Stop TB Partnership – DTC Technical Coordination Advisor

Background Information – Job-specific

UNOPS hosts the Stop Tuberculosis Partnership Secretariat (STBP) as of 1 January 2015, in Geneva, Switzerland. The vision of the Stop TB Partnership is to realize the goal of elimination of Tuberculosis (TB) as a public health problem and, ultimately, to obtain a world free of TB by ensuring that every TB patient has access to effective diagnosis, treatment and cure; stopping transmission of TB; reducing the inequitable social and economic toll of TB; and developing and implementing new preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic tools and strategies. The Stop Partnership is uniquely positioned to support the development and further implementation by partners of the current and future Global Plan, acting as a coordinator and catalyst for the range of partners engaged in the fight against TB.

Founded in 2001, the Stop TB Partnership’s mission is to serve every person who is vulnerable to TB and ensure that high-quality treatment is available to all who need it. Stop TB partners include international and technical organizations, government programme, research and funding agencies, foundations, NGOs, civil society and community groups and the private sector.

As a key initiative of the Stop TB Partnership, the goal of the Global Drug Facility (GDF) is to facilitate worldwide, equitable access to TB medicines and diagnostics across both public and private sectors. This goal is achieved through management and coordination of market activities for the full portfolio of TB medicines and diagnostics, strategic procurement and innovative logistics solutions, technical assistance and capacity building for TB programmes in better pharmaceutical management practices, and accelerated uptake of new TB medicines, regimens, and diagnostics using the GDF Launch Pad.

Under the supervision and guidance of Stop TB GDF’s Demand, Technical Assistance, and Capacity Building (DTC) Team Leader, the incumbent will work closely with the GDF Regional Technical Advisors (RTA) in development, implementation, and monitoring of DTC strategy. The technical coordination advisor will be involved in the update and implementation of GDF priority countries’ work plans, including technical assistance and capacity strengthening action plans, timelines, performance indicators, and required resources. The incumbent will be highly involved in communication with donors and partners on the achievements of the DTC team globally to demonstrate value for money, results, performances, and impact of GDF technical assistance.

The Technical Coordination Advisor will be responsible for coordinating information gathering, processing and analyses from Regional Technical Advisors at the global level and maintaining evidence for the leadership in GDF; including supporting systems for ongoing data collection in priority countries and development of valid evidence to inform GDF units and Stop TB on strategic, market and operational decisions and thus improve the global supply as well as indicators related to the uptake of new TB tools. The incumbent will be involved in the development of grant proposals and technical reports to donors and/or other stakeholders; The position is based in Geneva, Switzerland.

Functional Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Demand, Technical Assistance and Capacity Building Team Lead and in close collaboration with the GDF’s Regional Technical Advisors, the DTC Technical Coordination Advisor will be responsible for the following functions:

Ensure regional technical leadership of the GDF

• Provide PSM technical coordination support and serve as a technical resource for global stakeholders, such as international donors (e.g. Global Fund, USAID, UNITAID), policy (e.g. WHO) and technical agencies (e.g., UNION, MSF, KNCV, PiH, CHAI, Chemonics), regional and] country bi-lateral projects.
• Support the GDF’s technical leadership role and promote PSM best practices and tools on the agenda of global and regional meetings and conferences, such as Joint Program Review, National TB programs meetings and TB conferences, regional Green Light Committee (rGLC) meetings, and other thematic meetings and workshops related to TB control as requested.
• Support the DTC team leader coordinating the GDF regional events, including workshops and training, with global stakeholders to ensure that agendas and curricula reflect the regional and country needs, are aligned with GDF strategy and objectives and are actively supported by the stakeholders.
• Help establish and guide working groups of stakeholders or task forces to ensure a coordinated approach to addressing the PSM issues for improved access to TB products, and expedited uptake and proper use of new TB tools as required.
• Support the DTC team leader and RTAs in managing GDF’s representation at global and regional meetings, specifically those addressing financing, procurement, and supply planning of TB pharmaceuticals and related processes for the post-donor funding realities.
• Provide advice in coordinating relations with multiple donors and global partners, e.g., USAID, CIDA, WHO and the Global Fund on technical assistance plans and tools for concerted TA efforts; document results and achievements for reporting and policymaking/changing.
• Monitor alignment of organizational strategy with global stakeholders to ensure adequate implementation of activities, achievements of outcomes and impact.
• Provide technical support for the development of the GDF Demand, TA, and Capacity Building strategy and its implementation in collaboration with the RTAs.
• Provide technical guidance and coordination of the RTAs in development, update, and implementation of GDF priority countries’ work plans, including technical assistance and capacity strengthening action plans/roadmaps, timelines, performance indicators, and required resources.
• Actively promote the GDF as a source of affordable quality-assured TB products, technical assistance, capacity development, and best PSM practices; explore and research options for expanding the GDF client base with specific focus on countries switching to the procurement with domestic funds.
• Provide technical advice to review and monitor the supply indicators and in conjunction with the team lead establish a mechanism for ongoing global and regional indicator data collection and reporting; validate and report to the GDF TB medicines and laboratory commodities demand data to inform the GDF procurement and market shaping decisions.
• Support the team lead in communicating the achievements of the DTC team globally to demonstrate value for money, results, achievements, and impact of GDF technical assistance. Develop and review technical, policy, and advocacy materials aligned with Stop TB strategy to improve the visibility of GDF with countries, stakeholders, and global partners.

