Background

In 2014, multilateral partners and the US Government launched the Global Health Security Agenda(GHSA).  USAID’s Global Health Security (GHS) portfolio works to strengthen countries’ multisectoral capacities to reduce the risk and impact of zoonotic disease threats that are of greatest public health concern. The program emphasizes systems strengthening at national and subnational levels and in multiple sectors for preparedness; laboratory; surveillance; workforce/human resources; risk communications and community engagement; supply chain and related countermeasures. GHS embraces the One Health approach, recognizing the critical role that wildlife, livestock, other domestic animals, and environment play in emerging zoonotic diseases with pandemic potential and antimicrobial resistance. Identifying and minimizing zoonotic disease spillover risks at their source in animals and a comprehensive approach to antimicrobial resistance that includes the livestock, agriculture, and environment sectors are essential components of USAID’s contribution to GHS.

The GHS program also leverages other USAID programming priorities in the areas of public health, food security, economic growth, and disaster assistance. Healthy animals provide a safe and nutritious food supply component, and additionally, jobs and livelihoods all along the value chain from producer to final consumer. Livestock industries are huge contributors to national and regional economies in the area. Ensuring that animals are safely, economically managed and food is safe for human consumption not only minimizes the risk of transferring zoonotic diseases and antimicrobial resistance, but also greatly assists with enhancing partner countries’ capacity for agricultural development and participation in international trade.

Overall Objective of Assignment  

The U.S. Agency for International Development seeks to employ a short-term consultant who will be responsible for ensuring well-coordinated and effective start-up of program implementation across the Agency’s new GHS portfolio in Malawi. The GHS consultant in Malawi will fill a critical role for USAID to meet the expectations of the White House and Congress for rapid, effective, and coordinated implementation of the U.S. Government’s commitment to GHS. This consultant will support the USAID/Malawi Health, Population, and Nutrition (HPN) Office and help them work closely with USAID/Washington (GHS Team and Agreement Officer’s Representatives/Contract Officer’s representatives) and USAID/ Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) in Malawi. The GHS consultant will also work very closely with the Government of Malawi (GOM), including the Ministries of Agriculture, Health and WASH, the Health and WASH Clusters, the One Health platform, other government stakeholders at the national and sub-national level, other donors, the United States Government (USG) interagency and implementing partners. The GHS consultant will play a crucial role to kickstart the implementation of a newly designed USAID/Malawi’s Supporting the Policy Enabling Environment for Development (SPEED) activity under the Government of Malawi’s “One Health” approach to prevent, detect, and respond to emerging infectious diseases.

Major Tasks and Activities  

Technical Leadership (40%) 
1.  Provide technical leadership to kick start the implementation of GHS interventions based on USAID guidelines and best practices to detect, mitigate, control, and prevent infectious diseases.
2.  Guide USAID inputs into interagency planning, execution and implementation of GHS portfolio and investments.
3. Maintain knowledge of Malawi’s GHS capacities and priorities, including the top 5 priority technical interventions and corresponding Joint External Evaluation indicators.
4. Establish and maintain a coordination network among key stakeholders in Malawi to include:
A. USG agencies especially Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Dept. of State, and U.S. Embassy;
B. Government of Malawi ministries both at national and sub-national level;
C. United Nations (UN) organizations, other donors, private sector, international, and;
D. Local Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) and other civil society organizations, etc.
5.  Analyze reports, performance statistics and other available data and, make strategic recommendations to the Government of Malawi, UN organizations, the USG interagency, Health and WASH clusters, and to USAID/Washington on GHS trends and programming in Malawi.
6. Establish regular communication, update modalities and work jointly with other USAID/Malawi offices, including BHA, relevant USG agencies at post, and USAID/Global Health and regional technical advisors.
7. Keep abreast of new developments and emerging issues that affect USAID‘s priorities and share relevant information and recommendations with USAID, USG and other technical counterparts.
8. Participate in the Technical Evaluation Committee for the recruitment of a U.S. personal services contractors (USPSC) and Foreign Service National (FSN) Global Health Security Advisors.
9  Provides technical assistance, and coordinates with technical leads, on tasks related to cholera prevention and treatment measures. Activities may include technical assistance with Risk Communication and Community Engagement, WASH interventions, data tracking and analysis at the national and district level, care seeking, oral rehydration, and other treatment measures.

