GHFP Technical Advisor II: HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis Advisor

in Fellowships, Jobs
October 24th, 2012

Global Health Fellows Program II

Technical Advisor II: HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis Advisor

Health Team, Office of Sustainable Development, Bureau for Africa, United States Agency for International Development

Assignment: Two Year Fellowship

Location: Washington, DC

GHFP II-P2-059

The Global Health Fellows Program (GHFP-II) is a five year cooperative agreement implemented and managed by the Public Health Institute in partnership with CDC Development Solutions and Management Systems International. GHFP-II is supported by the US Agency for International Development (USAID).

 GHFP-II’s goal is to improve the effectiveness of USAID health programs by developing and increasing the capacity of health professionals with tailored development opportunities. This is accomplished through the recruitment, placement and support of diverse health professionals at the junior, mid and senior levels, and performance management and professional development activities aimed to enhance the technical and leadership skills of fellows.

 BACKGROUND:

The Africa Bureau’s Office of Sustainable Development (AFR/SD) provides strategic guidance and intellectual leadership to the Africa Bureau; conducts economic, social and political analyses critical to the development of AFR policies, strategies, budgets and activities; manages and/or coordinates three Presidential and two Agency Initiatives; and provides technical services to AFR’s field missions. In carrying out these functions, AFR/SD serves as the Bureau’s principal liaison with African and international partners, United States Government (USG) sister agencies, the private sector, universities and the Private Voluntary Organization/Non-governmental Organization community.

 AFR/SD’s Health Team has an annual budget of approximately $20 million, which includes the management of activities that support African capacity development and improving the quality, availability and access to health services for Africa’s most vulnerable populations. The Team works across all health sectors, including infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, as well as maternal, newborn and child health, reproductive health, nutrition, and health systems strengthening. The Health Team works in close collaboration with other USAID Bureaus, including the Bureau for Global Health (GH) and the Bureau for Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance, to coordinate strategic and technical support to USAID missions, program reviews and assessments, staff development, etc. It works closely with African and donor partners such as the World Health Organization’s Africa Regional Office, the World Bank and UNICEF.

 INTRODUCTION:

In little more than three decades, AIDS has established itself as a global crisis with an estimated 33 million people infected and an estimated 7,000 new infections occurring daily. Tuberculosis (TB) is a worldwide public health threat that kills approximately 1.8 million people each year, the majority of whom are in the lowest income quintile. The co-morbidity rates of TB and HIV/AIDS are staggering and an unprecedented global response has arisen to combat these diseases. Billions of dollars have been spent to provide comprehensive prevention, treatment and care programs for those infected and for those families and communities affected by HIV/AIDS throughout Africa.

The USG has been fully engaged in responding to these diseases and, since establishing the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) in 2003, it has been a leader in the global effort to combat HIV/AIDS and TB. PEPFAR employs a comprehensive prevention, treatment, and care strategy, with an emphasis on transparency and accountability for results. With Congressional reauthorization of the PEPFAR program in 2008 under the Lantos-Hyde bill, the goals for PEPFAR were expanded to include support for treatment of over four million HIV infected people, support for prevention of 12 million new infections, and support for care of 12 million people infected or affected by HIV/AIDS – including five million orphans and vulnerable children and a focus on sustainability and country ownership. In addition to providing an unprecedented commitment of resources, PEPFAR has demanded a results-oriented system of doing business, with high levels of accountability, establishment of measureable goals against which progress has been tracked and evaluated, and funding decisions made based on performance towards these goals.

Employing public health programming experience in the African context, the HIV/AIDs and TB Advisor will gain an understanding and appreciation for the central functions of a decentralized donor agency in program planning, implementation and evaluation. In collaboration with other Team members, the Advisor will provide technical support and oversight on strategies, activities, and other areas related to USAID’s HIV/AIDS and TB programs in Africa. S/he will serve in a liaison capacity with counterparts in the Bureau for Global Health (GH) and other USG agencies to ensure coordinated support for countries and sub-regions within Africa. S/he will also serve as a member of the GH-AFR country team support system, identifying and/or providing direct support to certain African countries in the region.

 ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The primary responsibilities of the HIV/AIDS and TB Advisor include:

A.) Serve as a technical point of contact for HIV/AIDS and TB in the Africa Bureau:

  • In conjunction with other AFR health team members, including the Senior HIV/AIDS Technical Advisor, provide technical oversight and strategic guidance to the HIV/AIDS and TB portfolio in the Africa Bureau, including managing relevant activities within larger programs
  • Maintain current knowledge of policy, frameworks, research and news on HIV/AIDS and TB in Africa
  • Serve as AFR/SD/Health Team Point of Contact regarding the coordination and leveraging of USAID TB funds with PEPFAR resources for HIV/TB and the Global Fund TB grants
  • Participate in relevant international meetings and conferences
  • Review TB components of Operational Plans and PEPFAR Country Operational Plans

B.) In coordination with the other Africa Bureau Health Team members, serve as an HIV/AIDS and TB Health Team liaison with Bureau for Global Health and other USG counterparts:

  • Collaborate closely with colleagues from the Bureau for Global Health (GH) and other USG agencies on HIV/AIDS and TB issues fundamentally important to the African context
  • Participate in consultations and working groups with colleagues in GH and other Bureaus and agencies on new HIV/AIDS and TB activities, requests and initiatives that impact USAID Missions in Africa; and
  • Work closely with GH and other agency and USG partners to ensure that all countries in the region and the sub-region receive the necessary technical and logistical support

C.) Provide support to USAID’s Missions in Africa through the country and regional mission support system:

  • Serve as Africa Bureau team lead on GH Country Teams for a subset of African countries
  • Along with the Africa Bureau’s regional offices, serve as a resource person for the health programs of assigned countries and regional programs within the Africa Bureau
  • Assist USAID Missions through the provision of technical and policy guidance, consultation on and review of strategies, program designs, operational plans, and reporting documents related to Africa Bureau priorities and HIV/AIDS and TB technical issues
  • Identify and/or assist USAID Missions in Africa in establishing or scaling up integrated HIV/AIDS TB programs

 D.) Assist in strategic planning, communication and reporting within AFR/SD:

  • Work closely with the Team’s Strategic Information Advisor, Senior HIV/AIDS Technical Advisor, Health Team Leader and other team members on all HIV/AIDS and TB-related planning and reporting requirements
  • Participate and support country and regional project/program assessments and evaluations
  • Assist in formulating briefing materials and responses to taskers and congressional inquiries or requests; and
  • Provide other support to the AFR Health Team as needed

 Other tasks or responsibilities may be assigned based on (a) organizational and programming needs and/or (b) the Advisor’s own interests.

 REQUIRED SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

  • Master’s degree in Public Health, health sciences or related discipline
  • Minimum five years’ experience in the health sector, including experience with HIV/AIDS and TB programs, with at least two years in an international or resource-challenged setting
  • Experience in conducting analysis and evaluation of technical and programmatic aspects of proposals and programs
  • Understanding of programs and organizational aspects of major international donors, multilateral agencies, and nongovernmental/private voluntary organizations supporting the social sector, with a focus that includes HIV/AIDS and TB or other infectious diseases
  • Demonstrated maturity, strong interpersonal skills and ability to work as part of a team, including cross-cultural teams
  • Demonstrated ability to work independently, exercise sound professional judgment to problem solve, and to make strategic decisions
  • Experience with USG programming, budgeting, and evaluation functions and procedures, is desirable
  • Excellent analytical, written and oral communication skills
  • Ability and willingness to travel domestically and internationally
  • Ability to speak French and/or Portuguese is desirable
  • US Citizenship

SALARY AND BENEFITS:

Salary will be based on commensurate experience and earnings history.  The Public Health Institute offers a comprehensive benefits package including professional development programs http://www.ghfp.net/docs/2012_Benefits_Booklet_GHFP.pdf

 TO APPLY:

All applicants are required to apply for this position through GHFP’s online recruitment system at https://www.ghfp.net/recruitment/, which allows you to store your CV, profile and bio data form in our database. A separate cover letter describing your qualifications and experience, interest and familiarity with issues relating to this position, and how this position relates to your career goals is required for each application. All online applications must be submitted by 5:00 pm Eastern Time, November 7, 2012.

 We are proud to be an EEO/AA Employer.