Palladium

District Public Health Emergencies Officer

Project Overview and Role:

Primary Duties and Responsibilities: 

Palladium is a global leader in the design, development, and delivery of Positive Impact - the intentional creation of enduring social and economic value. For the past 50 years, we have worked with foundations, investors, governments, corporations, communities, and civil society to formulate strategies and implement solutions that generate lasting social, environmental, and financial benefits. Today, Palladium has more than 2,500 employees operating in 90-plus countries alongside a global network of more than 35,000 technical experts committed to improving economies, societies, and most importantly, people's lives. Palladium is a child-safe organization, and screens applicants for suitability to work with children. We also provide equal employment to all participants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, veteran, or marital status. 

With funding from United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Palladium is leading a consortium of national and international partners to implement a 5-year MOMENTUM TIYENI project which is working with the Ministry of Health and various stakeholders to strengthen health systems and quality service delivery in maternal, new-born, child health (MNCH), and family planning and reproductive health (FP/RH), nutrition, malaria water, sanitation and hygiene.

The project is also supporting the Ministry of Health to strengthen and accelerate prevention and control of the COVID-19, Cholera and improving capacity to respond to emerging public health emergencies in the 7 project implementation districts of Lilongwe, Dowa, Machinga, Chikwawa, Mulanje, Zomba and Mangochi.

Position Overview:

Based at the district and reporting to the District Health Planning and Strengthening Manager, the District Public Health Emergencies Officer will support district level planning, implementation and monitoring of readiness and response activities on COVID-19, Cholera and other health emergencies.

Overall, the District Public Health Emergencies Officer will be responsible for support towards government-led district and community-level readiness and response efforts. The PHE Officer shall be expected to build and maintain close working relationship with the Ministry of Health District Environmental Health Officer and designated focal persons for Covid and Cholera in their assigned district. 

Roles and Responsibilities:

• Support the project team and the DHMT in microplanning for Cholera, COVID-19 and other health emergencies response activities in line with the MOMENTUM Tiyeni project workplan.
• Support MoH and project district teams in the implementation/utilization of standardized national standards, guidelines and protocols for Cholera, COVID-19 and other health emergencies.
• Support MoH and project district teams in the delivery of the Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) for SRHR services in crisis situations in the district
• Provide technical support to DHMTs to plan and coordinate drills for public health emergency response
• Provide technical support to DHMT in conducting technical capacity needs assessments, and organizing trainings, coaching and mentoring of service providers, community health workers and volunteers in COVID-19 and Cholera related Infection Prevention and Control (IPC), management, case audits and vaccination
• Liaise with the project’s District Community Mobilization and Engagement Coordinator to support implementation of targeted communication and community engagement activities on COVID-19 and Cholera.
• Support DHMTs to ensure functioning of relevant coordination structures at district and community level for effective coordination of activities and partners – including organizing and co-facilitating district coordination meeting
• Participate in strategic district meetings to share program updates, progress on implementation plans and emerging issues
• Participate in strategic district meetings to develop mitigation measures and implementation strategies for identified issues
• Establish and maintain effective relationships with other implementing partners and stakeholders as a resource to support implementation of MOMENTUM Tiyeni COVID-19 and Cholera response support activities.
• Support routine monitoring and supportive supervision of facility and community level COVID-19 and Cholera response activities
• Support M&E in ensuring timely collection, management, and reporting of valid and reliable COVID-19 and Cholera data that meet reporting requirements
• Prepare and submit timely and quality periodic (monthly, quarterly and annual) and after-action reports for Cholera, COVID-19 and other public health emergencies interventions
• Analyze ongoing experience for lessons learned, best practices, and shares with project management for use in knowledge sharing and planning future strategies
• Lead efforts in timely identification and reporting of other emerging public health emergencies

Location: Lilongwe, Dowa, Machinga, Mangochi, Zomba, Mulanje, and Chikwawa 

Required Qualifications:

• Degree in Environmental Health, Public Health, Health Promotion, nursing/ medical or equivalent qualification.
• Familiarity with the COVID-19, Cholera and disaster/emergency preparedness and response context in Malawi.
• Demonstrated experience in health emergency/disaster response at district level.
• Demonstrated experience and capacity to work with government, multiple partners, community health structures at district and community levels
• Knowledge of the functionality of decentralized systems at the district level
• Previous experience working on donor-funded projects
• Fluency in English and Chichewa
• Demonstrated oral and written communication skills in English, and the ability to develop and deliver technical presentations.
• Excellent interpersonal, teamwork and networking skills
• Demonstrated facilitation skills
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Ability to work in a complex environment with multiple tasks and short deadlines

Company Overview:

About Palladium - Palladium is a global leader in the design, development and delivery of Positive Impact – the intentional creation of enduring social and economic value. We work with governments, businesses, and investors to solve the world's most pressing challenges. With a team of more than 3,000 employees operating in 90 plus countries and a global network of over 35,000 experts, we help improve economies, societies and, most importantly, people's lives.

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion - Palladium is committed to embedding equity, diversity, and inclusion into everything we do. We welcome applications from all sections of society and actively encourage diversity to drive innovation, creativity, success and good practice. We positively welcome and seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce; and that all job applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment regardless of their background or personal characteristics. These include: (but are not limited to) socio-economic background, age, race, gender identity and expression, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, nationality, veteran, marital or Indigenous status.

Should you require any adjustments or accommodations to be made due to a disability or you are a neurodivergent individual or for any other circumstance, please email our team at accessibility@thepalladiumgroup.com and we will be in touch to discuss.

Safeguarding - We define Safeguarding as “the preventative action taken by Palladium to protect our people, clients and the communities we work with from harm”. We are committed to ensuring that all children and adults who come into contact with Palladium are treated with respect and are free from abuse. All successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced selection process including safeguarding-focused interviews and a rigorous due diligence process.