Technical Advisor, Programs

• Department/Program: Reproductive, Maternal, Child & Adolescent Health and Nutrition (RMCAH-N)
• Reports to: Lead, MNCH-N Program
• Based on: Addis Ababa
• Duration of contract: Indefinite based on performance and availability of funds
• Remuneration: As per organization pay scale plus other PSI Ethiopia staff benefits.
• Application Deadline: Dec 30, 2025

Who we are

Population Services International (PSI) is a global health nonprofit organization that works to ensure quality, affordable care reaches those who need it most. We deliver transformative programming that engages consumers, shapes markets, and strengthens health systems through integrated program design to address longstanding health burdens, emerging threats, and social determinants of health. To achieve this aim, PSI partners with governments, the private sector, and local organizations across 30+ countries to co-design solutions that put people at the center of care.

Join us!

There are thousands of “PSI’ers” around the world. It’s a diverse group of entrepreneurs and professionals with an unusually wide range of backgrounds – from the medical industry to the music business – all with unique skills we bring to the job.

PSI/Ethiopia wants reimagine healthcare, put the consumer at the center, and whenever possible, bring quality care to the front door. We achieve health impact in Ethiopia by working with both government and private partners and harvesting technology innovation to bring quality care closer to communities, schools, and homes. We empower consumers by including them in the design of healthcare solutions, offering them more healthcare choices, and helping them to have a voice in influencing national priorities. We work with all market actors in the health system to understand their needs, designing and delivering solutions so that market systems can sustainably serve consumers for the long term, helping to support the Government of Ethiopia in achieving Universal Health Coverage.

We are looking for:

PSI Ethiopia is seeking a Technical Advisor for MNCH and Malaria to provide strategic leadership for the rollout, coordination, and monitoring of malaria interventions under the RMNCH-N and Malaria investment. The Advisor will ensure alignment with national RMNCH-N and malaria priorities, strengthen provider capacity, and enhance service delivery systems. By addressing operational challenges and fostering stakeholder engagement, this role will support expanded access, increased uptake, and sustainable malaria interventions across Ethiopia.

Working closely with PSI Ethiopia’s leadership, the Ministry of Health, Regional Health Bureaus, Woreda Health Offices, health facilities, and community platforms, the Malaria Technical Advisor will oversee field-level implementation of RMNCH-N and malaria activities. The role will ensure the availability and use of essential tools, guidelines, and job aids, support data analysis and visualization, and apply MEL insights to identify service gaps and inform evidence-based, adaptive management. The Advisor will also cultivate partnerships with government and non-government actors, document and disseminate best practices, and provide strategic guidance for the sustainable scale-up of malaria and other new RMNCH-N services nationwide.

Key Roles and Responsibilities

1. Program Planning and Technical oversight

• Support in the day-to-day malaria and RMNCH-N interventions in close collaboration with program leads and field teams.
• Provide guidance on malaria activities in high and moderate endemic areas, ensuring effective integration of prevention, case detection, and referral across community and primary health care platforms in consultation of MNCH lead.
• Support annual, quarterly, and monthly planning processes, ensuring alignment with MOH priorities, project deliverables, and donor requirements.
• Coordinate and consolidate departmental work plans and budgets, ensuring timely review and submission.
• Facilitate planning, review, and reflection sessions (virtual and in-person) and ensure follow-up on action points for accountability.
• Provide technical input for RMNCH-N malaria-related components of program work plans, budgets, and implementation schedules.
• Facilitate coordination with MOH, RHBs, woreda health offices, and partners to ensure integration of malaria activities into primary health care.
• Support roll-out and quality assurance of VHL-led malaria campaigns and activities in high and moderate endemicity areas.
• Participate in joint planning, supervision, and review sessions with government and partners.
• Standardize tools, protocols, and supervision mechanisms to ensure quality and consistency across sites.
• Facilitate cross-learning and evidence-sharing across woredas and regions.
• Collaborate with other program units (RMNCH, SRH, SBC, MEL) to integrate malaria activities efficiently.

