Stephen Mawa

• Established robust mechanism for demand and supply planning, including adoption of standardized technical approaches and tools for forecasting and quantification; review and validation of procurement plans, distribution plans, quarterly monitoring and reviews of national supply plans.
• Build a coherent and close-knit demand and supply planning team at SCMU, including integrating and mentoring new staff with no prior experience in the domain.
• Developed and implemented capacity building plan to enhance effectiveness and quality of forecasting and government-led multi-stakeholder national supply planning for RH products by country programmes.
• Spearheaded resource mobilization for RH product procurement and technical assistance, including capacity building and operationalization of the new SCMU structure.
• Contributed to development and/ or review of technical policies and guidelines e.g., FP Strategy, FP Acceleration Plan, UNFPA Supplies Partnership Guidance Manual, Donated RH Products Policy.
• Maintained governance, risk and compliance readiness and response, including timely attention to requests from internal and external audits and post-audit action plans and follow ups.
• Convened and encouraged experience sharing amongst countries to facilitate South-South learning and collaboration e.g., through webinars, learning tour, regional planning meetings, capacity building workshops, post-training WhatsApp groups.
• Represented UNFPA and SCMU in several global donor and partner working groups and meetings (e.g. UNFPA Supplies Steering Committee and Subcommittee ; product-specific technical working groups, FP2030 High Impact Practices Expert Panel on SCM; Inter-agency Supply Chain Group, People that Deliver, GFPVAN Steering Committee and Tactical Committee, Consensus Planning Group, etc.).
• Conceptualized and shaped the structure, composition and job descriptions of the new Pillar 1 (Resilience and Capacity Development) in the realignment of the SCMU to be future-ready and responsive to long-term organizational goals.
• Interim Head of Pillar 1, responsible for oversight 4 teams (planning, LMA, humanitarian supplies and TPP) with supervisory responsibility for 5 direct reports.
• Member of senior management with delegated responsibility as Officer-in-Charge in absence of the Chief, SCMU.

• Provide technical support to countries to develop and validate sound national supply plans, and maintain up to date procurement plans and ensure timely utilization of $120m for RH products under UNFPA Supplies.
• Work with the Consensus Planning Group (CPG) and the GFPVAN to rationalize and streamline the global procurement of contraceptives to ensure equity and risks of stock outs or overstocks are mitigated.
• Advocated for and provided technical guidance to countries for introduction of new and lesser used RH products (at least 7 products introduced in over 40 countries).
• Provide technical support for enhancements to, and coordinated roll out of the last mile assurance processes to ensure country offices implemented proper inventory controls and accountability for programme supplies, including contraceptives.
• Provide technical leadership in development and positioning of RHCS and family planning priority strategies, frameworks, interventions, policies, guidance and tools within UNFPA and global plans.
• Promoted adoption and use of appropriate tools for forecasting and pipeline monitoring by country offices and implementing partners.
• Reviewed and guided countries to ensure supply chain management and human-rights-based approach and gender-transformative approaches are mainstreamed in their country programme documents (CPD) and FP2030 plans.

Supply chain management and capacity development

• Led national quantification and supply plans for RH products.
• Contributed to annual resource mobilization from donors for RH product procurement and distribution for development and humanitarian programmes.
• Develop and/or review procurement plans & specifications submitted to Procurement Services Branch of UNFPA;
• Supported operations team to secure regulatory approvals/ waivers to expedite customs clearance of commodities.
• Implemented warehouse improvement, including enhancement of storage conditions, security and inventory management practices at the UNFPA Juba warehouse, Central Medical Stores and humanitarian hub stores;
• Routinely developed distribution plan for development & humanitarian RH products, including reviewing & approving requests, coordinating delivery to field locations and implementing measures to promote reporting by humanitarian partners;
• Led review, updates, production and dissemination of national Logistics Management Information System tools and piloted electronic reporting of SRH data using smartphones.
• Monitored & reported on the humanitarian core pipeline for reproductive health to meet donor expectations.
• Planned for and coordinated training of staff on supply chain management, including local & international courses, study tours and experiential placements.
• Adapted supportive supervision guide & tools for monitoring visits and on-job training to strengthen RMNCAH commodity security.

