USAID Senior HIV/AIDS Prevention Advisor in Pretoria, South Africa
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has contracted through CAMRIS International partnered with IAP World Services Inc., (IAPWS), to recruit and hire qualified individuals for the following position:
Title: Senior HIV/AIDS Prevention Advisor
United States Agency for International Development
Health Office, USAID South Africa
United States Agency for International Development
Health Office, USAID South Africa
Application Deadline: October 19, 2012
BACKGROUND:
South Africa bears the largest burden of HIV in the world, with an estimated 5.7 million individuals infected. In light of this, USAID/Southern Africa has one of the largest health portfolios in sub-Saharan Africa, with the vast majority of funding from the Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). The PEPFAR budget constitutes over 90% of USAID/Southern Africa’s bilateral portfolio. The Mission health staff of over 35 individuals manages a complex program with 2010 obligations of over $320 million in 2010 and support for over 70 prime partner organizations, most of them indigenous. Over 50% of USAID/Southern Africa’s health budget is allocated for comprehensive care and treatment of HIV/AIDS. Supporting South African government (SAG) HIV/AIDS comprehensive treatment services is a priority of the USG and USAID mission in South Africa. The program has successfully met ambitious goals to support the initiation of individuals on antiretroviral treatment, and has provided technical assistance for health systems strengthening to the South African Government. The focus of the program going forward will be to sustain the achievements made within the first phase of the PEPFAR HIV/AIDS care and treatment program and to ensure high quality provision of clinical HIV/AIDS care and treatment services through mentored South African government management systems.
South Africa bears the largest burden of HIV in the world, with an estimated 5.7 million individuals infected. In light of this, USAID/Southern Africa has one of the largest health portfolios in sub-Saharan Africa, with the vast majority of funding from the Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). The PEPFAR budget constitutes over 90% of USAID/Southern Africa’s bilateral portfolio. The Mission health staff of over 35 individuals manages a complex program with 2010 obligations of over $320 million in 2010 and support for over 70 prime partner organizations, most of them indigenous. Over 50% of USAID/Southern Africa’s health budget is allocated for comprehensive care and treatment of HIV/AIDS. Supporting South African government (SAG) HIV/AIDS comprehensive treatment services is a priority of the USG and USAID mission in South Africa. The program has successfully met ambitious goals to support the initiation of individuals on antiretroviral treatment, and has provided technical assistance for health systems strengthening to the South African Government. The focus of the program going forward will be to sustain the achievements made within the first phase of the PEPFAR HIV/AIDS care and treatment program and to ensure high quality provision of clinical HIV/AIDS care and treatment services through mentored South African government management systems.
GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES
The HIV/AIDS Prevention Advisor will be USAID/South Africa’s leading technical expert in the area of behaviour change and prevention of sexual transmission of HIV, working in close collaboration with other PEPFAR team members including USAID Prevention, OVC Leader Unit, the youth advisor, education advisor, and technical experts from the CDC and other USG agencies. He/she will be responsible for overseeing the overall strategic direction, relevance, coverage and quality of the portfolio for prevention of sexual transmission of HIV, and for the design, implementation and evaluation of related prevention activities implemented by USAID. He/she will also be responsible for ensuring the coherence and coordination of USAID’s prevention activities with interventions funded by other agencies, including the CDC, the Department of Defence, and the Peace Corps.
The HIV/AIDS Prevention Advisor will be USAID/South Africa’s leading technical expert in the area of behaviour change and prevention of sexual transmission of HIV, working in close collaboration with other PEPFAR team members including USAID Prevention, OVC Leader Unit, the youth advisor, education advisor, and technical experts from the CDC and other USG agencies. He/she will be responsible for overseeing the overall strategic direction, relevance, coverage and quality of the portfolio for prevention of sexual transmission of HIV, and for the design, implementation and evaluation of related prevention activities implemented by USAID. He/she will also be responsible for ensuring the coherence and coordination of USAID’s prevention activities with interventions funded by other agencies, including the CDC, the Department of Defence, and the Peace Corps.
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
A. Serve as USAID/South Africa’s lead technical expert in the area of behavior change and prevention of HIV/AIDS (40%) • Keep abreast of new survey and research findings on the HIV epidemic in South Africa; synthesize their findings and implications and disseminate these to other USAID and USG staff; advise on appropriate shifts in USG prevention strategy to respond to evolving epidemiological data. • Coordinate USAID and USG prevention portfolios with the national government’s prevention strategy and with government, other donor and NGO prevention activities in South Africa. Initiate strategies to strengthen coordination and harmonization of prevention approaches and messages across USG-funded prevention activities. • Provide ongoing technical assistance, training and consultation on the development and implementation of HIV/AIDS prevention activities to USG activity managers and partners, including assistance in the application of new data and research findings to program activities. • Ensure that best practices, evidence-based approaches are incorporated into all USAID-funded programs. Working with other USG counterparts, organize learning events to update USG partners on and build their capacity in state-of-the-art approaches. • Ensure that prevention efforts are linked in a network to testing, care and treatment programs. • Working with designated members of the prevention technical working group, support multi-sectorial programming and technical accuracy, particularly as it relates to achieving Office of the US Global AIDS Coordinator indicators. • Prepare and/or write documents related to the assigned area of responsibility. • Develop and/or maintain linkages of prevention activities with other USG-funded activities, particularly for multi-sectorial programming opportunities.
