Prevention and Advocacy Coordinator 104 views1 application

Background:

AIDS Healthcare Foundation is a global not-for-profit organization that provides cutting-edge medicine and advocacy to more than 1.7million patients in 45 countries globally and 13 countries in Africa and is headquartered at Los Angeles, California, USA.

Since 1987, AHF has cared for thousands of people living with HIV and AIDS worldwide. As we create and implement unparalleled programs in new communities globally, we expand delivery of healthcare and influence over strategies with the sole aim of saving more lives.

Currently, AHF-Ethiopia is supporting 10 high load public health facilities, 1 NGO and 1 AHF owned clinic and providing standardize comprehensive HIV care and prevention service for more than 43,000 clients in Addis Ababa, Oromia and Amhara.

The organization is looking for experienced candidates at its head office at coordinator position to support the national HIV Prevention, HTS and Advocacy efforts with the purpose of contributing to the country’s epidemic control.

Objective:

AHF-Ethiopia is currently working with MoH, RHB and partners hand in hand in comprehensive and client centered HIV Prevention, care and treatment services. To continue supporting the MoH and RHB in HIV prevention, testing, linkage, and retention as well as advocacy, qualified candidate with diverse  experience is highly required.

Position Summary:

A Prevention and Advocacy Coordinator for AHF-Ethiopia takes the lead role in coordinating country level HIV prevention (Condom promotion & distribution, Peer education and life skill training (Young People Program, Girls Act Program), PrEP),  HIV testing programs (Index case testing, optimized PITC using HRST, VCT, HIVST, SNS…), and coordinating the implementation of advocacy & marketing activities in collaboration with AHF-Ethiopia’s prevention team, government (MoH), and others sectors (like MoE, MoWCSA…). This is essentially expected to help the growth of AHF’s treatment and care program in all AHF-supported sites in the country. The employee makes sure that up-to-date national and international standards are in place in every site where AHF implements its HIV testing and prevention programs. S/he will ensure all minimum requirements are met with regard to professionals deployed, commodities utilized, and national guidelines & protocols are strictly followed.

Regarding the Advocacy role, s/he will be responsible for coordinating country level HIV advocacy, using a patient-centered, holistic approach, working with and for PLHIV, PLHIV associations, government & non-government institutions in line with the country’s specific law and legislation. The coordinator will be generating accurate information on advocacy issues, assist in designing HIV advocacy strategies, implement & follow planned activities that support improved access to HIV prevention, treatment & care in in Ethiopia.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Area : Prevention Program

Key Result Area I: Leading and coordinating HIV prevention activities at supported Regions and health facilities including AHF Addis Clinic and internal communication.

• Takes the lead role in coordination of AHF’s prevention program through mentorship and provision of technical assistance to employees working under the prevention wing of AHF clinics, staffs at AHF-supported sites, as well as to those working at community outreach sites
• Coordinating the implementation of HIV Counseling and Testing (HCT) and other HIV prevention and service marketing activities in all AHF-supported static sites and outreaches
• Work with AHF-Ethiopia prevention and marketing teams to identify potential sites for HCT activities in AHF-supported facilities and community HCT sites
• Take the lead role in coordinating active identification of HIV positive clients through Index Case Testing (ICT) and Partner notification Service (PNS) working in close collaboration with prevention teams and other partner organizations
• Monitor and supervise the day-to-day activities of all HCT activities together with other prevention staff including Assistant Counselor Coordinator, Linkage & Testing Officer, Outreach Supervisor, etc.
• Ensures availability and facilitate allocation of all HIV counseling and testing supplies, and materials for outreach and static HCT activities
• Work in synergy with AHF Clinical Team in coordinating the referral linkage process from the community testing sites to AHF Clinics or other AHF-supported health care facilities
• As part of HIV primary prevention intervention, lead the Young People’s Program and Girls Act activities through peer education training material development/adoption, site selection, recruitment of youth and assure the implementation of Behavioral, Biomedical and Structural components are in place on the sessions and, install an effective monitoring, follow up and reporting system for successful completion of the program and lesson learning
• Coordinate marketing activities to support HIV prevention intervention service utilization by end users through supporting Girls Act and YPP Officer
• Coordinate and organize, AHF-Ethiopia HIV prevention and marketing events, campaigns, preparation of promotional items and other community mobilization activities including, but not limited to, World AIDS Day (WAD), International Condom Day (ICD), International Women Day (IWD), Menstrual Health Day (MHD), International Days of Girl Child (IDGC), etc.
• Work with the Prevention Program and Africa Union Advocacy Liaison Manger in strengthening partnership with relevant government stakeholders and non-government organizations working on HIV prevention
• Coordinate the organization of promotional and HIV marketing activities using appropriate media to mobilize the community for HIV counseling and testing and other HIV prevention, treatment, & care activities.
• Closely monitor HIV prevention program through key indicators; design & perform corrective actions; supervise AHF Ethiopia prevention staffs and organize regular supportive supervision
• Under the PAULAM  and in collaboration with AHF pharmacy section, work on planning, forecasting, and stock controlling of HIV testing commodities and supplies
• Under PAULAM work with other AHF departments, mainly the laboratory department, as well as concerned government bodies to ensure the quality control of the HIV testing program in both static and community sites
• Assist in the preparation of AHF-Ethiopia’s country HIV prevention and marketing program plan in joint with AHF-Ethiopia HIV Prevention Team and AHF-Ethiopia Management
• Work with the PAULAM and Country Management in identifying potential partners for AHF Fund Grant; organizational capacity assessment, appraising proposals, facilitating nomination, and assisting in online application to AHF Headquarters
• Participate in the development of project proposal together with the country program teams in expanding AHF’s HIV prevention and marketing programs

Key Result Area II: Planning, Budgeting, Monitoring, Reporting.

