Position:       District Cluster Officer

Reports to:   Provincial Coordinator

Locations:    Peshawar, KP (1)

•          1 position based in Peshawar responsible for district Charsada, Swabi, Mardan and Nowshera

Start Date:       March / April 2023

Project Background and Objectives

Delivering Accelerated Family Planning in Pakistan (DAFPAK) programme aims to expand access to quality family planning (FP) services in the public and private sectors. Funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), this initiative has four components, which are implemented by different consortia/partners as described below:

1. Component 1: Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) implemented by M&C Saatchi
2. Component 2(a): Private Sector Service Delivery implemented by PSI, MSI and DKT
3. Component 2(b): Public Sector Service Delivery (PSSD) implemented by Palladium and its partners
4. Component 3: Enabling Environment - Advocacy and Policy Development led by UNFPA
5. Component 4: Audits, Third Party Validation, Monitoring and Research led by Integrity

The DAFPAK component 2(b) (i.e., PSSD) started in August 2019. As a result of COVID-19 pandemic, PSSD activities were scaled down during the FYs 20/21 and 21/22. Recently, the DAFPAK PSSD has received a no-cost extension and will implement its interventions in accordance with the revised scope of work. The project will now continue till May 2024.

Building on our previous work, Palladium, and its consortium partner (Pathfinder International) will engage with the provincial and district-level governments in pursuit of four outputs:

1. Output 1: Improve FP coordination for the implementation of Result-Based Management Frameworks and CCI recommendation at provincial levels
2. Output 2: Strengthen procurement and distribution of contraceptive commodities to the last mile
3. Output 3: Bolster FP data systems and build a culture of data demand and evidence use for decision-making
4. Output 4: Improve access to, and quality of, FP services

Palladium and its consortium partner will strengthen FP service provision in the public sector across 20 districts in three provinces of Punjab (6), Sindh (10) and KP (4). For the delivery of its objectives, DAFPAK PSSD will establish provincial teams comprising of Team Leads and team members supporting M&E, Quality of Care, Coordination, and Ops in each province. The project will also maintain a lean and agile TA support at Islamabad level to strengthen federal and provincial collaboration.   

 Assignment Objectives

This position is responsible for coordinating activities in a cluster of districts that are geographically aligned. A cluster can include 2 to 3 districts. The position is responsible to coordinate with district officials for implementation of the district based workplan and also provide specific trainings to district officials and HCPs. District Cluster Officer will work closely with district departments of health, population welfare, LHW Program and other relevant stakeholders and health facility management to assure district implementation of DAFPA-PSSD models. Plans, implements, coordinates, monitors and holds review sessions to observe progress against objectives of the project.

Specific Tasks and Deliverables

1. District Workplans: Works with Provincial Coordinator and Quality of Care Lead to develop district specific workplans. Update existing district mapping of FP status and respective HR status. Review district workplan with relevant district officials. Responsible for endorsement of the district workplan and accountable to implement district workplan in respective cluster. Prepares and submit reports as required with regular time frequency by Programs Department. Responsible for Fiscal management for district activities.
   1. Project Management and Participation: Leads, manages, or participates on cross-functional project teams. Coordinate with DoH and PWD officials in the district in notifying the schedule of FHDs. Collect FHD reports on prescribed format and compile and share with Provincial Coordinator.
   2. Coordination and Facilitation: Coordinates, organizes, and facilitates one-to-one meetings with key stakeholders to develop follow-up action plans. Invites all stakeholders and ensure their participation in meetings. Conduct initial introductory meetings with district health officials. Coordinates visits and organizes meetings of the delegation(s) with the project stakeholders in the district.
   3. Forums and Committees: Works with DTC/DHPMT and other forums, including local NGOs to implement the project. Works with the district DTC/DHPMT update them regarding project activities.
   4. Coordinate with the districts stakeholders to form a Technical Review Committee, have its members notified and ToRs approved and facilitate in its quarterly meetings. Prepare presentation on an agreed format with DC, for DTC/DCC meetings. Facilitate district managers to develop monthly presentations to be shared at DTC/DCC meetings. Identify, coordinates, and interacts with family planning champions in the district to ensure their participation in working groups and advocate with stakeholders for FP initiatives.
   5. Workshop Coordination: Organizes and conducts orientation, inception and dissemination and training workshops related to project activities in the district.
   6. Data Management:  Will ensure data is made available to the province on agreed time frames and is then processed and shared with Provincial coordinator. Should be able to analyze the data in real time for performance management of the districts. Form a cohort of 10 health facilities and follow up on them to collect monthly FP data from source, analyze it and present it at DTC/DHPMT.
   7. Training: Working with QO will get nominations of master trainers including LHS and of HCPs and LHWs according to the scheduled agreed in the workplan. Facilitate trainings of HCP and whole facility staff on PIFP. Provide orientation of HCP on FHDs. Train master trainers for HCPs and LHS for LHWs on primary data entering, basic trend mapping. Will train district data entry and analysis managers and facility in-charge on primary data entry, analysis, and interpretation.

Deliverables

• Establishment of functioning DTC/DHPMT that meet monthly and are trained on RBM.
• Implementation of district work plans including Integrated FP services models

Qualifications and Experience

• Master’s degree or higher in social sciences, management, journalism, or medicine
• 5+ years related experience in the development health sector, including the association with NGO/INGO and public sector
• Prefer: Experience in practical field work in sexual and reproductive health and rights
• Travel required (70% - intra-district)
• Uses cellular and desk phone; laptop or desktop computer
• Fluent in local languages, particularly Pashto and Urdu.