Tuberculosis Global Fund Grant Advisor

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 Angola’s National Strategic Plan (NSP) 2018-2022 implementation to ensure supported activities achieve national scale and targets in selected key interventions focusing on the majority of the districts and provinces. USAID TB investment leverages U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) supported TB/HIV activities as well as the Global Fund (GF) TB grants and the Angola government funding which supports health care staff and infrastructure.

Introduction:
The TB Global Fund Grant Advisor (Advisor) will support the National TB Program of Angola in effective implementation and scale up of TB and M/XDR-TB activities. Additionally, the 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 Advisor will be based at the NTP within the Ministry of Health (MoH) in Angola. S/he will receive direction from the National TB Program Coordinator (NTP Manager), who will serve as the Onsite Manager and ensure daily supervision of activities. The Senior Advisor will also work closely with USAID.

Essential Duties and Outcomes:
Improve support to policy development and enabling policy environment for the 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., 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 M/XDR-TB activities:
● Support NTP to implement the new MDR-TB recommendations and scale-up patient-centered approaches to MDR-TB.
● Support NTP to improve TB and MDR-TB case finding, implement new and innovative approaches and systems to increase case detection.
● Assist NTP in preparation for the introduction of new drugs and regimens in the country, with a focus on clinical management, training and care delivery.
● Identify programmatic bottlenecks and facilitate technical assistance.
● Through collaboration with NTP and partners identify programmatic gaps which may require additional technical assistance.

Improve NTP activities and reporting to ensure alignment across implementing partners, donors and other parties:
● Liaise with USAID, GF and other donors and international partners on planning and provision of needed TA.
● Provide targeted TA to the NTP to enhance financial management systems and processes for managing funds accountably and effectively.
● Contribute to improving overall M&E systems, by assisting NTP to improve data quality assurance mechanisms, conduct effective supportive supervision and use of digital solutions at provincial and district level.
● Assist in developing quarterly and annual programmatic narrative reports.
● Assist NTP in coordination of TB activities among program partners.
● Support NTP to liaise with domestic and international partners.
● Assist NTP to organize regular (at least quarterly) partner meetings.
● Participate in regular conference calls/meetings with USAID staff as needed.

Anticipated Learning outcomes: *required 10% time
● Apply TB and MDR-TB knowledge to strengthen program.

● Apply and distinguish international standards within technical/content area to support programming.
● Cultivate leadership skills based on the STAR GH mentorship curriculum to effectively facilitate capacity building and knowledge sharing activities amongst staff and peers.
● Expand access to knowledge and resources through networking and collaborative practice within global health.

FELLOWSHIP REQUIREMENTS
Required:
● Advanced degree (Masters, PhD, or MD) in a health-related field required.
● Minimum 7 years of relevant technical experience in designing, implementing, and managing TB and PMDT in developing countries with master's degree or a minimum of 9 years of relevant technical experience with bachelor's degree.
● Demonstrated technical leadership, program management, strategic planning, policy experience and problem-solving skills working on complex projects in a highly sensitive environment.
● Demonstrated technical capacity in financial management.
● 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).
● Ability to work effectively with a broad range of MoH and 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.
● 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.
● Republic of Angola Citizenship required.

Additional skills (preferred)
● Experience with USAID-funded public health programs.
● Relevant technical experience obtained in African countries is preferred.

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.