Country Pharmacist Manager - NIGERIA

ALIMA ETHOS: ALIMA’s purpose is to save lives and provide care for the most vulnerable populations without any discrimination based on identity, religion, or politics, through actions based on proximity, innovation, and the alliance of organizations and individuals. We act with humanity and impartiality in accordance with universal medical ethics. To gain access to patients, we undertake to act in a neutral and independent manner.

Our CHARTER defines the VALUES and PRINCIPLES of our action:

1. The patient First
2. Revolutionising humanitarian medicine
3. Responsibility and freedom
4. Improve the quality of our actions
5. To trust
6. Collective intelligence
7. Environmental responsibility

ALIMA promotes and defends the principles of fundamental human rights. ALIMA has a zero-tolerance approach towards people guilty of acts of gender-based and sexual violence as well as towards inaction in the face of alleged or proven acts of violence. The protection of those benefiting from and impacted by our intervention is our top priority in everything we do. Anyone collaborating with ALIMA agrees to:

• Respect the charter, the code of conduct, the institutional policies, including the policy of protection against abuse of power and sexist and sexual violence, the policy of prevention of corruption and fraud;
• Report any violation of the policies, framework documents and procedures to a superior or a referent.

CARING - INNOVATING - TOGETHER:

Since its creation in 2009, ALIMA has treated more than 13 million patients and today deploys its operations in 12 African countries and extended to support the emergency in Haiti. In 2022, we developed 62 humanitarian medical response projects to meet the needs of populations affected by conflicts, epidemics, and extreme poverty. All of these projects are carried out in support to national authorities through nearly 511 health facilities. Whenever possible, we work in partnership with local NGOs to ensure that our patients benefit from the best and most relevant expertise wherever it is, whether within their own country or in the rest of the world. In addition, to improve the humanitarian response, we are carrying out operational and clinical research projects, particularly in the fight against malnutrition and viral hemorrhagic fevers on the field.

THE WORK WE DO:  Primary and Secondary Health Care, with a main focus on children and women - including treatment and prevention of Acute Malnutrition, Maternal Health, Pediatric Care, Mental Health, response to Epidemics (Ebola, Cholera, Measles, Dengue, Lassa Fever), Surgery, Displaced Populations, and Gender-Based Violence, Covid-19.

COUNTRIES WHERE WE WORK: Mali, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Sudan, Mauritania, Ukraine, Ethiopia, Haiti.

ALIMA IN NIGERIA  : ALIMA (The Alliance for International Medical Action) has been active in Nigeria since 2016, with interventions guided by a regional strategy addressing health and nutrition emergencies, maternal-infant care, mental health, epidemic response alongside operational research to enhance health outcomes for vulnerable populations—particularly internally displaced persons (IDPs) and host communities.

The organization operates across several states: North-East: Borno (MMC and Jere LGAs) and Yobe (Bade, Yusufari, Nguru and Karasuwa LGAs) North-West: Katsina (Kaita, Batagarawa, Batsari and Katsina LGAs), South-West: Ondo (Owo LGA).

PROTECTION OF BENEFICIARIES AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS

Level 3: As part of his/her duties, the incumbent will visit programs and come into contact with children and/or vulnerable adults. Therefore, a criminal record check or a certificate of good character will be required. In situations where a criminal record check or character reference is not possible, a declaration of honor will be requested.

FUNCTIONAL AND HIERARCHICAL LINKS

• He/she reports to the Medical Coordinator (line manager), and to the Pharmacy referent at HQ (technical manager).
• He/she manages the Pharmacy team.
• He/she works in close collaboration with the coordinators (medical, logistics, finance, and projects).

SCOPE OF RESPONSIBILITIES:

Main objective:

To define, coordinate, and oversee all pharmacy-related activities within the mission, ensuring alignment with ALIMA's standards and values, as well as the directives of the Medical Coordinator.

This includes adhering to relevant national and international laws and regulations.

The goal is to guarantee the quality and efficient organization of the medical supply processes, procedures, and protocols; ensure proper management of medical stock across projects; and, in collaboration with the Medical Coordinator, promote the correct use of medicines and medical materials.

Responsibilities:

1. Representation, compliance, and external coordination

• Support the HoM and MedCo to represent and defend ALIMA’s interests with the Ministry of Health, local authorities, and suppliers on all pharmaceutical supply matters, ensuring compliance with national laws/regulations and ALIMA protocols.
• Ensure close follow-up of national regulatory systems, including drug importation requirements/restrictions (e.g., NAFDAC-controlled/prohibited items), validation of approved national pharmacies (e.g., Abuja/Lagos), and QUAMED validation processes where applicable.

2. Medical supply cycle and availability

• Ensure continuous availability of medicines and medical consumables across all projects by contributing to the full supply cycle: forecasting, budgeting, ordering, procurement follow-up, reception, storage, distribution, and reporting.
• Monitor procurement progress and coordinate corrective measures as needed with relevant departments.

3. Pharmacy operations and quality of service

• Coordinate the running of pharmacies across the mission, ensuring application of ALIMA protocols, good dispensing practices, pharmacovigilance, and safety standards.
• Ensure appropriate waste management and safe disposal of medicines in line with ALIMA standards and national/international legislation.

4. Stock management, storage standards, and controlled medicines

• Monitor stock performance and indicators (stock levels, pre–stock-outs, overstocks, expiries, donations/loans, non-moving stock, disposal) using physical records and logistics software; analyze trends and implement corrective actions with MedCo according to ALIMA procedures and national legislation.
• Ensure quality storage and inventory management with Logistics and the Pharmacy Manager (temperature/humidity control, cold chain, security, cleanliness, pest control, FEFO/FIFO, organization, inventory accuracy, loss prevention).
• Ensure compliant management of narcotic and psychotropic medicines, including secure storage and traceability according to national legislation.

5. Technical support, field supervision, and EPREP

• Provide technical pharmacy support to medical teams on rational drug use, protocols, side effects management, adherence, antimicrobial stewardship, counseling, and safe medication practices.
• Conduct regular field visits to project sites to supervise practices, mentor teams, and ensure implementation of standards and corrective actions.
• Support EPREP preparedness: planning, composition, follow-up, and maintenance of medical emergency kits.

6. Capacity building and reporting

• Build pharmacy/medical supply capacity: support recruitment, induction, training, evaluation, and development of pharmacy staff (and support Supply/Log teams when medical stock is integrated under supply).
• Ensure mission reporting per ALIMA requirements (SitReps, medical/statistical reports, consumption/dispensing reports) and flag unusual consumption patterns or risks.