Project: IGAD Regional HIV Program
Title: Team Leader/Proposal Development
Type of Contract: Short Term TA
Duration of Contract: 14 Weeks
1. Background
The Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) intends to submit an application for financing from the Global Fund and requires Technical Assistance. The IGAD Member States, as a Regional Organization, have mandated the IGAD Secretariat to spearhead the review and consultation process for the development of a proposal for a project that will strengthen and expand integrated HIV prevention, treatment, care and support services to mobile and cross border populations in the region. IGAD Member States are currently implementing a Regional HIV and AIDS Program, coordinated through the Regional Steering Committee and its Technical Working Groups, and facilitated by the IGAD Secretariat. The Regional Program has as well formulated a country team to coordinate with national programs in identifying needs and monitoring progress. The development process of the application will involve consultations with key in country partners in each Member State, and identifying areas where the Regional Program will continue to add value and strengthen Country Programs through harmonization of strategic priorities and program delivery.
Under the responsibility of the IGAD Secretariat, the consultant is expected to lead and support the country teams in developing a concept note for the proposal development that will cover: brief status of the epidemic in the region, with a focus on the mobile and cross-border populations, gather input from in country partners and IRAPP in-country teams, and formulate a draft concept note outlining strategic priorities, timeline for consultative mechanism for full proposal development, and endorsement and submission to The Global Fund. In accordance with the guidelines established by the Global Fund for new applications, the consultant will work with the partners in IGAD Member States in order to ensure that the proposal is sound from scientific, public health, management and financial perspectives in accordance with the three ones principles.
2. Purpose and Objective
The International Consultant will work with IGAD Secretariat and IRAPP Technical Working Groups, and
• Provide support to IGAD Secretariat in facilitating consultations among IGAD’s Regional and Country partners in analysis of the HIV epidemic in the region, focusing on mobile and cross border populations;
• Lead and provide support in financial and programmatic, gap analysis including the review of the IGAD RSP and current GF and other grants in countries, and coordinate with in-country partners and IGAD Secretariat in identifying priorities for action;
• Lead and facilitate consultations on and documentation of strategic regional priorities addressing delivery of integrated HIV services to mobile and cross border populations; key delivery strategies and interventions;
• Lead and facilitate formulation of Plan of Action for delivery of comprehensive and integrated HIV prevention, treatment and care services in IGAD Member State Countries, focusing on the needs of mobile and cross border populations;
Specific Responsibilities
• To provide support to IGAD Secretariat and counterparts at country level in the formulation and submission of Expressions of Interest and a Concept Note to The Global Fund for a Regional HIV/AIDS Program to further scale up and expand coverage for mobile and cross border populations. The consultant will work with each Country Team facilitating analysis of the country specific situation and priorities.
• To ensure that the concept note, and when fully developed, the proposal, will consolidate, strengthen and enable expansion of IGAD Regional AIDS Partnership Program (IRAPP), by mobilizing resources for a new 5-year program focused on scaling up and expanding delivery of integrated HIV prevention, treatment, care and support services targeting mobile and cross border populations in IGAD Member States.
• To provide technical assistance on all programmatic aspects of proposal development, and to serve as principal author in writing key sections of the proposal, in consultation with each Country Team.
• To support technical working groups in the identification of targets, priority setting, planning and budget development, for all sections of the HIV component leading to a well-structured, internally coherent, feasible, convincing, comprehensive, and resource-efficient 5-year plan consistent with Global Fund guidelines and requirements, including a detailed work plan and budget.
• To contribute to the cohesiveness of the proposal development team and the orderly progress of the proposal development process; facilitate clear communications between the IRAPP Project Facilitation Team, implementing partners and other stakeholders, leading to submission of the finished proposal, work plan and budget, supplemental plans and other annexed support materials in electronic form by (Date … ).
• To address any feasibility, capacity or other concerns identified by the Regional Steering Committee and Technical Working Groups, IGAD Secretariat, their implementing partners, NGOs, bilateral partners or other stakeholders that could enhance the effective implementation of the new grant, and propose solutions.
• To identify the need for any supplementary plans needed to support the proposal (e.g., human resources plan, or targeted HIV prevention plan(s) directed to one or more specific high-risk or most-at-risk population groups), and ensure sufficient time for the development of these plans. Incorporate research and development of these supplemental plans into the master work plan.
