MdM / GENERAL COORDINATOR (M/F) - Laos

For more than 30 years, Médecins du Monde, a campaigning medical organisation committed to international solidarity, has been caring for the most vulnerable populations at home and abroad. It has continued to highlight obstacles that exist in accessing health care and has secured sustainable improvements in health-for-all policies. Those working for this independent organisation do not solely dispense care and treatment but condemn violations of human dignity and rights and fight to improve matters for populations living in precarious situations.

MdM currently works in 46 countries across all continents where it focuses on 4 priority areas: caring for the health of migrants and displaced persons, promoting sexual and reproductive health, combating HIV and reducing the harm and risks associated with drug use, crises and conflicts.

The Lao PDR is a landlocked country that remains one of the poorest in East Asia. The country is ranked amongst the bottom quarter of countries (133/182) on the Human Development Index (UNDP 2009) and approximately 30% of the population continues to live bellow the poverty line with considerable differences between urban and rural areas and between ethnics groups.

With 9% of public expenditure (as % of total government expenditures) spent for health (data 2011), the health situation remains extremely poor in Lao PDR. Although the country has progressed significantly in the past two decades, its maternal mortality ratio (MMR) of 357 per 100,000 live births (UNFPA 2011) remains one of the highest in South East Asia.

The crude birth rate is 27 per 1000 inhabitants, the newborn mortality is 22 per 1,000 live births and the fertility rate is 3,5 children per women (UNFPA 2011).

According to the Lao Reproductive Health Survey 2005 almost 85% of all childbirths took place at home and only about 20% were assisted by trained health personnel. It is estimated that 35% of pregnant women have at least one antenatal consultation

Project

The mission has been opened in 2010 and focused on reproductive health during a first phase which ended in September 2012.
A second one (October 2012- December 2015) is focusing on mother, newborn and children under 5 health with a geographic extension to 2 hospitals type A (with surgery) and a PMTCT focus in the 2 initial districts of intervention.

MdM objective is to improve within 3 years quality and access to preventive and curative health care for children under 5, pregnant women and those of reproductive age of Moonlapamok and Sukhuma districts, ensuring an effective continuum of care from communities to referral districts hospitals (Khong and Champasak).
Action will work towards achieving the following results:
1 Reproductive and MNCH services are improved in terms of quality and consolidated at all levels to reinforce the continuum of care
2 Knowledge and attitudes of the villagers are improved regarding healthy and health seeking behaviours on reproductive, mother and child health
3 Financial barriers to access mother and child health services are removed

The program is running under both responsibility and partnership of MDM-France and MDM-Japan.

TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

As General Coordinator you supervise and co-ordinate the programme implemented by MdM France and MdM japan in LAO PDR in the respect of people and goods’ safety, and in order to guarantee the programme’s relevance and its compliance with the predefined objectives.
You work inside the decision making-process of MdM (RM, Desk Officer, General Coordinator).
You perform yous tasks and responsabilities under supervision of the Asia Desk Officer and Responsible of Mission in Paris (MDM-France) and Laos Desk Officer in Tokyo (MDM-Japan).
You are based in Paksé, but will spend at least one week to 10 days per month in Vientiane (where MDM has an office/house) and will make with regular visits in Moonlapamok and Sukhuma districts.

More specifically you :

• Manage, supervise and support at country level the overall planning and implementation of the safe motherhood programme 
• Program co-ordination: daily co-ordination, take appropriate decisions according to the strategy defined with RM and Desk Officer and review of the strategy with HQ if needed 
• Manage MdM national staff and supervise the whole expatriate and national teams, close co-operation in particular with the medical coordinator on transversal medical matters 
• HR management of all staff (21 national staff and 4 to 5 expatriates) 
• Supervise implementation of appropriate security guidelines and procedures, ensure that they are maintained, updated and adhered to by the teams 
• Analyse political and humanitarian issues and consider strategies and immediate response to the same 
• Prepare reports and proposals for donors, and develop and maximize the potential for further programme funding (there is a need for securing additional donor funds); 
• Participate on fundraising to identify additional funding for the program 
• Regular reporting to HQ (context analysis, on-going activities, pending issues, etc. through monthly written co-ordination reports and regular e-mails and phone contacts) 
• Represent MdM to Local Authorities, International Donors, International Organisations and other NGOs 
• Ensure that appropriate logistic, administrative and financial structures and procedures are maintained in accordance with the MdM rules and guidelines 
• Oversee budget preparation, setting the parameters and the process, ensuring that country programmes are implemented within their budgets 

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

• Starting ideally beginning of September 2014 
• Duration: 12 months (ideally to be renewed until end of December 2015) 
• Contract : EMPLOYEE (French contract) 
• Short term contract 
• Position based in Paksé, at least one week to 10 days per month in Vientiane (where MDM has an office/house) and regular visits in Moonlapamok and Sukhuma districts 

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE NEEDED:

• Significant experience in project coordination 
• At least 3 years of professional experience 
• Two years relevant working experience in an NGO 
• Experience in team management 
• Ability in fundraising 
• Good writing skills 
• Patience and understanding 
• Interest, curiosity and respect for different cultural backgrounds, ability to consider intercultural approach 
• Highly flexibility and diplomatic 
• Familiar if possible with Asian country 
• Ability and flexibility to cope with cultural and political environment 
• Aptitude to high level representation/ at ease with human relationships/ good communication 
• You will be committed to MdM’s values as an organisation and be motivated by its non-statutory, Not-For-Profit model 
• Languages: Fluent English (oral and written) mandatory 

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To apply this position, please send a resume and a cover letter via this link.

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