Implement PSM system strengthening interventions

• Lead the information gathering and maintain evidence for the leadership in GDF and their decision making on TB medicines and, when required, laboratory commodities supply practices at regional and global levels.
• Provide technical guidance and coordination to the RTAs in the development and updating of training and capacity building materials or broker the required work with the Stop TB and GDF partners’ technical assistance programs.
• Coordinate along with RTAs the pool of technical consultants to ensure the provision of quality-assured and impactful missions, capacity strengthening activities, and ongoing technical assistance interventions.
• Develop and update tools for regular information updates of country profiles, including regional and country-specific PSM achievements and challenges, existing and planned TB treatment policies and guidelines, changes in national strategies and guidelines, new TB tools uptake trends, performance indicators, and other relevant information.
• Develop and update Work Instructions and the Standard Operating Procedures relevant for DTC team, including but not limited to information gathering, processing, and analyses using systems for ongoing data collection in priority countries and development of valid evidence to inform GDF units and Stop TB on strategic, market and operational decisions.
• Provide technical support to develop and update GDF tools to improve the impact of GDF technical assistance, ensure harmonization with global standards, and address the introduction of new technologies.
• Provide technical support to establish and update systems for ongoing data collection in priority countries and development of valid evidence to inform GDF units and Stop TB on the strategic, market, and operational decisions and thus improve the global supply.

Expedite the introduction and rational uptake of new TB tools

• Provide technical advice and support to the RTAs leading countries in the development and implementation of transition plans for accelerated uptake of new TB medicines, regimens, and diagnostic products, including setting attainable PSM goals, timeline and milestones, estimation of potential medicines and laboratory products wastage and performance/uptake monitoring mechanism.
• Coordinate continuous technical assistance and capacity strengthening support to GDF priority countries throughout the transition period to ensure the rational use of TB products and better treatment outcomes.
• Provide technical advice to establish, implement, and, when necessary, update systems for collecting data and reporting the indicators related to the uptake of new TB tools.
• Provide technical advice and coordinate the development of proposals and the provision of grants to facilitate the uptake of new TB tools, budget monitoring, and reporting to donors.

The Technical Coordination Advisor will undertake other special work related to general activities within the Stop TB Partnership’s Global Drug Facility, assigned and determined by GDF Chief or DTC Team Leader.

Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education

• An Advanced University degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in management, medicine, pharmacy, public health, supply chain/logistics and/or related subjects with 7 (seven) years of relevant experience,

OR

• A First-level University Degree (Bachelors degree or equivalent) preferably in a health-related or technology related discipline with 7 years of relevant experience is required.

Experience

• A minimum of 7 (seven) years of relevant experience (with an advanced University degree) or 9 (nine) years of relevant experience (with a university degree) working on the implementation of international and/or country-level health programs, with a strong focus in one of the following areas: health procurement and supply management (TB/HIV products preferred); epidemiology and/or biostatistics.
• Experience working with central and facility-level pharmaceutical management services and information systems – including forecasting and quantification, and early warning systems’ tools is preferred.
• Experience in development/writing of grant proposals and/or technical reports.
• Experience with international donors and organizations, specifically with the Global Fund, WHO, USAID, UNITAID, international NGOs and/or private sector companies.
• Besides a good command of the Google-suit, excellent knowledge of MS Office packages including Excel is a strong asset for this selection process.
• Experience living and/or working with country supply programs in a developing context preferred.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously; excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively in a team spirit.

Language

Fluency in English is essential.
Fluency in written and spoken French, Portuguese, Russian or Spanish is a strong asset for this selection process.

Contract type, level and duration

1. Contract type: UN Staff – Temporary Appointment.
2. Contract level: ICS11 – P4 equivalent.
3. Contract duration: Appointment with UNOPS will be valid until 31st December 2021. Possibility to extend under the new host of STBP in 2022.

For more details about United Nations staff contracts, please follow this link: https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-of…