• To identify the need for targeted operational research, if any, to identify best practices and resolve bottlenecks in scaling up integrated prevention, treatment, care or support services, with option to develop an operational research plan. Develop timelines and budgets for the T/A and OR plans
• To identify core issues and data gaps. In the case of incomplete, unverifiable or unreliable data, propose rapid assessments or other interventions by the proposal team to secure or generate data. Assess the minimum needs for improved baseline data required to support a coherent 5-year plan focused on reducing the number of new HIV infections by activity and/or target group.
• To oversee the final assembly of the proposal and all its components, including the detailed work plan and budget and annexes. Facilitate final approvals by the RCM and other in-country stakeholders. Ensure that the RCM section meets all Board-approved eligibility requirements.
• Conduct final quality review of each component of the proposal.
• Ensure assembled proposal is well-structured, clear and concise in all its components and clear to TRP reviewers. Ensure the timely submission of the proposal ahead of deadline.
3. Deliverables/Outputs- Phase I (Expressions of Interest/Concept Note) 10 Weeks
a. 14-Week Work plan prepared and submitted to IGAD Secretariat for reviewing the status of HIV epidemic in the region, programmatic and financial analysis HIV interventions in the region, development and submission to the Global Fund of Expressions of Interest endorsed by Member States; detailed Concept Note for a Comprehensive and Integrated HIV Services Program targeting mobile and cross border populations; detailed and full proposal for submission to The Global Fund or other Global Health and AIDS Initiative.
b. Expressions of Interest submitted to The Global Fund for a Five-Year Regional HIV and AIDS Program targeting mobile and cross border populations in IGAD Region for submission to The Global Fund.
c. Concept Note developed addressing HIV services needs of mobile and cross border populations in IGAD Member States, for submission to The Global Fund or other Global Health Initiative. The Concept Note will cover status of the HIV epidemic, programmatic and financial gaps, strategic priorities for a period of five years, and key results and identify potential partners for implementation, while taking into account the diverse and multiple epidemics in the region. The Concept Note will also outline the consultative processes for meaningful engagement and input from key stakeholders at country and regional level that will be required for development of a full proposal.
d. Provide support to IGAD Secretariat in facilitating the establishment of Regional coordination and governance body for oversight and accountability (e.g. Regional Coordinating Mechanism or other, as may be appropriate) for the Greater Horn of Africa area. Concept note to be reviewed and endorsed by IRAPP Steering Committee and regional oversight body.
e. Data collection for the preparation of M&E Plan and the Procurement and Supplies Management Plan commenced. Team leaders/Focal point persons identified to prepare a first draft of each of these sections:
4. Output- Phase II (Proposal development) 4 Weeks
a. Complete Global Fund Grant Application addressing the regional strategic priorities identified in the concept note, including programmatic and financial proposal, along with the Monitoring and Evaluation Plan, Procurement and Supplies Management Plans, and any other documents as may be required according to The Guidelines for Proposal Development by The Global Fund.
b. Ensure timely submission of the final proposal document to the Global fund.
c. Debrief the RCM, PRs and other stakeholders as requested/desired by the RCM after submission of the proposal.
5. Requirements
a. Qualification and Experience
• Minimum of a Master or Doctoral degree.
• At least 10-15 years of experience in strategic planning, successful track record in grant application for HIV and AIDS, maternal, child, and neonatal health related projects;
• Experience in national and regional level coordination, advocacy and program management experience with highly reputable international institutions working in HIV and AIDS programs,
• Ability to conduct critical analysis and excellent writing skill
• Successful Work experience in the region and familiarity with the complex issues faced by the region is an added advantage;
• Demonstrated and relevant knowledge and skills in HIV and AIDS, reproductive health, maternal, child and neonatal health programs.
• Demonstrated track record of results based program financing mechanisms, and evidence of successful proposals under similar role.
• Evidence of at least two successful TGF and other grant applications in the past, and familiarity with USAID Grant applications and programs an added advantage;
Application shoub be submit to the following persons: Ahmed.hassan@igad.int, Fathia Alwan@igad.int copy to thehr@igad.int no later than January 23, 2014 COB (14:30 Nairobi time.).
