Senior Technical Officer Strategic Information 236 views0 applications

EpiC Botswana Senior Technical Advisor- Clinical

FHI 360 is a nonprofit human development organization dedicated to improving lives in lasting ways by advancing integrated, locally driven solutions. Our staff includes experts in Health, Education, Nutrition, Environment, Economic Development, Civil Society, Gender, Youth, Research and Technology; creating a unique mix of capabilities to address today’s interrelated development challenges. FHI 360 serves more than 60 countries, all 50 U.S. states and all U.S. territories. We are currently seeking qualified candidates for the position of Senior Technical Advisor – Clinical for the EpiC project in Botswana. The position will be based in Gaborone, Botswana.

EpiC Botswana Project Description:

Meeting Targets and Maintaining Epidemic Control (EpiC) is a five-year global project funded by the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). EpiC Botswana builds on the successful investments in Key populations (KP) programming from the USAID-funded, FHI 360-led Linkages Across the Continuum of HIV Services for Key Populations Affected by HIV (LINKAGES) project which operated in Botswana from 2014 – 2020 and the Accelerating Progress in Communities program which implemented from 2019-2021 in Botswana. EpiC is dedicated to achieving and maintaining HIV epidemic control and the project provides strategic technical assistance (TA) and direct service delivery (DSD) to break through barriers to 95-95-95 and promote self-reliant management of national HIV programs by improving HIV case-finding, prevention, and treatment programming. In 2022, FHI 360 through EpiC will be building on the successes of previous programming to expand HIV case finding in the community (including through self-testing), optimize treatment initiation (same-day or fast track initiation), and support treatment continuity including through multi-month dispensing and implementing decentralized drug distribution models. EpiC will increase the uptake of PrEP and provide HIV care to survivors of gender-based violence (GBV). Additionally, EpiC will support the rollout and launch of the National Guidelines for Implementation of Integrated Community-Based Health Services through close coordination with USAID/Botswana and the Ministry of Health and Wellness. The program will target services to key (men who have sex with men, people in prison, female sex workers, transgender people, and people who inject drugs) and priority populations (including adolescent girls and young women and at-risk men) in ten districts in Botswana: Greater Gaborone, Francistown, Ngamiland, Chobe, Selibe-Phikwe, Palapye/Serowe, Boteti, Kweneng East, and South East.

Job description:

The Senior Technical Advisor-Clinical will have overall responsibility for the development, implementation, and monitoring of technical activities in the EpiC Botswana workplan. S/he will provide technical guidance and mentorship to the EpiC team. S/he will contribute to the achievement of high-quality results ensuring that targets set by funders are met and reported in line with donor demands. S/he will lead efforts to strengthen prevention, care, and treatment with all community services, which may include building capacity of implementing partner organizations, community organizations and other stakeholders to provide standard HIV comprehensive services. S/he will provide technical and programmatic expertise in HIV prevention, care and treatment activities for female sex workers, men who have sex with men, transgender people, people who inject drugs, adolescents and young women and other vulnerable populations, including through community-based outreach, peer education/navigation, health clinic/hospital/other public and private facility service provision, behavior change communication, treatment and care and referrals for HIV, STI, GBV, and FP services. S/he will coordinate with Project Director to bring in and adapt new technical expertise and updated global practices.

Suitably qualified candidates openly living with HIV and/or who are representative of key populations affected by HIV are also actively encouraged to apply.

