Youth Net and Counselling
Youth Net and Counselling (YONECO) is local registered NGO that has been operating in Malawi since 1997. As our mission, YONECO is committed to empowering youth, women and children, promoting good health, human rights and democratic culture, adapting and mitigating the impact of climate change and conducting research for evidence-based programming and advocacy. YONECO envisions a self – reliant, healthy, empowered, resilient, responsible, and inclusive society that respects democratic values and principles.
YONECO is inviting suitably qualified and experienced persons to apply for various positions for the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) funded project entitled Addressing Unmet Need in HIV Testing Services (HTS) for Men and Key Populations for HIV/AIDS Services Through Effective Delivery Models in Malawi under the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). The project supports interventions promoting and delivering HIV
prevention, testing, and care and treatment services for men and members of key populations (KPs) in Mzimba, Lilongwe, Blantyre, Mwanza, Chiradzulu, and Chikwawa districts.
YONECO intends to recruit suitable and a qualified staff for the vacant positions below:
1. CBHTS Adviser
Job Title: Community Based HTS (CBHTS) Adviser
Reports to: Chief of Party
Supervisees: HTS Officer, HDAs
Location: Zomba
Job Summary
The Community Based HTS (CBHTS) Adviser will be responsible for the technical design, implementation and follow up of activities aiming to reduce the number of new HIV infections and other sexually transmitted diseases among members of the target communities. S/he will provide clinical guidance and direct technical assistance to health facilities and community services supported by the project on the HIV testing services. The Adviser will provide technical and program oversight in the areas of HIV testing and linkage to HIV Prevention, Treatment Care and support, working in close collaboration with the Key Population Advisor and other project staff, key stakeholders, and also liaising with MOH HTS technical program personnel.
Responsibilities:
- Provide technical leadership in developing and adapting strategies and interventions to improve the quality and responsiveness of HIV testing and linkage services among men and Key population program
- Lead the design, development and implementation and monitoring of performance and quality improvement initiatives, including Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) interventions.
- Lead the implementation of quality assessments, quality improvement and the integration of waste management planning and reviews for facility and community sites.
- Ensure all district level QA activities are up to date and in accordance with MOH standards.
- In consultation with the project leadership develop and adapt strategies and interventions to ensure the quality and responsiveness of HTS and linkage services in the community and facilities for the district.
- Ensure that all HTS sites are implementing services in line with national and international quality standards.
- Ensure all program and quality improvement strategies are based on sound technical content, and are sustainable and place special emphasis on use of performance and quality improvement approaches in all sites and other service delivery modalities;
- Support and provide mentorship and supervision to the HDA Supervisors and HDAs to ensure implementation of quality HTS and linkage, and best practices;
- Participate in trainings needed to familiarize in PEPFAR and MOH QA standards and priorities; and provide training support for other site-level providers and MOH staff.
- Participate in SIMS assessment visits and follow up remediation as required.
- Ensure community HDAs have required HTS supplies and Standard Operating procedures to implement HTS as per National standards.
- Conduct baseline assessments of all project HTS sites in collaboration with district staff, and site-designated CQI focal persons, and develop quality improvement plans in conjunction with district staff and support implementation of quality improvement
activities; - Work closely with the Reference Lab and MOH to ensure Quality Control (QC) is performed on test kits and all HDAs perform Proficiency testing (PT);
- Attend HTS Technical Working Group meetings, and represent the organization on different fora where HTS activities are taking place;
- Provide technical guidance to partners and implementers in QA initiatives for HTS;
- Participate in developing annual work planning, implementation plans and donor reports and technical reports;
- Report any deficiencies, shortfalls, challenges in delivering on project targets and propose and implement strategic refinements to mitigate gaps;
- Conduct regular data reviews to inform HTS program: modify implementation approaches, and scale up and replicate modalities that are working effectively;
- Collaborate with the MOH District and National level supply chain management team to ensure availability of HIV rapid test kits and its related supplies.
- Work closely with the district team to ensure effective utilization of the budget and coordinate with the district team leader to ensure prompt reporting on expenditure, and resource gaps;
- Ensure compliance with financial, HR and administrative procedures, and ensure efficient use of resources;
- Manage staff performance and coordinate closely with the HR team to address performance gaps as well as recognizing high performers.
- Ensure sharing of information and knowledge with other stakeholders at all levels and contribute to systems that support knowledge management.
Qualifications, Experience, Skills and Competencies
- MSc in medical laboratory and / or bachelor’s degree in biomedical sciences, Nursing or Public Health) with more than 7 years of experience in HIV/AIDS service delivery and programming, and demonstrated current knowledge and experience of HTS in Malawi.
- Technically proficient with up-to-date skills in providing Testing professional training, mentoring and coaching.
- Ministry of Health Certified National HTS Trainer with experience in HIVST service provision.
- Strong understanding of PEPFAR and Malawian Government HIV priorities, including 95-95-95 goals and familiarity with MOH HIV and AIDS guidelines, policies and strategic priorities.
- Experience in managing and motivating teams, supervising staff, and addressing performance challenges.
- Excellent computer skills in Microsoft Office (MS word, Excel, Power Point)
- Articulate in written and spoken English with effective communication skills, and excellent interpersonal and written and oral presentation skills;
- Ability to work in a complex environment charged with multiple tasks, short deadlines and intense pressure to perform;
- Sensitive to issues working with marginalized groups within the Malawi context;
- Motivated, passionate, and hardworking.
Method of Application
If you are interested in any of the positions, email your application letter, CV (with three traceable referees) and copies of your certificates to: recruitments@yoneco.org.mw.
Please indicate the position you are applying for as the subject of your email.
You can also send by post to:
The Executive Director,
Youth Net and Counselling,
P.O Box 471,
Zomba
Youth Net and counselling (YONECO) is an equal opportunity employer, has safeguarding measures in place and special groups are encouraged to apply