Summary
Date Posted: Friday, September 08 2023, Base Salary: Not Disclosed

JOB DETAILS:
Overview:
• The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief is a United States governmental initiative to address the global HIV/AIDS epidemic and help save the lives of those living with the disease. Launched by U.S. President George W. Bush in 2003, PEPFAR has provided more than $80 billion in cumulative funding for HIV/AIDS treatment, prevention, and research since its inception, making it the largest global health program focused on a single disease in history. PEPFAR is implemented by a combination of U.S. government agencies in over 50 countries and overseen by the Global AIDS Coordinator at the U.S. Department of State. It is widely credited with having helped save millions of lives, primarily in Sub-Saharan Africa.
• The Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored, and Safe (DREAMS) Initiative is a global, public-private partnership between PEPFAR, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Girl Effect, Johnson & Johnson, ViiV Healthcare, and Gilead. The program seeks to reduce new HIV infections in adolescent girls and young women (AGYW), between 10 and 24 years old, across 10 sub-Saharan African countries. DREAMS is designed to meet the complex needs of AGYW by helping them become more Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored, and Safe.
• Globally, AGYW are the most vulnerable to new HIV infections, unplanned pregnancy, and sexual violence. In Zambia, they account for 78% of new HIV infections among adolescents. In Zambia, HIV prevalence among young people, ages 15-24 years, is 7 percent (8 percent women; 5 percent men). And among urban youth, the prevalence is more than twice as high as their rural counterparts (9 percent women; 4 percent men). Additionally, 20.3 percent of young Zambian women (ages 15-24) report having experienced sexual abuse during childhood and 2 out of 5 report physical violence by an intimate partner.
• In Zambia, PEPFAR invests nearly $30 million per year in the DREAMS initiative. DREAMS Zambia is implemented as an interagency effort through United States Agency for International Development, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and Peace Corps. Working across 14 districts, DREAMS Zambia targets the most vulnerable AGYW in more than 60 health facility catchment zones. DREAMS provides AGYW with safe, confidential spaces in their communities where they can access a package of services tailored to their individual needs. These services include mentor-led safe spaces, gender-based violence care and support, HIV testing and counseling, family planning, pre-exposure prophylaxis, education support, and economic strengthening. In addition, DREAMS works with sexual partners, parents and caregivers, schools, and communities to strengthen the supportive networks necessary for young women to thrive.

Responsibilities
Essential Duties/Tasks and Responsibilities:
• The DREAMS Coordinator works in collaboration with the PEPFAR interagency DREAMS team, as well as the Ministry of Health and other line ministries, the Global Fund, and other cooperating partners invested in improving the lives of AGYW in Zambia.
• The DREAMS Coordinator will primarily focus on coordination of the interagency DREAMS team to strengthen implementation of the DREAMS program in Zambia. This includes liaising with the interagency USG DREAMS team, and the relevant GRZ line ministries, the Global Fund, and relevant technical working groups for the successful implementation of the DREAMS program.
• The DREAMS Coordinator will work closely with and receive technical guidance from the Deputy PEPFAR Country Coordinator.

Coordinate DREAMS programming and policy efforts with USG, Multilateral and National Counterparts (45%).
• Provide leadership, strategic direction, and oversight for all DREAMS Zambia activities (including HIV testing, biomedical prevention, gender-based violence, and economic strengthening) across the PEPFAR portfolio. Maintain up-to-date knowledge of PEPFAR’s global DREAMS technical guidance policies and priorities.
• Lead interagency DREAMS planning, monitoring, reporting, and communications activities, including preparation for and facilitation of monthly DREAMS partner meetings and support for interagency technical assistance visits.
• Lead and coordinate the PEPFAR team’s support to the Government of Zambia’s efforts to prevention and treat new infections among AGYW, including implementation of national strategies and guidelines focused on case finding, HIV prevention, and adolescents and young people.
• Support and advise the coordination of partners involved in the multi-sectoral response to gender-based violence (GBV), especially related to the DREAMS initiative.
• Engage key stakeholders including local government authorities, UN organizations, the Global Fund, and other donors on AGYW activities and facilitate strategic alignment of interventions for efficient resource allocation and stronger health outcomes.
• Support the PEPFAR Coordination Office by attending the national-level Technical Working Group meetings hosted by the National HIV/AIDS/STI/Tuberculosis Council and/or Ministry of Health to ensure transparency and harmonization of USG investments with other in-country investments.