Position Responsibilities

• Provides TA and capacity building including support for the overall design, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation HIV prevention, care, and treatment activities in Botswana for key and vulnerable populations;
• Provides HIV care- and treatment-related technical and management support for CSO partners to strengthen case management services, ensure ART initiation and strengthen viral load suppression through innovative, evidence-based programming;
• Works with the Strategic Information team to monitor and evaluate the progress and impact of HIV interventions to track programmatic performance and to design and implement corrective actions where interventions and strategies do not deliver the anticipated outcomes;
• Supports the EpiC Botswana Project Director to ensure collaboration and coordination with the Ministry of Health, National AIDS Program, USAID, and other key country stakeholders by regularly meeting and consulting with all relevant agencies to share information and to stimulate joint design, evaluation, and implementation of interventions.
• Ensure quality work on standard operating procedures contextualized to the Botswana environment assuring confidentiality and mitigation if required for key population groups
• Identifies structural barriers to the uptake of HIV clinical services for key population groups and ways to address those structural barriers by working with civil society, private businesses, and government.
• Assist on assuring that commodities such as STI test kits, STI drugs, ARVs, HIV Testing and Counseling (HTC) test kits, condoms and lubricants are available on a consistent basis at all clinical service provision facilities.
• Serve as an advocate and communicator for the EpiC Botswana program, amplify USAID/Botswana’s work with key stakeholders including the MoHW, and share program results and outcomes to advance the objectives of the program, and HIV programming, in Botswana.
• Remains informed on current state-of-the-art programs in the HIV/AIDS care and treatment field with focus on populations addressed in Botswana, through the review of literature and articles, and maintains links with other international bodies;
• Identify opportunities to share program successes to strategically advance key population programming within the MoHW and encourage greater acceptance of KP programming in Botswana.
• Work with Community Health Workers to identify GBV clients (KP and non-KP) and provide safe access to counseling and other post-GBV services, including PrEP and PEP.
• Identity and engage AGYW groups to support hard-to-reach youths to improve access to HIV testing and treatment services.
• Work with CBOs, CSOs, other KP partners, local health centers and the MOH to increase the uptake of HIV and other health and wellness related services both at a community and clinic level, and in line with National HIV Strategic Plan.
• Contribute to program quality according to FHI 360 standards including quality assurance and quality improvement initiatives.
• Coordinate preparation, review/approvals process, and submission of materials on behalf of EpiC implementing partners for presentation at academic conferences and/or publication in peer-reviewed journals;
• Develops scopes of work, project deliverables and monitoring and evaluation indicators and targets together with the Strategic Information team for grant and contract resource and service delivery partners as required;
• Represents the project in professional and public settings and makes presentations at professional meetings and conferences
• Develops guidance, tools and materials related to HIV programming;
• Provides technical supervision for select program staff;
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Masters level degree in Public Health or related field or equivalent, PHD preferred.
• At least 5 – 8 years or more of demonstrated key population group technical expertise, with substantial HIV prevention, care, and treatment experience with female sex workers, and/or men who have sex with men, and/or transgender individuals.
• At least 5 -8 years or more of demonstrated excellence in a senior level technical advisor and leadership position, preferably in an international development context and working addressing HIV.
• A minimum of five years of experience designing, implementing, and managing HIV programming for general populations; preferably in sub-Saharan Africa.
• Experience with U.S. government rules and regulations and experience working in an international NGO/PVO environment desirable.
• Demonstrated ability through previous experience leading a technical activity through evidence and data driven decision making.
• Demonstrated ability through previous experience to establish and maintain productive working relationships with a wide network of partners and stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability through previous experience to liaise with senior government officials, dignitaries, executives of NGOs, FBOs, CBOs, and the for-profit business community, and senior members of the donor community.
• Demonstrated experience leading and managing a diverse team and excellent interpersonal and advocacy skills.
• Excellent communication, writing, and oral presentation skills in English.
• Previous experience in Botswana preferred.

This job description summarizes the main duties of the job. It neither prescribes nor restricts the exact tasks that may be assigned to carry out these duties. This document should not be construed in any way to represent a contract of employment. Management reserves the right to review and revise this document at any time.

This job posting summarizes the main duties of the job. It neither prescribes nor restricts the exact tasks that may be assigned to carry out these duties. This document should not be construed in any way to represent a contract of employment. Management reserves the right to review and revise this document at any time.

FHI 360 is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer whereby we do not engage in practices that discriminate against any person employed or seeking employment based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law.

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