Sexual reproductive health and humanitarian programming

• Advocated for and mainstreamed supply management and maternal/ child health issues in various national programmes to build resilience, e.g. Health Policy, Health Sector Development Plan, the Boma Health Initiative (a community-based health system model), HIV National Strategic Plan, Global Fund proposal, and national essential medicines distribution system;
• Integrated and supported roll out of SRH/GBV service packages plus commodity-based distribution of RH products in community-based service delivery models.
• Advocated with policy makers, journalists, traditional/religious leaders for family planning & reproductive rights, resulting in FP2020 (2017) and ICPD@25 in 2019 commitments.
• Built up a context-relevant end obstetric fistula programme by leading the development of a national strategy, introducing of national registration system for survivors, coordinating of national surgical camps to treat survivors, and integrate family planning services for survivors.
• Produced forecasts for RH products for inclusion in country office minimum preparedness actions (MPA) and as part of readiness for Minimum Initial Services package (MISP) implementation.

Programme management

• Ensure work plans were developed, reviewed, approved and signed timely, and reports/ fund request forms were processed timely.
• Actively responded to internal & external audits and follow up of recommendations, especially inventory management observations.
• As HACT focal point, developed annual quality assurance plans, coordinated micro-assessments, training & spot checks, including accountability for programme supplies up to the last mile.
• Managed the Thematic Trust Funds (UNFPA Supplies and Maternal Health Trust Fund), being responsible for work plan development, project monitoring and reporting and knowledge management.

Partnerships, coordination & communication

• Developed ToR for RHCS Technical Working Group with representation of stakeholders, including UN agencies, and acted as secretariat to steer discussions.
• Represent UNFPA in various coordination meetings (Health Cluster, Emergency Response Meetings, NGO Health Forum, RH Coordination Forum, H6+ and UNDAF thematic working groups).
• Regularly synthesize programme reports and events, and write human-interest stories (also acted as backup for communications specialist)
• Core technical team member for developing Country Programme and resource mobilization.

• Facilitated workshops to disseminate findings of baseline regulatory systems assessment and develop action plan.
• Develop regulations/ guidelines, standard operating procedures and necessary tools (e.g. data collection/reporting forms and regulatory databases/ registers for central and State level) for drug registration.
• Conducted survey to determine the prevalence of counterfeit pharmaceutical products on the market.
• Reviewed the draft South Sudan Central Medical Stores (CMS) Bill and prepared supporting documents for submission to Council of Ministers.
• Developed organogram, job descriptions and recruitment guide for the CMS

• Conduct a baseline regulatory systems assessment and identified gaps and priority actions for strengthening the pharmaceutical regulatory framework in South Sudan.
• Conduct job analysis and developed organogram plus 56 job descriptions for Drug and Food Control Authority and facilitated submission for final approval by the Ministry of Labour, Public Service & Human Resource Development.
• Conducted an assessment of the feasibility of establishing an inspection and quality control office at major ports of entry.

Embedded by USAID-South Sudan in the MOH in South Sudan to provide technical assistance to the government:

