Senior TB and Global Fund Grant Adviser, Addis Ababa 132 views0 applications

Position Detail

Title : Senior TB and Global Fund Grant Adviser

Location : Addis Ababa, ET

Number : STAR-P2-119

Status : Open

Close Date : 09/30/2020

Summary

SUSTAINING TECHNICAL AND ANALYTIC RESOURCES

FELLOWSHIP TITLE: Senior Tuberculosis and Global Fund Grant Advisor

HOST ORGANIZATION: Ministry of Health, National TB Program Office

LOCATION: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

POSITION LEVEL: Senior Technical Advisor

STAR-P2-119

TRAVEL: 30% estimated travel

STAR PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Sustaining Technical and Analytic Resources (STAR) is a project of the Public Health Institute (PHI) supported by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) Global Health (GH) Bureau. Its purpose is twofold: (1) Through individual fellowships, STAR will help strengthen the capacity of diverse American and low-and-middle-income country (LMIC) health professionals at all levels to make innovative contributions to global health (GH); and (2) STAR will create ground-breaking opportunities for both US and LMIC GH academic institutions and other groups, including professional associations, to create systems for open-access knowledge sharing, resulting in effective partnerships. STAR’s individual and institutional participants are contributing to the development of self-sustaining systems and tools that will produce global citizens with the full spectrum of relevant health competencies. STAR is managed by the Public Health Institute and implemented in partnership with Johns Hopkins University (JHU), the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), and the Consortium of Universities for Global Health (CUGH).

ABOUT THE FELLOWSHIP

The STAR Fellowship is a two-year global health and learning opportunity with:

• Individualized, tailored support to enhance the fellow’s achievement personal and professional goals.
• Personalized learning plans and access to learning resources (courses, conferences, mentoring) based on fellow’s learning style and preferences.
• Access to broad professional networks to enhance peer learning and knowledge sharing.

FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

Background:

STAR is a key component of the Administrator’s TB Accelerator to reach the UN General Assembly TB Declaration targets as well as build the capacity and commitment of the host governments to ensure TB self-reliance through evidence-based TB programs.

Introduction:

The Senior TB and Global Fund Grant Advisor (Senior Advisor) will support the National TB Program of Ethiopia to improve capacity of the NTP in the effective implementation of Global Fund (GF) grants and on the programmatic management of TB. They improve the scale-up of TB, TB/HIV and comorbidities interventions with a focus on the following technical areas, but in a mode that emphasizes strengthening the abilities of the NTPs and RHBs to carry out their own effective gap analysis, prioritization, planning and rollout. Additionally, the Senior Advisor will identify programmatic bottlenecks and facilitate solutions through coordinated technical assistance, as well as support the country to leverage additional resources for TB control.

Reporting structure:

The Senior Advisor will be located at the Federal Ministry of Health (National TB Program) in Ethiopia. S/he will work closely with and receive technical direction from the National TB Program Manager and the Senior Infectious Disease Advisor at the USAID mission in Ethiopia who will serve as his/her Onsite Manager.

Essential Duties and Outcomes:

Build institutional capacity of NTP to successfully implement Global Fund (GF) grant:

• Train and mentor TB program managers to support their understanding of the GF core policies and operational procedures throughout the grant cycle.
• Support the NTP to conduct TB grant oversight including, coordination and monitoring of grant activities at federal and regional levels.
• Provide technical assistance (TA) to NTP and other relevant directorates in the development GF TB grant budgets, work plans and facility activities.
• Support the NTP to facilitate alignment of activities at federal agencies and regional programs to ensure timely signing of the GF Memorandum of Understanding with implementers
• Provide mentorship and support to NTP staff to:
• Biannually assess the GF TB grants programmatic and financial management performances, identify gaps/areas of improvement and consult with existing stakeholders on needed TA to effectively implement the TB GF grant.
• Periodically review grant performance reports and identify need for reprogramming of grant budgets as per GF guidance to improve grant absorptions.
• Identify the need and participate in periodic grant monitoring supervisory site-level visits to identify and solve grant implementation challenges.
• Review and analyze GF TB grants programmatic, financial and grant management performance reports submitted to the GF and other partners and advise on future improvements.
• Participate in various GF grant implementation monitoring and management meetings and various governance platforms including the Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM)/ CCM Oversight meetings.
• Provide technical advice to support the development of monitoring tools and dashboards for reaching programmatic indicators. (GF, WHO and national indicators).
• Assist in organizing regular discussions among the GF, NTP, and USAID to ensure alignment of technical approaches in the respective TB portfolios.

