Assistant Medical Coordinator at Alliance for International Medical Action (ALIMA)

THE ALIMA ASSOCIATION

ALIMA’S ETHOS: ALIMA’s purpose is to save lives and provide care for the most vulnerable populations, without any discrimination based on identity, religion or politics, through actions based on proximity, innovation, and the alliance of organizations and individuals. We act with humanity and impartiality in accordance with universal medical ethics. To gain access to patients, we undertake to act in a neutral and independent manner.

Our CHARTER defines the VALUES and PRINCIPLES of our action:

Patient First – Patient centered medical care
Revolutionizing humanitarian medicine through research
Responsibility and freedom: encourage decision-making by those closest to patients
Commitment to a dynamic of continuous quality improvement
Creating a climate of trust among colleagues
Collective intelligence
Environmental liability

CARING - INNOVATING - TOGETHER:

Since its creation in 2009, ALIMA has treated more than 6 million patients. Today ALIMA works in 12 countries in Western and Central Africa. In 2020, we developed 41 humanitarian medical response projects to meet the needs of populations affected by conflict, epidemics and extreme poverty. All of these projects support national health authorities through nearly 330 health structures (including 28 hospitals and 300 health centers). We work in partnership, especially with local NGOs, whenever possible to ensure that our patients benefit from the expertise wherever it is, whether in their country or the rest of the world. In addition, to improve the humanitarian response, we are carrying out operational and clinical research projects, particularly in the field of the fight against malnutrition and haemorrhagic viral fevers. ALIMA is also leading operations in response to the covid-19 pandemic across all of our missions.

ALIMA’S TEAM: More than 2000 people currently work for ALIMA. The field teams, as close as possible to the patients, receive their support from the coordination teams generally based in the capitals of the countries of intervention. These receive support from the 4 desk teams and the emergency and opening service team based at the operational headquarters in Dakar, Senegal. The Paris and New York teams are actively working on fundraising as well as representing ALIMA. The rest of the ALIMA Galaxy includes individuals and partner teams who work on behalf of other organizations such as medical NGOs BEFEN, ALERTE Santé, SOS Médecins / KEOOGO, AMCP, research organizations PACCI, INSERM, Universities of Bordeaux or Copenhagen, the NGO Solidarités International and many others.

COUNTRIES WHERE WE WORK IN 2021: Mali, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Guinea, South Sudan, Mauritania & Senegal.

THE WORK WE DO covers: Primary and Secondary Health Care, with a main focus on children and women - including treatment and prevention of acute malnutrition, maternal health, mental health, response to epidemics (Ebola, Cholera, Measles, Dengue, Lassa Fever), surgery, displaced populations, and gender based violence, Covid 19.

GOVERNANCE: ALIMA is governed by a Board of Directors of 10 elected positions and 4 co-opted positions from representatives of West African partner NGOs.

Job Title:

Nigeria, Assistant Medical Coordinator

Report to(Technical):

Medical Coordinator

Report to (Functional):

Medical Coordinator

Area:                             

Medical

POST LOCATION

In Nigeria, ALIMA is running four health and nutrition projects in Borno State (Maiduguri/Jere LGAs), Yobe state (Karasuwa/Yusufary/Damaturu LGAs), Katsina State ( Kaita LGA), Research and Lassa fever response in Ondo State (Owo LGA). ALIMA’s teams in Nigeria represent about 25 expatriates and more than 200 national staff.

The Assistant Medical Coordinator is based in Abuja/Maiduguri

MISSION ET OBJECTIVES

• Under the direct supervision and guidance of the Country Medical Coordinator, the Assistant Medical Coordinator “AMC” will support the nutrition, health, protection and mental teams in designing, implementing and supervising all activities in different state in Nigeria like Borno State (Jere, Maiduguri Lgas), Yobe State ( Karasuwa, Yusufari, Damaturu LGAs’,..), Katsina State ( Kaita LGA,…), Ondo State (Owo LGA…).
• The AMC in the absence of Medical Coordinator will represent ALIMA in all relevant coordination meetings at the Country or state level and provide the required technical support to field teams in ensuring that all activities are being carried out in accordance with the donor and Ministry of Health policy guidelines.
• The AMC in close coordination with the Medical Coordinator will work closely with partner organizations like UNICEF, WHO, UNFPA, etc.
• Fully assumes the medical coordinator responsibilities in case of absence including communication within Capital/Maiduguri management Team and with the Medical Department.
• Contribute in the good relationship with MOH and Ministry of health representative and others ministries when needed.

