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Background

Jacaranda Health is a nonprofit organization whose mission for the last eight years has been to improve maternal and newborn health outcomes in the public health system. We work hand-in-hand with governments, including county health management teams and Ministries of Health, to deploy affordable and scalable solutions through public hospitals, where the majority of underserved mothers and babies receive care. These solutions include PROMPTS, an AI-enabled text messaging service for mothers, and MENTORS, a facility-based training program equipping frontline nurses with lifesaving skills and knowledge. In Kenya, we are in 22 of Kenya’s busiest counties, who co-own our interventions, and work with us to design what and how we measure impact for effective decision-making. These partnerships have helped us reach 2.4 million women with our solutions across 1,100+ health centers and hospitals and will continue to be the cornerstone of how we approach the path to national scale in Kenya. We have expanded operations within Eswatini and Ghana.

Jacaranda Health is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regards to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics.

Job Summary

The purpose of the role is to strengthen Jacaranda Health’s advocacy efforts with the National and County Governments into endorsement and adoption of the key solutions being implemented by JH i.e. PROMPTS and MENTORS This is mainly through linkages with senior government officials to create opportunities for JH leadership to engage, get buy-in leading to resource allocation and national roll-out of PROMPTS and MENTORS.

The role will also support the development and implementation of Jacaranda Health’s Advocacy Strategy and Plan around maternal and newborn health, identifying and participating in National and County networks.

Location: Nairobi, Kenya

Reports to: Head of Partnerships

Preferred start date: April,2024.

Main Responsibilities

Advocacy Strategy development and Implementation

• In close collaboration with programs, partnerships and communications departments, develop and implement a county MNH advocacy strategy that seeks to draw synergies between and integrate MNH with other sectors. Responsible for the delivery of an annual implementation work plan.

• Development and implementation of the advocacy strategy in line with Jacaranda Health’s strategy to influence decision-makers, the media, wider civil society and policy makers .

• Provide strategic MNH advocacy, learning and support and ensure there’s a coherent process linking the National and county level advocacy efforts.

• Ensures that all advocacy messages and documents are evidence-based and of high quality.

Advocacy and Communications

• In liaison with the Head of Partnerships, lead the National and County level monitoring and evaluation of advocacy-related objectives, mapping of key opportunities and events, organization of JH’s ‘moments’ and events.

• Formulate, consolidate and support key policy and advocacy messages (including direct communication and advocacy) for MNH generated from the other departments to influence county and national government, donors and other implementing actors.

• Develop good knowledge of National and County government structure, political processes and key decision-making structures and how to influence them on issues MNH.

• Undertake a range of lobbying, communications and other activities to inform and persuade policy makers, including donors and politicians, of the value of JH’s solutions for improving maternal and neonatal survival.

Building Partnerships

• Identify local networks and coalitions and develop sustained partnerships/ alliances that are critical in the dissemination and/or application of research findings and/or learning to influence the policy and practice landscape. It also includes identifying and helping to nurture MNH ‘champions’ to support our advocacy agenda at a national and county level

• Support other departments and divisions to build partnerships with communities and programme beneficiaries in establishing accountability mechanisms, capacity building and knowledge management.

Jacaranda Health Solutions Buy-In

• Develop strategies to engage at higher level (National and County) to ensure buy-in/endorsement/stamp of approval of JHs core solutions as National solutions

• Support JH’s team in building up cost-share conversations across all government levels

Requirements

• At least 5 years’ experience in advocacy work, as well as contributing to the development and implementation of advocacy strategies.

• An academic qualification with a minimum of Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, Governance, International development , Community development or related field of study.

• Experience and training on policy and advocacy

• Experience working within Kenya Health systems.

• Excellent understanding of Kenya’s budget cycle and moments.

• An understanding of policy and legislative development processes at both national and county levels.

• Superior written communication skills, including the ability to translate complex arguments into accessible English for a non-specialist audience, and the ability to write articles that would be published in the mainstream press.

• Knowledge of the devolution processes, and its impact on the health sector.

• Excellent verbal communication and presentation skills, appropriate for high-level external representation (for example lobbying county governors, CEC’s, Chief Officers, Directors and MCAs)

• Experience of developing advocacy strategies, knowledge and understanding of a range of advocacy techniques

• Experience of effective teamwork and outstanding interpersonal communication skills

• Experience of coalition building and working with civil society actors to deliver change

• Fluency in spoken and written English and Kiswahili

Accountability:

• Holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modeling JHs values

• Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved

Ambition:

• Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves (and their team), takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages others to do the same

Collaboration:

• Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, members and external partners and supporters.

• Values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength

• Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to

Integrity:

• Honest, encourages openness and transparency

• Possess project management and coordination skills

• Knowledge of word, PowerPoint, excel and Microsoft project

• Strong analytical skills and the capacity to think strategically

• Ability to write clear reports

• Knowledge of Maternal and Child Health issues

• Excellent knowledge of the Kenyan Health System

• Excellent facilitation and presentation skills

• Upholds high levels of integrity

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

• Ability to solve complex problems

• Decision making abilities

• Leadership skills

• Strategic orientation

• Results oriented

Contract Period

This position is expected to be a contract of 12 months, renewable.

To Apply: Interested candidates should send their applications to jhslcareers@jacarandahealth.org No hard copies required or accepted.

Application Deadline

Interested and qualified applicants should submit their applications by 14th February, 2024.