Project: Building the Foundation for Integration of Eye Health into Primary Care in Rural Ethiopia

Period: April 1, 2022, to March 31, 2023, with possibility of extension depend on performance and funding availability

Project Description

HCP Cure Blindness and SightLife are partnering together on Building the Foundation for Integration of Eye Health into Primary Care in Rural Ethiopia.

HCP Cure Blindness envisions a world in which no person is needlessly blind. For over 25 years, we have partnered with local eye health providers to help them build and maintain high-quality eye care in their communities. Through training, equipment and infrastructure support, we cultivate the growth of local, sustainable eye care systems. We focus on areas where the burden of blindness is extremely high, working in over 20 countries throughout South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.

SightLife is a global health organization based in Seattle, USA that takes a health systems approach to addressing the inequities that contribute to and perpetuate corneal blindness worldwide, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. We draw on our five decades of sight-restoring experience to expand the network, capacity, and capabilities of our partners globally, while also co-creating with them sustainable strategies and programs for improving corneal health outcomes in the regions we collectively serve: Sub-Saharan Africa, South and East Asia, and the United States.

Under this project, the main programmatic objectives are:

• Advocating for eye care to be part of national health system integration
• Training of primary eye health providers
• Strengthening the patient referral pathway to ensure timely patient diagnosis

This project supports progress against the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)’s resolution to ensure universal access to eye care services, by:

• Providing clinical training to ophthalmic nurses in one zone in rural Ethiopia to address key corneal disease.
• Ensuring corneal ophthalmic patients receive timely referral to support diagnosis, treatment, and follow up through provision of care and strengthening of the referral network from primary care through secondary and tertiary,
• Developing a framework for engaging community health workers in the administration of eye care health, drawing on existing guidance in country, and global best practice adapted for the local context working in concert with local Health office
• Developing policy recommendations to increase access to eye care in rural Ethiopia through stakeholder workshops and engagement.

The Addis Ababa based Senior Project Manager will support the implementation of the Project through project management, policy and advocacy work, and clinical training logistics. 

Responsibilities

Project Management

Responsible for overall project management in country and implementation of project activities

Track achievement of KPI’s for project, ensuring timely delivery of project activities in accordance with project framework and workplan

Draft monthly and quarterly progress reports working closely with SightLife reporting lead

Engage in monthly calls with partners and donors and bi-monthly calls with SightLife

Collect stories on project activities implementation including drafting content, photos, and / or visual content required working closely with SightLife Marketing and Communications lead

Ensure compliance with all monitoring and evaluation mechanisms set in place by SightLife in various reporting processes

Represent SightLife/HCP in key partner meetings

Policy & Advocacy

Policy Development

• Support SightLife SightLife Global Policy lead in the development of Health Systems Assessment tool from a policy perspective focused on improving patient-centric eye care in Ethiopia.
• Implement Health Systems Assessment tool including identifying and engaging key respondents (at national and sub-national level).
• Conduct outreach to key respondents identified to complete Health Systems Assessment tool including regular follow-up.
• Under supervision of SightLife Global Policy lead support analysis and preparation of policy report based on analysis of Health Systems Assessment responses.

Stakeholder Engagement and external representation

• Under supervision of SightLife Global Policy lead and in-line with project workplan, identify key opinion leaders (KOLs) within government including Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, other relevant government agencies and key NGO partners to further policy initiatives under the project.
• Build the reputation and policy credibility of SightLife and the project through representation in key external meetings and forge relationships with identified government KOLs and agencies.
• Represent SightLife during in-person meetings with KOLs and partners in Addis Ababa and targeted zone for year 1 to further project goals and objectives
• Ensure regular follow-up with KOLs in furtherance of project workplan.
• Provide timely reports and updates to SightLife Global Policy lead in keeping with project engagement plan. 

National Stakeholder Workshop for Integration of Eye Health into Primary care

• Work closely with the SightLIfe Global Policy Lead in preparation for an in-person National level workshop including identifying KOL participants at the national and sub-national level
• Assist in the planning, design, development of content and agenda for the National level workshop.
• Coordinate logistics for the national level workshop including invitation to KOLs, finalising venue and other logistical arrangements.
• Report back on programmatic and financial aspects in the implementation of the National Stakeholder Workshop. 

Clinical Training Organization

Training of Primary Healthcare Providers

• Work closely with the SightLife Clinical Training lead to prepare for an in-person training for Ophthalmic Nurses
• Map potential host training hospitals for the training and engage with hospital leadership
• In consultation with SightLife Clinical Training lead, work with local clinical training stakeholders to align SightLife clinical training curriculum for Allied Ophthalmic Personnel for Ophthalmic Nurses scope of practice in Ethiopia
• Working closely the SigthLife Clinical Training lead, facilitate recruitment for training
• Assist in the planning, design and development of training
• Coordinate logistics for in-person clinical training including facilities, training meals, faculty accommodations and transport, etc.
• Report back on programmatic and financial aspects in the implementation of the training
• Work closely with SightLife Prevention program lead to coordinate community awareness education (material distribution and orientation training) with Health Extension Workers
• In consultation with SightLife Prevention program lead, engage with KOL’s and potential partners, to support implementation of year 1 activities and preparation for year 2 expansion

Job Requirements

Qualifications, Experience and Competencies

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in public health, science, public administration, public policy.

Experience:

• A keen understanding of health systems and public policy, preferably in low- and middle- income countries with specific experience in Ethiopia
• Experience working in the area of eye health
• Experience in engaging with national and sub-national policymakers in Ethiopia to advance primary health programs and policies.
• Strong research and analytical skills including demonstrated experience in developing evidenced based policy products.
• Ability to research and analyze complex data and summarize findings for a range of audiences
• Willingness to travel to rural Ethiopia to implement project activities (20% of time)
• Exceptional people skills, including oral and written communication skills
• Proactive self-starter and strong collaborator, mindful communicator.
• Strong cultural competencies including demonstrated experience working across cultures.
• Strong strategic thinking and analysis skills.
• Strong organizational skills, including the ability to prioritize, work well under pressure and adapt, manage multiple projects, and deliver high-quality results.

How to Apply

We invite qualified candidates to submit a resume and cover letter through CLICK HERE

The deadline for application is 24th of March 2022 at 5:00 PM Addis time. 

Note: Application received after the deadline will be not considered. HCP Cure Blindness considers all applicants based on merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status or disability.