LINKAGES Country Representative: Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
Project Description:
FHI 360 is a nonprofit human development organization dedicated to improving lives in lasting ways by advancing integrated, locally driven solutions. Our staff includes experts in Health, Education, Nutrition,
Environment, Economic Development, Civil Society, Gender, Youth, Research and Technology– creating a unique mix of capabilities to address today's interrelated development challenges. FHI 360 serves more than 60 countries, all 50 U.S. states and all U.S. territories.
FHI 360 is currently seeking qualified candidates for the position of the LINKAGES Country
Representative:Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)for the USAID-funded project,Linkages Across the
Continuum of HIV Services for Key Populations Affected by HIV (LINKAGES),under the President's
Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)program. LINKAGES is implemented by FHI 360 in partnership with
Pact, IntraHealth International and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, andconducts a range of activities to reduce HIV transmission among key populations (KP) — sex workers, men who have sex with men (MSM), transgender persons and people who inject drugs — and improve their enrollment and retention in care and treatment across the HIV cascade. LINKAGES will accelerate the ability of governments, key population leaders, organizations working with key populations, and private-sector providers to plan and implement services that reduce HIV transmission among key populations and their sexual partners and extend the lives of those already living with HIV. The key elements of the FHI 360-led team’s strategic and technical approach are:
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Identifying key populations and locales and comprehensively assessing risk,
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Diagnosing “leaks” and revealing access barriers within the HIV services cascade,
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Scaling up “what works” while innovating to ensure the most strategic use of resources and access to newly emerging technologies,
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Addressing structural barriers and transforming local KP organizations,
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Ensuring interventions are sustainable over the long term, and
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Supporting the mainstreaming of human rights, gender and competency and capacity development.
Job Description:
The LINKAGES DRC Country Representativeis the senior member of the LINKAGES staff in-country and will provide technical and management leadership to the LINKAGES project in DRC. Specifically addressing the
HIV service needs of MSM, female sex workers (FSWs), and the clients of FSWs in the DRC, the primary responsibility of the Representativeis to ensure successful implementation of the LINKAGES work planand achievement of the project’s targets and goals across the three Results Areas:
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Result 1: Increased availability of comprehensive prevention, care, and treatment services, including reliable coverage across the continuum of care for key populations.
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Result 2: Enhanced and sustained demand for comprehensive prevention, care, and treatment services among key populations.
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Result 3:Improved capacity at national, provincial, and health zone levels to plan, implement, and monitor appropriate interventions for key populations.
The position will be based in Kinshasa, DRC.Congolesenationals and candidates currently based in the region are encouraged to apply.
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Suitably qualified candidates openly living with HIV and/or who are representative of the key populations affected by HIV are also actively encouraged to apply.
Position Responsibilities:
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Manages, implements, and monitors systems, services, staff and budgets to achieve programmatic, financial, and administrative goals.
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Responsible for the implementation and oversight of technical activities in the LINKAGES work plan.
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Supervises and provides technical guidance and mentorship to the LINKAGES team on technical assistance and project implementation.
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Provides technical and programmatic expertise in HIV prevention, care and treatment activities for
MSM, FSW, and FSW clients,including community-based outreach; peer education;key population community mobilization and engagement; HIV testing and counseling (HTC); drop-in centers; mobile outreach;health clinics, hospital, and private facility service provision;ICT; andreferrals systems for HIV,
STI, GBV, PMTCT and FP services.
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Oversees the development, monitoring, and reporting of local organization subawards in compliance with USG, PEPFAR and FHI 360 rules and regulations.
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Ensures project achieves high quality results in accordance with the targets identified in the work plan and Performance Monitoring and Evaluation Plan. Ensures program quality according to FHI 360 standards including quality assurance and quality improvement initiatives.
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Oversees production of timely and accurate technical and financial reports to FHI 360 and USAID as required.
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Coordinates and meets with, as appropriate, USAID, the Ministry of Health (MoH), and local and international partners and other stakeholders in DRC. Serves as the LINKAGES point person for interactions with USAID/DRC, implementing partners, and the Government of DRCincluding MoH.
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Workscollaboratively with FHI 360 colleagues in the Washington DC and Durham, North Carolina offices to provide regular updates and coordinates with the global LINKAGES project.
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Establishes collaborative, working relationships with other FHI 360 country office projects and other
USAID-funded projects, as appropriate.
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Participates in country office management team meetings as appropriate.
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Directly supervises7 – 9 technical and administrative/logistics staff in the DRC.
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Leads the development of annual work plans and reports, memorandums of understanding, and the technical management of activities for consultants and local partnering institutions to ensure activity timeframes and budgets are met and products are reviewed and finalized.
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Reports regularly to LINKAGES/HQ (Project Director, LINKAGES) and to USAID/LINKAGES on progress and status of LINKAGES activities in the DRC.
Minimum Qualifications:
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Proven skills in the implementation of HIV prevention, care, and treatment projects for female sex workers and/or men who have sex with men in the DRC or other countries in the region.
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Knowledge of processes for developing and implementing HIV prevention, care, and treatment programs with key population groups in the DRC.
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Prior experience working directly or indirectly with key populations-focused civil society organizations
(CSOs) in the DRC is desirable.
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Proven skills in addressing issues related to reducing stigma and discrimination among key populations
– particularly within health and community settings.
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Experience carrying out local assessments and surveys to better inform size estimates for key populations, including site level mapping, and integrated biological and behavioral surveys.
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Familiarity with key population CSOs to support community mobilization and empowerment, distribution of condoms and lubricants, linkages to HTC, and linkages to community and clinical care and treatment services for those who are HIV positive.
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Experience in the design, implementation, and management of HIV public health/international development programs funded by USAID and/or the Global Fund including experience developing mobile services to ensure service provision to key populations, including strong linkages to care and treatment services.
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Knowledge of key population-friendly services including existing facilities working with key populations.
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Strong management, mentoring, leadership and networking skills.
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Sensitivity to cultural differences and understanding of the political and ethical issues surrounding public health issues among key populations in the DRC.
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Ability to manage and complete numerous tasks with a high degree of organization and limited resources.
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Experience proactively identifying risk, addressing issues and appropriately communicating these to the project staff and USAID.
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Experience establishing strong working relationships with colleagues from different organizations and cultures.
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Ability to meet deadlines with strong attention to consistency, detail, and quality.
Ability to travel within country or region and internationally if needed.
Minimum Requirements:
Education/Experience:
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Masters level degree in Public Health (preferred) or related field or equivalent.
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At least 5 years of demonstrated key population group technical expertise, with substantial HIV prevention, care, and treatment experience with female sex workers, and/or men who have sex with men, and FSW clients.
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At least 8 years of demonstrated excellence in a senior level technical advisor and leadership position, preferably in an international development context and working with key populations.
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Excellent oral and written communication skills in English and French; other local languages (e.g. Lingala or Swahili) a plus.
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Previous experience in francophone central Africa is strongly preferred; DRCexperience is desirable.
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