Provide technical expertise in HIV prevention among adolescent girls and young women (30%).
• Serve as the PEPFAR Coordination Office’s lead technical expert in the areas of HIV prevention for adolescent girls and young women (AGYW). Provide technical inputs to USAID and CDC staff on AGYW programming.
• Lead USG efforts to monitor and analyze data trends, refine programs based on the latest local and global evidence and best practices, and document and disseminate successes from the implementation of the DREAMS core package of evidence-based interventions (e.g., adolescent-friendly sexual and reproductive health, strengthening the family and community, and decreasing the risk of partners) in Zambia.
• Provide technical expertise on HIV programming with AGYW in interagency and government TWGs. Contribute to the development of relevant Government of Zambia policies and programs to advance joint Government of Zambia, PEPFAR Zambia, and DREAMS objectives.
• Provide technical assistance and oversight to implementing partners to ensure that the DREAMS activities are carried out in alignment with approved work plans and PEPFAR DREAMS priorities. Review work plans and progress reports and create data review and learning platforms with DREAMS implementing agencies and partners, using data for program quality improvement.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of global best practices in HIV prevention among AGYW and serve as a thought leader in Zambia and within the global PEPFAR community of practice. Represent the PEPFAR Zambia team in local and international fora, showcasing best practices and lessons learned from Zambia’s DREAMS program.

Programmatic and Financial Reporting (25%).
• Provide leadership on DREAMS-related inputs to the development of Zambia’s Country Operational Plan (COP) and ensure strong monitoring and oversight of the DREAMS portfolio through the quarterly PEPFAR Oversight and Accountability Review (POART), semi-annual performance report (SAPR), and annual performance report (APR). In reporting, ensure a targeted focus on issues related to AGYW, including avoiding sexual risk, violence prevention, DREAMS programming, engaging men and boys, and other HIV prevention and treatment programming.
• Guide annual budget allocation for DREAMS programming in line with global guidance and interagency decisions linked to PEPFAR Zambia and DREAMS priorities.
• Facilitate/prepare information sheets, presentations, and other documents about US government-funded AGYW programs in Zambia. Draft briefing materials, progress reports, memoranda, and other Front Office communications materials as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.

Deliverables: Routine reports to document ongoing technical support (weekly).
Qualifications
Minimum Requirements:
• Minimum six (6) years’ experience in the management of HIV programs, preferably focused on combination prevention for adolescent girls and young women, with at least three to five (3-5) years’ experience implementing and/or coordinating with PEPFAR-supported programs. Strong preference for previous experience with DREAMS in Zambia.
• Expert level knowledge and demonstrated application of planning, designing, implementing, and providing technical guidance on adolescent HIV and health programs.
• Advanced understanding of HIV/AIDS prevention and community-based social welfare initiatives, including program design, implementation, and evaluation.
• Detailed and broad knowledge of the health sector in Zambia, including her institutions, strategies policies, objectives, development perspectives, political structure, and environment.
• Detailed knowledge of the structure and function of development partners supporting adolescent health, as well as understanding of the work and current projects of other collaborating and donor agencies. Good understanding of Government of Zambia social, political, and cultural characteristics and how to interact with key decision makers in the health sector.
• Demonstrated capacity to monitor and oversee a health initiative and/or campaign.
• Demonstrated capacity to use data-informed decision-making with regards to programs policies.
• Excellent coordination skills with strong attention to detail and follow-through, including balancing competing priorities in a fast-paced working environment and working under pressure to meet project or event deadlines.
• Strong management and analytical skills required to strategize, develop, and implement effective USG-supported HIV/AIDS programs. Ability to solve complex and often conceptual problems requiring sophisticated analytical abilities.
• Demonstrated facilitation skills with an eye towards presentation, judgment, and diplomacy amongst diverse stakeholder groups.
• Excellent interpersonal communication and team building skills: must have the ability to engage effectively with others in a multi-cultural team environment and proactively work to achieve consensus on policy, project, and administrative matters.
• Strong written and verbal skills and ability to communicate both routine and highly complex technical information clearly and effectively to both technical and non-technical colleagues, including via project briefings, reports, and other communications.
• Demonstrated strong data analysis skills. Must have the ability to obtain, analyze, synthesize, and disseminate data and present findings in both oral and written form.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain relationships and contacts with counterparts from the Ministry of Health, the Global Fund, UN agencies, and/or other bilateral donor working in HIV prevention among adolescent girls and young women.
• Ability to work within other cross-cutting areas guiding development work in Zambia.
• Advanced capacity in qualitative and quantitative data presentation (including Excel, PowerPoint, and Word) are required.
• Strong skills in computer programs for data analysis, documentation, report-writing, and presentation are required.
• Ability to travel up to 20% of time, primarily in Zambia.

