Technical Advisor, Programs

About PSI

Population Services International (PSI) is a global nonprofit organization focused on improving health outcomes by delivering quality, affordable care to underserved populations. PSI collaborates with governments, private sectors, and local partners in over 30 countries to design and implement health solutions that put people at the center of care. In Ethiopia, PSI works to achieve health impact by partnering with the government and the private sector, leveraging technology to bring quality healthcare closer to communities and homes. PSI’s goal is to support the Government of Ethiopia in achieving Universal Health Coverage.

Position Overview

PSI Ethiopia is seeking a Technical Advisor for MNCH and Malaria to provide strategic leadership for the rollout, coordination, and monitoring of malaria interventions under the RMNCH-N and Malaria investment. The Advisor will ensure alignment with national RMNCH-N and malaria priorities, strengthen provider capacity, and enhance service delivery systems. By addressing operational challenges and fostering stakeholder engagement, this role will support expanded access, increased uptake, and sustainable malaria interventions across Ethiopia.

Working closely with PSI Ethiopia’s leadership, the Ministry of Health, Regional Health Bureaus, Woreda Health Offices, health facilities, and community platforms, the Malaria Technical Advisor will oversee field-level implementation of RMNCH-N and malaria activities. The role will ensure the availability and use of essential tools, guidelines, and job aids, support data analysis and visualization, and apply MEL insights to identify service gaps and inform evidence-based, adaptive management. The Advisor will also cultivate partnerships with government and non-government actors, document and disseminate best practices, and provide strategic guidance for the sustainable scale-up of malaria and other new RMNCH-N services nationwide.

Key Responsibilities

1. Program Planning and Technical Oversight
   • Support in the day-to-day malaria and RMNCH-N interventions in close collaboration with program leads and field teams.
   • Provide guidance on malaria activities in high and moderate endemic areas, ensuring effective integration of prevention, case detection, and referral across community and primary health care platforms in consultation with the MNCH lead.
   • Support annual, quarterly, and monthly planning processes, ensuring alignment with MOH priorities, project deliverables, and donor requirements.
   • Coordinate and consolidate departmental work plans and budgets, ensuring timely review and submission.
   • Facilitate planning, review, and reflection sessions (virtual and in-person) and ensure follow-up on action points for accountability.
   • Provide technical input for RMNCH-N malaria-related components of program work plans, budgets, and implementation schedules.
   • Facilitate coordination with MOH, RHBs, woreda health offices, and partners to ensure integration of malaria activities into primary health care.
   • Support roll-out and quality assurance of VHL-led malaria campaigns and activities in high and moderate endemicity areas.
   • Participate in joint planning, supervision, and review sessions with government and partners.
   • Standardize tools, protocols, and supervision mechanisms to ensure quality and consistency across sites.
   • Facilitate cross-learning and evidence-sharing across woredas and regions.
   • Collaborate with other program units (RMNCH, SRH, SBC, MEL) to integrate malaria activities efficiently.
2. Performance Review and Reporting
   • Track program progress against indicators, milestones, and Management by Objectives (MBOs).
   • Support consolidation of inputs for donors, government, and internal reports ensuring accuracy, completeness, and quality.
   • Support timely submission of monthly, quarterly, and annual updates to global teams and stakeholders.
   • Support program managers in supportive supervision, data verification, and follow-up on identified performance gaps at the field level.
   • Generate and synthesize MEL insights to inform adaptive management and program improvement.
3. Communication, Correspondence, and Documentation
   • Facilitate smooth communication between the RMNCH department, other units, regional offices, and external stakeholders.
   • Organize internal and external meetings, prepare agendas, document minutes, and ensure dissemination of decisions and actions.
   • Maintain organized and secure documentation systems for program reports, communications, and government/donor correspondences.
   • Serve as the focal point for consolidating and sharing departmental updates under the guidance of the MNCH lead.
   • Collaborate with the national RMNCH-N advisor seconded at MOH in liaising with the project with the respective LEOs at MOH, especially the Disease Prevention and Control LEO.
4. Technical Leadership & Interdepartmental Facilitation
   • Support technical coordination between RMNCH units and support departments (finance, procurement, MEL, operations) to enhance implementation efficiency.
   • Provide expert guidance on malaria prevention, case management, surveillance, and outbreak response.
   • Advise the design, adaptation, and implementation of VHL-led malaria activities, including test-and-refer strategies and ITN promotion.
   • Ensure malaria activities align with national malaria guidelines, MOH policies, and global best practices.
   • Support strategies to prevent drug and insecticide resistance and improve treatment adherence.
   • Develop malaria technical protocols, job aids, and training materials for VHLs, HEWs, and facility staff.
5. Stakeholder Engagement and Support
   • Serve as a key liaison between PSI Ethiopia, MOH, RHBs, woreda health offices, health facilities, and community structures.
   • Coordinate with government counterparts to ensure timely responses, reporting compliance, and alignment with national policies.
   • Facilitate resource sharing, collaboration, and strong community engagement across all levels of the health system.
   • Strengthen partnerships with government, non-government partners, and community platforms to advance program sustainability.
6. Capacity Building and Mentorship
   • Provide guidance and oversee malaria-specific training, refresher courses, and mentorship for VHLs, HEWs, and healthcare providers.
   • Strengthen RMNCH-N and malaria-related competencies among community and facility health workers.
   • Provide strategic advice on performance-based incentive schemes to enhance VHL motivation and effectiveness.
7. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL)
   • Support the development of indicators, data collection tools, and reporting systems for malaria activities.
   • Support the development of malaria-specific indicators, data collection tools, and reporting systems.
   • In collaboration with program managers, monitor program implementation, analyze malaria data, and provide actionable recommendations for program improvement.
   • Support implementation research to evaluate VHL engagement models (health promotion vs. test-and-refer).
   • Document lessons learned, innovations, and best practices to inform scale-up and policy recommendations after proof of concept.

Qualifications

• Education: At least six (6) years with a master’s or eight (8) years of experience with a first degree in Public Health, Medicine, Nursing, Population Studies, or other related fields.
• Experience in malaria and RMNCH-N program design, implementation, and technical support, preferably in community health settings.
• Knowledge of Ethiopian RMNCH-N and malaria policies, protocols, and the primary health care system.
• Strong experience in training, mentorship, and capacity building of community and facility health workers.
• Experience in monitoring, evaluation, and implementation of research for Malaria or other programs.
• Excellent coordination, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Ability to work independently and in teams.
• Willingness to travel frequently to field locations.

Preferred Skills

• Proven experience working in both RMNCH-N and malaria programs.
• Hands-on experience supporting government health systems.
• Demonstrated skills in advocacy and policy engagement.
• Strong interpersonal skills with a collaborative spirit.
• Innovative problem-solving mindset with strong advocacy skills for innovative interventions.

Application Process

1. Fill out the online application form here (5-10 minutes).
2. Send your CV and application letter to recruitment@psiet.org. Make sure to mark the subject line as “Technical Advisor, Programs.”
3. Once submitted, check your email for an automatic acknowledgment of your application. If you don’t receive it, ensure the subject line is correct and resubmit.

Equal Opportunity Employer

PSI is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages applications from all qualified individuals regardless of race, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, or disability.