Commencement: 01 February 2025 Contract duration is up to 30 June 2025, with a possibility for extension  Based in East New Britian Province, Papua New Guinea Open to all applicants  

About the Program 

The Papua New Guinea (PNG) Australia Transition to Health (PATH) is a five-year (2020-2025) health sector program funded by the Australian Government under the PNG – Australia Partnership for Development. PATH works with the Government of PNG (GoPNG) to improve coverage and quality of health services for the people of PNG through effective, equitable, efficient, and inclusive interventions. 

Guided by the National Department of Health (NDoH), Provincial Health Authorities (PHAs) and the Bougainville Department of Health (BDoH) are responsible for the delivery of health services across PNG.

PATH assists NDoH, PHAs and BDoH to strengthen systems for health service delivery targeting infectious diseases, and reproductive, maternal, newborn child and adolescent health, with a focus on promoting women’s leadership.

PATH’s end of investment outcomes (EOIOs) are:

PHAs more able to lead provincial health reform and manage effective, efficient, equitable and quality essential health services in selected provinces.  DFAT-funded health services are demonstrating efficient and effective models of service delivery, influencing PHA performance; and building sustainability by transitioning to PHA management in selected provinces. 

PATH’s intermediate outcomes (IOs) are: Provincial Health Authority Leadership, Women in Leadership and Essential Health Services. 

PATH is a locally led, adaptive, and politically informed program that seeks to maintain flexibility to respond to changing and local circumstances over the life of the program.

About the Opportunity

The Provincial Facilitator role supports the Provincial Performance Facilitation Lead to implement the day-to-day activities to improve leadership and management of health services for the selected Provincial Health Authorities (PHA). 

This role will coordinate the activities to support PHA capacity to plan, budget, deliver and coordinate health services, including the coordination of analyses/assessments to identify bottlenecks at the selected PHAs. 

The Provincial Facilitator plays an important role in developing and strengthening key stakeholder relationships at the provincial level.

Key responsibilities 

Leadership Support

Promote a strong work culture at senior PHA management level and  PATH Program Activity Managers  Improve strategic planning and resource mobilisation. Strengthen service delivery through the development of policies, guidelines and systems  Develop good neutral relations with leadership networks in the province - National leaders such as MPs, pprovincial and local government leaders at the community level Recognise and respect other key stakeholders involved in health service delivery in the province

Operational Management

Support development processes of joint ISP and PHA  AAP and provide partner coordination support in implementation in line with National Department Policies and National Health Plan  Effectively coordinate and contribute to operational research and/or facilitate short term external technical assistance to strengthen evidence-based policy to address specific bottlenecks that impede health service delivery Provide PHA secretariat support to the board and ensure that it is in place and functioning Assist PHA to encourage more inclusive workplace culture Work with the GESI team to actively promote gender equality by ensuring women are being brought into management and leadership roles to contribute meaning fully towards the health of women and girls Work closely with Frontline Health Outcomes Team and Health Security team 

Financial Management

Assist PHAs in developing annual budget in line with PHA priorities, National Health Plan (NHP) and National Health Service Standards (NHSS).  Strengthen HSIP financial reporting and accountability processes  Support PHA’s strengthen Public Finance Management process, reporting and accountability

Human Resource Management

Explore opportunities to continually improve staff skills and performance Institute mechanisms to enable training and development in performance management skills Provide some guidance and counselling around staff discipline and appraisal processes in line with DPM processes.

Stakeholder management/partnership

Lead engagement and develop good relations with the Provincial Health Authorities Board members, Senior Executive Management Committee, CSOs/NGOs, donors and community. Provide effective secretarial support to PHA Board and Committee meetings and ensure resolutions are effectively implemented  Assist in organising partner engagement opportunities. Facilitate service agreements with different service providers

Public Health

Support public health intervention programs at the planning and program level Ensure better coordination exists with Frontline Health Outcomes team on Immunisation, TB, Malaria and Sexual Reproductive Health programs  Provide input into disease surveillance and disease outbreak activities 

Medical Supplies

Provide support to medical drugs/supplies and distribution to respective health facilities are done in a timely manner 

Monitoring & Evaluation 

Work alongside and oversee the Provincial M&E Coordinators, ensuring the Performance and Adaptive Systems (PAS) Team are regularly updated and involved in activities Support PHA’s conduct annual performance review in line with National Health Plan and Standards Report key findings back to PAS Team Support PHA strengthen and coordinate use of health information system to inform decision making and policy  Other duties as reasonably directed.

Key deliverables

Support provincial counterparts to understand and apply AM/TWP approaches to policy making and program delivery Establish, put in place systems, and support program and operational staff to apply PATH’s approach to GESI (approach to be developed by the PATH GESI team) Support development and implementation of a plan in collaboration with the PHA CEO that contributes towards the intermediate outcomes: Strengthening PHA capacity Improving Accountability Supporting an increase in Women in Leadership Enhancing gender equality and equity Delivering Essential Services Ensuring Health Security Monthly reporting against the plan Quarterly reporting against the intermediate outcomes Annual reporting against the end of investment outcomes Maintained strong and productive relationships with counterparts and other PATH staff and received satisfactory feedback on performance.

Key working relationships 

PATH Senior Management team Performance and Adaptive Systems team Relevant AHC representatives  Relevant GoPNG representatives (National Department of Health, Provincial Health Authorities) External Stakeholders including but not limited to CSOs, provincial non-state actors, Faith-based actors, female and male reform champions and networks etc

About You 

Minimum of 10 years’ senior experience in PNG Provincial Health Authority including implementing PHA reform with good understanding of NDoH/DPM/DoF systems, legislation, policy, governance, resourcing, financing and decentralisation Demonstrated understanding of the PNG health sector  (required) and sound understanding PNG Provincial Government systems and central agencies (DPM, DoF) sector will be highly regarded Familiarity with PNG Health reform policies and exposure/experience working with health boards and committee Multi-stakeholder engagement across large and complex cross-program environment with the ability to work in a political and cultural manner

How to Apply

Please ensure to address the Key Selection Criteria (About You) in your cover letter, and submit your application online, along with your CV as a single document.  Applications must be submitted personally by individuals only. Applications submitted by a company or organisation will not be accepted.  The successful applicant will be engaged through an employment agreement determined by Abt.

We welcome and thank all applications; however, only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

Closing Date: 5 January 2025 (Midday, local time) #LI-AUSBRIT

Abt Global is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to upholding high standards of Child Protection, Anti-bribery and Fraud Protection.

We encourage applications from experienced and capable women, and people with disabilities