HIVST Private Sector Advisor at Jhpiego - John Hopkins University

Position Reports To: Project Lead

Overview

• With financial support from Unitaid via Population Services International, Jhpiego is implementing Phase 3 of the STAR Initiative, a 18-month project to catalyse HIVST adoption, availability, and use in Nigeria.
• Through the Unitaid-funded STAR Initiative, HIV self-testing (HIVST) has proven to provide an opportunity to reach, test, and diagnose or prevent infection in populations that are considered unreachable by use of traditional testing approaches.
• In Nigeria, STAR will support the Government of Nigeria to develop and adapt policy guidelines for the adoption of HIV self-testing and support the integration of HIV self-testing within the existing health care systems.

Responsibilities

• The Private Sector Advisor will work under the supervision of the Project Director and will lead the implementation of the private sector driven activities for the STAR project. He/ She will be responsible for developing innovative strategies to implement demand side financing that will ultimately lead to a total market approach for HIVST implementation in the country. He will work closely with e-voucher third party vendor, community HIVST consultant and other relevant STAR Nigeria staff in ensuring effective coordination of HIVST kit distribution and promotional activities by community-based organizations (CBOs) and Pharmacy retail outlets using e-voucher technology as well as linkages of reactive cases to confirmatory testing and treatment services as applicable.
• The position will support and monitor the implementation of the demand side financing activities and Total Market approach using the e-Voucher pilot activities integrated into HIVST interventions. The post holder will be in charge of setting-up and rolling out the e-voucher activities, including market analysis, identification and training and regular support to vendors and participating pharmacy outlets and communities, redemption of the electronic voucher with HIVST commodities in participating CPs and PPMVs, monitoring and adaptation of the process.
• He/She will work closely with MoH, CBO, community HIVST consultants, Community based organizations and Pharmacy retail outlets, other project staff to ensure a smooth and quality private sector HIVST implementation
• Lead the implementation of previously developed STAR’s Private Sector Theory of Change for HIVST in Nigeria and follow through relevant activities such the Business case development, private sector HIVST quantification exercise as it relates to the overall STAR Nigeria Strategic roadmap co-implemented with the Ministry of Health.

Specific Responsibilities and Tasks
Implementation of e-voucher demand side financing for HIVST:

• Support in implementing detailed work plans for e-voucher/private sector demand side financing (DSF) and Total Market Approach (TMA) activities in pharmacy retail outlets and community-based organizations in Nigeria
• Support demand side financing (DSF) voucher deployment and trial activities
• Facilitate community mobilization, demand creation activities and capacity building training for the target beneficiaries and providers in collaboration with community HIVST consultant
• Work closely with providers and distributors on registration of beneficiaries for e-voucher transfer, distribution of e-voucher, monitoring and evaluation.
• Work with the MoH, STAR project SI team and Health Informatics and Research Consultant team in activities monitoring (market assessments, baseline, end-line, post distribution surveillance, price monitoring, provider/distributor monitoring)
• Implement a cost effective and sustainable approach to DSF that achieves reduction in cost of monitoring, beneficiary database maintenance, onboarding, payment, and exit processes of beneficiaries
• Support and facilitate trainings (onsite and remote) of program staff, beneficiaries/end users and participating distributors on use of android devices, voucher software, e-voucher program processes, compliance, documentation and reporting in order to ensure efficient and consistent adoption and sustainable use of the e-voucher platforms
• Flag any complaints from beneficiaries, community mobilizers and other stakeholders (e.g software bugs, downtime etc) to third party technology provider
• Ensure that the data base is properly updated and documentation is properly done for all vouchers issued and HIVST kits distributed (ST allocated, vouchers issued, transfer cost etc)
• Support the process of reconciling e-voucher vendor transaction documentation, and support e-voucher vendors in close coordination with field staff and third-party provider
• Responsible for the day-to-day management and long-term improvement of STAR Nigeria Electronic Voucher platform and DSF program implementation.
• Ensure the maintenance of proper databases of beneficiaries, transactions, and providers by the software vendor in line with existing data protection policy and best practices
• Identify additional opportunities for business and growth and further scale-up of the within the e-Voucher program for HIVST in Nigeria

Stakeholder management and coordination:

• Work in close collaboration with Ministry of Health, Pharmacy Council of Nigeria, participating community pharmacy and patent medicine vendors, NAPPMED, community-based organizations as well as PEPFAR and Global Fund partners and other key actors in addressing barriers to HIVST implementation in the private sector.
• Periodically engage and sensitize key players of the relevant segments of the private sector on HIVST procurement, distribution and implementation.
• Periodically engage with key regulatory agencies of the private sector, providing regular feedbacks and challenges of implementation and seeking innovative ways to addressing regulatory barriers to HIVST implementation in the private sector.
• Liaise with sister Jhpiego TIMEC/RISE and VALOUR projects in the integration of social media innovations within the context of demand side financing for HIVST with the aim to scaling up access to HIV testing among hard to reach populations such as Men, KPs, adolescent and young people

Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning:

• Work with STAR Research consultant to document learnings, best practices, challenges implementing DSF program and policy recommendations
• Work with Strategic Information Advisor to integrate all monitoring activities into the vouchers intervention work plan, as well as ensure that the regular monitoring of markets is in place, e-voucher utilization and overall results are communicated
• Work with STAR Research consultant to integrate patient satisfactory surveys, post-distribution monitoring, FGDs, mystery shopper spot check implementation fidelity as part of the private sector HIVST Research agenda.

Educational Qualifications

• Master's Degree or equivalent Degree in Medicine, Pharmacy, Public Health, Health Services Research or related field.
• 7-8 years experience working with the Private Sector, Total Market Approach, community demand creation strategies and NGOs in Nigeria.
• Deep understanding and experience with utilizing the total market approach to address barriers to access to health commodities and health system
• Experience in building and brokering partnerships across key segments of the private sector
• Professional connections and extensive private sector network in relevant segments; strong relationship building skills.
• Understanding of public sector and government institutions’ role in private sector development and partnerships.
• Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines and work under pressure.
• Demonstrated ability to work across teams and effectively promote information-sharing, collaboration and cooperation.
• Knowledge and experience in HIV research is an added advantage.