Build capacity of NTP in the successful implementation and scale-up of TB, TB/HIV and other comorbidities interventions:

• Scale up the engagement of other actors (Private sector, local NGOs, CSOs and others) in TB program, with a particular emphasis on generating a sustainable, domestically driven approach and program for private provider engagement.
• Implement new and innovative approaches and systems to increase case detection, with an emphasis on scaling comprehensive TB services to key affected and vulnerable populations (prison, mobile population, pastoralists, PLWHA, DM and others).
• Provide technical support to the NTP and coordinate with other stakeholders and relevant offices within the federal Ministry of Health to develop and institutionalize systems that will Improve domestic TB program financing.
• Implement standard TB Preventive Treatment (TPT) including initiation and scale-up of new approaches and treatment modalities for Latent TB Infections (LTBI).
• Conduct annual programmatic review to identify successes and bottlenecks, develop improvement and TA plans and monitor implementation.

Human resource capacity building of national and sub-national TB program personnel:

• Finalize/develop TB program management training curriculum.
• Support the NTP manager and other relevant FMOH staff to: regularly conduct capacity assessment of the NTP team in TB program management core competency skills (technical and program management skills), and; to strengthen the SoWs, performance, learning and growth plans, etc of NTP staff as necessary.
• Provide on the job training and continuous mentoring /coaching for the NTP team with the goal of developing the core competency program management and technical skills of the NTP and sub-NTP (productivity, leadership, effective communication skills, interpersonal skills, organization/coordination/planning skills and analytic skills).
• Provide capacity-building support (training, mentoring, coaching) to the NTP team in proposal development, program monitoring, report writing and review skills with a semi-annual target of developing proposals and producing individual quality reports.
• Develop the technical skill of the NTP team on TB program management (planning, implementation, monitoring, use of data for decision making and adaptive management skills) in a measurable way.

• Support NTP staff to develop quarterly and annual programmatic narrative reports.
• Provide targeted technical assistance to the NTP to enhance financial management systems and processes for managing funds accountably and effectively.
• Contribute to improving overall M&E systems, by assisting NTP to improve data quality assurance mechanisms, effective supportive supervision and use of digital solutions.

Improve coordination and reporting of NTP activities across implementing partners, donors and other parties:

• Liaise with USAID, GF and other donors and international partners on planning and provision of needed TA.
• Provide targeted technical assistance to NTP, disease prevention directorate and state minister office to initiate and finalize the multi-sectoral accountability framework agreement.
• Support NTP in coordination of TB activities among program partners.
• Support NTP to liaise with domestic and international partners.
• Support NTP in organizing regular (at least quarterly) partners meetings.

Anticipated learning outcomes:

• 10% time
• Demonstrate proficiency across the core global health competencies defined as development practice, cross cultural awareness, communication, capacity strengthening, ethics of public health, health equity, gender equality and global burden of disease that is necessary for persons practicing in global health.
• Cultivate mentorship skills based on the STAR GH mentorship curriculum to more effectively support and improve knowledge transfer and skills acquisition of staff, incoming fellows and interns.
• Advance leadership skills to successful support capacity building and knowledge sharing activities, and mentor develop junior staff.
• Apply leadership skills and technical expertise to support programmatic growth and scale up within TB programming.

FELLOWSHIP REQUIREMENTS

Required:

• Advanced degree (Masters, PhD, or MD) in a health-related field required.
• Minimum 13 years of relevant technical experience with master’s degree or a minimum of 15 years of relevant technical experience with bachelor’s degree.
• At least thirteen years of progressively responsible experience in designing, implementing and managing TB and TB/HIV programs program in developing countries, with a preference given to candidates with African experience.
• Demonstrated experience managing successful teams comprised of experienced professionals.
• Demonstrated technical leadership, program management, strategic planning, policy experience and problem-solving skills working on complex projects in a highly sensitive environment are required.
• Experience with USAID-funded public health programs preferred; demonstrated technical capacity in financial management required.
• At least five years of experience with or good knowledge of Global Fund operating procedures and financial management processes (proposal development and submission, monitoring and evaluation, PSM plan and reporting).
• Ability to work effectively with a broad range of Ethiopian and USG personnel and partners and have demonstrated skills in donor coordination and collaboration. Ability to work both independently and in a team environment to achieve consensus on policy, program and administrative matters is a must.
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment and communicate information to both health and non-health audiences, and achieve consensus on policy, project, research, and administrative matters.
• Proven ability to communicate quickly, clearly and concisely – both orally and in writing — in English essential.
• Excellent verbal communication skills, tact and diplomacy are required to establish and develop sustainable working relationships at the highest level and a high level of trust with public/private organizations. Verbal communication skills are also used to negotiate activity plans and resolve activity implementation issues with counterparts, partners and team members. Excellent written communication skills are required to prepare regular and ad hoc reports, activity documentation and briefing papers.
• Excellent computer skills (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, Access, SPSS and other statistical and other relevant software) are required for effectively operating in this position. Good computer skills are required to implement, analyze, and monitor, and manage activity goals, inputs, outcomes, and achievements.
• International experience in comprehensive TB, TB/HIV and GF grant management will be preferred.
• Ethiopian citizenship preferred.

TO APPLY:

All applicants are required to apply for this position through STAR’s online recruitment system at https://www.ghstar.org/, which allows you to store your CV/resume and 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. Position will remain open until filled.