Malaria and Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Advisor, DOS LEAP Global - Burundi

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Leap Program Description

Global Solutions Ventures (GSV) – a joint-venture partnership between ZemiTek, LLC and Dexis Consulting Group – is implementing the Long-term Exceptional Technical Assistance Project (LEAP Global), a mechanism originally used by USAID to battle against infectious diseases such as malaria, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, neglected tropical diseases, and pandemic influenza. As of July 1, 2025, LEAP Global transitioned to the U.S. Department of State (DOS). This initiative aims to address the complex human resource challenges faced by national infectious disease programs in the USA-supported countries.

The intervention of this project is to hire and embed technical expert advisors and subject matter experts within government entities. By directly embedding the technical expertise within the national programs, LEAP provides long-term, sustainable lifesaving support to empower host governments to lead and manage key aspects of their infectious disease portfolios and improve coordination between the U.S. Government and the host country.

About The Position

The Malaria and Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Advisor will support the National Malaria Program (PMLP) and the Ministry of Health’s MCH Program (MCHP) in carrying out life-saving humanitarian assistance (LHA) in full alignment with the new Presidential Executive Order (EO) directives.  The primary focus of the Advisor will be technical leadership to ensure the successful implementation of cost-effective, lifesaving direct service delivery for MCH and malaria prevention and treatment.

The Malaria and MCH Advisor will provide expert malaria and MCH technical guidance, in collaboration with the Senior Malaria and MCH Advisor, to the National Malaria Program (NMP) and the Ministry of Health MCH Program in the design and management of in-country programs/projects/activities and in the development of host-country policies, reflecting best practices in malaria and MCH service delivery activities. The jobholder will identify programmatic bottlenecks and facilitate solutions through coordinated technical expertise in support of the cooperating country’s development objectives. The Senior Malaria and MCH Advisor will provide technical support to NMP and MCHP within the Ministry of Health (MOH) and strength State Department locally employed staff technical capacity for effective program oversight. The Advisor will receive weekly direction from the Senior Malaria and MCH Advisor in coordination with the National Malaria Program Manager and the MCH Program Manager, who will serve as the onsite Manager/Supervisor. Familiarity with Department of State/USG programming and C/AOR experience are highly desirable as the Advisor is expected to support the implementation of the USG malaria and MCH portfolio. French and English fluency are required for this assignment. 

Responsibilities

Technical Leadership

• Provide expert malaria and MCH technical guidance to advance planning and implementation of MCH and malaria prevention, control and service delivery interventions.
• Support the development of national malaria and MCH program strategies and work plans.
• Support the integration of HIV Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) into MCH programs.
• Coordinate the design, planning and implementation of MCH and malaria prevention, control and service delivery activities consistent with the US government’s strategy and with the NMP and the MCHP. This will include but is not limited to malaria vector control, case management at facility and community level, malaria chemoprevention, support for malaria and other childhood vaccine implementation, malaria in pregnancy, early ANC uptake and completion, safe delivery and neonatal care, improving EmOC (Emergency Obstetric Care), neonatal care and IMNCI (Integrated Management of Newborn and Childhood Illnesses) capacities, procurement and delivery of life-saving commodities, maternal mortality audits and associated monitoring and surveillance to ensure accountability and track progress.
• Together with the host country partners, provide technical and managerial expertise to MOH health districts and local communities to strengthen institutional malaria and MCH capacity.
• Keep abreast of current developments and successful interventions via regular engagement with malaria and MCH experts (domestic and international) and NMP and MCH officials, ensuring proven strategies and interventions are integrated in national malaria and MCH programming.

