Senior Tuberculosis and Global Fund Grant Advisor

SUSTAINING TECHNICAL AND ANALYTIC RESOURCES

FELLOWSHIP TITLE: Senior Tuberculosis and Global Fund Adviser

HOST ORGANIZATION: Ministry of Health, National TB and Leprosy Control Program Office

LOCATION: Monrovia, Liberia

POSITION LEVEL: Senior Technical Advisor

STAR-P3-132

TRAVEL: 30% estimated domestic travel

STAR PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Sustaining Technical and Analytic Resources (STAR) is a project of the Public Health Institute (PHI) in partnership with the Johns Hopkins University (JHU) and the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), supported by the US Agency for International Development (USAID). STAR is a Global Health talent hub. Through fellowships, internships, and strategic partnerships, STAR supports building the capacity of diverse global health professionals and organizations at all levels to make inclusive, collaborative, and innovative contributions to global health. STAR participants collaborate in the development of systems and tools that strengthen and sustain the local and global health response. https://www.ghstar.org/ Sign up with our listserv.

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 USAID 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. USAID is in the forefront of global tuberculosis (TB) leadership and support to high burden TB countries.

The USAID investment for TB supports Liberia’s National Strategic Plan (NSP) 2021-2025 implementation to ensure supported activities achieve national scale and targets in selected key interventions targeting major areas in the country. In Liberia, USAID TB leverages other USG investments, such as the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) supported TB/HIV activities, the Global Fund (GF) TB grants as well as the Liberian government support towards TB interventions which focuses on infrastructure and other TB program aspects.

Introduction:

The Senior Tuberculosis and Global Fund Advisor (Senior Advisor) will support the National TB and Leprosy Control Program (NTLCP) of Liberia for effective implementation and scale up of TB Care and Prevention interventions. 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 prevention and care.

Reporting structure:

The Senior Advisor will be based at the NTLCP within the Ministry of Health (MoH) in Liberia. They will receive direction from the NTLCP Program Manager who will serve as the Onsite Manager and ensure daily supervision of activities.

Responsibilities:

Increase effective support to policy development and enabling policy environment for introduction and scale-up of evidence-based TB interventions:

• Provide Technical Assistance (TA) to develop and update national policies, guidelines, technical directives, and the regulatory framework to ensure timely adoption of the latest WHO recommendations (e.g. DSM strategy for MDR-TB Treatment, Contact Tracing, LTBI Diagnosis and Treatment).
• Facilitate consultative processes among all stakeholders and solicit feedback from partners and policy beneficiaries.
• Map out implementation processes to effectively translate policy guidelines into operational SOPs.
• Liaise with the Drug Regulatory Authority and support the registration process of new drugs.
• Support relevant activities under the USAID End TB Accelerator and tracking progress on UNGA commitments and targets.

Improve the provision of appropriate technical support in the successful implementation and scale up of TB Care and Prevention interventions:

• Support NTLCP to improve TB and MDR-TB case finding, implement new and innovative approaches and systems to increase case detection.
• Identify programmatic bottlenecks and facilitate technical assistance.
• Through collaboration with NTLCP and partners identify programmatic gaps which may require additional technical assistance.

Improve NTLCP activities and reporting to align across implementing partners, donors and other parties:

• Liaise with USAID, GF and other donors and international partners on planning and provision of needed TA.
• Contribute to improving overall M&E systems, by assisting NTLCP to improve data quality assurance mechanisms, enhance and conduct effective supportive supervision and use of digital solutions at provincial and district level.
• Provide targeted TA to the NTLCP to enhance financial management systems and processes for managing funds accountably and effectively.
• Assist in developing quarterly and annual programmatic narrative reports.
• Support NTLCP to liaise with domestic and international partners.
• Assist NTLCP to organize regular (at least quarterly) partner meetings.
• Participate in regular conference calls/meetings with USAID staff as needed.
• Prepare a written report for the Program Manager on a quarterly basis and also report to USAID on a weekly (in person) and monthly (written report) basis.

Anticipated Learning outcomes: anticipated 10% time

• 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 PMDT in developing countries, with a preference given to candidates with solid experience in Sub-Saharan Africa.
• 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).
• Demonstrated technical capacity in financial management required.
• Demonstrated technical leadership, program management, strategic planning, policy experience and problem-solving skills working on complex projects in a highly sensitive environment are required.
• Ability to work effectively with a broad range of MOH 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 required.
• 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 clearly and concisely in English – both orally and in writing is 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, Power Point, 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.

Additional skills (preferred)

• Experience with USAID-funded public health programs preferred.