job Title: Health Adviser
Reference: DFIDJOB-0166
Closing date: 05 March 2012
Interview date: Not Specified
Number of vacancies: 1
Salary: - A2L SAIC
Location: Kampala, Uganda
Appointment Terms: Permanent
Working Arrangements: Full-time
Specific requirements: Staff appointed in country (SAIC)
Brief description: The Health Adviser (A2L) will be the technical lead on DFID Uganda’s maternal, child health and malaria programmes.
Background:
Uganda remains one of the world’s poorest nations, but over the last twenty years has transformed from a failed state to one of the world’s fastest growing economies. Despite political and economic stability, Uganda remains off track to achieve the health related MDGs, particularly the maternal health MDG. To meet the MDG target for maternal mortality, Uganda’s maternal mortality ratio needs to decline by 65% in the next five years – a rate nearly five times faster than what has been achieved in the past. There is a huge unmet need for family planning in Uganda – six out ten women want to use family planning methods whereas less than three are using family planning methods now. Less than half of all women are attended by skilled health personnel at the time of delivery. Child health indicators show similar slow progress. Under five mortality needs to decline by at least 50% in the coming years, five times faster than the current rate, to meet the MDG target. One in eight Ugandan children still die before their fifth birthday. After recording an impressive decline, from 18% in the early 1990s to around 6% in 2002, the HIV prevalence rate seems to be stagnant at 6%. The number of new HIV infections per year is not declining, and progress on tackling malaria is disappointing. Malaria continues to account for al least 20% of deaths in Uganda. Health sector challenges include a rapidly growing population, inadequate funding, increasing cost of health care, poor quality of services, weak sector leadership and insufficient accountability of service providers. Also, a significant portion of the health budget is financed by donors, including the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria (GFATM), USAID and PEPFAR, increasingly through off budget mechanisms which add another level of complexity to the existing challenges.
In 2007, DFID signed a 10 year Development Partnership Agreement (DPA) with the Government of Uganda. This commits DFID to provide at least £70 million per annum to Uganda and to align our support to the National Development Plan. The DFID programme has a strong emphasis on improving national outcomes and demonstrating DFID’s contribution and value for money. The challenging environment of the health sector provides an opportunity to support a mix of interventions, delivered through a range of instruments to deliver health impact.
DFID was active in the health sector for many years in Uganda up to 2008 when a decision was made to pull out of direct work in the health sector as part of a division of labour exercise which showed a multiplicity of development partners active in the health sector. However, DFID’s continued to provide general budget support to improve planning, budgeting, financial management and monitoring practices which are critical for effective implementation of health and other developmental programmes.
A combination of factors has led to DFID Uganda re-engaging in the health sector in Uganda. These included the bilateral aid review process, renewed commitment of the new government in Uganda to improve health of its citizens, and strong encouragement from development partners and the Government of Uganda for DFID Uganda to re-engage in the sector. The new Joint Budget Support Framework also provided the opportunity for DFID to work with the Government to focus on removing the binding constraints to the provision of quality health
care. The new JAF provides a clearer line of accountability for DFID funds by introducing a closer link between expenditure and key results, including the number of health workers recruited (and at task), availability of essential/critical medicines and use of contraception.
How to apply
To apply please fill in the application form and the Positive Action Approach form and e-mail or deliver these with the names and contact information of 3 work related referees to the address below.
People Performance Group
Plot 8 Kitante Close, Kitante
P.O. Box 12405, Kampala
Attn.: The Director
E-mail: application@ppg.co.ug
Web: www.ppg.co.ug
Please mark clearly in the email or envelope: “DFID – Health Adviser".
Closing date for applications is 5.00 p.m. on Monday 5th March 2012
Reference: DFIDJOB-0166
Closing date: 05 March 2012
Interview date: Not Specified
Number of vacancies: 1
Salary: - A2L SAIC
Location: Kampala, Uganda
Appointment Terms: Permanent
Working Arrangements: Full-time
Specific requirements: Staff appointed in country (SAIC)
Brief description: The Health Adviser (A2L) will be the technical lead on DFID Uganda’s maternal, child health and malaria programmes.
Background:
Uganda remains one of the world’s poorest nations, but over the last twenty years has transformed from a failed state to one of the world’s fastest growing economies. Despite political and economic stability, Uganda remains off track to achieve the health related MDGs, particularly the maternal health MDG. To meet the MDG target for maternal mortality, Uganda’s maternal mortality ratio needs to decline by 65% in the next five years – a rate nearly five times faster than what has been achieved in the past. There is a huge unmet need for family planning in Uganda – six out ten women want to use family planning methods whereas less than three are using family planning methods now. Less than half of all women are attended by skilled health personnel at the time of delivery. Child health indicators show similar slow progress. Under five mortality needs to decline by at least 50% in the coming years, five times faster than the current rate, to meet the MDG target. One in eight Ugandan children still die before their fifth birthday. After recording an impressive decline, from 18% in the early 1990s to around 6% in 2002, the HIV prevalence rate seems to be stagnant at 6%. The number of new HIV infections per year is not declining, and progress on tackling malaria is disappointing. Malaria continues to account for al least 20% of deaths in Uganda. Health sector challenges include a rapidly growing population, inadequate funding, increasing cost of health care, poor quality of services, weak sector leadership and insufficient accountability of service providers. Also, a significant portion of the health budget is financed by donors, including the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria (GFATM), USAID and PEPFAR, increasingly through off budget mechanisms which add another level of complexity to the existing challenges.
In 2007, DFID signed a 10 year Development Partnership Agreement (DPA) with the Government of Uganda. This commits DFID to provide at least £70 million per annum to Uganda and to align our support to the National Development Plan. The DFID programme has a strong emphasis on improving national outcomes and demonstrating DFID’s contribution and value for money. The challenging environment of the health sector provides an opportunity to support a mix of interventions, delivered through a range of instruments to deliver health impact.
DFID was active in the health sector for many years in Uganda up to 2008 when a decision was made to pull out of direct work in the health sector as part of a division of labour exercise which showed a multiplicity of development partners active in the health sector. However, DFID’s continued to provide general budget support to improve planning, budgeting, financial management and monitoring practices which are critical for effective implementation of health and other developmental programmes.
A combination of factors has led to DFID Uganda re-engaging in the health sector in Uganda. These included the bilateral aid review process, renewed commitment of the new government in Uganda to improve health of its citizens, and strong encouragement from development partners and the Government of Uganda for DFID Uganda to re-engage in the sector. The new Joint Budget Support Framework also provided the opportunity for DFID to work with the Government to focus on removing the binding constraints to the provision of quality health
care. The new JAF provides a clearer line of accountability for DFID funds by introducing a closer link between expenditure and key results, including the number of health workers recruited (and at task), availability of essential/critical medicines and use of contraception.
How to apply
To apply please fill in the application form and the Positive Action Approach form and e-mail or deliver these with the names and contact information of 3 work related referees to the address below.
People Performance Group
Plot 8 Kitante Close, Kitante
P.O. Box 12405, Kampala
Attn.: The Director
E-mail: application@ppg.co.ug
Web: www.ppg.co.ug
Please mark clearly in the email or envelope: “DFID – Health Adviser".
Closing date for applications is 5.00 p.m. on Monday 5th March 2012
