Technical Advisor - OVC Case Management & Referral Coordination at Catholic Relief Services (CRS)

Application Ref. Code: TAOF7119
Location: Abuja, Nigeria
Band: 9
Reports To: Technical Director
Position Type: Full Time

Project Background

• FASTER (Faith-based Action for Scaling up Testing and Treatment for the Epidemic Response) project is designed as a new component of the global FOCUS (Faith-based Organization Capacity Strengthening for Universal HIV Services) project. Funded by the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), FOCUS was developed with the intent of building FBO network capacity, assisting FBOs to contribute to HIV multi-sector planning for expanded service delivery, and documenting successful approaches. Led by CRS, FOCUS builds understanding of how to leverage the faith-based community’s contributions at sub-national and national levels, reinforcing mutual responsibility and country-driven leadership.
• FASTER takes FOCUS’ objectives to the next level by creating an enabling environment in Nigeria where government, civil society, the private sector, and FBOs can accelerate normative pediatric HIV case finding, testing, linkage to care and treatment, and adherence support by strengthening and streamlining joint coordination and provision of pediatric HIV service delivery.
  

Job Summary

• The Technical Advisor – OVC Case Management & Referral Coordination will provide technical coordination and for quality assurance for the FASTER Nigeria strategies towards strengthening case management and referral coordination of PEPFAR OVC and Adolescent programs in Nigeria and ensure that FASTER strategies are aligned to national and international evidence based technical strategies.
• The Technical Advisor – OVC Case Management & Referral Coordination, facilitates collaboration between the FASTER project and technical teams of Government coordinating structures and PEPFAR OVC Implementing partners. S/he will oversee the OVC Case Management & Referral Coordination strategies of FASTER along the relevant FASTER priority actions, providing technical leadership in implementing and monitoring project deliverables and outcomes and ensure project outputs are provided as per the agreed work plan.

Specific Job Responsibilities
Program Quality and Technical Coordination:

• Project focal point for strategies towards strengthening National and sub-national Coordination platforms for effective OVC Case management and referral coordination technical strategies.
• Support GoN and PERFARs efforts to standardize and scale up use of evidence based technical strategies for OVC Case Management and Referral Coordination.
• Support the development of SOPs, job aids and guidelines on OVC Case Management and Referral Coordination for PEPFAR implementing partners and civil society organizations.
• Champion strategies to strengthen bi-directional linkages towards improved OVC continuum of care with focus optimizing health and social services workforce and improved data management information system.
• Facilitate effective representation of the FBOs and FBO networks in OVC TWG activities at the national and state levels
• Support innovative approach to creating demand for increased uptake of Pediatric and adolescent HIV services
• Support the roll – out of Differentiated Service Delivery (DSD) models to improve ART uptake and treatment retention amongst children and adolescents in Faith – based and Non – Faith based institutions.
• Support the strengthening of the capacity of OVC implementing Partners on HIV counselling and testing, PMTCT and Early Infant Diagnosis (EID), improving referral and counter-referral systems between communities and facilities.
• Support the scale up of community-based model for the engagement of community structures to improve case-finding for infants delivered outside of facilities.
• Develop guidelines and SOPs on age appropriate HIV Risk screening for children and adolescents in community and facility settings.
• Work with IPs to scale – up the use of age-specific HIV Risk screening tool for determining children and adolescents at risk of HIV and prioritizing them for HIV testing in community and facility settings.
• Support the development of effective strategies for linkage to care and treatment of children living with HIV.
• Lead the technical documentation of appropriate application of programmatic best practices.
• Utilize and develop appropriate tools to track program performance (site capacity assessment
• tool, regular financial analysis, treatment initiation, adherence monitoring/patient retention.
• Strengthen GoN referral linkages to increase ART uptake and retention in care among children and Adolescent

Representation and Learning:

• In consultation with the Technical Director, represent the FASTER Project on relevant technical forums and government engagement as required on OVC programs
• Provide high level technical support for program innovation and learning; foster regular discussions with key stakeholders as appropriate; to facilitate cross sector learning on OVC and adolescent programs.
• Support the FASTER project to roll out leaning briefs, peer reviewed articles, success stories and innovative that work in Pediatric HIV Care and Treatment.

Qualifications and Skills

• A Bachelor's degree in Health, Social Science or related discipline plus a master’s degree in Public Health or its equivalent
• Minimum 7 years of experience in HIV/AIDS programming
• Minimum 4 years in the developing world in project management positions with progressive technical and management responsibilities.
• Experience working in PEPFAR pediatric HIV and OVC programming.
• Strong background in program implementation; experience in supervising and providing technical assistance for roll-out of evidence-based HIV and OVC programming strategies.
• Ability to work both in a team and independently and ability to transfer knowledge through formal and informal training
• Technical experience with programming to address cross-gender issues and concerns among children and adolescents is highly required.
• Strong strategic, analytical, systems thinking, and problem-solving skills, with capacity to see the big picture and ability to make sound judgment and decisions.
• Strong communications and presentation skills; able to develop tailored and persuasive messaging for varied audiences.
• Experience managing teams and building partnerships in complex situations
• Proven leadership qualities, depth and breadth of technical expertise and experience, and strong interpersonal skills.

Representation and Learning:

• In consultation with the Technical Director, represent the FASTER Project on relevant technical forums and government engagement as required.
• Ensure necessary technical assistance and training is provided to partners to develop capacity to implement HIV/AIDS support activities as per the project requirement.
• Provide high level technical support for program innovation and learning; foster regular
• discussions with key stakeholders as appropriate; to facilitate cross sector learning on Pediatric HIV, OVC and adolescent programs.
• Required Foreign Language: Excellent written and spoken English.
• Required Travel: Ability to travel up to 75% of time

Key Working Relationships:

• Internal: Project Director, Technical and MEAL Directors and Nigeria FASTER Project Team
• External: NASCP, NACA, SASCP, SACA, HIV and OVC Program Implementing Partners

Disclaimer Clause

• This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties and responsibilities associated with the position.
• CRS’ recruitment and selection procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation