The Clinton Health Access Initiative, Inc. (CHAI) is a global health organization committed to our mission of saving lives and reducing the burden of disease in low-and middle-income countries. We work at the invitation of governments to support them and the private sector to create and sustain high-quality health systems.

CHAI was founded in 2002 in response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic, with the goal of dramatically reducing the price of life-saving drugs and increasing access to these medicines in the countries with the highest burden of the disease. Over the following two decades, CHAI has expanded its focus. Today, along with HIV, we work with our partners to prevent and treat infectious diseases such as COVID-19, malaria, tuberculosis, and hepatitis. Our work has also expanded into cancer, diabetes, hypertension, and other non-communicable diseases, and we work to accelerate the rollout of lifesaving vaccines, reduce maternal and child mortality, combat chronic malnutrition, and increase access to assistive technology. We are investing in horizontal approaches to strengthen health systems through programs in human resources for health, digital health, and health financing. With each new and innovative program, our strategy is grounded in maximizing sustainable impact at scale, ensuring that governments lead the solutions, that programs are designed to scale nationally, and learnings are shared globally.

At CHAI, our people are our greatest asset, and none of this work would be possible without their talent, time, dedication, and passion for our mission and values. We are a highly diverse team of enthusiastic individuals across 40 countries with a broad range of skill sets and life experiences. CHAI is deeply grounded in the countries we work in, with the majority of our staff based in program countries. Learn more about our exciting work: http://www.clintonhealthaccess.org

CHAI is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and is committed to providing an environment of fairness, and mutual respect where all applicants have access to equal employment opportunities. CHAI values diversity and inclusion, and recognizes that our mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of people with diverse experience, backgrounds, and culture.

Program Overview

Since 2016, CHAI has partnered with the National AIDS Control Program (PSLS) in Benin to expand and strengthen access to HIV treatment services for adults and children. In 2019, a malaria surveillance assessment opened the doors to establishing the CHAI Benin office in 2022. Since then, CHAI has expanded its support to the Ministry of Health across Malaria, Neglected Tropical Diseases, Health Financing, Digital Health, and Immunisation. Across these programs, CHAI works in service of government, ensuring national authorities lead solutions and that evidence drives scale and sustainable impact.

In 2023, CHAI supported the finalization of the malaria component of the integrated National Strategic Plan (NSP) and the development of a robust Global Fund funding request (GC7). By leveraging risk mapping and intervention stratification, CHAI helped ensure that funds would be directed to context-appropriate, prioritized interventions throughout the country. Going forward, in line with the objectives of the NSP, CHAI is supporting the NMCP to reduce malaria transmission and incidence by addressing the gaps identified in the surveillance assessment, enhancing analytic approaches, improving planning and financing processes, expanding high-quality case management services, and increasing the impact of preventative tools. Key workstreams include supporting the development of a geo-enabled malaria data repository to facilitate decision-making and providing full suite support for the program midterm review, strategic plan revision, and Global Fund Cycle 8 application process. CHAI will also work to enhance tools and strengthen management of health zone monitoring teams with a view to improving case management strategies. Facilitating optimization of the malaria supply chain through quantification and stock management tools, and building NMCP ownership and oversight of these processes, will be another core area of support. Together with other partners, CHAI seeks to support the expansion of entomological sentinel sites to enhance capacity to detect and respond to evolving vector dynamics, and to support analytics that inform vector control investments.

Position Overview

Reporting to the Country Director, the Malaria Program Manager will help shape CHAI’s overall malaria strategy for the country office, refine and execute clear operational plans and continually identify opportunities for CHAI to add value and maximize impact. This role presents an opportunity to consolidate and accelerate a malaria program, driving targeted, results-focused programming and building a high-performing team capable of delivering measurable outcomes.

The successful candidate will manage all operational and programmatic aspects of CHAI Benin’s malaria work, act as a trusted partner to the Ministry of Health officials and liaise with other implementing partners. The individual will facilitate the involvement of CHAI’s regional technical teams in delivering high-impact interventions to reduce malaria mortality and morbidity.

The Malaria Program Manager will have a strong personal commitment to achieving measurable results, the ability to navigate complex political and institutional environments, and the patience and optimism to work through challenging constraints. They must be a highly motivated, entrepreneurial individual with strong people and program management, problem-solving, analytical, and communication skills. The candidate must be fluent in French and English, have excellent relationship-building and communication skills. They must also be able to function independently with minimal oversight and demonstrate a strong commitment to excellence with close attention to detail. CHAI places high value on personal qualities including resourcefulness, tenacity, independence, patience, humility, and a strong work ethic.

• Lead implementation of CHAI’s malaria strategy in Benin in close collaboration with CHAI’s country, regional, and global malaria teams, ensuring alignment with NMCP priorities and national goals.
• Develop and execute annual work plans with clear milestones, timelines, and budgets to ensure timely, high-impact delivery of malaria program activities.
• Support NMCP to strengthen systems and processes in line with its NSP including:
  • Surveillance & Data Systems: lead development and institutionalization of a geo-enabled malaria data repository, embedding data quality assurance practices at national and subnational levels to drive routine decision-making.
  • Strategic Planning and Financing: support coordination of the malaria program Global Fund Cycle 8 application process, ensuring evidence-based, stratified, and costed funding requests aligned across stakeholders.
  • Case Management: Strengthen health facility and community-level case management by updating clinical guidelines, improving supervision tools for health zone monitoring teams, and integrating community-driven approaches into national policies.
  • Supply Chain Optimization: Support annual quantification exercises and stock management systems for malaria commodities, building NMCP ownership of supply chain processes to reduce stock outs and improve treatment coverage.
  • Vector Control & Entomological Surveillance: Support expansion of entomological sentinel sites and development of standardized surveillance guidelines.
  • Capacity Strengthening & Governance: Support coaching and other initiatives for building capacity of the NMCP, local academic partners, and subnational teams to own, govern, and sustain malaria program systems, tools, and processes beyond the investment period.
• Identify and pursue new opportunities for CHAI to add value (e.g., deepen CHAI’s technical contribution), based on evolving NMCP needs, partner landscape, and program data.
• Manage and mentor the malaria program team, including recruitment, performance management, and professional development.
• Coordinate with government and non-government stakeholders, including Programme National de Lutte contre le Paludisme, Direction des Systèmes d’Information, Centre de Recherche Entomologique de Cotonou, donors, and implementing partners, to ensure alignment, reduce duplication, and foster collaboration.
• Support resource mobilization efforts by identifying funding gaps and contributing to proposal development and donor engagement.
• Develop high-quality communication materials, including technical reports, presentations, and briefs for internal and external audiences.
• Track program performance and financials, ensuring activities are on budget, compliant with CHAI and donor requirements, and well-documented.
• Contribute to cross-country learning by sharing lessons, tools, and innovations with CHAI’s global malaria team and other country programs.
• In close coordination with CHAI’s malaria global team, draft quarterly country progress reports for donors and internal leadership
• Undertake additional responsibilities as requested by CHAI’s country leadership to support broader health systems strengthening efforts.

Academic

• Master's Degree (Public Health, Business Administration or related field) strongly preferred, or Bachelor’s degree with at least 5 years of work experience with increasing levels of responsibility and leadership 

Language

• Bilingual French and English, both written and oral, as evidenced by ability to communicate program strategy and results fluently in both languages, adapting technical program management language and executive-level reporting for internal and external audiences

Work Experience

• Experience planning and executing complex programs or projects with verifiable results 
• Experience in strategy development, planning, and project implementation
• Experience working and communicating with government officials and multilateral organizations, preferably in Africa
• Comfortable in peer relationships with senior managers and leadership at the Ministry of Health, including civil servants
• Demonstrated effectiveness in high-pressure situations and working in a fast-paced, multicultural environment

Managerial skills

• Exceptional strategic thinking, problem-solving, team building and interpersonal skills
• Strong mentor, manager, role model, and team player who high standards for self and team, fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement
• Ability to work independently without extensive structural or operational support (handle multiple tasks simultaneously, set priorities, delegate, and work independently) 

Soft Skills

• Ability to navigate complex government processes 
• Ability to favourably influence decision-making processes in a diplomatic and collaborative manner
• Ability to be patient and to achieve maximum efficiency and impact with limited human and financial resources

Digital Literacy Skills

• Proficient in PowerPoint and Excel
• Ability to use AI to increase productivity and efficiency, and willingness to learn more on AI use in day-to-day and program work

Other

• Willingness and ability to travel as needed (primarily in-country)

Advantages

• Knowledge of malaria or other global infectious diseases 
• Previous CHAI experience
• Experience living or working in Benin 
• Experience working with West African governments and institutions
• Fluency in Fon or one of the other national languages in Benin

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