Division Chief, Strategic Information

Operating in an exciting and dynamic environment, in close cooperation with the State Department, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Defense, U.S. Peace Corps, and the Zambian Government (GRZ), USAID/Zambia has one of the largest Mission programs in Africa.  The country is a focus, priority, pilot or emphasis country for nearly every U.S. health initiative, as well as a number of international and multilateral initiatives.  With the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) contributing nearly $250 million each year, the President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) contributing $30 million, and other health activities a further $25 million, the USAID/Zambia portion of the overall USAID/Zambia program is extremely robust, over 90 percent at present.  Zambia’s development agenda and rapidly changing environment require extremely advanced management, programming and diplomatic skills. 

The overall USAID/Zambia program is implemented through four technical offices, bolstered by four support offices.  The Mission comprises over 100 staff, including U.S. direct hires, personal service contractors, locally employed staff, and other mechanisms. The Health Office, comprised of 57 staff, manages a multifaceted program addressing maternal-child health, reproductive health/family planning, infectious diseases (HIV/AIDS, TB, malaria), health systems strengthening, global health security, and human resource issues. Three approaches guide the overall program for improving the health status of Zambians: Strengthening Health Systems and Accountability, Improving Health Service Delivery, and Improving Community Health Practices. Success is measured by achieving progress towards an AIDS-Free generation, making strategic investments in women and saving mothers, and ending preventable childhood death. High-quality Strategic Information is essential for success in all these areas.

The Health Office works closely with the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services, the Ministry of Finance, the Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency, the National Food and Nutrition Commission, and other cooperating partners including donors, in support of the National Health Strategic Plan and the National HIV/TB/STI Council (NAC), as it manages implementation of the National HIV/AIDS Strategic Framework (NASF).  The Health Office also collaborates with the Education, Economic Growth, and Democracy and Governance Offices at USAID/Zambia to implement integrated health programs across multiple sectors.  The Strategic Information (SI) Division Chief position coordinates cross-cutting strategic information interventions, designed to strengthen government capacity and systems and improve transparency and accountability, and to permit regular reporting to USAID/Washington and other relevant USG entities, and provide timely data for USAID to make operational decisions that directly influence results obtained.