Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Advisor

Job Summary

The Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Advisor provides technical leadership and strategic guidance to strengthen maternal, newborn, and child health programs. The advisor supports the design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of evidence-based interventions aimed at improving the health and survival of women, newborns, and children. The role involves close collaboration with government counterparts, donors, implementing partners, and community stakeholders to ensure high-quality, integrated MCH services and sustainable health system strengthening.

Terms of Employment: One-year contract with possible extension

Salary: Negotiable

Key Responsibilities

1. Technical Leadership and Program Design

• Provide technical guidance for the design and implementation of MCH activities, ensuring alignment with national policies and global best practices.
• Lead the development of strategies, tools, and training materials for MCH interventions, including antenatal care, safe delivery, postpartum care, newborn and child health, and nutrition.
• Support integration of MCH services with reproductive, adolescent, and nutrition programs.

2. Capacity Building and Mentorship

• Strengthen the capacity of the community, HEWs, health workers, program staff, and partners through training, mentorship, and supportive supervision.
• Develop and disseminate technical standards, job aids, and operational guidelines for MCH programming, such as but not limited to IMNCI, ANC, safe delivery, PNC, exclusive and complementary breastfeeding, Vit A supplementation, Deworming, Counseling, and linking to malnourished children and linking any sick child to health services.

3. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning

• Contribute to the development of indicators, data collection tools, and monitoring frameworks for MCH programs.
• Analyze MCH program data to identify gaps, measure progress, and inform adaptive management.
• Document and disseminate lessons learned, success stories, and best practices.

4. Partnership and Coordination

• Collaborate with Ministries of Health, local governments, NGOs, and other stakeholders to strengthen coordination and harmonization of MCH activities.
• Represent the organization in MCH technical working groups, donor meetings, and national forums.
• Provide technical input to proposal development, donor reports, and strategic planning processes.

Qualifications and Experience

• Degree in Midwifery, MD, Nursing with Master’s degree in Public Health, Reproductive Health, GynObs specialty or a related field.
• Minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible experience in designing and managing maternal and child health or reproductive health programs in low- or middle-income countries.
• Demonstrated technical expertise in maternal, newborn, and child health, including facility- and community-based approaches.
• Experience working with Ministries of Health, donors, e.g., USG, and implementing partners.
• Strong analytical, presentation, and communication skills.
• Fluency in English, Amharic, and speaking other local language is an asset.

Technical Skills

• Strong technical expertise in evidence-based MCH and Nutrition interventions (ANC, skilled delivery, EmONC, PNC, iCCM/IMNCI, IYCF, CMAM, supplementation).
• Proficiency in developing and delivering training, mentorship (CEmONC and BEmONC), and supportive supervision for health providers.
• Familiarity with data utilization for decision-making and QI processes.
• Knowledge of referral systems and linkages between community and health facilities.

Core Competencies

• Strong leadership and technical advisory skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and collaboration abilities.
• Proven ability to build capacity and foster partnerships.
• Results-oriented, with strong problem-solving and analytical skills.