TASKS & RESPONSABILITIES

1)       Program Development

• Assist the Medical Coordinator in developing new project proposals and concept notes in close collaboration with the relevant heads of head health programs and project coordinators
• Assist the Medical Coordinator in developing donor and organizational reports (monthly, quarterly and annual) by ensuring that the information by the field team is accurate and complete
• Analyse the health management information system (HMIS) data monthly and assist the data manager and relevant field team members in correcting possible shortfalls and errors.
• Analyse achievements against pre-set targets (monthly, quarterly and annual) and come up with corrective measures and action plan for improvement
• Assist the Medical Coordinator in conducting quarterly program review meetings in the different project to assess achievements, budget expenditure and challenges and come up with action plans for improvements in close coordination with relevant heads of health programs
• Assist the Medical Coordinator in preparing monthly, quarterly and annual work plans.
• Participate in the different proposer or concept note done at coordination level

2)      Supervision and Monitoring

• Must regularly visit the field to assess the quality of the programs and its management, data collection procedures, availability of standard treatment protocols, presence of essential medicines and supplies and infection prevention (IP) materials in health facilities.
• Provide on the job training to the health facility staff and relevant health team members
• Ensure the quality of data from the project, verification and coding if necessary; also give feedback to medical coordinator.
• Participate in the research of information on the epidemic situation in Nigeria

3)      Representation / Coordination

• In the absence of Medical Coordinator, AMC will attend all health, nutrition, and emergency sectors coordination meetings at State Health Ministry, UNICEF, UNFPA and WHO
• Will maintain close working relationships with concerned project coordinators, medical referents, medical responsible and other technical team members in Borno, Yobe, Katsina, Ondo state respectively in our area project (Maiduguri, Jere, Damaturu, Karasuwa, Yusufari, Kaita and Owo LGAs).

4)      Procurement and supplies

• Analyse the medicine consumption report of each health facility monthly to ensure availability and optimal use of medicines and keep the Medical Coordinator updated about the availability of medicines in each health facility.
• Participate in the process of international or national order according the task will be given by the Medical Coordinator.
• Participate in the orientation of the field team members on National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and Import Duty Exemption Certificate (IDEC) policy guidelines

5)      Health system (Emergency Evacuation, etc)

• Update the Medical Coordinator about any referral requests from the field to ensure that the medical evacuation guideline is followed and participate in the different evacuation if needed.
• Participate on the redaction of health policy if needed
• Ensure that all ALIMA’ staff is respect ALIMA’s Health policy
• Participate in the briefing of the different staff (health policy, etc)

6)      Others

• Support Covax Focal Point (CFP) during the vaccination of Covid-19 and be the 1st contact with the CFP
• Analyse Covax activity according to our objective and give feedback to the medical coordinator
• Can participate in different exploration can be done by the mission or in the implementation of new activity/project
• Perform any other duty as assigned by the organization through the head of the Medical Department or Head of mission.

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

Educational:

• Essential degree on medicine (Doctor) is mandatory
• Public Health will be an asset
• Essential 3 years’ experience in midwifery practice and maternity management in hospital
•  Previous experience with ALIMA or other NGO’s in developing countries is desirable

Required Skills

• Computer literacy (Word, Excel, outlook)
• Essential 5 years’ experience in relevant jobs, in ALIMA or others Medical NGO’s in developing countries.
• Have at least 3 years’ practice experience in management of Nutrition, Health and Sexual Reproductive Health
• Have experience of worked in difficult/insecurity area 
• Strategic vision
• Leadership
• People Management
• Planning
• Teamwork, flexible
• Knowledge of management of pharmacy

Training skills
Well organized and good negotiation and communication skill
Interest in and commitment to ALIMA’s activities, enthusiasm to represent the organization to others, to travel to different regions of Nigeria
Languages: Fluency in English, (written and spoken) is mandatory and Kanuri, Hausa and Fulbe are asset