B.    Program Management and Coordination (40%)

1. Develop scopes of work for all FY 2023 USAID/Malawi GHS activities.
2. Ensure coordination across all assets and activities of the USAID/Malawi program.
3. Identify and cultivate strategic relationships with senior policy level stakeholders across multiple related sectors and ministries in Malawi.
4. Proactively report to USAID/Malawi on developments in the GHS portfolio and policy directions from USAID/Bureau for Global Health.
5. Maintain close coordination with USG partner agencies to ensure mutual understanding, coordinated, synergistic, and non-duplicative GHS plans for Malawi.
6. Serve as the source of information on GHS to enhance USG awareness and collaboration and to address concerns/questions from USAID and Embassy leadership.
7. Serve as a resource for HPN points-of-contact on matters related to Malawi Health and WASH clusters. Activities include synthesizing and conveying timely cluster information related to outbreaks (cholera, polio, COVID-19, etc.).
8. Support HPN leadership and WASH Specialist with responding to cholera-related stakeholder coordination. Activities include supporting HPN’s coordination with relevant mission (BHA, Education) offices, USAID/W Bureau for Global Health (in particular, MCHN and GHS), Africa Bureau, and interagency (CDC) partners, as well as supporting coordination with relevant GOM, multilateral, and implementing partner organizations.
9. Supports project management of USAID-funded cholera activities, including conducting site visits, data analysis, prioritizing technical interventions, activity monitoring, and providing technical review of country plans, proposals, technical reports, and other required reporting.

C.    Program Monitoring and Reporting (20%)
1.Regularly communicate with USAID/Washington technical advisors to report/discuss, Malawi’s new GHS portfolio.
2.  Support with assessments and scoring related to Malawi’s GHSA Joint External Evaluation (JEE) Report
3. Monitor start-up progress, ensuring that actions are completed on schedule or
adjusted to meet changing conditions and identifying constraints to activity implementation as well as proposing solutions for their resolution.
4. Conduct site visits and attend relevant meetings and events where USAID presence is required.
5. Work closely with the World Health Organization (WHO) and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) partners to ensure a successful start-up.
6. Lead USAID inputs for preparation of key mission, Embassy, and agency reporting documents, cables, and other inputs as required.

Qualifications 

Education  
•  The Consultant must have a degree in Medicine (MD), Veterinary Medicine (DVM) or a master’s degree in Epidemiology, Public Health, or a relevant technical field.

Prior Work Experience  
•  Five years plus of progressively responsible experience in One Health, Animal Health, Public Health, Epidemiology.
•  Prior experience working with a bilateral or multilateral donor(s) in development programming is required.
•  Direct experience working on the GHS activities or implementation is also highly desirable.

Language Skills
•  Fluent (5S/5R) English and proven ability to communicate quickly, clearly, and concisely, both orally and in writing.

Knowledge and Technical Skills
•  Professional knowledge of a broad range of infectious disease, One Health, antimicrobial resistance
health systems, and development issues.
•  Experience engaging with senior level executives and officials in government and development sector contexts, and building trust-based relationships with senior-level executives.
•  Knowledge of how to engage with technology entrepreneurs, researchers, and innovators.
•  Knowledge of how to work with stakeholders across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.
•  Strong management, negotiation, collaboration, team building, networking, and interpersonal skills.
•  Demonstrated ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
•  Strong interpersonal skills are required to establish and maintain strong contacts with counterparts both inside and outside of USAID and to explain USAID objectives and procedures to government officials, private businesses, corporations, foundations, NGOs, and other non-traditional development organizations.
•  High degree of technical, analytical, and quantitative skills in scientific approaches and in analysis of development activities and policies.
•  Demonstrated ability to work as a member of a team and to foster teamwork is required as is the ability to develop and maintain productive working relationships at all levels.
•  Effective written and oral communications are critical to perform successfully in this position.
•  Demonstrated ability to produce professional, quality analytical pieces and make oral presentations.
•  Ability to communicate effectively with Mission employees; local government officials at the Senior Minister level; international and local organizations, donors, and other embassies; and various Washington based U.S. Government agencies.

Interpersonal And Leadership Skills 
•  Exceptional leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability and willingness to function collaboratively and productively as both a leader and a member of a multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural team.
•  Ability to work effectively in a team environment to achieve consensus on policies, activities, and administrative matters and to influence relationships positively.
•  Proven ability to work well in complex institutional settings and to develop networks of relationships that facilitate collaboration among colleagues and a genuine interest in assisting USAID staff with expedient program implementation.
•  Ability to exercise discretion, tact, and diplomacy especially when dealing with politically sensitive issues, must be able to interact effectively with a broad range of internal and external partners and USAID clients, international organizations, and host country government officials or NGO counterparts.
•  Strong oral and written communication skills, and an ability to work with a range of senior and technical officials in a collegial and productive way.
Travel 
•  Must be willing to travel throughout Malawi.