Vital Strategies is an international public health organization headquartered in New York City. Our programs strengthen public health systems and address the world’s leading causes of illness, injury and death. We work in more than 80 countries, supporting data-driven decision-making in government, advancing evidence-based public health policies, and mounting strategic communication campaigns. Vital Strategies’ priorities are driven by the greatest potential to improve and save lives. They include non-communicable disease prevention, tobacco control, road safety, food policy, environmental health, civil registration and vital statistics, and overdose prevention. Our programs are concentrated in low- and middle-income countries and cities in Africa, Latin America, Asia, and the Pacific. Please visit our website at www.vitalstrategies.org to find out more about our work.
The ImpactHDSS Ethiopia Project
Vital Strategies, in partnership with the Ministry of Health (MOH) of Ethiopia, the Ethiopian Public Health Institute’s National Data Management Center (EPHI/NDMC), Health and Demographic Surveillance System Sites (HDSSs) and other key stakeholders and collaborators has recently launched the ImpactHDSS Ethiopia project through a three-year grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
While the long-term goal remains one of strengthening Ethiopia’s national Civil Registration and Vital Statistics system, the government of has elected to supplement registration data while completeness remains low. One approach, to be taken under this grant, is to leverage Ministry of Education and other partner investments in 13 Health and Demographic Surveillance Sites (all under local universities, throughout most of the country.
Specifically, ImpactHDSS Ethiopia will provide technical assistance and mentorship support to strengthen the standardization, quality, timeliness, and completeness of data collected; to undertake pooled analyses and produce the indicators, statistics, or data required to meet documented use cases in health policy and planning.
Ultimately, improved data, including mortality and cause of death estimates, fertility estimates, as well as health service utilization information, will be provided to government decision-makers in a timely manner, to inform decision-making processes. Vital Strategies’ Project Director, Deputy Director, and HDSS Network Coordinator will be embedded within Government of Ethiopia institutions. A small project management and support team will sit in the Vital Strategies office in Addis Ababa.
The HDSS Senior Network Coordinator will be embedded at the Ethiopian Public Health Institute’s National Data Management Center (EPHI NDMC) working closely with 13 or more HDSS sites that are part of Ethiopia’s HDSS Network, the Project Deputy Director, and other EPHI NDMC colleagues. This role will be essential in facilitating HDSS communications with network member sites, eliciting their input into project decision-making, representing Network members in central-level discussions about harmonizing field methods, protocols, business processes, and overall standard operating procedures.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Formalize and Grow Network:
Learn and understand formal process and documentary requirements to formally establish the HDSS Network under the auspices of EPHI;
Facilitate decision on a name and identity (e.g, Network logo, etc.) for the network in consultation with all member sites
Draft and facilitate Network TORs, criteria for membership, and by-laws as required with buy in from all member sites and MOH and EPHI project leadership
Establish process for and enroll new HDSSs into the Network on a rolling basis, growing its size
Information Clearing House and Two-Way Communication:
Communicate Project Progress; task reminders; workshop announcements; Project Management decisions and technical issues to HDSS Network sites via a monthly email newsletter
Establish and maintain regular communication channels and coordination mechanisms among all 13 HDSS site Coordinators, including tools such as WhatsApp groups, email listservs, and scheduled meetings.
Develop and manage a two-way communication strategy with HDSS Network member sites to provide timely updates on project progress, particularly related to standardized data production and transmission protocols.
Provide ongoing support for the implementation of decisions concerning data aggregation, centralization, and interoperability (i.e., data pooling from multiple sites)
Manage dissemination, input on and review of draft documents, including Network TORs, by law, materials for standardization of field methods and data collection, or other documents or resources requiring the input of Network sites
Support HDSS sites experiencing challenges by contributing to the design and use of assessment tools, and by participating in initiatives to strengthen their capacity and compliance with network standards
Collaborate with the Project Deputy Director to lead the planning and execution of a one- to two-week ‘mini-university’ focused on standardized and harmonized HDSS methods, oversee IT solution procurement and deployment, and manage 12–to 18-month awards to help sites achieve operational standards.
Assist the Deputy Project Director and Project Director in key activities related to the Network
Representing HDSS site views:
Establish and maintain strong working relationships and deep familiarity with all HDSS sites
Be able to listen to issues of HDSS site concern or requiring clarification from project leadership and to communicate queries or feedback to proper audience
Progress Monitoring and Measurement:
Work closely with the Project Deputy Director, Senior Project Manager and M&E Manager, and Senior Gender Equity Manager to track and report on progress toward deliverables being made by the Network and its member sites
Participate as assigned in the completion of baseline and endline surveys
Job Requirements
Education and Degree
Undergraduate degree in public health, statistics, demography, or related field. Master’s degree or higher in related fields preferred
Skills and Abilities
Ability to understand data collection, data analysis and data use standards;
Ability to understand data flows, data gaps, key challenges, variety of data quality issues in the current systems in Ethiopia and more importantly, be able to contribute to the solutions to address these gaps
Strong organizational and strategic planning skills, with the ability to manage complex, multi-stakeholder initiative
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build trust and consensus across partners and HDSS sites
Proficiency in professional writing and documentation, including the development of formal communications, reports, templates, and branding materials
Competency in using digital tools for communication and collaboration
Ability to identify challenges, provide solutions, and support underperforming network members to achieve operational standards
Understanding of data centralization, interoperability frameworks, and ethical handling of multi-site data in accordance with laws and policies governing data security and privacy
Experience:
Required
Minimum eight years of progressive experience in project or program management, preferably in public health, research, or international development sectors
Prior work experience or strong familiarity with HDSS sites required
Demonstrated experience in coordinating networks, consortia, or multi-institutional collaborations
Proven experience managing communication strategies and stakeholder engagement across geographically dispersed teams
Experience organizing capacity-building initiatives such as workshops, short-term training programs (up to two weeks in length)
Experience working with government agencies or navigating regulatory frameworks in Ethiopia or similar contexts is highly desirable
Working Conditions and Physical Requirements:
This is a full-time, embedded position
Travel will be required within Ethiopia to attend in-person meetings and work with individual HDSS Network member sites
How To Apply
If you are interested in being considered for this role, please send your CV to hermela@ethiojobs.net Subject: “HDSS Senior Network Coordinator"
