Consultant- Strategic and Technical Support for Oromia Health and Nutrition Empowerment for Families Initiative (OHNEFI)

About JSI

JSI is dedicated to strengthening health and education systems to improve the lives of individuals, families, and communities. JSI works hand-in-hand with government agencies, community organizations, and the private sector to design pragmatic strategies for complex problems. As a global organization, JSI has designed, delivered, and scaled programs in more than 50 countries worldwide. In Ethiopia, JSI has been a steadfast partner to the Ministry of Health since 1994, reaching over 70 million people. What began as a focus on reproductive and maternal health has evolved into a portfolio of more than 65 projects dedicated to transforming the national health landscape. Currently, JSI supports all regions, strengthening primary health care, optimizing supply chains, and leading the digital transformation of the health sector. 

About OHNEFI 

The Oromia Health and Nutrition Empowerment for Families Initiative (OHNEFI) is a comprehensive strategy launched by the Oromia Health Bureau to enhance household-level health and nutrition interventions. The initiative's goal is to empower families and communities to prevent avoidable morbidities and mortality, eliminate malnutrition, and ensure optimal early childhood development through a strengthened and optimized Health Extension Program (HEP). OHNEFI integrates interventions across health, agriculture, education, and social welfare sectors, employing a holistic, family-centered approach to tackle significant public health challenges prevalent in the region, such as increasing malnutrition, low RMNCH service coverage, poor sanitation, and inadequate healthcare infrastructure.

II. Key duties

The consultant will provide high-level strategic and technical assistance to the ORHB for the effective operationalization and piloting  of the Oromia Health and Nutrition Empowerment for Families Initiative (OHNEFI). S/he will be focusing on designing tools, training materials, and piloting the strategies in selected woredas. Key duties include:

• Provide high-level guidance and technical support in finalizing the concept note, implementation manuals, and strategic action plan, and translating them into a detailed implementation plan.
• Design training materials along with the required tools, such as data collection tools, performance tracking, and a dashboard, by harmonizing with the existing platforms in collaboration with key stakeholders 
• Assess the current landscape and facilitate the formation and functionality of the multi-sectoral task force at regional and woreda levels, ensuring strong coordination across the health, education, agriculture, and other social sectors guided by Terms of Reference (TOR).
• Guide the re-design and optimization of the HEP in alignment with the government's strategic directions and plan. 
• Facilitate advocacy workshops for the leadership at all levels, training for healthcare providers and community volunteers (VHLs and WDUs).
• Assist ORHB in implementing key legal and policy frameworks identified under the initiative.
• Facilitate the establishment of task forces at all levels to oversee the initiative's implementation and monitor their performance.
• Work closely with stakeholders, including development partners, institutions, and health sectors at all levels.
• Developing a set of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for program effectiveness and advising on performance monitoring at all levels.
• Facilitating learning strategies, such as quarterly stakeholder meetings and experience-sharing sessions, to inform sustainability and expansion plans.

III: Major deliverables

The Consultant is required to provide the following:

• OHNEFI Operational guideline and Plan: A detailed operational guideline and operational plan for pilot phase
• Training materials and tool kits:Customized facilitator guides, participant manuals, job aids and tools. 
• Governance Structure: TOR and established multi-Sectoral Task Force and technical teams at all levels.
• Training: Staff  and key stakeholders received standard training for the pilot phase 
• Revised HEP optimization guidelines/manual: Implementation manual revised in context to regional and OHNEFI program
• Draft policy documents: Key multi-sectoral related policy documents drafted and communicated with the key stakeholders for endorsement. 
• Monthly Progress Reports: Detailed reports summarizing activities completed, achievements, challenges encountered, and next steps planned.
• Final Consultancy Report: Comprehensive final report, including lessons learned and recommendations for sustainable scale-up across subsequent phases.

Key Requirements 

The consultant should possess the following expertise and qualifications:

• Advanced degree (Master's or higher) in Public Health, Health Systems Management, Strategic Planning, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated senior-level experience (minimum of 10 years) in designing, leading, or operationalizing complex public health and nutrition initiatives within the Ethiopian government system, particularly at regional or sub-regional levels.
• Substantial expertise in Primary healthcare systems, Health Extension Program (HEP) strengthening, community health service delivery models, and multisectoral coordination.
• Proven technical competence in integrating digital health technology and data management for community-level health services.
• Excellent skills in stakeholder management, policy advocacy, and providing technical assistance to senior government officials.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English. Proficiency in Afaan Oromo is highly desirable.

How To Apply

Interested applicants who met the above minimum requirements should send and apply at WWW.Ethiojobs.net. Please submit Only your application letter and CV in English detailing your experiance , exposure and skills that are relevant to the post. Please do not attach copies of your transcripts, academic degrees or recommendation letters with the application. You will provide them upon request.