Job Details

Job Description

Zambia has been implementing the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) since 1975. The
programme is mandated to contribute to the reduction in morbidity and mortality attributed to Vaccine Preventable Disease across the life course. Over the years the programme has scored a number of achievements which include expansion of the number of vaccines in the National Immunisation Schedule, achieved and sustained polio-free status and maternal neonatal tetanus elimination, generally high vaccination coverage for selected vaccines as well as expansion of cold chain capacity.
Despite these achievements and evidence-based benefits of immunisation, the Expanded Programme on Immunisation is also faced with a number of challenges in ensuring the equitable access and utilisation of the immunisation services. Among these challenges include suboptimal, coverage rates for selected antigen; geographic, demographic and socioeconomic disparities; suboptimal data quality and use for decision making; as well as inadequate tailored strategies to effectively identify and reach vulnerable populations and ineffective communication strategies. Additionally, the country is faced with a problem of increasing number of zero dose and underimmunised children as well as missed communities who remain vulnerable to vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs).

Zambia in its National Immunisation Strategy (2022 – 2026) is focus in bridging the gap in the identifying and reaching of missed communities across the life course. This strategy is aligned to Immunization Agenda 2030 and the Gavi 5.0 strategy. One of the opportunities to identify and reach these vulnerable population is through recently approved the Health Systems Strengthening (HSS), Equity Accelerator Fund (EAF) and Innovation Top-up Funding (ITUF) among other support provided to the country by the Gavi, the vaccine alliance.

The Ministry of Health will implement this support over a 3 to 5-year period in collaboration with WHO, UNICEF, CIDRZ, and CHAZ.

The main focus of the support is as follows:

i) Vaccine goal: Introduction and scaling-up coverage of high-impact vaccines.
ii) Equity goal: Strengthen health systems to increase equity in immunisations.
iii) Sustainability goal: Improve sustainability of the immunisation programme.

Additionally, Zambia shall focus on:

iv) Strengthening capacities to inform evidence-based prioritisation of vaccines which are suitable for
local context.
v) Introducing and scaling up coverage of vaccines for prevention of endemic, epidemic and pandemic
diseases
vi) Improving timely outbreak and pandemic response by ensuring equitable access to relative vaccines.
vii) Developing and implementing tailored strategies that consistently identify and reach underimmunised and zero dose children and missed communities as well as address gender related
barriers to immunisation.
viii) Utilising immunisation to strengthen the primary health care system to enable the equitable reach of zero dose and under immunised children and missed communities.
ix) Harnessing the use of innovations that are tailored to respond to community needs, thereby building resilient, well managed and sustainable systems.
x) Reinforcing national and subnational political and social commitment and ownership of immunisation.
xi) Advocating for increased domestic public resources for immunisation and primary health care and
establishing public private partnerships for immunisation.
The overall vision in Zambia is to reduce the number of zero dose children by 35% by 2025 using the FPP support in both the HSS and EAF grants.

To support the above, specifically as relevant for the HSS, EAF and ITUF grants. The Ministry of Health
seeks to recruit suitably qualified and experienced persons to be appointed to the under listed positions under this project:

SENIOR ACCOUNTANT

Location: Ministry of Health Headquarters
Area of Operation: Selected target Provinces and Districts
Reports to: Principal Accountant.

Job Purpose

To plan, organise, manage and provided financial support and to ensure that resources under Gavi support are spent in accordance with the Partnership Framework Agreement, Government and Gavi policies and procedures.

