Technical Specialist, TB (SMILE) at Catholic Relief Services (CRS)

Project Background
CRS Nigeria leads the USAID-supported SMILE (Sustainable Mechanisms for Improving Livelihoods and Household Empowerment) consortium consisting of ActionAid Nigeria and Westat designed to scale-up care and support services for orphans and vulnerable children in FCT, Benue, Kogi, Edo, and Nasarawa by strengthening the capacity of government, civil society organizations (CSOs) and communities. SMILE seeks to improve the well being of 600,000 OVC and 150,000 caregivers and will be implemented through an umbrella grants mechanism (UGM) whereby CSOs receive sub-grants to support capacity strengthening and program implementation at the community level. The project will also strengthen the Nigerian Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) response by strengthening the organizational systems and technical capacity of the five SMWASDs and targeted Local Government Areas (LGA).

The purpose of this position is to support the development and implementation of technical program activities for community-based childhood TB through the provision of technical guidance to SMILE partner CSOs, CTBC case managers and community volunteers. Under the direction of the Technical Advisor, TB, s/he will collaborate closely with the SMILE team to roll out and implement an integrated and holistic community based response to HIV/AIDS and TB towards scaling up access to childhood TB prevention, care and treatment support services in Nassarawa state.

General function

• The Technical Specialist- TB SMILE will be responsible for working closely with the SMILE technical team to achieve the strategic objectives of the program - focusing primarily on facilitating access to community childhood TB in Nassarawa state, but also supporting cross-cutting themes and integration efforts across the SMILE project. S/he will adhere to high standards of programmatic and management quality to support community stakeholders’ capacity and performance in provide access to full range of childhood TB services - for children and their caregivers.

Major Responsibilities

• S/he will provide technical and programmatic support primarily in the area of community childhood TB for project community members including SMILE beneficiaries in Nassarawa state.
• S/he will be responsible for implementing strategies designed to strengthen the linkages between the community-based activities and health facilities providing TB diagnosis, care and treatment.
• S/he will also support the strengthening of the capacity of implementing CSOs, CTBC case managers and community volunteers in the area of childhood TB prevention awareness creation; TB-case detection; TB treatment support and improving referral and counter-referral systems between communities and facilities.
• In addition, s/he will support the implementation of evidence-based interventions aimed reducing morbidity and mortality among TB clients particularly ensuring access to HIV services by TB patients.
• S/he will utilize approaches that support integration and maximize country and community-ownership for sustainability of the project.

Specific Responsibilities
Technical:

• Contribute to the development of strategies, design and implementation of community childhood TB prevention, care and support activities by SMILE; ensure activities improve community TB prevention, care and support services for TB patients.
• Direct CSOs and CTBC case managers towards overall technical quality - including adherence to technical standards, best practices and donor guidelines for all community childhood TB Prevention, Care and Support TB activities including TB/HIV integration services in Nasarawa state.
• Support strategies towards ensuring that project activities are built on strong behavior change principles, and builds the capacity of CSOs and CTBC case managers in effective implementation and monitoring.
• Identify leverage points for linkages and referral networking at the community level and for integration of TB Prevention Care & Support elements into other OVC project activities.
• Work closely with the Nasarawa state TB, Leprosy and Buruli Control Program, LGA TB supervisors, and TB TWG for improved linkages and referral coordination for smooth community-facility continuum of care for childhood TB services.
• Keep abreast of research and trends in effective behavior change approaches in community childhood TB Care.
• Contribute to efforts towards ensuring that project activities and approaches used by CSOs are in line with relevant government policies; contribute to the review and development of new policies, as appropriate.
• Identify opportunities for learning, formative research, special studies and operational research  and work with M&E team, SMILE technical team, CRS Nigeria MEAL team and external support (if needed) to conduct research.
• Contribute to the development of training modules and tools, and conduct relevant trainings and workshops for CSO staff and GON in line with identified capacity strengthening needs.
• Coordinate with other USAID Implementing Partners, including KNCV (CHALLENGE TB) with relevant experience and training resources
• Improving accountability to CSOs, Nasarawa SMOH, SMWASD, Nasarawa TBLCP, TB TWGs through increased participation, transparent communication, responsive feedback mechanism, and adherence to internal and external quality standards and requirement.
• Contribute to the documentation and dissemination of project efforts, achievements, lessons learned and innovations within SMILE and to the larger Nigerian and global technical community, as appropriate.
• Support the development of functional referral networks for community –health facility linkages of vulnerable groups
• Use appropriate project management tools to plan, review and track progress on implementation of community childhood TB activities and strategize on meeting set targets.
• Supports relevant development of human resources to implement quality MEAL  processes
• Actively seeks and responds to feedback from all members of targeted communities and other Stakeholders
• Encourages individual and key stakeholder reflection on key project issues/priorities, assumptions and themes to identify and address gaps in learning/service delivery or uptake
• Representation:
• Represent the SMILE consortium in external technical meetings, conferences and workshops related to childhood TB prevention, treatment, care and support.
• Liaise and collaborate with TB/ TB&HIV implementing partners including government agencies like the National TB Control Program (NTP), National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), other learning institutions and civil society actors to promote synergy, share lessons learned and avoid duplication. Link State, LGA, and CSO staff to relevant childhood TB technical and coordination forums. 
• Prepare technical briefs and presentations to communicate program results and influencing key stakeholders in the HIV and TB sectors.

Supervision and Mentoring:

• Facilitate capacity development for partner CSOs, community volunteers and other key stakeholders on community childhood TB prevention, treatment, care and support.
• Provide regular supportive supervision to CSO staff and CTBC case managers to ensure achievement of expected results- using standard supervision checklists.
• Support CSOs and related GON entities to use quality improvement science and methodology to enhance the quality of community Childhood TB interventions
• Support CSO staff professional development, including identifying capacity building needs for CSO staff, providing mentoring and training and linking staff to appropriate external opportunities to in line with project needs.
• Ensure relevant GON entities have the knowledge, skills and tools to provide technical oversight to CSO engaged in community childhood TB interventions.
• Facilitate the use of monitoring data during quarterly participatory reflection events and other fora with partners and other stakeholders to inform project decisions.
• Facilitate the use of evaluation and review results with partners and other stakeholders to inform decision-making, identify lessons learned and best practices.
• Support the GON planning processes, particularly at the state and local levels on community childhood TB as it relates to vulnerable households.

Key Working Relationships:

• Internal: Chief of Party; Technical Director; Program Director; M&E Director; Technical Advisor TB; SMILE Technical Specialists-HIV Prevention, Care and Support; Technical Specialist M&E (TB); Senior Program Managers.
• External: SMILE Consortium team members; SMILE CSO partners; SMILE CTBC case managers, National TB Control Program (NTP); KNCV- CHALLENGE TB; Nasarawa state MOH; Nasarawa state TB, Leprosy and Buruli Control Program; LGA TBL supervisors; TB TWGs; TB/HIV TWGs; other NGO and other stakeholders.

Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff) :

• These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.
• Serves With Integrity
• Models Stewardship
• Cultivates Constructive Relationships
• Promotes Learning

Travel:

• Travel up to 40% of the time.

Qualifications and Skills

• MBBS/MD and/or MPH with a minimum of 2 years relevant experience in implementing community TB programs
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with government and civil society partners and communities as well as transfer knowledge to diverse audiences through workshops, training and meetings using participatory methods and adult learning principles.
• Experience in supporting community TB prevention, case detection and treatment support programs in health facilities and community outreaches
• Good knowledge of Government of Nigeria TB Prevention, Care and Support and community TB guidelines
• Good understanding of principles and practices of TB and HIV services integration
• Familiarity with OVC programming and principles.
• Excellent English oral and written communication skills required.
• Excellent analytic, organizational and computer skills; skilled in MS Office including Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.