Community HIVST Consultant at Jhpiego - John Hopkins University

Location: Abuja (To support Rivers, Lagos and Akwa-Ibom)
Country Office: Nigeria Country Office
Contract Duration: 3 months

Overview

• Jhpiego, an international non-profit health organization affiliated with the Johns Hopkins University, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health through the National AIDS/STI Control program is implementing Phase 3 of the Self Testing Africa Initiative (STAR) in Nigeria.
• The STAR project is an 18-month HIV Self Testing (HIVST) project designed to catalyze the adoption, availability and use of HIVST in Nigeria.
• The project objectives include creating an enabling environment for HIVST implementation and facilitating innovative distribution approaches for HIVST kits in a manner that ensures sustainable access.
• The Initiative aims to facilitate rapid HIVST scale-up, with the overall goal of reducing HIV-related mortality and morbidity in Nigeria, through increased demand for HIVST and subsequent linkage to treatment and prevention services.
• The STAR project is seeking to engage a community HIVST consultant that will support grantee CBOs in Akwa-Ibom, Lagos and Rivers states in the implementation of HIVST at the community.

Specific Objectives

• Support CBOs in the day to day implementation of workplan that was jointly developed and finalized with STAR Nigeria team
• Provide technical support to community-based organizations (CBOs) on community-based distribution of both oral fluid-based and blood-based self-testing kits, logistic management, storage and quality assurance processes in line with national protocol
• Support the community implementation of HIVST activities with focus of adolescent and young people in Lagos, Key population and Men in Rivers and Akwa-Ibom states
• Ensure coordination among community structures relevant for HIVST, CBOs, State Ministry of Health (SACA and SASCP) and Implementing Partner(Community ART Management team) involved in HIVST
• Conduct routine supportive supervision of CBOs field staff and volunteers in focused state on the implementation of community based HIVST with the aim to identifying service gaps and institute gap stopping measures
• Support dissemination and operationalization of national HIVST guidelines, SOPs, job aids, demand creation materials, training manuals, M&E and others tools on the community HIVST programming.
• Support monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) of community HIVST services including quality data collection, quality assurance, analysis, reporting and data utilization.
• Facilitate timely submission of daily and monthly reports from CBO including mobile data collection and ensuring submitted data are validated and of high quality
• Support analysis, documentation and dissemination of program learnings including community HIVST outcomes evaluation, best practices, success stories and others.
• Ensure community-based HIV self-testing activities are implemented in accordance with workplan and facility coordination of logistics
• Support and facilitate CBO referral and linkages of identified PLHIVs to the health facility
• Support CBOs in piloting innovations towards achieving 1st 95 goal through accelerated and targeted distribution of HIVST kits
• Support CBOs in strengthening effective referral and linkage system between community HIVST and care and treatment facilities
• Provide technical assistance to PEPFAR and Global Fund implementing partners as well as State Ministry of Health in the sustainability of HIVST activities in the state beyond STAR project lifecycle
• Perform any other related duties as may be assigned by the Project Director.

Qualifications/Experiences/Competencies

• Bachelor's Degree (preferred) in Health Sciences or related field.
• At least 2 years’ experience with HIV/AIDS program implementation, working with CBOs and/or NGOs is required
• Demonstrable competencies in overseeing community HTS, HIV self-testing, HIV prevention, and health communication, including Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC) and ability to work effectively with key stakeholders especially relevant government partners, implementing partners and CBOs.
• Experience in MEL, data analysis, interpretation and utilization in the health sector.
• Excellent computer skills at minimum with Microsoft Office Package
• Excellent speaking, reading and writing skills in English