Education:
• Master’s degree or higher in public health, social and/or behavioral science, or a related social science field, with specific emphasis on community-level health promotion and/or education.

Competencies/Performance Criterion:
• Innovation: Employee takes initiative to propose new ideas/approaches and demonstrates ability to find new and better ways to accomplish work.
• Customer Service: Handles customer questions and complaints, communicates with customers, handles service problems politely and efficiently, always available for customers, follows procedure to solve customer problems, understands company products and services, maintains pleasant and professional image.
• Accountability: Takes ownership of work responsibilities and holds high standards. Keeps commitments and takes appropriate actions to ensure obligations are met. Pursues efficiency and effectiveness and adheres to Organization policies and procedures.
• Interpersonal Skills: Employee demonstrates ability to work in cooperation with others and communicate effectively with co-workers, supervisors, subordinates, clients and other outside contacts.
• Continual Learning: Assesses and recognizes own strengths and weaknesses; pursues professional development that is aligned with organizational role, contribution, and goals. Proactively shares knowledge with others to foster learning across the Organization.

Working Environment: Work is typically performed in an office environment.

Physical Requirements: This is largely a sedentary position that requires the ability to speak, hear, see, and lift small objects up to 20 lbs.
Supervisory Responsibility: This position may have supervisory responsibilities.
Travel: International travel may be required and may include travel to fragile and/or conflict-prone zones.
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

About the Organization:
• IBTCI has been in business since 1987. We specialize in Monitoring, Evaluation, Research & Learning (MERL), Institutional Support (IS), Financial & Risk Management (FRM), Supply Chain Management & Procurement (SCMP); Social & Behavior Change (SBC) and Capacity Building. We provide these services across many sectors including, but not limited to, agriculture, resilience & food security, conflict & crisis, democracy & governance, economic growth & trade, education & human capacity development, energy & infrastructure, environment & climate change, global health & WASH and humanitarian and disaster assistance. At IBTCI, our colleagues are encouraged to collaborate and be part of the solution while getting the tools and guidance needed to grow and support our clients’ missions.
• IBTCI is committed to a policy of equal employment opportunity for all persons without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identification, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, national origin, disabled veteran or Vietnam-era veteran, or any other classification protected by applicable anti-discrimination laws. We prohibit and do not tolerate any form of discrimination or harassment. VEVRAA Federal Contractor.

Job Experience: No Requirements

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months:

Level of Education: Associate Degree

Job application procedure
• If you are an applicant with a disability that requires a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process or are limited in the ability, or unable to use the online application system and need an alternative method for applying, you may contact the Talent Acquisition team at TalentAcquisition@ibtci.com  (Do not send your resume to this account, for consideration please apply in our career page, https://careers.ibtci.com/jobs ).
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