Africa Regional Technical Advisor for Lymphatic Filariasis Morbidity Management at Sightsavers

About the role 

• Sightsavers’ work in Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) aims to reduce health disparities and disease burdens by building sustainable, locally owned health programs.
• As a Country Coordinating Partner on the RLM Fund expansion project (2024-2030), Sightsavers will help eliminate NTDs in Africa, focusing on river blindness and lymphatic filariasis (LF). This $500M initiative, supported by the UAE and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, will provide hydrocele surgeries and lymphedema self-care management to thousands, requiring strong technical coordination and program management. 

Responsibilities

• Support Strategy Development: Assist the Global Technical Lead for LF in creating strategies, policies, and frameworks for LF morbidity management and disability inclusion (MMDP/DMDI). 
• Technical Activities: Oversee LF case finding, morbidity plans, assessments, tool development, training, patient follow-up, and service provision for lymphedema and hydrocele. 
• Guideline Adherence: Ensure compliance with WHO and Sightsavers guidelines, proposing improvements for service availability, quality, and access. 
• Technical Support: Provide technical support to Sightsavers’ country offices and Ministry of Health partners, serving as the primary contact for LF MMDP/DMDI advice. 
• Appraisals and Best Practices: Conduct regular appraisals of ongoing implementations and share best practices across projects. 
• Progress Reporting: Prepare progress reports for the Global Technical Lead, NTD Technical Director, and Project Directors. 
• Collaboration: Work with the M&E team on Hydrocele Tracker use and lead training sessions for LF MMDP implementation and data collection. 
• Stakeholder Engagement: Support dissemination of best practices with national and global stakeholders, ensuring coordination in multi-funded countries. 
• Funding Proposals: Assist in developing technically sound funding proposals that align with WHO guidance and Sightsavers’ strategic priorities. 
• Procurement Coordination: Collaborate with the NTD procurement team to identify needs, review product specifications, and ensure accurate budgeting for LF surveys. 

Skills and Experience

• In coordination with the RLMF Executive Director and Deputy Director, the Regional Technical Advisor for Lymphatic Filariasis (LF) morbidity management provides technical advice and support to project countries to achieve Sightsavers’ goals on LF morbidity management and disability prevention. Working closely with the Global Technical Lead for LF, the NTD Technical Director, and the Senior Global Technical Lead on Inclusion, the advisor ensures NTD elimination targets are met through a health system strengthening approach. This role involves advocacy, capacity building, and tracking progress, adhering to global, national, and Sightsavers policies, including the WHO 2030 roadmap for NTDs and SDGs.  

The Regional Technical Advisor will travel up to 12 weeks a year, primarily to sub-Saharan Africa, with some global travel for meetings and conferences. 

Jobholder Requirements 

• A good understanding of transmission, epidemiology, physiopathology and elimination strategies of LF.   
• Experience on MMDP/DMDI situation analysis, plans development and cases finding.  
• Experience on MMDP/DMDI activities implementation.  
• Experience on health facilities readiness assessment for lymphedema and hydrocele.   
• Strong knowledge of lymphedema selfcare kits, hydrocele surgical kits (drugs & consumables and surgical instruments.  
• Ability to plan and implement MMDP/DMDI patients follow up (lymphedema and hydrocele).   
• Ability to provide team training on lymphedema management and supervision on the field.  
• Experience on planning and implementing routinely or surgical camps for hydrocele surgery.  
• Experience working globally on disability inclusion and/or gender mainstreaming and in complex environments.