2. Performance Review and Reporting

• Track program progress against indicators, milestones, and Management by Objectives (MBOs).
• Support consolidation of inputs for donors, government, and internal reports ensuring accuracy, completeness, and quality.
• Support timely submission of monthly, quarterly, and annual updates to global teams and stakeholders.
• Support program managers in supportive supervision, data verification, and follow-up on identified performance gaps at field level.
• Generate and synthesize MEL insights to inform adaptive management and program improvement.

3. Communication, Correspondence, and Documentation

• Facilitate smooth communication between the RMNCH department, other units, regional offices, and external stakeholders.
• Organize internal and external meetings, prepare agendas, document minutes, and ensure dissemination of decisions and actions.
• Maintain organized and secure documentation systems for program reports, communications, and government/donor correspondences.
• Serve as the focal point for consolidating and sharing departmental updates under the guidance of the MNCH lead.
• Collaborate with national RMNCH-N advisor seconded at MOH in liaising with the project with the respective LEOs at MOH, especially the Disease prevention and Control LEO.

4. Technical Leadership & Interdepartmental Facilitation

• Support technical coordination between RMNCH units and support departments (finance, procurement, MEL, operations) to enhance implementation efficiency.
• Provide expert guidance on malaria prevention, case management, surveillance, and outbreak response.
• Advise the design, adaptation, and implementation of VHL-led malaria activities, including test-and-refer strategies and ITN promotion.
• Ensure malaria activities align with national malaria guidelines, MOH policies, and global best practices.
• Support strategies to prevent drug and insecticide resistance and improve treatment of adherence.
• Develop malaria technical protocols, job aids, and training materials for VHLs, HEWs, and facility staff.

5. Stakeholder Engagement and Support

• Serve as a key liaison between PSI Ethiopia, MOH, RHBs, woreda health offices, health facilities, and community structures.
• Coordinate with government counterparts to ensure timely responses, reporting compliance, and alignment with national policies.
• Facilitate resource sharing, collaboration, and strong community engagement across all levels of the health system.
• Strengthening partnerships with government, non-government partners, and community platforms to advance program sustainability.

6. Capacity Building and Mentorship

• Provide guidance and oversee malaria-specific training, refresher courses, and mentorship for VHLs, HEWs, and health care Providers.
• Strengthen RMNCH-N and malaria-related competencies among community and facility health workforce.
• Provide strategic advice on performance-based incentive schemes to enhance VHL motivation and effectiveness.

7. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL)

• Support the development of indicators, data collection tools, and reporting systems for malaria activities.
• Support development of malaria-specific indicators, data collection tools, and reporting systems.
• In collaboration with program managers, monitor program implementation, analyze malaria data, and provide actionable recommendations for program improvement.
• Support implementation research to evaluate VHL engagement models (health promotion vs. test-and-refer).
• Document lessons learned, innovations, and best practices to inform scale-up and policy recommendations after proof of concept.

What are we looking for? The basics

• At least Six (6) years with a master’s or eight (8) years of experience with a first degree in Public Health, Medicine, Nursing, population studies, or other related fields.
• Experience in malaria and RMNCH-N program design, implementation, and technical support, preferably in community health settings.
• Knowledge of Ethiopian RMNCH-N and malaria policies, protocols, and primary health care system.
• Strong experience in training, mentorship, and capacity building of community and facility health workers.
• Experience in monitoring, evaluation, and implementation of research for Malaria or other programs.
• Excellent coordination, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Ability to work independently and in teams.
• Willingness to travel frequently to field locations.

What would get us excited?

• Proven experience working in both RMNCH-N and malaria programs.
• Hands-on experience supporting government health systems.
• Demonstrated skills in advocacy and policy engagement.
• Strong interpersonal skills with a collaborative spirit.

Innovative problem-solving mindset with strong advocacy skills to innovative interventions.