Supporting community action on AIDS in developing countries
Job description:
Senior Policy & Programme Adviser: Harm Reduction Advocacy
Alliance Mission:
The mission of the International HIV/AIDS Alliance is to support
communities to reduce the spread of HIV and to meet the challenges of
AIDS. We are working to prevent HIV infection; improve access to HIV
treatment, care and support; and lessen the impact of HIV and AIDS
worldwide, particularly among the most vulnerable and marginalised.
Job Reports to:
Regional Manager: Asia and Eastern Europe
Main function:
The Senior Policy & Programme Adviser (Harm Reduction Advocacy) is
responsible for the planning and development, technical oversight and
delivery of a six country advocacy for harm reduction programme funded
by the European Commission (EC). The position is fully paid for from EC
restricted funds.
The programme (and therefore the post) will mobilise, facilitate, support
and supervise implementation of country advocacy programmes
managed by Alliance civil society partners in Cambodia, Vietnam, China,
Malaysia, India and Indonesia.
The post reports to the Programme Manager: Asia and Eastern Europe
on programme development and delivery in the six countries. He/she will
need to interact closely with the designated Agreement Manager in the
Contracts and Agreements Team who hold contractual and budgeting
responsibility. There will also be a need to liaise closely with the
Alliance’s Policy and Best Practice teams.
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There is a requirement that the project is closely linked to the Alliance’s
Community Action on Harm Reduction (CAHR) programme (managed by
a management unit in Kiev) so as to exploit programme synergies and
because of a cost sharing contribution from CAHR. In addition, the
project needs to build on and be aligned to the national, regional and
global policy objectives of the Alliance and the CAHR programme.
The Senior Policy & Programme Adviser provides both strategic, policy,
advocacy and programmatic oversight; management and quality
assurance of activities in the six countries; ensures that the project
contributes to progress on Alliance strategy and the strategy of our
partners; represents the project countries in the secretariat and externally;
ensures effective knowledge sharing; and develops and maintains
professional relationships with partners and donors. .
Location:
To be confirmed subject to successful candidate’s location
Travel:
Regular international travel
Responsibilities:
1. Technical management support of country implementing partners
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Ensure the development of a project strategic plan, annual operational plans and associated
budgets in each of the six focus countries.
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Ensure strategic and operational plans for the involvement of technical partners in the project.
Ensure strong coordination of plans so as to build a coherent multi-country programme.
Ensure the development of adequate arrangements (systems, structures and staffing) for
implementing the programme.
Ensuring that project plans are realistic and feasible and that partners are equipped to deliver it.
Ensure that the project is on track and that activities, spending and results are delivered within the
stipulated timeframes and budget.
Work closely with country partners to ensure implementation is effective and on track.
2. Partnership, donor relations and reporting
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Work in collaboration with Stop Aids Alliance partnership in Brussels to profile the project with the
European Commission and key parliamentarians.
Work in collaboration with the Alliance’s Global Policy Team to engage with key institutions and
organisations in country, and regionally and globallyincluding UNAIDS, UNODC, ASEAN, The
Global Fund and UNITAID.
Coordinate and ensuring strong donor reporting.
Work with national partners, in-country project leads, and all relevant Alliance staff, particularly
regional representatives, to build and maintain key external relationships and to represent the
project, and more broadly the Alliance’s harm reduction portfolio, to the following audiences:
national and local governments and other key stakeholders; harm reduction practitioners, affected
communities, policy makers, donors and other stakeholders
Work closely with the Alliance secretariat’s Asia team, including regional representatives, to
ensure that this project contributes to the strategy of the Alliance and its partners
Work with the Agreement Manager, national partners, and in-country project leads, to ensure
effective country-level planning/budgeting and review, to deliver annual work plans on budget, and
to ensure successful country-level operations
Working with the above colleagues, to develop and implement a strategy for external
representation and communication, including an online platform.
Act as the geographical focal point for harm reduction advocacy in Asia
3. Advocacy and policy support
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Ensuring that project plans reflect and contribute strongly to Alliance global and regional policy and
advocacy strategies.
Develop advocacy strategies at country and regional level that are aligned with Alliance strategy
and the advocacy objectives of the CAHR programme.