A. Serve as USAID/South Africa’s lead technical expert in the area of behavior change and prevention of HIV/AIDS (40%) • Keep abreast of new survey and research findings on the HIV epidemic in South Africa; synthesize their findings and implications and disseminate these to other USAID and USG staff; advise on appropriate shifts in USG prevention strategy to respond to evolving epidemiological data. • Coordinate USAID and USG prevention portfolios with the national government’s prevention strategy and with government, other donor and NGO prevention activities in South Africa. Initiate strategies to strengthen coordination and harmonization of prevention approaches and messages across USG-funded prevention activities. • Provide ongoing technical assistance, training and consultation on the development and implementation of HIV/AIDS prevention activities to USG activity managers and partners, including assistance in the application of new data and research findings to program activities. • Ensure that best practices, evidence-based approaches are incorporated into all USAID-funded programs. Working with other USG counterparts, organize learning events to update USG partners on and build their capacity in state-of-the-art approaches. • Ensure that prevention efforts are linked in a network to testing, care and treatment programs. • Working with designated members of the prevention technical working group, support multi-sectorial programming and technical accuracy, particularly as it relates to achieving Office of the US Global AIDS Coordinator indicators. • Prepare and/or write documents related to the assigned area of responsibility. • Develop and/or maintain linkages of prevention activities with other USG-funded activities, particularly for multi-sectorial programming opportunities.
B. Conduct day-to-day management of prevention activities (40%) • Provide technical input on annual work plans for HIV/AIDS implementing partners, and ensure these are consistent with current USG prevention priorities. • Provide technical and program assistance (including drafting briefing papers, cables and memos for information and action) for HIV/AIDS prevention activities. • Assume a leadership role in the design of new prevention activities, and ensure these are consistent with current USG strategic directions for prevention activities. • Conduct regular site visits to review implementation of prevention programs and meet with beneficiaries. Based on information collected during field visits, communicate findings and recommendations for strengthening prevention interventions to the HIV/AIDS Team and, as appropriate, implementing partners and South Africa Government counterparts. • Review performance reports to ensure that partner(s) are in compliance with bilateral government agreements and with the performance expectations outlined in their work plan and in their contract / agreement(s) with USAID. • Assist implementing partners to understand compliance with all relevant USAID regulations and procedures. Based on personal observations, assessment reports, performance statistics and other available data, make programmatic recommendations to EP Team. C. Monitoring and Reporting (20%) • In collaboration with the new PEPFAR/South Africa Performance Monitoring team, maintain a regular schedule of project site visits at headquarters and the field level. Make recommendations for adjustments of program activities as appropriate. • Work closely with USAID partners to ensure that program achievements and lessons learned are disseminated to sector representatives. Maintain an up-to-date summary of all program technical and geographic areas. Play lead role in planning and conducting prevention partners meetings. • Monitor the appropriate use of USG HIV/AIDS funds • Maintain detailed and updated project management files for each activity.
CERTIFICATIONS, LICENSE, PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS OR OTHER EXPERTISE REQUIRED.
The contractor must have:
• Master’s level or higher training in public health, epidemiology, demography, social or behavior science or related field required; • Minimum ten years’ progressively responsible experience in HIV/AIDS strategy development and implementation, with specific reference to prevention of sexual transmission in diverse contexts; • Minimum three to five years’ work experience in international/resource poor settings; • Comprehensive understanding of HIV/AIDS prevention and community-based health care initiatives, including program design, implementation and evaluation; • Evidence of excellent interpersonal, facilitation and teambuilding skills/experience required; • Strong working competency in computer applications to carry out management and statistical analysis required; • Demonstrated ability to apply policy directives to activity design, implementation and monitoring and evaluation; • Excellent written and oral communication skills; • Experience in behavior change methodologies and their application to HIV/AIDS is particularly desired; • Previous experience in Southern Africa particularly desired; • Demonstrated ability to maintain close counterpart relationships, both governmental and in the partner community, is highly preferred. • Knowledge of, or experience working with PEPFAR highly preferred; and • US Citizenship required.
This is an opportunity for employment or a contract, but we reserve the right to make no selection or award.
How to apply:
CAMRIS International and IAP World Services Inc. offer competitive salaries and comprehensive benefits. Please submit your resume online at www.iapws.com. Candidates meeting the requirements for the position will be required to provide a USAID 1420-17 Contractor Employee Biographical Data Sheet to document employment and salary history.
CAMRIS and IAP are Equal Opportunity Employers EOE M/F/D/V
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