Swisscontact was established in 1959 as an independent foundation by notable figures from the worlds of commerce and science in Switzerland. It is exclusively involved in international development cooperation and has conducted its own mandated projects since 1961. Based in Zurich, Swisscontact currently employs over 1,400 staff worldwide and manages 117 projects in thirty-nine countries on behalf of public and private donors.
Access to healthcare in rural communities is a major concern in Bangladesh primarily due to the dearth of skilled healthcare workforce. There are alarmingly 13.65 healthcare providers per 10,000 population in the country while the WHO recommendation is 44.5 per 10,000 population. The project “Achieving Sustainability Towards Healthcare Access” (ASTHA) was introduced in 2011 to address this gap. This project is financed by Novartis International AG, Laguna Foundation, Evi Diethelm-Winteler-Stiftung among other donors. It is part of the Swisscontact Development Programme, co-financed by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA). The project aims to improve access to quality healthcare service at the rural level through the development of skilled Community Paramedics.
ASTHA is currently in its Phase III (January 2023 to December 2026) which will emphasise on the business viability of Community Paramedic Training Institutes (CPTIs) and Community Paramedics (CPs) and on acquiring important partnerships for nationwide scaling up and sustainability. The project operates in twelve districts, namely, Bogura, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Rangpur in the north, Dinajpur and Gaibandha in the north-west, Moulvibajar, Sunamganj and Sylhet in the north-east, and Barguna, Barisal, and Patuakhali in the south.
Swisscontact is inviting applications from development professionals, willing to be a part of ASTHA as the Senior Officer/Coordinator – Partnership and Innovation, ASTHA
Employment start: 1st December 2023
Contract duration: 1 year initially
Place of work: Dhaka, Bangladesh with regular visits to field locations
Essential Functions and Responsibilities
Overall Responsibilities:
- Lead the scoping of partnerships with relevant public, private, and academic service providers, e.g., new training institutes, e-health platforms, pharmaceutical companies, startups for imparting knowledge & enhancing skills and business opportunities of Community Paramedics.
- Develop ToRs, MoUs, concept notes and other necessary documents required for recruiting consultants, partners, vendors, etcBrainstorm and develop innovative solutions/models to enhance service provision of the community paramedics.
- On-board and facilitate partners/associations/marketing agencies that promote the community paramedic training as well as services.
- On-board and facilitate technology providers and other private sector healthcare providers to develop incentivised models for improving community paramedics’ service quality and effective referrals to specialist providers (doctors, hospitals, etc.).
- Conduct regular field visits to monitor program implementation, follow up with employed graduates, and meet with partners/associates/beneficiaries/stakeholders.
- Support in scoping for funds and opportunities in further business/funding development of the project.
- Support the project in implementing policy-related interventions, especially those policies that help improve the service compliance of the Community Paramedics.
- Support the project in conducting survey/study to measure the impact on the ground
Communication and Reporting:
- Support the MRM, KCM, Policy and Communications teammates in drafting project reports (semester report, annual report, monthly donor update report, management letter).
- Support the communication team in developing and/or editing and updating communication materials (case studies/success stories on beneficiaries) for internal and external distribution, and broadcasting partnerships-related news.
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Others:
- Organize and coordinate meetings, seminars, and knowledge events, as and when required, to discuss and disseminate the project’s achievements and generate new ideas.
- Ensure quality of bills/invoices that come from field offices on a regular basis.
- Conduct any other task mutually agreed with the supervisor.
Skills and Experience
Core skills:
- Ability to work productively in highly collaborative settings while also being able to function independently.
- Demonstrated ability to manage complexity and prioritise multiple tasks.
- Proficiency in written and oral communication both in Bangla and English.
- Ability to communicate clearly with project beneficiaries and other target groups.
- Trustworthiness, integrity, and commitment to Swisscontact's core values.
- Demonstrated awareness and sensitivity to gender and diversity (including sensitivity towards differently abled (people).
- Demonstrated curiosity to learn and acquire knowledge from vastly different sources.
- Willingness to travel on short notice for a longer duration.
Technical skills:
- Honors or Master’s in communications/ Business/Economics/Development Studies or other relevant disciplines of Social Science.
- Three-five years of relevant professional experience in development organisations/projects/programmes or corporate and familiar with partnership management.
- Excellent working knowledge of computer applications like MS Office (Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint) and familiarity with graphic design/communication visuals etc. will be added advantages.
- Experience working with local, and national NGOs and INGOs will be an advantage.
Physical Demands:
Field visits play a large part in the incumbent’s activities; as such, the incumbent is expected to be willing and able to participate in such activities as and when needed and sometimes within short notice.
Working Conditions and Environment:
This will be applicable according to the Swisscontact Staff Manual.
Application details:
Please email your detailed CV along with a cover letter (elaborating your competencies for the position and expected salary) to bd.recruitment@swisscontact.org addressing Head of Business Administration, Swisscontact Bangladesh.
Please mention the exact title of the position applied to in the “subject” line of your email. Applications must be submitted on or before 8th October 2023.
Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for the final selection process.
Swisscontact is an equal-opportunity employer.
For further information please visit www.swisscontact.org/bangladesh
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