Job Description

Job title:Country Director, Lao PDR

Reporting to:Head of Programmes, Asia and Latin America

Responsible for:All Health Unlimited staff in Lao PDR

Base:The post is based in Vientianewith regular travel to project sites (at least once per month)

Background:

Spanning almost a quarter of a century, Health Unlimited’s work has grown to include programmes in 13 countries across Africa, Asia and Latin America (with more currently in development). We always prioritise the most poor and the most marginalised – those neglected by governments and almost everyone else. This has led us to work in some very difficult environments, often providing the only external assistance. We currently directly support 4 million people each year through our community health care initiatives (including 3.2 million indigenous people), and a further 23 million through our award-winning ‘edutainment’ radio soaps. Indirect beneficiaries reach much further.

Health levels and poverty levels are inextricably bound together. Each is both a cause and a consequence of the other. Put positively, this means there is great power in an approach that addresses both of them. Improvements in one yield improvements in the other. This is the approach Health Unlimited is committed to. It makes health first and foremost not a medical challenge – though that plays its part – but a fundamental issue of justice and human rights.

Working with communities to build local capacity, Health Unlimited’s programmes seek to pioneer new approaches. We take a holistic approach, focusing not just on the health sector but being prepared to do anything we can to help make the biggest possible difference to health. Our programmes attach a high priority to strengthening health systems, supporting safe birthing, prevention of life-threatening diseases such as malaria, TB, HIV, and other dangerous infections and improving communities’ health-seeking behaviour.

Health Unlimited’s programmes also attach great importance to other factors such as nutrition, water and sanitation, income generation, and the social, economic and environmental determinants of health. Our programmes take a rights-based approach, strengthening poor and marginalised communities to advocate on their own behalf, and helping build the capacity of wider networks and movements they can partner with. Our policy and campaigns work is a major organisational priority, operating both alongside and integrated with our programmes work, so that the two in combination contribute to building a global movement for health rights.

Health Unlimited Projects in Lao PDR

In Lao PDR, HU currently has three contracts with EC. Firstly, "Empowered and healthier indigenous women and children in border communities of Phouvong, Sanexai and Saysettha Districts in AttapeuProvince". This project completed all activities in November 2009. Currently final narrative report as well final audit are being finalised. Final evaluation of the project has already taken place and a report completed. All reports are due to be submitted by the end of May 2010. A second project, focussing on food security is also in Attapeu called ‘Healthy Wetlands for healthy women, children and men’.This project commenced its activities in July 2008 and is due to be completed at the end of 2010 following a 12 months no cost extension granted by the EC due to delay in the MoU process. The third project is funded under the Food Facility Budget line called ‘Improve food production in Attapeu province’. This project should have commenced its activities in January 2010 as it is of relatively short duration. However, there has been a slight delay in getting the MoU signed with government partners. It is expected to be carried out by April 2010.

Other projects are funded by different donors. There is a Global Fund funded project that focuses on Malaria prevention through health education and close monitoring and evaluation. The project commenced in July 2008 and will complete phase 1 in June 2010 and planning is currently being done for Phase2 (3 more years). This project is being implemented in 5 provinces, Lunag Namtha, Savannakhet, Saravan, Sekong and Attapeu.

Another project is a reproductive health project funded by UNFPA Laos. This is a demand creation project to provide technical support to government partners in three southern provinces (Saravan, Sekong and Attapeu) to enable them to empower communities to access hospitals and health centres for MCH care. This project commenced in August 2008 and will finish in 2011.

With the recent natural disaster that affected the southern part of Laos, HU was also involved in primary emergency relief work in Attapeu province. We were granted funds from ECHO for a three month period (October to December 2009) for emergency work (provision of food and water, rehabilitation of water sources and provision of health care). This project was completed by the end of January as HU was granted a one month extension to finalise all activities. For the recovery phase, HU is a subcontractor of CARE International to provide further assistance to communities from January to June 2010. We are also working with CARE in Sekong province to provide mobile health care and supporting livelihood recovery in Attapeu from December 2009 to May 2010 (another sub-contract with CARE). In addition HU is a partner of World Food Programme (WFP) to deliver rice and some tinned fish. One contract had finished in January and we are now in the second contract period that is due to finish in April-May 2010. There is a possibility of working with WFP on their nutrition education project should HU be interested in this work. Along the line of this work, HU has submitted a proposal to DIPECHO for a disaster preparedness project to be implemented in Attapeu.

One other small project that has just been started this year is a project with the University of Health Sciences (UHS). This is funded by Intal in Belgium to provide assistance to UHS in placing medical students in rural communities to learn aspects of community work. There is scope for expanding this project since Intal is interested in partnering up with HU on a longer term basis.

There are a number of projects in the pipeline to be developed more and awaiting decisions. A proposal was submitted to Ausaid in February for a WATSAN project. Decision is not yet known. An Expression of Interest was submitted to MoH for a Community Nutrition Project supported by World Bank was submitted in the beginning of March, again no decision as yet. Further discussions need to take place on a Cross border harm reduction project with HU China.

