Malaria Program Officer, MACEPA

Global Health Corps is building the next generation of diverse health leaders. We offer a range of 13 month long paid fellowship roles with health organizations in Malawi, Rwanda, Uganda, and Zambia and the opportunity to develop as a transformative leader. Everyone has a role to play in the health equity movement!

Malaria Program Officer, MACEPA
PLACEMENT ORGANIZATION NAME: PATH
LOCATION: Lusaka, Zambia
ELIGIBLE CITIZENSHIP: Zambia
ROLE CODE: Z04-Nat

About the Organization

PATH is an international nonprofit organization that transforms global health through innovation. We take an entrepreneurial approach to developing and delivering high-impact, low-cost solutions, from lifesaving vaccines and medical devices to collaborative partnerships with communities. Through our work in more than 70 countries, PATH and our partners empower people to achieve their full potential.

Within PATH’s significant and growing health portfolio in Zambia, its flagship program is the Malaria Control and Elimination Partnership in Africa (MACEPA). We work closely with the Ministry of Health and the National Malaria Control Center to refine and develop tools and approaches and build the data that provides critical evidence in support of the country’s push to eliminate malaria. Our offices are based at the National Malaria Control Centre and our work plan reflects the priorities of the national malaria program.

ROLE FUNCTION: Data Analysis / Statistics, Research, Teaching / Training / Curriculum Development
ISSUE AREA: Health System Strengthening, Infectious Diseases, Vector-Borne Diseases

Role Overview

The Malaria Program Officer will support the Malaria Control and Elimination Partnership in Africa (MACEPA) program at PATH. MACEPA has several teams working with national, provincial, and district health officials to improve the quality of malaria intervention strategies and malaria surveillance data, implementing programs in support of malaria elimination efforts. The Officer will have the opportunity to support one of our teams in the following areas: malaria disease surveillance, supporting a DHIS2-based malaria reporting system at facility and community levels; molecular biology and laboratory techniques, including various assays methods and genotyping; health intervention programmatic support and management, including key malaria interventions and researching new strategies; or malaria entomology, conducting field data collections and analyses.

Responsibilities

Project Support

• Provide support to the planning, implementation, management, and monitoring of malaria team activities

Training and Technical Assistance

• Develop and assist in providing technical expertise and support during training of client operators – district health officers, health facilities, and community health workers (CHWs) – in areas related to implementation and hardware operation and troubleshooting
• Assist in conducting trainings and building capacity in areas related to team specialization: malaria disease surveillance, molecular biology and laboratory techniques, health intervention programmatic support and management, or malaria entomology
• Assist in conducting district meetings as needed, such as trainings for CHWs and/or health facility officers including district health specialists, or in reviewing meetings

Monitoring and Evaluation

• Conduct routine malaria data quality audits and monitoring and technical support activities as assigned
• Coordinate district, facility, and sub-facility activities at all levels in Zambia, including data collection, sample collection, or other activities as assigned
• Report on progress toward annual team objectives; identify areas for improvement that require follow-up
• Plan for regular opportunities to identify lessons learned, and implications for further scale up in other districts or knowledge areas

Skills and Experience

Items indicated with an asterisk (*) are required

• At least one year of professional experience with data analysis through statistical software like SPSS, SAS, STATA, or R*
• Strong project management skills, as evidenced by impressive academic or professional results, especially managing others to achieve shared goals*
• Experience collecting data (qualitative or quantitative) or samples (specimens in the field) for analysis (statistical and/or laboratory)*
• Excellent computer skills, including proficiency using Microsoft Office: Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook*
• Highly organized, flexible, and adaptable to changing priorities, with the ability to work well under deadlines*
• Ability to work in teams with minimum supervision*
• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in economics, statistics, demography, public health, computer science, a social science, or other relevant field
• Experience developing or delivering training/curriculum
• Experience working with health service delivery professionals, such as community health workers or health facility officers
• Experience with planning, implementing, managing, and/or monitoring projects, ideally focused on malaria
• Experience with data visualization and presentation through tools like Microsoft Excel or Tableau
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills, including conflict resolution, priority management, and management of multiple clients’ expectations

BENEFITS

• Living Stipend of $700
• Housing allowance of $500
• Professional Development Fund of $600
• Completion Award of $1500 following successful completion of the program
• Health Insurance
• Travel costs to and from Global Health Corps Trainings