Management of Program/Activity Implementation 

• Ensure that U.S. government resources are maximized towards achievement of sustained results in malaria and MCH in line with U.S. government laws, regulations, policies, and procedures to prevent fraud, waste and abuse.
• Provide technical support to the Department of State implementing partners and managerial support as needed during the planning, design and implementation phases to ensure the quality of interventions and programmatic targets are met.
• Recommend changes in strategic and/or implementation approaches, using analysis of program performance.
• Work with partners (in country and global, as relevant) to ensure that programmatic commodities are purchased in a timely and cost-effective manner; and that absorptive capacity exists in implementation sites to receive, manage and distribute these items effectively. Participate in forecasting and quantification meetings to inform malaria commodity quantifications that will guide donor procurements. Troubleshoot bottlenecks in the ordering and delivery process.
• Provide expert advice and practical experience in helping the MoH, the NMP, the MCHP, and other partners to monitor inputs, outputs and outcomes, and report on the malaria and MCH programs’ overall impact.
• If not already in existence, work with the NMP, MCHP and other partners to develop and maintain a monitoring and evaluation plan to be implemented through existing MoH systems and existing USG supported mechanisms. Carry out monitoring and evaluation visits to implementation sites to ascertain all quantitative and qualitative data is collected properly, and programmatic quality and value for money are maintained.

Coordination of Malaria, MCH and PMTCT Partners

• Ensure effective communication and coordination between the NMP, MoH and other partners related to malaria and MCH prevention, control and service delivery; Global Fund partners including other departments in the host country; donor agencies; and other stakeholders working on malaria control and MCH in the host country, as appropriate.
• Ensure malaria and MCH activities are integrated into overall U.S. Department of State-supported health activities and coordinate these activities with the NMP, the MCHP, and MoH to avoid duplication of effort and programming gaps.
• Coordinate with other partners and support efforts to address malaria control and MCH service delivery gaps and help build technical and managerial capacity within the NMP and MCHP at the national, district and lower levels.
• Participate in and contribute to malaria and MCH related service delivery meetings hosted by the NMP, the MCHP, and others.

Communications:

• Regular conference calls with NMP and MCHP partners, US Embassy and Washington to review progress, discuss activities and address emerging issues.
• The Senior Malaria and MCH Advisor should provide information and avail him/herself for calls/meetings with the US Embassy as requested.
• The Advisor will provide monthly reports to the US Embassy/U.S. Department of State.

Reporting:

The Senior Advisor will provide a detailed monthly report to the U.S. Department of State, submitted by the 5th day of the following month.   Additionally, the Advisor will submit a weekly progress report to the U.S. Department of State (and participate in weekly calls) to include a short paragraph about main successes for that week. 

Qualifications

• Advanced degree (MPH, MS, MD, or PhD) in public health, maternal and child health, or related field.
• At least 6 years of experience working on MCH and malaria programming in low- or middle-income countries, preferably with humanitarian and development sectors, with a strong focus on malaria or other vector-borne diseases, preferably in a similar setting.
• Familiarity with USG programming.
• Familiarity with global and national policies on all aspects of the management of malaria.
• Familiarity with ongoing and emerging issues in malaria, like epidemiology, international policy, evidence development and malaria control strategies, new drugs and new diagnostics.
• Ability to manage a portfolio of laboratory network strengthening.
• Experience in teaching/training and capacity building.
• Demonstrated experience in evidence-based MCH and malaria programming, program design, and evaluation.
• Demonstrated experience collaborating effectively with host country governments, donors, implementing partners, and community-level stakeholders.
• Knowledge of host country government systems and institutions, policies, and regulatory frameworks.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English and French.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with USG-funded MCH or malaria programs.
• Experience working in fragile or humanitarian settings.
• Familiarity with tools and platforms for nutrition surveillance, community health worker supervision, or integrated health information systems.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Experience supporting or conducting national assessments, including Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS), SMART surveys, or nutrition surveillance systems.
• Experience with DOS-funded public health programs.
• Relevant technical experience obtained in African countries is preferred.

Dexis is on a mission to help solve today’s most pressing global political, social, and economic challenges and create a world where all people are safe and prosperous. As a Dexis employee, you will be challenged, empowered, and mentored. Our motto is “find a way or make a way” — that’s how Dexis goes “all in.” How will you? 

If you are passionate about this opportunity, apply now!

Only those applicants who meet the above criteria will be contacted for interview.

Dexis is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, religion, pregnancy, disability, age, genetic information, military service, veteran status, ethnicity, citizenship, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, childbirth and related medical conditions, including lactation, or any other protected class under applicable law.

As part of a competitive benefits package for eligible employees, Dexis provides healthcare insurance in addition to other staff welfare benefits and perks.