Organizational Development and Capacity Expert – BMGF Ethiopia Strategic Program Support and Services

The Ethiopian Pharmaceutical and Supply Agency (EPSA) has achieved considerable improvements in supply chain (SC) performance over the last few years, through critical support from an ecosystem of supply chain partners. However, significant gaps remain that impede full access to health and nutrition commodities. Improving SC functionality is a core objective of EPSA and is part of its recently developed 10-year strategic plan for pharmaceutical transformation. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) has been supporting EPSA strengthen its workforce capabilities and strengthen overall SC and organizational performance. The Foundation is currently supporting EPSA through two key investments focused on addressing this area of sustainably building EPSA’s institutional and workforce capacity: (a) comprehensively improving staff capabilities in SC competencies and (b) strengthening HR management policies for improved conditions of service.

Sustainably strengthening Ethiopia’s pharmaceutical supply chain management is a key strategy for the Foundation’s supply chain support in Ethiopia. The BMGF approach focuses on a comprehensive and systematic program that has identified and documented core competencies required at EPSA for functionality. It also recognizes and addresses the underlying factors such as structural and economic limitations, culture aspects, and behavior change. This approach focuses on long term systems performance needed for EPSA to sustainably improve its operations.

Project Overview

The overall goal of the pharmaceutical supply chain management work is to ensure the availability of essential medicines through improving EPSA’s supply chain operations managed by its workforce. Key objectives to achieving this goal are:

·       Improving SC workforce capable of driving effective systems performance

·       Improving the internal institutional capacity with strong governance and accountability within the SC system

·       Streamlining and coordinating supply chain operations

The activities required to achieve these objectives should result in: a) an established competent, fit-for-purpose, EPSA workforce in core SC functions (quantification, procurement, fund management, inventory and distribution management, etc.); b) motivated and retained SC workforce; c) effective management, leadership, and governance using corporate and operational Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to objectively measure and evaluate staff performance in supply chain functions, while also using this as the basis for rewarding and retaining staff; and d) data systems, processes, culture aligned for greater SC functionality at EPSA. A separate grant is also providing technical partnership in supporting market shaping and quantification capacity.

At this stage, the Foundation has asked Social Impact to conduct an assessment validating and determining the effects of both investments and fulfillment of grant objectives through grant level data and other lines of investigation. The expectation of the assessment is to analyze key performance indicators to demonstrate progress (or lack thereof) against these objectives within EPSA, while also demonstrating the contributions of Foundation investments to the grant and Foundation objectives.  

The Assessment will begin in September and is projected to be completed by the end of December 2021. Depending on the location of the assessment team leader, most data collection may be conducted remotely.  Due to COVID-19, there is no international travel expected for this assignment. In-country team members will be expected to conduct in-person interviews in Addis Ababa and potentially other localities, if appropriate. The Team Leader position requires approximately 47 days of LOE.

Assessment Objectives and Deliverables:

1)      Produce an independent assessment of the approach taken by two Foundation grantees to build SC capabilities at EPSA

2)      Retrieve and analyze the data collected by grantees to verify any improvements in workforce competencies and collect additional data for triangulation of results

3)      Utilize standard HRH and organizational capacity indicators (where applicable) to demonstrate change. This includes measurement of EPSA’s supply chain maturity progression; indicators that can evaluate progress in SC capabilities; and overall operation improvements measured by KPIs used by EPSA

4)      Analyze overall performance and provide recommendations on how to sustain gains and flexibly adapt approaches to address persistent challenges.

Organizational Development and Capacity Expert Responsibilities:

1. Conduct a desk review of assessment document.
2. Develop and finalize assessment design and data collection tools, coordinating technical inputs from the team.
3. Administer interviews with stakeholders in Ethiopia or remotely.
4. Ensure quality work in all deliverables in adherence to SI quality assurance processes.
5. Contribute to the development and finalization of project deliverables, including the assessment design, data collection tools, final report, and applicable presentations.
6. Contribute to the preparation and presentation of the findings to BMGF Ethiopia Country Office to validate the findings, obtain additional inputs, and develop joint recommendations.
7. Work closely with SI HQ team and communicate in a timely and effective manner with all project personnel.

Qualifications:

1. Advanced degree in organizational development, human resources, capacity building, business management, or relevant field.
2. 6-8 years of experience in organizational development, workforce development, human resources, and capacity preferred.
3. Familiarity with the Ethiopian context and pharmaceutical supply chains, preferred.
4. Advanced quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis, as well as strategic thinking and facilitation skills.
5. Strong team management and interpersonal skills.
6. Strong writing and communications skills.
7. Fluency in English required.