Maternal Newborn and Child Health Officer

Eastern Congo Initiative (ECI) is the first U.S. based advocacy and grant-making initiative wholly focused on working with and for the people of Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). We envision a vibrant DRC abundant with opportunities for economic and social development, where a robust civil society can flourish. ECI believes that local, community-based approaches are essential to creating a sustainable and successful society in eastern Congo. We believe that public and private partnerships combined with advocacy drive increased attention and public policy change, creating new opportunities for the people of DRC.

ECI emphasizes the importance of field-based and scholarly research to support evidence-based programming and advocacy initiatives. ECI seeks to continually collect data, catalogue best practices, and generate recommendations to better inform and evaluate programming and policy driven by those who know the issues best – the communities and actors affected.

Focusing on four fundamental areas, ECI develops partnerships that strengthen the social and economic capacity of the Congolese to shape their own future to protect their rights, dignity and safety. Based on rigorous primary research, a series of national public opinion polls, and input from ECI's Congolese team and local partners, ECI has decided to focus on four principal areas detailed below:

- Economic Development - Maternal and Child Health - Access to Justice - Access to Education

Capacity Building and Advocacy Approach

ECI's grant-making strategy incorporates the capacity building of local partners to increase their efficacy, impact, and ability to implement projects and obtain direct funding from international donors. The capacity building of local organizations is essential to creating a sustainable and successful society in eastern DRC.

ECI's advocacy efforts pair robust scholarly research with authentic voices from eastern Congo and we share this thought leadership through compelling media, policy reports, in-country polls, infographics, congressional testimony, high level policy briefings, learning tours, and online content. ECI is committed to filling the DRC information gap by gathering original research, primary source information, expert field research, and direct polling.

Position Summary:

ECI exists to increase awareness of the challenges facing the Congolese and to empower their voices to drive solutions that we support as Congo advocates. ECI is seeking an innovative, sophisticated expert to serve as an officer focused on Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH).

This 12-month MNCH Officer position will support and advance ECI's advocacy goal of improving maternal health and reducing child mortality in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). ECI's specific objectives are to decrease the number of women who die in childbirth, increase the survival rate of newborns and children in DRC and improve access to MNCH healthcare through grant-making and advocacy.

The long-term impact of maternal health on developing societies is now widely recognized. The MNCH officer will help identify the core issues that affect maternal and child health in DRC. The MNCH Officer's field investigation, analysis and recommendations will increase the impact of ECI's current MNCH grant-making, and he or she will develop a wide spectrum of advocacy opportunities through research, innovation and partnerships with community-based organizations, bilateral donors, international NGOs and government ministries in DRC.

MNCH Officer Roles and Responsibilities:

The MNCH Officer will review content and collaborate on ECI's strategic advocacy goals for the next 12 months. The officer will consolidate progress towards ECI's MNCH goals by:

• Researching and identifying root causes and plausible solutions to MNCH issues in DRC;
• Collaborate with local and international stakeholders in DRC to support the implimentation of a national strategy for the prevention of child mortality;
• Coordinate partners to convene an advisory committee which will be responsible for:
  • Providing recommendations for the implimentation of policies and strategies for child survival-related programs;
  • Providing recommendations and guidelines for better involvement of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), the implementation of the GDRC Child Survival Strategic Plan, and the creation of an enabling environment for the successful integration of CSOs and the private sector in child survival-related activities;
  • Enhancing the collaboration/coordination between entities working in the Child Survival sector under an agreed-upon national strategic framework and operational national plan; and
  • Representing NGOs/CBOs as a national platform for community-level perspectives.
• Reviewing and providing input on the development of the national operational plan and budget for child survival to improve cost-effectiveness and efficiency;
• Supporting capacity-building of national institutions and civil society organizations, and coordinating skills, expertise and experience already embedded in related sectors;
• Identifying unnecessary bureaucratic challenges and bottlenecks to child survival-funded initiatives; and
• Making recommendations to strengthen and improve coordination between ECI's MNCH partners' programming and advocacy:
  • Empowering women and girls to make healthy reproductive choices and act on them;
  • Removing barriers that prevent access to quality services;
  • Expanding the supply of quality services, delivering cost effective interventions for family planning, antenatal care, safe delivery and emergency obstretric care, postnatal and newborn care – delivered through stronger health systems with public and private providers;
  • Enhancing accountability for results at all levels with increased transparency.

In addition to these key activities, the ECI MNCH Officer may be asked to conduct secondary research related to the MNCH policy and programming (literature review and synthesis of secondary research), collaborate on grant work in Eastern DRC and perform a gap analysis of the DRC's public sector MNCH programming.

ECI's advocacy focuses on developing specific goals for the USG and the international community. The ECI MNCH Officer will provide advocacy guidance and collaboration on event-specific items, development of ECI materials (including policy talking points and advocacy publication such as op-eds) on a quarterly basis, policy coordination and collaboration with partner organizations and DRC-based organizations as needed.

Position Qualifications:

• Excellent communication skills both written and verbal;
• Deep knowledge of and experience working with issues related to maternal, newborn, and child health, required;
• Experience working in or deep knowledge of great-lakes region and/or Democratic Republic of Congo, preferred;
• Experience working in a private foundation or non-profit organization; experience working with USAID preferred;
• Experience with or demonstrated commitment to international development, health, and advocacy;
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively, both internally and externally, in driving execution;
• Demonstrated ability to multi-task and support multiple staff members simultaneously;
• Extreme attention to detail and accuracy in documentation and data integrity;
• Experience working closely with finance and legal staff in compliance matters;
• Strong organization and workflow skills;
• Strong analytical and research skills;
• Experience with creating and managing detailed project plans.

Desirable personal qualities include strong initiative, hard-working, self-starting approach and a balanced mix of self-confidence and humility. Must be able to work and thrive while under pressure or in stressful circumstances with a positive approach and can-do attitude. Proven ability to be solution-focused and approach challenges or conflicts by thinking outside the box. Applicants should be good-natured and charismatic with a good sense of humor.