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Marketing and Distribution Coordinator Clinton Health Access Initiative - Kampala, Uganda


The Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) is a global health organization committed to strengthening integrated health systems in the developing world and expanding access to care and treatment for HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases. CHAI’s solution-oriented approach focuses on improving market dynamics for medicines and diagnostics; lowering prices for treatment; accelerating access to life-saving technologies; and helping governments build the capacity required for high-quality care and treatment programs.

Since its establishment in 2002 by President William J. Clinton, CHAI has worked on the demand and supply sides of the market to help more than 2 million HIV+ people access the medicines needed for treatment—representing nearly half of all people on HIV treatment in developing countries. Building on this model, CHAI has expanded its scope to include efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery systems and to combat malaria and childhood illnesses.

In 2007, CHAI signed an MOU with the government of Uganda to provide technical assistance to the Ministry of Health and strengthen health systems. Since then, CHAI has worked hand-in-hand with the Ministry of Health to increase access to lifesaving pediatric HIV treatment by >400%; coordinate with private sector suppliers to lower costs and expand access to malaria drugs; pilot a point-of-care diagnostic technology, leading to scale up to >250 health facilities nationwide; introduce a new severe malaria drug which will save thousands of lives annually; and many other initiatives. Currently, CHAI Uganda works with the Ministry of Health around HIV, malaria, childhood illnesses, laboratory systems and drug logistics.

Background:

It is estimated that ~60% of care and treatment in Uganda is sought in the private sector. Yet a number of barriers can impede access to appropriate drugs and diagnostics, such as high prices, limited product availability, and low provider/retailer awareness of treatment guidelines.

Diarrhea kills roughly two million children every year worldwide. In Uganda, diarrhea is responsible for ~15,000 child deaths, approximately 10% of all child mortality (third behind only malaria and pneumonia). This is in spite of the fact that a simple, highly-effective, and affordable treatment solution exists in the form of oral rehydration salts (ORS) and zinc. However, diarrhea remains grossly neglected: from 2007-2011, $6.5 billion of global funds were allocated to address HIV/AIDS; while only 0.23% of this figure ($15 million) was used to tackle diarrhea. This imbalance is now being addressed through an international effort, of which CHAI has been a driving member, leading to the development of treatment scale up programs in 10 high burden countries, including Uganda.

In Uganda, a program to scale-up diarrhea treatment with ORS and zinc is being undertaken by CHAI in partnership with the Ministry of Health. The problem is that these treatments are caught in a market trap: low levels of consumer/caregiver awareness about the appropriate treatment lead to poor demand for these products; this results in an anemic market, which provides no incentive for suppliers to optimize distribution networks, promote the products, or reduce margins; this, in turn, leads to a lack of availability, unaffordable prices, and minimal marketing – completing the vicious cycle and ensuring that consumer access is repressed. CHAI now seeks to break this vicious cycle by addressing both demand and supply-side barriers to access.

Description:

The Distribution and Marketing Coordinator will be responsible for establishing, implementing and coordinating demand- and supply-side interventions to ensure availability of affordable, high-quality ORS and zinc products throughout Uganda.
The Coordinator will work at various levels of the private sector supply chain to: (1) conduct rigorous market analysis and perform market projection modeling to inform the development of acompelling business case that will be used to guide suppliers’ engagement in ORS and zinc scale-up; (2) be responsible for the formation and management of a private sector forum to coordinatenational scale-up plans within the private sector; (3) develop relationships with suppliers to enhance ongoing promotion activities to providers, including medical detailing and Continuous Medical Education(CME) efforts; (4) design and implement incentive schemes, paying particular attention to the level within the supply chain where they may be most effective; and (5) explore the potential for expansion of ORS and zinc distribution beyond traditional pharmaceutical channels, through partnerships with Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) companies and other delivery channels.

The Coordinator will also be closely involved in the design and implementation of an ambitious, large-scale demand generation campaign to increase awareness around the recommended zinc and ORS treatment for diarrhea.  This demand generation campaign will be focused on two fronts: (1) a concerted effort to improve the ORS and zinc prescription practices of health providers, and (2) a mass media, social mobilization and interpersonal communication campaign to increase awareness and demand for zinc and ORS.

The Coordinator will spend a modest portion of his/her time supporting CHAI’s private sector malaria strategy.  They will also spend ~15% of his/her time travelling domestically, primarily to regions with limited facilities.

Responsibilities:
  • Analyze and map the private sector value chain to identify key decision makers and areas of inefficiency
  • Conduct market analyses and develop business cases to demonstrate to suppliers the market potential
  • Develop and coordinate a private sector forum to harmonize efforts in the scaling-up of access to diarrhea treatment and malaria treatment and diagnosis
  • Develop incentive structures to encourage expansion of distribution and provider education efforts, potentially including marketing-match grants and volume-based bonuses
  • Enhance private suppliers’ promotion efforts, including detailing and CMEs
  • Explore distribution opportunities beyond traditional pharmaceutical channels
  • Develop and coordinate a national effort to train private sector health providers in the proper treatment of diarrhea in children with ORS and zinc
  • Conduct and analyze market research to inform the development of a demand generation strategy, potentially including focus groups, surveys, and data analysis
  • Develop a robust media strategy that will ensure maximum value for money, and that incorporates the use of innovative media and non-media options
  • Other responsibilities, as needed
Qualifications:
  • Minimum of 2 years’ experience in a demanding, results-oriented environment in the private sector, ideally with a focus on supply chain or marketing and sales
  • Outstanding analytical, management, and communication skills
  • Strong problem solving skills and quantitative analytical capabilities, including fluency in Excel
  • Demonstrated success in coordinating partners and developing relationships in order to drive a multi-stakeholder process
  • Entrepreneurial mindset and strong self-motivation
  • Ability to develop and execute a coherent programmatic strategy, amidst substantial ambiguity and changing circumstances
  • Exceptional time-management skills and the ability to manage multiple work streams in parallel under tight deadlines
  • Ability to function independently and flexibly
  • CHAI places great value on relevant personal qualities: resourcefulness, entrepreneurialism, flexibility, independence, humility, and work ethic
Advantages:
  • Advanced degree in business, marketing, logistics, public health, or a related field
  • Experience in a rigorous private sector environment such as strategy consulting or finance
  • Experience in private sector supply and distribution, ideally in the pharmaceutical or Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) fields
  • Marketing and sales experience for pharmaceutical or consumable products

Please apply to this position at: https://careers-chai.icims.com/jobs/3084/distribution-and-marketing-coordinator/job