Senior Technical Advisor, TB LON at KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation

Vacancy Number: KN43

USAID Nigeria TB LON Region 1 and 2 Project 
The TB LON Project is funded by USAID Nigeria and focuses on locally generated solutions to provide TB prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment and notification, while addressing stigma and discrimination. The TB LON region 1 and 2 project is to be implemented by KNCV TB foundation Nigeria to expand the provision of and increase access to TB services among formal and informal health providers through the engagement  of the private sector, umbrella and local chapters of health and allied professional organizations, faith-based institutions, communities and civil society.

The project is targeted at increasing the number of tuberculosis (TB) cases that are detected, treated and notified to  437,895 within the five year grant implementation period 2020 to 2025 and implemented across 14 states in Nigeria; Bauchi, Kaduna, Katsina, Kano, Nasarawa, Plateau, Taraba, Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Benue, Cross River, Delta, Imo and Rivers State. The project’s four intermediate results are as follows:

• Improved access to high-quality, person-centered TB, DR-TB, and TB/Human Immunodeficiency Virus (TB/HIV) services;
• Strengthened TB service delivery platforms;
• Reduced TB disease transmission and progression and
• Accelerated TB innovations with improved impact on program implementation

KNCV Nigeria is working with a consortium of partners- two sub recipients- CCCRN and KNCV International and six strategic service package providers- Intrasat Global, IPCD, Jana Health Foundation, Diadem Consult, Public Health Concerns Ltd and TB Network. Towards meeting the project set targets, KNCV Nigeria and partners adopted a mixed model of community and facility-based, health systems strengthening strategies and digital solutions to find TB cases in a Roll in, Roll-on and Roll out staged approach. Roll-in was in year 1 which is the planning stage, collaborations and capacity building, Roll-on is the saturation stage in Year 2,3 and 4 while Roll out in year 5 is the transitioning Stage.

Purpose of the Position

• The STA TB LON Regions 1 & 2 is expected to be embedded with the Technical Team in the Country Office and will be responsible for ensuring the implementation of all TB LON Regions 1 & 2 project activities in collaboration with the State TB team and other LON project Strategic Service Package Providers (SSPP). The STA TB LON will support the KNCV TB LON Project Coordinator.
• Hierarchically, the STA TB LON reports to the TB LON Project Coordinator.

As an STA TB LON you will:

• Organize & conduct regular health facility supervision to ensure quality TB, TB/HIV, DR-TB surveillance and service delivery.
• Organize & conduct on the job health facility based training for Laboratory and DOTS services.
• Support facility assessments and strategic expansion of AFB, GeneXpert and DOTS services.
• Support the State TB program to create awareness and demand for TB services.
• Organize & conduct regular visits to health facilities to ensure timely data collection, compilation and reporting according to TB LON Regions 1 & 2 M&E plan.
• Support state TB program on coordination of prompt treatment initiation and monitoring of all diagnosed DR-TB patients in the community.
• Support state TB program on routine data analysis & utilization.
• Support and facilitate state TB/HIV partners’ forum to coordinate partners’ support and implementation of key intervention areas.
• Assist in coordinating the Project portfolio to ensure key performance indicators (KPI) are met and TB LON Regions 1 & 2 impact is in line with strategy.
• Ensure that TB LON Regions 1 & 2 project reports are developed and submitted on time; are of good quality, and the evidence they contain is accurately captured and submitted monthly to the Project Coordinator.
• Ensure regular monthly coordination and planning meetings hold with state TB team and SSPPs
• Perform other additional duties assigned.

Requirements
Education:

• MBBS and Master's Degree or higher in Public Health.

Knowledge / Experience:

• Minimum five (7) years experience in TB and or TB/HIV program with at least two (5) years’ experience in an international or resource challenged setting.
• Experience or knowledge of TB surveillance methods.
• Demonstrated experience with public health disease programs and/or surveillance strengthening in developing countries (including national TB control programs and/or other infectious disease control) is highly desirable.
• Knowledge of and familiarity with key TB and or TB/HIV innovations and other strategic initiatives with focus on TB epidemiology, surveillance and/or monitoring.
• Experience of USAID policies, regulations and procedures desirable.

Behavioral Competencies and Skills:

• Strong interpersonal, oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment under tight deadlines while producing quality content.
• Ability to travel internationally
• A good interpersonal skills and a good team player.