POSITION OVERVIEW
The Foundation's Lesotho office works closely with the USG team and partners and the Ministry of Health in Lesotho, to support comprehensive, HIV prevention, care and treatment services in the whole of Lesotho. The Foundation's approach is to support the Ministry of Health in increasing access to family focused high quality comprehensive HIV prevention care and treatment programs based on the 90,90,90 approach.
The STAR-L Program Director is the technical focal point for the STAR- L program for EGPAF Lesotho and s/he will work closely with the existing Foundation staff in Lesotho, as well as with the in-country collaborating partners including Foundation's sub-grantees, the Ministry of Health and other relevant agencies. The Foundation's emphasis is on increasing access to HIV prevention and care and treatment services for mothers, children and families while strengthening overall HIV outcomes. S/He will provide in-country technical support to the Lesotho office, and support the implementation of the national HIV Programs. Specifically, the STAR-L Program Director will work to support the national AIDS care and treatment program to improve access, quality, and uptake in ART services.
The Program Director for STAR-L will supervise the team of STAR-L District technical advisors and other Foundation staff according to the Foundation's reporting structures. The incumbent will support the Care and Treatment Senior Technical Advisor in reviewing guidelines, protocols and policy development as requested by the MOH and based on field results/experience. In addition to overseeing the team of clinical advisors, the STAR-L Program Director will liaise closely with staff from Baylor, our primary clinical services partner for pediatrics. S/He will also coordinate with staff implementing nutrition activities.
Essential Duties:
- Under the leadership of the EGPAF Technical Director, the STAR-L Program Director will be the focal point for the STAR-L program and ensure that activities under the STAR-L work plan are implemented in a timely manner
- The candidate will be responsible for compilation and submission to the Technical Director of all initial drafts of STAR-L program reports, be they monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, annual or ad-hoc
- Work with other technical team members to support the MOH to develop a strong comprehensive national HIV program on which gains of HIV care and treatment and PMTCT, can be built.
- Participate in the development of an overall HIV Care & Treatment, and PMTCT partner strategy that supports the Ministry of Health national strategy for expanding Care & Treatment and PMTCT and associated care and support services and improving MNCH indicators.
- The STAR-L Program Director will assist the Technical Director in providing technical direction and programmatic assistance in the management and implementation of HIV Care and Treatment program to ensure high quality service delivery
- Provide technical inputs and assistance to the MOH and other partners to increase particularly access to treatment for children and ensure high quality pediatric treatment service delivery.
- With the EGPAF District Team leads and sub-grantees, develop the capacity for pediatric treatment in the districts where Care and Treatment programs will be implemented.
- With the EGPAF District Technical Advisors and the EGPAF Program Officers, strengthen the capacity of District Health Teams (DHTs) to perform planning tasks, manage, assess and evaluate, comprehensive HIV care and treatment programs.
- Build capacity of local organizations to facilitate transition and sustainability
- Track progress at individual sites through review of site data, site visits and supervision reports, in collaboration with Ministry of Health Staff
- Facilitate and ensure completion of EGPAF-required reports and ensure timely feedback to sites and districts.
- Provide technical inputs and assistance to the MOH and other partners, with particular reference to development of national policy and guidelines related to care and treatment and PMTCT, including clinical protocols, drug formularies, training materials, and M&E tools.
- Interface with national government and relevant agencies to achieve a mutual understanding of programs and to avoid duplication.
- Establish and maintain relationships with interested partners (NGOs and CBOs).
- Participate in all relevant planning meetings in country.
- Work to ensure strong integrated TB/HIV Care and Treatment services and PMTCT building on MNCH system and other existing health programs.
- Participate in Care and Treatment forums, including MOH (Pediatric) Care and Treatment Taskforce.
- Coordinate technical reporting according to defined reporting schedule.
- Oversee the development of realistic monthly forecast before submitting them to the finance department.
- Work with the operations and technical team to ensure appropriate staffing in the clinical department and participate in the recruitment process of technical and operations staff.
- Identify and communicate gaps and opportunities in technical, organization and program capacity.
- Work closely with members of SMT with support from other staff members for the development of appropriate budget and monitoring of its implementation. Facilitate the development of field office budgets and monitoring of the expenditure versus approved budgets.
- Work closely with TD, DC, and other members of SMT in identifying opportunities and developing proposals for resource mobilization. Participate in review of applications for EGPAF support to ensure completeness and likelihood of success.
