Technical Advisor - Onchocerciasis (English and French Speaking) at Sightsavers

Reports to: Coordinator of Technical Advisors
Directorate: Sightsavers

Dimensions

• Accelerating the Sustainable Control and Elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases (ASCEND) is a high profile, high value, multi-partner programme, which will make a significant contribution to the control and elimination of the 5 PC NTDs across 13 countries. Sightsavers is the lead supplier, directly working with LSTM, Mott MacDonald, SCI and other partners including WaterAid, M&C Saatchi and Accenture.
• Sightsavers is responsible for overall delivery in line with contractual agreements within the consortium structure. Of the four units across this structure, the Programme Optimisation Unit is the largest being responsible for ensuring that ASCEND delivers effective results across the diseases and key thematic areas, including Health System Strengthening (HSS) and Social Behaviour Communication Change (SBCC). 

Job Purpose

• Working closely with the Coordinator of Technical Advisors the technical adviser for Onchocerciasis will advise, guide and support the implementation of the onchocerciasis component of ASCEND adhering consistently to global, national and consortium policy, strategy, technical norms, contract terms and conditions ensuring that elimination/break in transmission timelines are not only met but exceeded where feasible. 

Main Responsibilities

• Ensure current WHO guidelines on Onchocerciasis elimination are followed and propose strategies for accelerating elimination of transmission;
• Provide technical support and oversee the implementation of onchocerciasis activities, including onchocerciasis elimination mapping, MDA, pre-STOP MDA surveys, Stop MDA surveys, breeding site mapping, Post-treatment Surveillance, Post-elimination Surveillance, Dossier development, in coordination with the ASCEND survey manager;
• Be the point of contact for providing technical advice to ASCEND supported country programmes on onchocerciasis;
• Prepare progress reports on onchocerciasis activities to Coordinator- Technical Advisor
• Link with the ACSEND technical advisers for LF, for trachoma and for Patient Care to ensure synergy between activities and planning;
• Ensure close coordination of alignment of technical advice and activities in countries were ASCEND is not the only source of onchocerciasis or MDA funding;
• Working within both national and consortium structures maintain a consistency of technical advice and activities in countries were ASCEND is not the only source of onchocerciasis or MDA funding;
• Work closely with the ASCEND technical advisers for LF, patient care, trachoma, and STH/SCH to deliver harmonised, integrated MDA and monitoring activities wherever appropriate within the ASCEND structure In coordination with national and global stakeholders, support the dissemination and application of best practice for onchocerciasis activities in line with global standards and emerging m-Health systems- working closely with the Integrated Systems Unit;
• Work closely with the Integrated Systems Unit on issues of common cause;
• Link with WASH/SBCC and HSS to ensure integration and sustainability of onchocerciasis specific interventions;
• Ensure Value for Money (VFM) and Leave No one Behind (LNOB) across all activities;
• Promote integrated delivery, embedding NTD care and treatment into national systems, and cross-sectoral coordination where feasible.

The principle accountabilities are not meant to be an exhaustive list of tasks. The need for flexibility is required and the job holder is expected to carry out any other related duties that are within the employee's skills and abilities whenever reasonably instructed.
 
Planning and Organising:

• Ensure timely evidence-based reports as required by the consortium;
• Ensure onchocerciasis activities are aligned with consortium technical standards, nationally/internationally recognised standards and respective National Health Systems;
• Support Coordinator Technical Advisors to align the technical and operational aspects of onchocerciasis;
• Represent ASCEND at external events, when appropriate;
• Ensure all interventions uphold a commitment to gender, equity, social inclusion, value for money and sustainability through development and use of cross-cutting plans.

Problem Solving:

• Work closely with the Coordinator of Technical Advisors to exceed the onchocerciasis commitments of ASCEND;
• Work closely with technical advisors to keep up to date with and implement new developments in programme best-practise for onchocerciasis and WHO guidance;  
• Work closely with the Coordinator of Technical Advisors to ensure data and information are available to the third-party monitoring supplier to support the independent quality assurance accountability role, robust monitoring systems, and ensure lessons learned are fed back into programme design.

Decision Making:

• Escalate issues to Coordinator of Technical Advisors;
• Directly disseminate ASCEND technical advice  for countries in which there is direct responsibility for onchocerciasis activities in progress;
• Harmonise the implementation of technical advice  in those countries where ASCEND holds responsibility for onchocerciasis activities;

Key Contacts
Internal:

• ASCEND Team including: Central Operations Unit; Ascend Knowledge, Innovation & Learning Unit; Technical Advisors and where agreed, the consortium Technical Hubs;
• Country Principal; Sub-contractors;
• Capacity Building Support Personnel.

External:

• Implementing partner Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs);
• Health Ministry staff of implementing countries (National NTD teams);
• National Onchocerciasis Elimination Committees (NOECs);
• Wider NTD community.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Educated to Degree level or equivalent in a relevant discipline;
• Minimum of five years’ experience and/or qualifications in onchocerciasis within development sector;
• A successful track record of working in different context;
• Ability to work within a complex matrix structure without compromising the roles of key programme personnel; 
• Ability to think strategically and effectively translate concepts into action plans;
• Demonstrably skilled in both written and verbal communication in English and French;
• Excellent analytical and IT skills; 
• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity for disabled people.

Core Behaviours:

• Self-motivation;
• Flexible and adaptable approach;
• Communicating, influencing and leadership;
• Team working;
• Planning & organising; 
• Change & improvement;
• Decision making;
• Output driven. 

Nature and Scope:

• This project comprises a consortium of four of DFIDs established NTD partners, responsible for successful NTD programming in collaboration with national governments at a value of £91.6 million over 3 years.
• As the Lead, Sightsavers is contractually obliged to ensure that programming is delivered in a way in which adheres to the guiding principles of the consortium namely: Going Beyond Business as Usual; Strengthening Country Capacity and Self-reliance; Delivering Value for Money; Leveraging Successful Programmes and Supporters. As an integrated programme, the minimum results expected from this contract are expected to be:
• Provide surgeries to prevent 100,000 cases of blindness due to trachoma; 
• 450 million MDA treatments;
• Reduction of morbidity and disability in 26,000 people with LF.