Facilitate power mapping at national, regional and global level – to support the programme
advocacy strategies
Use Alliance tools such as Measuring Up, What’s Preventing Prevention?, and the Good Practice
Guide: HIV and Drug Use to guide the development, implementation and evaluation of the project.
Establish and coordinate a harm reduction advocacy forum to support the coordination and
implementation of the advocacy strategy across the Alliance
4. Technical support and Knowledge sharing
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Identify technical support needs and arrangements for meeting them so as to build capacity.
Work closely with the Alliance’s Senior Adviser: HIV and drug use to ensure that the project
reflects, benefits from and advances Alliance good practice standards.
Work closely with the Policy Team to ensure that the project reflects, benefits from and contributes
to Alliance policy on human rights and harm reduction.
Ensure international technical partners’ contributions are effective and on track. Ensure the various
projects within the programme are well coordinated.
Develop capacity building plans where needed for effective delivery.
Work closely with CAHR management to ensure effective programme coordination
Develop and implement a system for knowledge sharing
5. Monitoring, evaluation and research
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Ensure adequate monitoring and evaluation arrangements to monitor and measure the progress
and impacts of the project using the Alliance’s Measuring Up tool.
Develop an overarching ‘theory of change’ with measurable targets and indicators
Commission and deliver good quality research, reports and policy briefings
With the Agreement Manager and in-country project leads, regularly monitor the policy context,
project implementation, expenditure, and compliance; provide guidance in making adjustments,
and call in other teams to problem-solve as needed
Contribute to or lead on project evaluations/reviews/assessments and/or audits, and work with the
Agreement Manager, national partners, and in-country project leads, to ensure appropriate and
timely follow-up.
Monitor partners’ compliance with the donor’s rules and regulations, keeping abreast of obligations
under the programme agreement and of donor expectations.
Contribute to risk analysis as well as early warning and instigating responses to off- track or
inadequate performance.
6. Other duties
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For all aspects of the project to liaise closely with the Alliance’s Agreement Manager, Alliance’s
Head of Policy and Senior Advisor: HIV and Drug Use
Undertake other responsibilities not outline above which are commensurate with a role of this
nature, including one-off support to other teams and programmes, as agreed with the line manager
Provide cover for other Alliance Asia team members during absences as needed.
Work closely with the Alliance’s Resource Mobilisation team to ensure that the project contributes
to a stronger Alliance donor profile with the EC and any potential future donors.
Person Specification
Senior Policy & Programme Adviser: Harm Reduction Advocacy
Essential
Desirable
Qualifications/Education/
Knowledge
Relevant post-graduate qualification
or equivalent experience
Relevant qualification in public policy or
human rights
Understanding of HIV, drug use and
harm reduction in Asia
Understanding of current approaches to
measuring results/impact of advocacy
programmes
Understanding of support for civil
society advocacy in Asia
Understanding of the key challenges
faced when advancing HIV and harm
reduction programmes, policy and
legal reform
Experience required
High level experience in developing,
implementing and evaluating policy
and advocacy programmes
Experience in distance management and
support
Demonstrated project strategy
development and delivery,
organisational development, and
programme operational planning
experience in a developing country
Demonstrated experience in
implementing HIV, health, harm
reduction or human rights focused
policy change in a developing country
Demonstrated experience of providing
support and supervision across
organisations and teams
Experience of fostering and managing
policy partnerships with key networks
and stakeholders.
Experience in managing donor
relations and reporting on a project of
this size (Euro2mill/3yrs)
Experience in HIV harm reduction
programme delivery in a developing
country
Abilities and skills required Outstanding written and verbal
communication skills (English)
Outstanding cross-cultural
communication skills
Ability to articulate a strong vision of
human rights for drug users in Asia,
as well as a vision for civil society
partnerss working as an Alliance to
expand HIV programming for key
populations
Outstanding inter-personal, cross-
Communication skills in one or more of the
languages used in the six project
countries
team, and cross-organisational
networking skills; the ability to build
partnerships and consensus
Strong representation skills with a
variety of audiences (donors,
governments, civil society)
Personal qualities
Strong commitment to HIV/AIDS,
rights and development issues
Strong commitment to team-working,
collaboration, and negotiation
Highly-motivated self-starter with
persistence of vision
Able to motivate and build an effective
virtual team
A credible mediator and cross-team
leader
Able to travel regularly