Service Title: Senior Technical Advisory Services – HIV Testing Services
Estimated Period of Performance March 15, 2018 -March 14, 2023
Place of Performance: Namibia
Embassy Access and Security Level: Level 5
Service Objectives:
The Senior Technical Advisor in this position is the primary technical expert and point-of-contact for
CDC/Namibia on all HIV Counselling and Testing Services (HTS) activities. This will require active
participation in the development, modification, and/or adaptation of appropriate technical strategies and
tailored approaches for improving access to HIV Testing Services. Such services include rapid HIV testing, Provider-Initiated Testing and Counselling (PITC), as well as Index-Partner Testing in medical settings, and facility- and community based HTS. The Senior Technical Advisor will make recommendations to the USG and Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) counterparts on approaches to enhancing and improving HTS to enable the 90:90:90 goals as per the National and UNAIDS strategy to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic by the end of 2030.
D.1 Task Requirements (Description of Tasks):
Through existing CoAgs listed in Section C.1, the Senior Technical Advisory Services – HIV Testing
Services works in partnership with Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS), Directorate of Special Programmes (DSP) and other in-country CDC Supported partners (including community-based HTS partners) to assist with planning and implementation of CDC Namibia’s HTS programmatic activities. In addition, the Senior Technical Advisor serves as the technical lead for HTS activities within the MOHSS to establish priorities, policies and targeted strategic plans for HTS delivery. The following activities serve as the primary focus of activities for the incumbent:
Leadership and Technical Assistance
D.1.1 Serves as the technical expert in HIV Testing Services methods, standards, protocols and
national testing guidelines
D.1.2 Provides technical support on HTS issues at technical, policy and strategic planning meetings,
including meetings with collaborators and donors.
D.1.3 Provides expert technical assistance and support to implementing partners in the development
of HTS delivery (e.g. facilities, staffing, client confidentiality, reporting and record keeping
procedures, outreach efforts etc.) as well as associated care and follow-up services
D.1.4 Assist in development and implementation of standard algorithms for rapid HIV resting and
protocols for counselling individuals and couples receiving HIV testing services.
D.1.5 Ensures that counselling protocols include strong HIV prevention messages for both HIVpositive
and HIV-negative clients. The incumbent will ensure that appropriate linkages and networks
are established between CT services and other clinical services including ART, TB, STI, Family
Planning and comprehensive HIV services.
D.1.6 Identifies technical assistance needs and organizes technical assistance visits from CDC DGHT
HQ and/or other sources of technical assistance for implementing partners.
D.1.7 Fosters collaborative working relationships with United Nations organizations such as
UNCEF,WHO,UNFPA,UNAIDS and other international organizations working in Namibia
D.1.8 Responsible for writing the M&E section of the agency’s annual submission for funding –
Country Operational Plan.
D.1.9 Prepares and occasionally presents briefings for Executive delegations, industry leaders and
other high-level visitors; participates in making arrangements for visits and serves as spokesperson
as required.
D.1.10 Recommend revisions to the M&E policies and guidelines (as needed).
D.1.11 Fosters collaborative working relationships with the United Nations organizations such as
UNICEF, WHO, UNFPA, UNAIDS and other international organizations working in Namibia.
D.1.12 Assists in the development of Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs) targeted to
PEPFAR implementing Partners
Strategic Planning, Program Management, and Evaluation
D.2.1 Assists MoHSS and collaborating partners through participation on technical working groups
and committees, including but not limited to the Prevention Technical Working Group, Treatment
Technical Advisory Committee and others to expand access to HTS services and assure that the
current guidelines remain updated and maintained
D.2.2 Assists in the development of the annual PEPFAR Country Operational Plan (COP) and the
quarterly PEPFAR Oversight Accountability Response Team (POART) reports
D.2.3 Supports the MoHSS and other in-country partners in implementing, monitoring and
evaluating comprehensive counselling and testing services.
D.2.4 In collaboration with CDC-technical leads and program managers in each partner
organization, conduct site visits to monitor progress, outcome, and impact of HIV/AIDS activities
;identify implementation achievements and challenges; and initiates appropriate actions in
consultation with the MOHSS, implementing partners and his/her supervisor.
D.2.5 Initiates and maintains collaborative relationships with other USG agencies, donors and
partners working on HIV/AIDS in Namibia.
D.2.6 Works with Monitoring and Evaluation Staff to design and update various instruments for
data collection and reporting to document progress. The incumbent designs and implements public
health evaluations relating to counselling and testing as well as other HIV-related program activities
(such as ART and HIV Drug Resistance Surveillance).
Staffing and Training
D.3.1 Participates in developing scopes of work for long- and short-term personnel needed to
accomplish counselling and testing program activities.
D.3.2 Works with MoHSS HTS Program Unit and other HIV Program divisions to ensure training
sessions for USG staff and implementing partners on issues related to the HTS program
implementation
D.3.3 Arranges for MOHSS HTS staff to attend appropriate workshops, seminars, conferences and
trainings to continuously enhance their skills and knowledge in planning and implanting HTS activities.
Scientific Research
D.4.1 Coordinates with other USG agencies and implementing partners to develop, oversee
preparation of, and disseminate the results of evaluations of public health services, including
demographic and health surveys, number receiving treatment, AIDS indicator surveys, behavior
change surveillance, HIV Drug Resistance Surveillance etc.
D.4.2 Takes the lead on additional research-related projects, such as study coordination and data
analysis and interpretation, as assigned.
Advocacy and Dissemination of Counselling and testing Program Activity Information
Page 21 of 45
D.5.1 Works with the USG, MoHSS and other relevant partner organizations to develop strategies
to overcome barriers affecting the utilization of HIV Testing Services.
D.5.2 Supports the dissemination of information on CT activities to assist program planning by
host government ministries, other HIV/AIDS prevention and control organizations and to inform
the public.
D.5.3 In collaboration with national counterparts and locally employed staff, writes reports and
manuscripts relating to HTS and prepares presentations at national and international meetings
D.5.4 Assists the Ministry of Health (MOHSS) in preparing and disseminating white papers,
presentations and peer-reviewed journal articles as well as writing national policy documents.
D.5.5 Prepares verbal briefings, presentations and written reports for agency leadership and staff as
well as other interested parties on the progress of Namibia’s USG-funded HTS program activities.
D.2 Task Deliverables:
Deliverables/Reports Task Requirement Recipient Due Date
Progress reports of all required tasks.
D.3 Travel Amount
1 trip to USA for an estimated 7 days.
4 trips in country for an estimated 91 days.
3 trips to African countries for an estimated 21 days.
Travel needs during option periods will be evaluated at the time of task order renewal.
Minimum Qualifications and/or Certifications:
a. Advanced Degree in Public Health or Epidemiology
b. 5-7 years of international experience with progressive responsibility in national HIV/AIDS
programs in sub-Saharan Africa or comparable resource-limited settings.
c. Demonstrated experience in Monitoring and Evaluation, Surveillance, Surveys and
Operational Research in the area of HIV/AIDS, including TB/HIV.
d. Experience with Cooperative Agreement Management.
e. Experience with PEPFAR programs, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.
f. Willingness and ability to effectively communicate in English {Speaking, Writing, and
Reading) on a daily basis with various groups.
g. Demonstrated ability to work with technical and program management staff from Ministries
of Health in sub-Saharan Africa.
h. Demonstrated ability to work effectively on multi-disciplinary public health teams,
particularly of USG agencies.
i. Demonstrated history of abstract presentation at international scientific conferences and
manuscript publication in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
Interested candidates should email their cover letter and CV to TaNisha Harris @ [email protected] family:”Times
More Information
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