Senior Malaria Advisor

LEAP Program Description

Global Solutions Ventures (GSV) – a joint-venture partnership between ZemiTek, LLC and Dexis Consulting Group – is implementing the Long-term Exceptional Technical Assistance Project (LEAP Global), a mechanism originally used by USAID to battle against infectious diseases such as malaria, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, neglected tropical diseases, and pandemic influenza. As of July 1, 2025, LEAP Global transitioned to the U.S. Department of State (DOS). This initiative aims to address the complex human resource challenges faced by national infectious disease programs in the USA-supported countries.

The intervention of this project is to hire and embed technical expert advisors and subject matter experts within government entities. By directly embedding the technical expertise within the national programs, LEAP provides long-term, sustainable lifesaving support to empower host governments to lead and manage key aspects of their infectious disease portfolios and improve coordination between the U.S. Government and the host country.

About the Position

The Senior Malaria Advisor will support the National Malaria Program in carrying out life-saving humanitarian assistance (LHA) in full alignment with the new Presidential Executive Order (EO) directives.  The primary focus of the Advisor will be technical leadership to ensure the successful implementation of cost-effective, lifesaving direct service delivery for malaria prevention and treatment.

The Senior Malaria Advisor will provide expert malaria technical guidance to the National Malaria Program (NMP) and the Ministry of Health in the design and management of in-country programs/projects/activities and in the development of host-country policies, reflecting best practices in malaria prevention and control. The jobholder will identify programmatic bottlenecks and facilitate solutions through coordinated technical expertise in support of the cooperating country’s development objectives. The Senior Malaria Advisor will be based at the NMP within the Ministry of Health (MOH). The Advisor will receive day-to-day direction from the National Malaria Program Manager, who will serve as the onsite Manager/Supervisor. The Advisor will report to the U.S. Department of State on a weekly and monthly basis, as described below.

Responsibilities

Technical Leadership

• Provide expert malaria technical guidance to advance planning and implementation of malaria control interventions.
• Support the development of national malaria program strategies and work plans.
• Coordinate the design, planning and implementation of malaria prevention and control activities consistent with the US government’s strategy and with the NMP. This will include but is not limited to vector control, case management at facility and community level, chemoprevention, support for malaria vaccine implementation, malaria in pregnancy, procurement and delivery of life-saving commodities, and associated monitoring and surveillance to ensure accountability and track progress.
• Together with the host country partners, provide the technical and managerial expertise to MOH health districts and local communities to strengthen institutional capacity.
• Keep abreast of current developments and successful interventions via regular engagement with malaria experts (domestic and international) and NMP officials, ensuring proven strategies and interventions are integrated in national malaria programming.

Management of Program/Activity Implementation 

• Ensure that U.S. government resources are maximized towards achievement of sustained results in malaria in line with U.S. government laws, regulations, policies, and procedures to prevent fraud, waste and abuse.
• Provide technical support to the Department of State implementing partners and managerial support as needed during the planning, design and implementation phases to ensure the quality of interventions and programmatic targets are met.
• Recommend changes in strategic and/or implementation approaches, using analysis of program performance.
• Work with partners (in country and global, as relevant) to ensure that programmatic commodities are purchased in a timely and cost-effective manner; and that absorptive capacity exists in implementation sites to receive, manage and distribute these items effectively. Participate in forecasting and quantification meetings to inform malaria commodity quantifications that will guide donor procurements. Troubleshoot bottlenecks in the ordering and delivery process.
• Provide expert advice and practical experience in helping the MoH, the NMP and other partners to monitor inputs, outputs and outcomes, and report on the program’s overall impact.
• If not already in existence, work with the NMP and other partners to develop and maintain a monitoring and evaluation plan to be implemented through existing MoH systems and existing USG supported mechanisms. Carry out monitoring and evaluation visits to implementation sites to ascertain all quantitative and qualitative data is collected properly, and programmatic quality and value for money are maintained.

Coordination of Malaria Partners

• Ensure effective communication and coordination between the NMP, MoH and other partners related to malaria prevention and control; Global Fund partners including other departments in the host country; donor agencies; and other stakeholders working on malaria control in the host country, as appropriate.
• Ensure malaria activities are integrated into overall U.S. Department of State-supported health activities and coordinate these activities with the NMP and MoH to avoid duplication of effort and programming gaps.
• Coordinate with other partners and support efforts to address malaria control delivery gaps and help build technical and managerial capacity within the NMP at the national, district and lower levels.
• Participate in and contribute to malaria related service delivery meetings hosted by the NMP and others.

Communications:

• Regular conference calls with NMP, partners, US Embassy and Washington to review progress, discuss activities and address emerging issues.
• The Senior Malaria Advisor should provide information and avail him/herself for calls/meetings with the US Embassy as requested.
• The Advisor will provide monthly reports to the US Embassy/U.S. Department of State.

REPORTING:

The Senior Advisor will provide a detailed monthly report to the U.S. Department of State, submitted by the 5th day of the following month. Additionally, the Advisor will submit a weekly progress report to the U.S. Department of State (and participate in weekly calls) to include a short paragraph about main successes for that week. The format for reporting may be adjusted with concurrence from the AOR/COR.

Qualifications 

• MD plus certificate in internal medicine or MPH or equivalent.
• Minimum 7 years of experience in public health, with a strong focus on malaria or other vector-borne diseases, preferably in a similar setting.
• Demonstrated ability to review, analyse and advise all aspects of malaria programming at national and regional level.
• Up-to-date knowledge of global and national policies on all aspects of the management of malaria.
• Up-to-date knowledge of ongoing and emerging issues in malaria, like epidemiology, international policy, evidence development and malaria control strategies, new drugs and new diagnostics.
• Experience in teaching/training and capacity building.
• Experience working with the key stakeholders in the malaria program, preferably the national stakeholders and international donors.
• Ability to manage a complex portfolio of laboratory network strengthening.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work in a cross-cultural work environment.
• Excellent written and oral communications in English.
• Good computer skills, including familiarity with Microsoft Office programs.
• Excellent organizational, planning, negotiating and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written communication skills are required to prepare regular and ad hoc reports, activity documentation and briefing papers.
• Demonstrated facilitation skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• In depth knowledge and hands-on experience in the clinical management of malaria is an advantage.
• Experience with DOS and/or PEPFAR projects is an advantage.
• Knowledge of local culture is a plus
• Experience with DOS-funded public health programs.
• Relevant technical experience obtained in African countries is preferred.