Responsibilities/Principal Accountabilities

• Responsible for financial management of all Gavi funded programmes;
• Ensure that Gavi Grant Management Requirements (GMRs) and other financial policy instruments including budgets are implemented as per the agreements;
• Undertakes timely the development of annual budgets and variance analysis at National and
  subnational levels in order to ensure mobilisation of financial resources;
• Ensures that all cash advances/imprest are accounted for within stipulated timelines in accordance with financial regulations;
• Consolidate all partners’ financial information, prepare and submit all Gavi financial reports, cash balances and budgets in the form and substance in line with Gavi requirements;
• Undertakes effectively the preparation and submission of certified quarterly, biannual and annual financial reports (including any adhoc reports, as may be required) to GAVI in order to ensure compliance with Grant Management Requirements (GMRs) and facilitate decision making;
• Provide timely responses to external/ internal audit queries and ensures implementation of audit recommendations in order to enhance the internal control environment and safe guard public resources;
• Follow up on audit findings and recommendations to ensure timely closure
• Help to design and Implement mobile payment systems in order to ensure that allowances and
  related payments are promptly paid from time to time;
• Undertakes timely the disbursement of funds to supported districts in order to ensure implementation of targeted interventions;
• Undertakes timely the updating of cash books and ensure timely preparation of bank reconciliation statements;
• Undertakes effectively the provision of technical support to district accountants in order to strengthen capacity in Government financial management guidelines and Gavi reporting requirements;
• Undertakes timely the communication of expenditure guidelines for grants disbursed to supported Provincial Health Offices (PHOs) and District Health Offices (DHOs) in order to ensure adherence to approved budgets.
• Undertakes timely review of expenditure returns and financial reports from the supported districts in order to ensure compliance with the approved budget, financial regulations and Gavi reporting requirements;
• Liaises effectively with External Auditors to ensure that audits are conducted for all Gavi programmes in the country and reports submitted to Gavi within the stated deadlines in order to ensure adherence with the financial regulations and the Partnership Framework Agreement;
• Maintain close and regular working relationship with Gavi Partner/Public Financial Management and Fiduciary Assurance focal point and country team on financial matters;
• Ensure that the financial management information systems, country policies and procedures are applied at all times;
• Maintain and update Gavi fixed assets register;
• Undertakes effectively the preservation of expenditure support documents in an auditable condition as per stipulated timelines in order to ensure adherence to Partnership Framework Agreement;
• Work closely with Gavi funded consultants, service providers such as auditors, Assurance Service providers and other consultants to ensure smooth implementation Gavi related activities;
• Undertakes effectively the development of work plans and implementation of the Annual
  Performance Appraisal System in order to monitor and evaluate performance;
• Support the programme in all financial, treasury and accounting matters;
• Undertakes timely preparation of the payroll and ensure that statutory obligations are adhered to;
• Ensures that resources from Gavi support are spent in accordance with the Partnership Framework Agreement; and
• Work closely with the Expanded Programme on Immunisation team (internal and external) to guide on financial requirements and request

Qualifications

• Full Grade Twelve (12) School Certificate with five (5) O’ Levels including English and Mathematics.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Accountancy, Full ACCA, ZICA professional/ CA Zambia, CIMA, CPA, CPFA
  or its equivalent
• Member of ZICA
• Masters in any Accountancy or business related field is an added advantage
• Prior experience in donor programme, experience in Government health sector desirable but not mandatory

Experience and skills

• 8 years of which 5 years should be at middle management level in the public sector or nongovernmental organization
• Demonstrated skills with computation and analysis of financial information;
• Ability to write technical and analytical financial reports;
• Experience with Grant and Project management;
• Experience of working with the Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ);
• Knowledge of Government financial reporting systems, procedures and requirements;
• Advanced computer skills with proficiency in Microsoft office;
• Team player and team builder.
• Good report writing, oral communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively in English

All interested persons meeting the above qualifications and experience should send their written applications to the undersigned with certified copies of their National Registration Card, academic and professional qualifications and a detailed Curriculum Vitae with three traceable references including their contact details.

Electronic applications will not be considered.

Applicants are advised to clearly indicate the positions they are applying for on the envelope.
The closing date for receipt of applications is Friday, 2nd February, 2024. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

The Permanent Secretary- Administration
Ministry of Health
Ndeke House
P.O. Box 30205
LUSAKA