring special attention.
• Assist in the development of the programme budget.
• Provide support to convene Management Team meetings

Printing and materials:

• Ensuring compliance with program requirements for cost-effective, compliant printing of quality training materials.
• Engaging the designer to format and update training materials.
• Monitoring the progress of printing work, including assessing sample print job quality and conducting periodic spot checks.
• Developing labels and sub-county packaging summaries for material identification.
• Managing materials dispatch, including supervising loading and briefing transporters.
• Creating and managing customized transport and logistical itineraries for material, trainer, and drug delivery.
• Negotiating with counties on material receipt, storage, and final dispatch to sub-counties.
• Monitoring program transport vendors for the delivery of various deliverables/materials to program sites.
• Coordinating material pick-up by Sub-County Director of Education (SCDEs) from the county HQ and overseeing distribution to sub-counties for sufficiency at all levels of the cascade.
• Ensure appropriate materials distribution to and within counties and sub-counties.
• Ensure that all Schistosomiasis (SCH) schools receive tablet poles of the right quality and quantity.
• Report on materials procurement and distribution chain.
• Maintain communication with the printer including discussion of the print list and packaging.

Drugs:

• Coordinating with Ministry of Health (MOH) and Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (KEMSA) representatives on drug dispatch timelines and Confirming expiry dates of the programme’s drugs consignment.
• Coordinate drug storage at the regional depots and final dispatch to the Sub-counties while providing seamless guidance to KEMSA staff on the regions on the management of the drugs before the county pharmacist picks them.
• Communicating with counties and the sub-county’s MOHs about drug arrival, collection dates, and available funds for the exercise.
• Advising county pharmacists on picking the right drug quantities for their sub-counties at the KEMSA regional depot.
• Share quantification summary sheets with the County pharmacists.
• Monitor delivery of drugs to Teacher Training Sessions (TTSs) to ensure all schools receive sufficient drugs for deworming day.
• Monitoring drug pick-up by all Sub-County Medical Officer of Health (SCMOHs), confirming with Form P and delivery notes.
• Mitigate any challenges relating to drugs reported from the sub-counties, including expiry date and batch number issues and redistribution or transfer of drugs between sub-counties.
• Report on the drug distribution chain after requisition and implementation.
• Ensuring drug accountability through tab return forms at the sub-county level.
• Ensure the availability of drug documentation in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health.

Supervision:

• Supervise casual laborers during the packing of training materials.

Requirements

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Program/Project Management or a relevant field;
• At least a minimum of 2-4 years experience working in a related program support capacity;
• Demonstrated ability to work successfully on a multi-faceted team;
• Experience working with government stakeholders;
• Strong interpersonal skills, working across teams and cultures;
• Excellent time management skills and ability to juggle multiple projects at once;
• Strong written and oral communication skills;
• Demonstrated ability to be a productive member of a community of people at work, respecting differences while working toward shared goals, comfort with periods of ambiguity, and constructive participation in ongoing organizational development;
• Close attention to detail and accuracy; personal initiative; reliability, flexibility and follow-up;
• Proficiency using standard office software and demonstrated skill with web research tools;
• Discretion and ability to handle confidential issues;
• Personal qualities of humility, capacity for self-reflection, and a sense of humour.

Working conditions:

• Normal working days from Monday to Friday, but may be called upon to work over the weekend when need arises
• Spend 60% of the time at Evidence Action and 40% at Division of Adolescents and School Health (DASH), depending on the need.   

Position Location 

•  This position is based at Evidence Action, Nairobi office, with regular travel to the field/counties covered by the programme.

Benefits

• Private Health Insurance
• Pension Plan
• Paid Time Off