Global Fund Senior TB Technical Advisor, LEAP Global At Dexis Consulting Group

About the Project

Global Solutions Ventures (GSV) – a joint-venture partnership between ZemiTek, LLC and Dexis Consulting Group – is implementing the Long-term Exceptional technical Assistance Project (LEAP Global), a mechanism used by USAID to battle against infectious diseases such as malaria, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, neglected tropical diseases, and pandemic influenza. This initiative aims to address the complex human resource challenges faced by national infectious disease programs in USAID-supported countries.

The intervention of this project is to hire and embed technical expert advisors and subject matter experts within government entities. By directly embedding the technical expertise within the national programs, LEAP will provide long-term, sustainable mentoring and capacity building for program staff, empower host governments to lead and manage key aspects of their infectious disease portfolios, and improve coordination between USAID and the host government.

About the Position

The purpose of the Global Fund Senior TB Technical Advisor is to provide state-of the-art technical expertise to improve capacity of the Lesotho National TB Program (NTP) to effectively implement and coordinate the Global Fund (GF) grants and the national TB strategic plan through the scale up of TB preventive interventions, diagnosis, treatment and care for both DS-TB and DR-TB. The TB Technical Advisor shall identify programmatic bottlenecks and facilitate solutions through coordinated technical assistance in Lesotho.

Responsibilities

Provide support to NTP in the implementation and scale up of TB and DR- activities, national strategic plan, policies, practices, and coordination of the TB national strategic plan (30% LOE).

• Support the NTLP scale up TPT interventions at facilities and in communities through the implementation of the new expanded guidelines.
• Support NTP to develop national plans, policies and guidelines related to TB and DR-TB detection, treatment, and prevention.
• Support NTP in the scale up of quality diagnostic networks, including GeneXpert, DST and specimen transport by implementation of the information from geospatial mapping.
• Support NTP to improve TB, DR-TB and pediatric TB case finding, including implementation of new and innovative approaches to improve TB dual screening and diagnosis using WRDs.
• Assist NTP in preparation for introduction of new drugs and regimens in the country, with a focus on clinical management, training and mentorship, and care delivery.
• In collaboration with the NTP and implementing partners, identify programmatic bottlenecks, identify technical assistance needs and communicate priority needs to the Ministry, donors and implementing partners.
• Identify programmatic gaps which may require additional technical assistance through collaboration with NTP and partners.
• Support and functionalize the multi-sectoral approach frame for TB and the private-public mix.
• Coordinate technical assistance provision by all national TB partners, assist NTP with the implementation of the TB acceleration plan, and monitor the implementation of it.
• Through collaboration with NTP, TB partners identify programmatic gaps which may require additional technical assistance.
• Develop terms of reference for additional technical assistance as needed based on identified programmatic gaps.

Provide technical support to NTP in the implementation of the Global Fund Grant (30% LOE).

• Provide technical assistance (TA) to develop and critically review the GF grant annual work plans and budgets, with particular emphasis on any needs for reprogramming to meet GF targets.
• Consult with existing stakeholders on needed TA to effectively implement the TB GF grant.
• Support monitoring of grant implementation through field visits.
• Review and analyze performance reports submitted to the GF and other partners.
• Proactively identify any issues that may lead to disbursement delays and support any follow-up actions on grant conditions/precedents.
• Coordinate with NTP M&E Advisor to implement monitoring tools and dashboards for reaching programmatic indicators, including routine analysis of performance (GF, WHO and national indicators).
• Support organization of routine discussions among the GF, NTP, and USAID to ensure alignment of technical approaches in the respective TB portfolios.
• Analyze quarterly and annual results of the GF grant and assist with the development of plans to mitigate the identified gaps.
• Analyze GF grant performance and coordinate with NTP and USAID on needed actions to improve grant implementation.
• Assist in monitoring the progress of grant implementation through field visits, and review and analyze performance reports submitted to GF and other partners.
• Proactively identify any issues that may lead to disbursement delays.
• Assist the National TB Program with any follow-up actions on grant conditions/Conditions Precedents.
• Support in developing monitoring tools and dashboards for reaching programmatic indicators (TGF, WHO and national indicators).

Enhance coordination and liaison with USG, GF, WHO, other donors and international partners on planning and provision of needed TA (30% LOE).

• Provide targeted technical assistance to the NTP to enhance financial management systems and processes for managing funds accountability and effectively.
• Contribute to improving overall M&E systems, by assisting NTP to improve data quality assurance mechanisms, effective supportive supervision, and use of digital solutions.
• Provide guidance in developing quarterly and annual programmatic narrative reports.
• Provide guidance to NTP for the coordination of TB activities among program partners.
• Support NTP to liaise with domestic and international partners.
• Support NTP to organize regular (at least quarterly) partners meetings.
• Assist with the planning of the GF activities in the country.
• Participate in TGF, WHO and USAID program reviews and assessments
• Advise NTP and partners on optimization and/or coordination of donor support and technical assistance (from USAID, TGF, etc.) to enhance effectiveness and value for money.
• Hold monthly and/or quarterly meetings with the USAID health/TB team (Maseru) to discuss programmatic updates.

Support innovation, research, and capacity building to the NTLP (10% LOE).

• Support the full implementation and scale-up of the extension of community health outcomes (ECHO) programme through supporting coordination, technical input in the curriculum and mentorship.
• Support the implementation and scale-up of the National subnational TB situation room.
• Support the planning and hosting of TB scientific symposia and provide mentorship in research.
• Support the development of research abstract and promote showing casing of programme performance locally and international fora.
• Advance leadership skills to successful support capacity building and knowledge sharing activities, and mentors develop junior staff.
• Cultivate mentorship skills based on the country contexts and available evidence of mentorship curriculum to support and improve knowledge transfer and skills acquisition of NTP staff, and incoming fellows more effectively.
• Advance leadership skills to successfully 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.

Minimum Qualifications

• Advanced degree (PhD, MMED, Masters, or MD) in a health-related field required including Public Health, Epidemiology, Infectious disease, Tropical Diseases.
• Minimum of 10 years relevant technical experience with a master’s degree or higher or 15 years relevant technical experience with a bachelor’s degree in a health-related field.
• At least seven years of progressively responsible experience in designing, implementing, and managing TB in developing countries in Africa.
• Demonstrated technical leadership, program management, strategic planning, policy experience and problem-solving skills working on complex projects in a highly sensitive environment are required.
• Demonstrated technical capacity in financial management required.
• 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).
• Experience in communicating information to health and non-health audiences on projects, policies, research dissemination and administrative matters.
• 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.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with international bilateral or multilateral donor agencies or developmental partners in public health programmes, TB is desirable.
• Prior experience working with senior and mid- level managers in government or international organizations in Africa.

Skills

• Ability to communicate quickly, clearly, and concisely – both orally and in writing — in English essential.
• Excellent computer skills including office packs like Microsoft 365 and statistical packages such as Stata, SPSS, R, Tableau, etc…
• Proven scientific writing skills.
• Ability to work independently and in a team.
• Ability to work under pressure with conflicting priorities.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Excellent public speaking skills.