Partnership Advisor – Policy (Seconded to the Ministry of Health)

Secondment: Ministry of Health
Department: Planning and Policy Control
Reports to: Director of Planning and Policy Control, with administrative accountability to the Country Director, World Relief
Closing date: 1 November 2026

About World Relief

World Relief is an international Christian NGO working in health, economic development, disaster response and refugee resettlement. Its mission is to boldly engage the world’s greatest crises in partnership with the church.

World Relief invites applications from qualified and experienced candidates for the position of Partnership Advisor, seconded to the Ministry of Health.

Background

The Faith and Community Initiative (FCI) is a multi-country global health initiative supporting the transition of HIV/AIDS, maternal, newborn and child health, tuberculosis and other essential health services to sustainable local leadership.

World Relief, in partnership with the Ministry of Health and the Christian Health Association of Malawi (CHAM), is implementing FCI to improve community health outcomes and strengthen coordination of health services.

The project supports integrated primary healthcare through frontline health workers. It aims to ensure that interventions, particularly those relating to Human Resources for Health (HRH) and health data, are fully integrated into government systems.

The Partnership Advisor will connect the project and government, supporting a government-led, sustainable and effectively managed transition.

Purpose of the role

The Partnership Advisor will provide technical advice and advocacy within the Ministry of Health’s Department of Planning and Policy Control to advance the project’s transition and sustainability agenda.

The role involves navigating government systems, influencing policy and facilitating negotiations on the absorption of project staff and functions into the public sector. The Advisor will align the project’s exit strategy with national health priorities and support the inclusion of faith-based leadership in governance structures.

Key responsibilities

Transition and sustainability planning

• Work with Ministry of Health departments responsible for human resources, policy and planning, and the Department of Human Resource Management and Development (DHRMD), to identify gaps and develop strategies for gradually absorbing project interventions.
• Provide technical advice to the FCI implementing partner on the implementation of the Transition and Sustainability Plan.
• Support Ministry of Health planning to absorb key implementation areas following the project’s transition.

HRH transition and memorandum of understanding

• Facilitate the drafting, negotiation and finalisation of a commitment document or Memorandum of Understanding between the project and relevant government ministries and departments, including the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Finance and DHRMD.
• Support agreements required to transition project-supported health workers onto the government payroll.
• Facilitate dialogue between Ministry of Health human resources teams and project management on staff retention strategies.
• Ensure HRH transition processes comply with national civil service regulations and labour laws.

Stakeholder engagement and advocacy

• Advise the project team on stakeholder engagement strategies that support implementation and government ownership.
• Champion the inclusion of faith-based leadership in the project’s governance and steering structures.
• Advocate for project priorities within the Ministry of Health, ensuring resource mobilisation and policy decisions reflect the transitioning programme’s needs.
• Manage relationships with donor agencies, civil society organisations, religious health networks and other key external partners.

Governance and monitoring

• Facilitate and provide secretariat support for FCI Coordination Committee meetings.
• Ensure project progress, risks and transition milestones are reviewed regularly.
• Prepare meeting agendas and schedules.
• Prepare meeting notes and follow up on agreed actions.

Qualifications and experience

• A degree in Health Policy, Economics, Business Administration or a related field.
• At least five years’ experience in governance, transition planning, stakeholder engagement or partnership management.
• Proven experience working directly with or within a Ministry of Health or government agency.
• Demonstrated experience drafting policy-related documents.
• Experience facilitating high-level governance meetings and steering committees.

How to apply

Submit your application to:

Email: [email protected]

Application deadline: 1 November 2026.

Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis. Only shortlisted candidates will be acknowledged.

Equal opportunities and safeguarding

World Relief considers all applications on merit, without regard to race, sex, colour, tribe, marital status or disability.

Prospective candidates must be willing to adhere to World Relief’s Child Protection Principles and its Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment Policy.

Applications go directly to the employer, not to Malawi24.