Consultancy for support to HealthNet TPO on HIV/AIDS Programme

Location
The consultant will spend 80% of the time in the four states and 20% in Juba.

Time Frame
The consultant will be expected to spend 65 working days. The working days exclude the weekends.

Contract Date
Anticipated start date 1st July 2011

HealthNet TPO plans to contract a consultant to support the implementation of HIV/AIDS Programme in Southern Sudan with a special focus on clinical HIV/AIDS service delivery

1. GENERAL DESCRIPTION
HealthNet TPO’s programme in Southern Sudan dates from 1996. HealthNet TPO aims to contribute to improving the overall health situation and supports the strengthening of health systems to ensure the provision of quality health care. HealthNet TPO aims to include and build the capacity of Sudanese organisations, communities and authorities. HealthNet TPO is implementing a health service delivery programme in Western Bahr el Ghazal and Northern Bahr el Ghazal. In addition, HealthNet TPO is implementing an HIV/AIDS Programme in Western Bahr el Ghazal, Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Warrap and Unity States. The consultancy is related to the HIV/AIDS programme funded by the World Bank / Multi Donor Trust Fund in Southern Sudan that aims to strengthen the State AIDS Commissions (SACs), and relevant line ministries, State and County authorities’ capacity in the coordination, planning, implementation and monitoring of HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment service.

The consultant will work very closely with the State AIDS Commissions (SACs), the HIV/AIDS Coordination Units of the State Ministries of Health (SMOH) and HIV/AIDS Capacity Development Advisors in the four states mentioned above. The SACs and SMOHs are responsible for the planning of priority HIV/AIDS interventions, the coordination of organisations involved in the provision of HIV/AIDS services including the coordination and implementation of training activities. The role of the consultant is to strengthen the institutional and operational capacity of the SAC and / or SMOH HIV/AIDS Coordination Units.

The HIV/AIDS (MDTF) programme objectives are to: (i) strengthen the capacity of the SAC to plan, coordinate and monitor the Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS) response to HIV/AIDS, (ii) increase community access to comprehensive HIV/AIDS services, and (iii) create awareness and measurable behaviour change regarding HIV/AIDS.

2. OBJECTIVE AND CORE TASKS OF THE CONSULTANCY

2.1 The objective of the consultancy is to provide high quality technical support for comprehensive HIV/AIDS clinical service delivery in the four states.

2.2 The core tasks include but are not limited to the following:
• In close collaboration with the HIV/AIDS Advisors and Training Coordinator, identify opportunities to expand access to comprehensive HIV/AIDS clinical service delivery in urban and rural areas.
• In close collaboration with the HIV/AIDS Advisors and Training Coordinator, work with all stakeholders, organise and establish effective HIV/AIDS clinical services such as Voluntary Counselling Testing (VCT), Prevention of Mother-To-Child Transmission (PMTCT) of HIV/AIDS, Anti-Retroviral Therapy /Treatment (ART) in both existing and future sites.
• In close collaboration with the GoSS and State Ministries of Health, provide in-service training systems with emphasis on HIV/AIDS clinical service provision using SSAC methodologies and guidelines. Examples include training of counsellors, training of health facility staff in the management of VCT, PMTCT and ART sites.
• Develop guidelines for Provider Initiated Counselling and Testing (PICT).
• Develop close and continuous cooperation with NGOs working with the Most-At-Risk-Persons (MARPs) in order to increase the number of MARPs accessing the services. Ensure that the HIV prevention and treatment services are offered as much as possible as an integrated service of general health service provision.
• Ensure that the hospital management teams are involved and informed regularly about progress made and problems faced during provision of VCT, PMTCT & ART services through regular meetings between service providers, state supervisors and facility management.
• Ensure promotion of VCT, PMTCT & ART service using any available means.
• In close collaboration with the Training Coordinator, ensure that IEC activities include the information about the availability of HIV prevention, care and treatment services, at which location and at what time to increase awareness of the service and demand.

3. PROFILE

• Proved substantial experience of working on HIV/AIDS issues and knowledge of current developments in HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care.
• Master’s degree in Medicine /Public Health /Social Sciences.
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in management and provision of HIV/AIDS prevention, care and support services.
• Experience of working with the Ministries of Health at national and lower levels in Sub-Saharan Africa.
• Five or more years work experience in Sub-Saharan African countries on HIV/AIDS work (prior work experience in Southern Sudan and other fragile states will be considered an asset).
• Maintaining a high level of technical standards, internal validity and reliability.
• Proven track record in delivering timely, professional results.
• Excellent command of oral and written English, knowledge of Arabic will be an advantage.

Note: A criteria and score based selection process will be used in the identification of the most competitive consultant. The potential consultants will be required to submit their bids (including their understanding of the TOR and proposal on how they plan to execute the assignment).

4. TERMS

Qualified Sudanese nationals are encouraged to apply. To apply please send your CV (maximum 4 pages) and application letter (including your motivation) to recruitment@healthnettpo.org by 26th June 2011. When applying, include the following title in the email subject line: Clinical Consultant. Only short-listed applicants will be contacted.

For specific question regarding the advert please contact Iris Pitar at HealthNet TPO, Tolstraat 127, 1074 VJ Amsterdam +31 20 62000005 for more information on our organization, check our website: www.healthnettpo.org