Main Functions of Post:

  1. Provides overall management for HU’s work inLao PDR, ensuring good financial and general management of initiatives, staff, and office administration.
  1. Develops and implements a country strategy which is consistent with HU’s global vision/mission/strategy, and which includes identification and development of new programme initiatives for Lao PDR.
  1. Represents HU in Lao PDR in the promotion of excellent relationships with central and local government departments, international organizations, other NGO’s and in-country donors.
  1. Seeks opportunities to influence policy and raises funds for HU Projects from in-country donors, including through consultancies.
  1. Maintains communication with central HU on Project development, funding, financial matters and social/economic/political developments in Lao PDR that may affect current/future HU operations, and with other Country Offices on technical issues and lessons learnt.

Specific Responsibilities:

Within HU’s Vision, Mission, Strategies and policies, the responsibilities of the post are:

  1. Overall Programme Management and Administration

Programme Management

  • Direct responsibility for the development and implementation of annual workplans, outputs and activities as per the projects design
  • Formulate adequate and timely responses to internal and external influences which affect or have the potential to affect project progress
  • Ensure that the country programme is effectively monitored and evaluated
  • Report to central HU on the progress and problems of current HU projects in the country
  • Maintain excellent relationships and communication/reporting with the donors supporting the programmes
  • Responsible for ensuring that all programmes are compliant with donor contracts and that office procedures follow HU policies

Financial administration

  • Responsible for annual programme and project budgeting and regular re-forecasting
  • Responsible for ensuring that project accounts are accurate and complete and that monthly reports and analysis comply with Health Unlimited’s requirements and are submitted on time
  • Responsible for monitoring expenditure against project budgets and reporting monthly and quarterly on variances
  • Ensure that sufficient financial controls and administrative systems are in place to safeguard the assets of the organisation and that these are documented in the Office Operations Manual (OOM), including conflict of interest; security; asset maintenance; procurement; etc.

Human Resources Management

  • Responsible for deciding staffing levels and job descriptions in discussion with the Head of Programmes, Asia and Latin America
  • Develop and maintain Human Resource policies and procedures for national and international staff in line with the HU Global Human Resources Policies and Procedures and the Lao PDR labour code.
  • Coordinate all required national staff recruitment, orientation/briefings, professional development, and performance appraisals
  • Develop and regularly review policies, procedures, and tools specific to the country office related to staff security; Office Operations Manual; HR issues; Child and Vulnerable Adult policy, etc. and ensure that staff members are aware of these procedures

  1. Country Strategy and Programme Development

  • Develop and maintain a detailed understanding of the underlying causes of poor health inLao PDR, knowledge of which geographical areas and which groups are the most vulnerable and underserved, and a detailed knowledge of what other actors (donors, NGOs, etc.) are doing where
  • Develop a country strategy consistent with HU’s global vision, mission, and strategic plan
  • Identify and recommend possible new projects for HU in the country based on assessments and discussions with potential partners and donors
  • Seek out and develop partnerships with international and/or national NGOs in Lao PDR where such a partnership will add value to the work of HU
  • Responsible for writing successful proposals for the country, from the stage of initial assessment, to the finalization of proposal narrative and budget

  1. Representation, Coordination, Policy Influencing and Fundraising

  • Responsible for the funding strategy for current and future projects, initiatives, and core costs in Lao PDR, including through institutional donors, in-country donor opportunities (UNICEF, Global Fund, UNFPA, etc.), in-country fundraising events, and consultancies
  • Develop good relationships with the representatives of donors based in the country, and negotiate with them for funding
  • Seek opportunities for HU to influence policy and practice in Lao PDR
  • Liaise with central and local government departments, international organisations, and other NGOs, especially those related to health
  • Represent HU in appropriate national networks
  • Represent HU in the country ensuring all legal requirements are met
  • Seek media and profile raising opportunities for HU in the country and internationally

  1. Communications

  • Maintain effective and regular communication with central HU
  • Facilitate good communication between country office staff and project partners
  • Promote team-building activities and carry out conflict resolution, as necessary
  • Share lessons learnt and discuss technical issues with central HU and other Country Offices

  1. Additional duties

  • Facilitate and manage the name change process of Health Unlimited to Health Poverty Action.
  • Contribute to the development of HU globally through input into strategic development, etc.
  • Undertake other duties as may reasonably be requested by the Head of Programmes, Asia and Latin America.

Person Specification

Essential requirements
  • At least 5 years experience as a health and/or development manager, preferably in South East Asia
  • Masters degree in relevant discipline such as public health, development, human rights
  • Detailed knowledge of priority public health and poverty issues in Asia
  • Extensive experience of programme management
  • Extensive knowledge and experience of project accounting, budgeting and financial management
  • Representational skills, diplomacy and the ability to communicate and negotiate at all levels.
  • Proposal and report writing skills
  • Demonstrable computing skills (word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, Internet)
  • Identification with Health Unlimited’s Vision and Mission
  • A capacity to be flexible under difficult conditions
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills in English
  • Commitment to working with marginalised people, including in isolated, remote areas
  • Willingness to spend time in remote areas with few amenities

Desirable

  • Ability to speak Lao
  • Experience of working in and/or managing health Projects in the region
  • Experience of designing public health interventions, preferably in Asia
  • Experience of developing and managing relationships with donors
  • Experience of policy influencing and fundraising
  • Knowledge of the country’s government system
  • Experience of working in the country

Terms and Conditions

The successful candidate will be offered an attractive remuneration package in accordance with qualifications and experience. Women candidates, Lao PDR nationals and those with Lao PDR residency/work permits are particularly encouraged to apply.