The South African National Aids Council (SANAC) leads South Africa’s response to the national HIV and AIDS, TB & STIs epidemics. SANAC is building a dynamic team that can facilitate its effective leadership of the national response.
Name of Position : Technical Lead: AGYW
Reporting to : Lead: Technical Support Unit
Location : SANAC Head Office, Pretoria
Grading : D3
Advert Date : 19 January 2022
Purpose of the job
Provide strategic and implementation guidance on the Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) programmes in collaboration with communities, civil society, technical partners and government and other stakeholders. Provide identification of, and respond to, technical assistance needs with regard to key populations in particular relation to capacity building; networking; promoting dialogue and advocacy; strengthening of platforms that improve coordination, joint planning and effective linkages between civil society, government and other role players at national, provincial, district and sub-district level, focusing on building sustainable networks, systems and structures to respond to HIV and TB.
Provide technical leadership and oversee the development of tools and mechanisms to strengthen monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) processes; capture and promote AGYW best practice; and increasing transparency and dialogue on performance of HIV and TB services at all levels. Assess quality of AGYW programmes mainly for the Global Fund and CDC funded programmes and other Donor funded ones. Ensure quality of programmes is improved, unblock bottlenecks in the grant; ensure in-depth preparation for relevant donor monitoring/review forums. Additionally, be part of National Technical Working Groups, where they will present / discuss best practice in AGYW programmes. Will be required to go deeper into districts, assess quality of services; standard of care for AGYW, and ensure there is an overall improvement on uptake of services, particularly HTS; PREP; TB Screening and Treatment and adherence to treatment. Ensure that there are ways to improve overall peer outreach and value for money amongst key populations as well as ensuring key populations rights are preserved in the programme.
Key Responsibilities:
Programme:
Provide ongoing technical guidance and capacity development to Principal Recipients s and Sub-Recipients regarding all aspects of the AGYW programme
Optimising the design and implementation of programmes to ensure operational efficiencies, data collection and reporting
Ensure that all outstanding SOP are completed
Lead the development, implementation and oversight of the AGYW Technical Working Group activities.
Provide technical and programmatic expertise in HIV prevention, care and treatment activities for AGYW including community-based outreach, peer education/navigation, health clinic/hospital/other public and private facility service provision, behaviour change communication, treatment and care and referrals for HIV, STI, Gender Based Violence ( GBV), and FP services.
Ensure that commodities such as STI test kits, STI drugs, ARVs, HTC test kits, condoms and lubricants are available on a consistent basis at all clinical service provision facilities.
Build and manage strategic partnerships with organisations to expand AGYW programmes and enhance outreach and development in the country;
Must show an improvement in service uptake and must ensure optimization of services
Quality Services:
Ensure quality work on standard operating procedures contextualized to the South Africa environment assuring confidentiality and mitigation if required for AGYW groups.
Provide strategic guidance in identifying structural barriers to the uptake of HIV clinical services for AGYW and ways to address those structural barriers working with civil society, private businesses and government
Provide strategic leadership to community organizations, local health centres and South African Government (SAG) to increase the uptake of HTC at the clinical level by increasing capacity and providing technical assistance
Contribute to the achievement of high quality results in accordance with the targets identified in the National Strategic Plan for HIV, TB and STIs 2017-2022.
Ensure improvement of quality of services particularly ensuring 90-90-90 strategy for HIV and TB is observed.
Contribute to program quality according to national standards including quality assurance and quality improvement initiatives.
Reporting: M&E
Oversee production of timely and accurate technical reports.
Provide leadership for and oversee reporting, monitoring and evaluation of national programmes, including statistical reports and donor reports;
Lead in the development of work plan activities; ensure appropriate levels of technical assistance in program operations; coordinates collaborate efforts in program implementation including assisting in the provision of technical assistance to GF and CDC implementation partners for the provision of high quality services.
Document best practice, case studies, reflections on national work, and contribute to research;
Advocacy and Human Rights:
Lead the development of Scopes of Work (SOW), memorandums of understanding (MOUs), technical management of activities for consultants and Sub Recipients to ensure that implementation plans and budgets are met and deliverables are of high quality.
Lead in the advocacy for AGYW around human rights, in particular HIV/AIDS;
Lead the inclusion of sensitivity to cultural diversity and understanding of the political, contextual, and ethical issues in assigned areas; and
Provide strategic guidance and coordination of advocacy work with key population groups for universal access to HIV leveraging donor funding to overcome structural barriers.
Value for Money:
Ensure assessment on value for money on key populations programmes; in essence key populations programmes must be efficient and economical
Ensure well costed and documented programme outcomes
Qualification, Skills and Experience:
Masters or PHD level degree in Public Health or related field or equivalent
Over 10 years of demonstrated AGYW / Key Populations technical expertise, with substantial HIV prevention, care, and treatment experience for AGYW
At least 5 years of demonstrated excellence in a senior-level technical leadership position, preferably in an international development context and working with AGYW/ KP groups
This job description summarizes the main duties of the job. It neither prescribes nor restricts the exact tasks that may be assigned to carry out these duties. This document should not be construed in any way to represent a contract of employment. Management reserves the right to review and revise this document at any time.
Proven skills of at least 10 years in the implementation of HIV prevention, care, and treatment programs for AGYW in South Africa or other countries in the region
Knowledge of processes for developing and implementing HIV prevention, care, and treatment programs with key population groups in South Africa.
Understands the HIV-related needs AGYW and experience in supporting and implementing activities to reduce stigma and discrimination.
Design, implementation, and management of public health/international development programs funded by Global Fund and PEPFAR.
Proven skills in mentoring, leadership and networking.
Sensitivity to cultural differences and understanding of the political and ethical issues surrounding public health issues among key populations in South Africa.
Ability to manage and complete numerous tasks with a high degree of organization and limited resources.
Experience working with civil society organizations to plan and implement clinical HIV programs.
Experience of proactively identifying risk, addressing issues and appropriately communicating these to the Technical Support Unit Lead, Global Fund Country Team, Country Coordinating Mechanism, Global Fund Principal Recipients and PEPFAR Structures.
Experience of establishing strong working relationships with colleagues from different organizations and cultures.
Experience identifying, designing and brokering public-private partnerships.
Ability to meet deadlines with strong attention to consistency, detail, and quality.
Ability to travel within the country or region and internationally if needed.
Applications should be emailed to [email protected]. Kindly indicate the name of the position on the subject line of the email. Applicants who do not comply with the above-mentioned requirements, as well as applications received late or faxed will not be considered.
Closing date: Close of Business: 25 January 2022 (17:00)
Note that correspondence will only be conducted with the short-listed candidates. If you have not been contacted within two (2) months of the closing date of the advertisement, please consider your application as unsuccessful.
SANAC gives preference to South African candidates who meet the job requirement and who will add to the culture and gender diversity of the organization. Suitable candidates will be subjected to a personnel suitability check(s) (citizenship, credit record checks, security clearance, security vetting, qualification verification and employment verification).
SANAC reserves the right at any time to withdraw or alter this advertised position.