• Develop Annual Work Plans for HIV Prevention Program and prepare annual budgets to support the work plan
• Develop and ensure all team also develop monthly plan to be executed and develop weekly plan of activities to be executed in the week, and ensure planned activities implementation status update of every team is reported using template
• Work with RHB, coordinate and conduct supportive supervision and mentorship on HIV Prevention Programs
• Ensure monthly program performance review is done at office level involving AHF site staffs
• Collaborate with RHBs and conduct quarterly/ biannual prevention program performance review with supported health facilities using standard performance review template
• Prepare and coordinate monthly, quarterly, and annual narrative report preparation and submission to Country Office
• Produce periodic HIV prevention activity reports to respective government offices, as well as partner organizations as required

Area: Advocacy

Key Result Area I: Policy engagements and demands for HIV Prevention, Care and Treatment

• Support the organization to identify important and timely policy and advocacy issues that are believed to improve HIV prevention, treatment, and care services
• Work with the Prevention Africa Union Liaison and Advocacy Manager in exploring new opportunities for advocacy
• Ensure that Advocacy initiatives are run according to relevant policies and procedures of the Ethiopian Government and AIDS Healthcare Foundation
• Keep abreast of research & policy development and debates in Ethiopia, relevant to the issues pertinent to the fight against HIV/AIDS, particularly issues of prevention and treatment

Key Result Area II: Strengthen and maintain AHF’s central or leadership role in mobilizing other civil society organizations and coalitions on collective advocacy work in HIV/AIDS

• Work closely with AHF-Ethiopia Prevention Program and Africa Union Advocacy Liaison Manager and the respective team to coordinate the HIV advocacy and promotion works; work closely with Civil Society Organizations, PLHIV, PLHIV associations, government & non-government institutions
• Coordination of the CSO Alliance and maintain solid relationship with other civil society actors and social movement allies for shared advocacy and policy actions
• Ensure relevant procedures for training, meeting, workshops, and other activities are well organized

Key Result Area III: Promote the work of AHF Ethiopia at national level and maintain a comprehensive communication strategy for all advocacy initiatives to maximize support and cooperation with partners.

• Build and/or strengthen strategic relations with key agencies of government at national and regional level
• Prepare and widely share best practices from AHF advocacy initiatives for HIV Prevention, Care and Treatment
• Network and liaise where appropriate with other professionals and institutions that have shared interests with AHF
• Represent AHF-Ethiopia in advocacy and promotion related task forces, working groups, committees, etc. as required

Key Result Area IV: Planning, Budgeting, Monitoring, Reporting, and Internal Communication

• Plan and contribute to the design and updating of the organization’s advocacy materials and prepare bi-annual budgets to support the work plan
• Develop bi-annual work plans for policy and advocacy, and ensure these are informed by emerging public health priorities in Ethiopia, as well as AHF global advocacy priorities
• Use the established advocacy planning and monitoring template to enable effective and regular capture of advocacy progress and inform planning and reporting
• Ensure all records of Policy and Advocacy work are well documented and kept up to date
• Provide weekly case updates to line manager on advocacy cases, and prioritize and manage cases in line with quality standards
• Ensure that there is regular communication of progress and challenges of advocacy activities, to the Country Management and Bureau Teams
• Produce updates for purposes of internal debate and collective decisions on the priorities we should maintain for advocacy in Ethiopia.

Education, Qualification, and Experience:

• Minimum of Masters level education in Public Health related fields of study (Public Health Education, Nursing, Reproductive Health, Epidemiology, etc.) from a recognized university
• Additional Social Science, Program management & Leadership background is an asset
• Minimum of five years’ experience in HIV related public health coordination/Advisory position in a international NGO working on HIV/AIDS programs/Government sectors
• Having a national level experience of advising/coordination comprehensive HIV Prevention, care treatment is an advantage
• Demonstrated experience and skill in public health program coordination and leadership
• Solid knowledge and experience on innovative HIV prevention/testing and advocacy strategies
• Training on HCT program management and HIV prevention is a necessity; additional training on ART, PMTCT, TB/HIV, Nutrition in HIV… would be an advantage

Core Competencies and Specific Skills:

• Thorough understanding of HIV program marketing, media utilization for advocacy and lobbying
• Have good concept and exposure on basic leadership skills
• Proficient in computer and internet skills, including word processing, database and presentation software; experience with MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and statistical analysis programs
• Excellent written, verbal and inter-personal communication skills with good command of English & Amharic languages
• Effective time management and meeting deadlines maintaining quality
• Must be highly organized and demonstrate multi-tasking ability
• Flexible, proactive, and able to organize work independently with minimum supervision
• Excellent interpersonal interaction skills and keen to work with good team spirit