• Oversaw planning, implementation and monitoring of organization's pharmaceutical management projects, including supervising 5 direct reports.
• Spearheaded development national pharmaceutical sector strategic plan and annual work plans for the MOH to operationalize it.
• Reviewed functions of the Pharmaceutical Directorate in the MOH and developed new Organogram and job descriptions.
• Advocated for and established PSM technical working group where partners coordinate supply chain plans and activities.
• Reviewed & updated MOH supply lists for essential medicines, supplies and equipment to integrate malaria, HIV/AIDS and RMNCAH products.
• Led new product introduction, including transitioning from Paracheck® to First Response® kit; phase-out plan of co-blister AS+AQ and transitioning to fixed-dose combination AS+AQ
• Designed logistics system for piloting introduction of misoprostol for prevention of post-partum hemorrhage at facility and community level.
• Routinely conducted quantification, forecasting & pipeline analysis for essential medicines and medical supplies, including Global Fund and UNITAID allocations.
• Improved MOH procurement effectiveness and efficiency by advising on procurement planning, technical specifications, preparation of tender documents, evaluating bids, negotiations with suppliers, tracking orders and monitoring supplier performance .
• Improved storage conditions & practices Central Medical Stores (CMS) and district level medical stores by conducting regular monitoring, on-job training, supervising cleaning and rearrangement and mobilizing resources for refurbishment of .
• Minimized wastage, risks of theft and pilferage by introducing inventory control systems, SOPs/ job aids and expiry date tracking tool at the CMS
• Supported MOH to optimize distribution of essential medicines and supplies to over 1500 service delivery points by preparing quarterly distribution plans, delivery schedules, vehicle routing plan and to prepare distribution reports.
• Addressed data constraints by developing and introducing harmonized paper-based LMIS tools for the public sector, using a Continuous Results Monitoring System approach.
• Developed pharmaceutical management indicator framework for monitoring pharmaceutical systems and practices in South Sudan
• Developed supportive supervision checklist and guide, and applied these for routine supervisory visits to medical stores & health facilities.
• Developed training materials (visual aids, job aids, handouts, training agenda) for a 5-day course on rational pharmaceutical management for health workers, and used them to train over 1000 health workers from both public and private sectors.
• Strengthened mechanisms to to curb proliferation of counterfeit/ substandard products by developing quality assurance SOPs, training materials and job aids, advising on implementing of import control procedures and introducing harmonized inspection procedures and licensing tools for the private sector.

• Addressed regulatory barriers by advocating with the Uganda National Drug Authority to establish the first protocol for approval, importation, handling and disposal of investigational HIV vaccines, and other clinical trial products in the country.
• Maintained 24/7 cold chain conditions for investigational HIV vaccines by establishing a continuous monitoring and alerting system plus robust back up plan to mitigate against cold chain breaks even during power outages.
• As Pharmacist-of-Records, ensured 100% audit success rate in bi-annual assessments conducted by independent clinical trial monitors.
• Led vaccine delivery options analysis and design component of the formative research on introduction of Human Papilloma Virus (cervical cancer) vaccine that is now integrated into the Ugandan national EPI.
• Developed and implemented an internal quality assurance program, that was eventually adopted for all clinical trial pharmacies by the Pharmaceutical Advisory Branch of the Division of AIDS in the US National Institutes of Health.
• Ensured uninterrupted supply of ARVs and OI medicines at all Project sites through timely quantification, ordering, collection, distribution and monitoring.
• Trained and supervised the pharmacy technician and ART nurses on proper storage, dispensing and documentation of ART
• Participated in sensitization of communities on HIV vaccines and clinical trials through seminars, workshops, talk shows and edutainment. Part of team that developed the concept of “A Little Bit of Love”, a hip-hop song that brought together Ugandan artistes to promote HIV vaccine awareness.
• Initiated and acted as editor-in-chief for a newsletter (MUWRP News) that enlightened a cross-cutting readership on MUWRP activities, HIV vaccines and HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment.

• Trained, mentored and supervised production staff (18) to increase team productivity and efficacy.
• Developed and regularly updated SOPs and forms for all production processes in compliance with cGMP.
• Ensured accurate and detailed records of all production processes.
• Developed production plan and reviewed/ approved all orders for active pharmaceutical ingredients, excipients and packaging materials.
• Ensured company adhered to all legal rules and regulations governing pharmaceutical production and distribution in the country.
• Conducted design of experiments (DOE) as part of quality by design (QbD) to optimize products.
• Arranged for scheduled maintenance and validation of equipment and instruments.