Katsina State Coordinator (GAVI-CSO BRIDGE Project)

Position:  State Coordinator

Organisation:  Sydani Group

Project:  Bridging Routine Immunization through Data, Government and Community Empowerment (BRIDGE) Project

Reports To:  Project Team Lead

Location:  State of deployment (Kastina State)

Contract Type:  Short-Term Consultancy

Contract Duration:  4 Months

Job Description

Sydani Initiative for International Development is part of Sydani Group, a management consulting and development organization established by international development and project management professionals. Sydani designs, implements, monitors and evaluates high-impact investments, programs and portfolios addressing complex health and social challenges. The organization provides strategic advisory, technical assistance and implementation support to governments, corporations, investors, non-governmental organizations, foundations, communities and development partners. Sydani is headquartered in Abuja, Nigeria, with project experience across Nigeria and other countries in Africa and Asia.

The State Coordinator will serve as Sydani’s primary state-level representative and will provide leadership, coordination and technical oversight for implementation of the BRIDGE Project across the twelve implementing LGAs in Katsina State. Working under the overall guidance of the Sydani project team, the State Coordinator will coordinate activities across the project’s thematic areas, foster effective collaboration with government institutions, implementing CSOs and other stakeholders, and ensure the timely delivery of high-quality outputs in line with approved workplans, technical standards, grant requirements and project objectives.

Job Responsibilities

The State Coordinator will undertake the following responsibilities and any additional tasks assigned by the Project Team Lead that are reasonably required for successful delivery of the assignment.

1.  Leadership, Coordination and Supervision

1. Provide overall leadership, coordination and day-to-day oversight for project implementation across the twelve implementing LGAs
2. Lead the development, review and execution of state-level implementation plans, ensuring effective sequencing of activities across thematic areas and timely delivery of milestones
3. Supervise and provide technical guidance to implementing CSOs, project personnel and field teams to promote quality implementation and adherence to approved technical standards
4. Coordinate routine supportive supervision and quality-assurance visits to assess implementation fidelity, compliance with project guidelines and standard operating procedures, and the quality of community execution
5. Monitor implementation performance against approved workplans, indicators and milestones; identify bottlenecks; and coordinate timely corrective action
6. Identify programme, partnership, operational, safeguarding, financial and data risks; develop mitigation measures; and promptly escalate critical issues requiring management attention
7. Track implementation of agreed action points and ensure that unresolved issues are escalated through the appropriate project and government coordination structures

2. Stakeholder Engagement, Partnership and Representation

1. Lead strategic engagement with the Katsina SPHCDA and LGA Primary Health Care Authorities to strengthen collaboration, facilitate joint planning and align implementation with state RI priorities and policies
2. Foster effective collaboration among implementing CSOs and development partners to promote coordinated implementation, optimize use of available resources, avoid duplication and support timely delivery of project objectives
3. Represent Sydani at state-level RI Technical Working Group meetings, immunization performance reviews, partner coordination forums and other relevant technical platforms
4. Communicate project progress, achievements, risks, evidence and implementation priorities clearly to government and partner stakeholders
5. Facilitate stakeholder dialogue to resolve implementation bottlenecks, build consensus on priority actions and strengthen coordination across the implementing LGAs
6. Support advocacy and stakeholder-engagement initiatives that promote government ownership, domestic commitment to RI financing and sustainability beyond the project lifecycle

3.  Programme Performance, Monitoring and Learning

1. Lead routine monitoring of implementation across the twelve LGAs by tracking progress against approved workplans, performance indicators, deliverables and milestones
2. Provide professional oversight for data-quality improvement activities, including data validation, facility-community data reconciliation, data triangulation and Data Quality Self-Assessments at baseline, midline and endline
3. Provide technical oversight for capacity-building initiatives targeting health workers, RI focal persons, implementing partners and other project stakeholders
4. Conduct supportive supervision and implementation-monitoring visits to assess intervention quality, reinforce technical standards and provide on-site problem-solving support
5. Facilitate periodic state and LGA review meetings to analyse performance, review implementation progress, share lessons and agree corrective actions
6. Support the coordination and use of Community Scorecard findings, where applicable, to improve service responsiveness, community accountability and adaptive implementation
7. Track implementation of recommendations arising from supervision visits, data-quality assessments, performance reviews, community feedback and learning activities

