HIV CARE AND TREATMENT LEAD at I Choose Life – Africa

Anticipated Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Center for Global Health call Ref CDC-RFA-GH22-2209.

I Choose Life – Africa (ICL) is a youth-focused organization that seeks to empower youth in Kenya and across Africa as the foundation for sustainable development. Registered in 2004 and working closely with Government, ICL has over 17 years of experience implementing evidence-based adolescents and youth programs in over 345 institutions (Primary, Secondary, and Higher learning institutions) across 26 Counties in Kenya. The organization implements programs in Health and Nutrition, Education, Economic Empowerment, and Leadership and Governance Sectors. To ensure maximum impact in these sectors, ICL utilizes a multi-sectoral approach, the Quadra Helix development approach (which brings together the Government, Private sector, Academia, and Civil society) to foster innovative and sustainable transformation in communities.

Vision & Mission: ICL’s Vision Statement: Healthy Africa, Empowered People!

ICL’s Mission Statement: To empower the youth by increasing their life opportunities for sustainable development.

Job Purpose: ICL seeks the HIV Care and Treatment Lead for an anticipated CDC-funded PEPFAR opportunity in Kenya. The Activity is expected to be a five-year contract to advance Sustainable Implementation of Comprehensive HIV Prevention and Treatment Programs in Faith-based and Private Sites in Nairobi, the Coast, and Western Regions. This position is contingent upon an award from the CDC.

Job Summary: Reporting to the Principal Investigator, The HIV Care and Treatment Lead will provide overall technical leadership and support in the design, planning, and implementation of all aspects of HIV care and treatment component of the program, including PMTCT and TB, as well as integration of the same with Reproductive Health (RH)/Family Planning (FP). This will include the development of relevant technical strategies and innovations. The incumbent will ensure that technical assistance leads to high-quality services, increased coverage and uptake of HIV care and treatment, PMTCT, TB/HIV services, adherence support, and retention for all populations, including key and priority populations.

Job Responsibilities:

• Provide support to assist in developing evaluation questions, methods, and tools related to critical gaps in HIV linkage, care, and treatment.
• Provide technical oversight, strategic direction, and definition of project activities related to HIV linkage, treatment, care, and support.
• Guide coordination with PEPFAR/ CDC and implementing partners to identify and define their key gaps, facilitate implementation of evaluations in partner-supported sites and support the uptake of learning.
• Work closely with the National HIV/AIDS Program to facilitate the dissemination of evaluation findings and incorporation in national policies.
• Ensure all program evaluations incorporate the state-of-the-art approaches for strengthening HIV linkages, care, and treatment, especially the transition to TLD and differentiated care.
• Provide insight in translating scientific evidence to improve practice and quality in service delivery for people living with HIV (PLHIV).
• Coordinate advocacy, demand generation, and policy support across the project, as required
• Keep abreast of current scientific literature to propose innovative, locally relevant approaches to address HIV sub-national.
• Represent ICL in relevant technical advisory/working groups and professional forums.
• Work with health care providers, local authorities, community members, and project team members to identify service delivery issues that impede access to care and uptake of services.
• Identify training needs for healthcare providers and assist in designing and implementing measures to address those needs.
• Work closely with the program teams to set project priorities and directions and respond to requests for support from local counterparts.
• Document and maintain an inventory of successful tools and approaches to ensure PLHIV are engaged in their care to remain on ART.
• Collaboratively develop the project work plan with project staff, CDC, the government of Kenya, and other stakeholders, to ensure timely implementation and compliance to the requirements and regulations of the award.

Minimum qualifications

1. Master’s Degree in Public Health or Advanced Degree in Health Science: Medical Doctor in Public Health, or related field, highly preferred
2. Minimum of twelve (10) years of professional experience, with five (5) years of experience in designing and implementing large-scale US government-funded HIV prevention and support projects for key and priority populations in a similar context
3. Strong technical and programmatic knowledge and experience in HIV testing and linkage to care, HIV treatment, TB, clinical laboratory support, routine viral load testing, HIV clinical monitoring systems, and health system strengthening
4. Experience in capacity development of health workers on HTS (i.e., HIV Self – testing, index, PrEP and SRH, and DREAMS)
5. Proven capabilities in capacity building and experience in working effectively with the county and national government authorities
6. Ability to work effectively in partnership with various audiences and organizations, in particular, the Ministry of Health and clinical partners
7. Previous experience and understanding of the local health system and HIV challenges and opportunities, and solid relationships at relevant government agencies
8. Track record of strong leadership, strategic thinking, organizational, team-building, and representational skills.

Knowledge and skills

• In-depth knowledge of the Kenyan public health sector and clinical settings, including governmental and non-governmental settings
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills and ability to work well with others, including developing and maintaining compatibility among program staff, health care workers, county and sub-county officials, consultants, sub-awardees, program beneficiaries, other stakeholders.
• Demonstrated management and team-building skills, including relevant experience in direct supervision of professional staff
• Articulate and communicate in a clear, professional manner with clients and staff.
• High degree of proficiency in written and spoken English communication, including presentation and training skills
• Sensitivity to cultural differences and understanding of the social, political, ethical issues surrounding HIV infections
• Ability to manage tight deadlines and deliver high volumes of work with minimal supervision and well-developed computer skills.

Child Safeguarding: In line with United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNCRC), ICL strives to keep children safe in all its undertakings. The successful applicant will be required to read, understand, and commit to abide by ICL Child Safeguarding Policy and guidelines. The individual will sign the policies to indicate an understanding of and commitment to follow the policy requirements.