4. Reporting, Documentation and Knowledge Management

1. Prepare monthly implementation reports covering activities conducted at state and LGA levels, performance against targets, emerging risks, decisions required and follow-up actions
2. Coordinate the preparation and timely submission of high-quality weekly, monthly and quarterly technical reports by implementing CSOs
3. Review and validate reports, implementation updates and technical documentation submitted by CSOs and project teams for accuracy, completeness, consistency and compliance with reporting standards
4. Maintain an up-to-date repository of meeting records, supervision reports, action trackers, partner commitments, implementation evidence and approved project documentation
5. Document lessons, innovations, implementation challenges and good practices for use in project learning, communication and continuous improvement

5. Advocacy, Sustainability and Resource Coordination

1. Lead and support evidence-based advocacy using project data, performance findings, Community Scorecard results and other programme evidence to influence decisions, strengthen government commitment and promote increased investment in RI
2. Coordinate with government institutions and partners to optimize available financial, technical and operational resources and minimize duplication
3. Support advocacy for timely release of PHC funds, increased budgetary allocation and sustainable financing mechanisms for RI and primary health care
4. Support development and implementation of sustainability and transition plans by identifying opportunities for institutionalization and strengthening local ownership
5. Monitor and document advocacy achievements, stakeholder commitments, policy actions, financing outcomes and sustainability milestones, and ensure that lessons inform subsequent implementation

Job Key Performance Indicators

1. Coordinate project implementation across the twelve LGAs and maintain the state implementation plan
2. Supervise implementing CSOs and field teams, including at least two supportive-supervision rounds per month covering a minimum of three CSOs
3. Coordinate state-level stakeholder engagement, partnership and advocacy meetings
4. Represent Sydani at RI TWGs, performance reviews and partner coordination platforms
5. Coordinate state and LGA planning, data review, reconciliation and performance review meetings
6. Coordinate State Data Quality Self-Assessments in collaboration with the national M&E function and implementing partners
7. Track community referral, defaulter follow-up and confirmed vaccination performance reported by CSOs and verified through facility records
8. Support resource coordination and government engagement for implementation and sustainability
9. Document project learning, implementation risks and corrective actions
10. Complete assignment closure and structured handover

Job Qualifications

Applicants must possess the following qualifications, skills, and competencies: Only qualified candidates who meet the minimum requirements will be considered

1. A minimum of masters in Public Health, Health Sciences, Social Sciences, Development Studies, Business Administration, Project Management, or any other relevant field
2. Possession of a PhD degree in Public Health, Health Management, Development Studies, Project Management, or a related discipline will be considered an added advantage
3. Additional professional certifications in areas such as project management, monitoring and evaluation, public health, health systems strengthening, or other related fields are highly desirable
4. A minimum of three (3) years of experience in community-based programs, public health, routine immunization, maternal and child health, or development projects in Katsina state
5. Demonstrated experience in community engagement, social mobilization, and stakeholder coordination
6. Strong knowledge of routine immunization services, zero-dose identification, caregiver sensitization, and defaulter tracking within the Primary Healthcare system in Katsina State
7. Proven ability to work effectively with traditional leaders, religious leaders, community structures, health workers, and government stakeholders.
8. Excellent advocacy, communication, facilitation, and interpersonal skills
9. Intermediate-level computer literacy, including proficiency in Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, email, and other digital communication tools
10. Fluency in Hausa and proficiency in English is mandatory
11. Ability to work independently, travel frequently, and meet project deadlines