Head- Technical Support Unit-Key Populations

Partners for Health and Development in Africa (PHDA) is an international NGO working to increase access to health for the disadvantaged communities in Africa through systems strengthening, research, program development and partnerships.

PHDA is sponsored by the University of Manitoba, Canada and is currently implementing the University programs in HIV Key populations programming and Research in Kenya mainly funded by the US Govt (USAID), CDC-PEPFAR, and Bill & Melinda Gates foundation. PHDA is also implementing some EU and DFID funded projects

The University of Manitoba – Centre for Global Public Health (UoM-CGPH), with funding from The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) and through Partners for Health and Development in Africa (PHDA), has been contracted to provide technical assistance to the National STI & AIDS Control Programme (NASCOP) to support the Key Population Programme which includes programming with Female Sex Workers, Male sex workers, Men who have Sex with Men (MSM) and People Who Inject Drugs (PWID).Technical Support Unit was set up within NASCOP (National AIDS and STI Control Program) with the following objectives

· To increase policy and programmatic focus on key populations in the national HIV prevention and care program

· To improve effectiveness and efficiency of prevention and care programmes with KPs being implemented by NGOs/ CBOs.

· Government of Kenya and other funders and implementers are influenced to adopt and utilize a comprehensive strategy for HIV prevention and care programming among KPs.

· To improve enabling environment to facilitate the implementation of HIV prevention and care programming among KPs.

The project commenced on November 2012 and would continue till December 2017.

Applications are invited from qualified Kenyan nationals for the position described below.

Position profile and purpose

Head – Technical Support Unit for Key Populations. The overall purpose of this position is to support NASCOP and build its technical and management expertise to plan, implement, monitor and evaluatekey population interventions for HIV prevention, care and support in Kenya,through a technical support unit embedded within NASCOP, Ministry of Health, Kenya. This project is funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and implemented by the University of Manitoba through its local partner, Partners for Health and Development in Africa.

Key duties and responsibilities

1. Implement and manage a Technical Support Unit (TSU) for NASCOP to support key population programming for HIV prevention, care and support.

· Develop work plans for the TSU and support the development of a strategy and work plan for the Key Populations division of NASCOP.

· Recruit, train and manage a multi-disciplinary team at the TSU. Provide guidance to the team to provide need-based strategic technical support to NASCOP and its partners.

· Provide ongoing technical support to NASCOP to plan, implement, monitor and evaluate the national key populations programme.

1. Develop and implement a program management and implementation support system for service providers in key population programs for HIV prevention, care and support.

· Develop and implement a system of supportive supervision, including field management support and participatory review.

· Develop and implement a system for technical assistance and capacity building for key population programme managers and implementers.

1. Maintain a close working relationship with the Government of Kenya, key donors and implementing partners to ensure key population programmes remain a priority.
2. Provide strategic leadership in adapting good practices from other countries to the Kenyan setting, and disseminating learnings from Kenya to other countries and globally.
3. Represent the TSU at relevant technical working groups, donor forums and other strategic planning avenues for the national HIV response.
4. Provide overall management for the TSU, including managing a team of Technical Officers and Regional Field Officers, financial planning and reporting, and fulfilment of donor reporting requirements.
5. Represent the TSU at senior level meetings and decision making structures within the parent Ministries, among donors and other key partners.
6. Forge strategic linkages with other programmes in Kenya to leverage resources for key population HIV prevention, care and support activities.
7. Report to the donor and the government on a regular basis.
8. Required experience and qualifications
   Experience and abilities
   · Minimum of ten years’ progressive experience in senior management positions in HIV prevention programmes.
   · Strong familiarity and experience with key population programmes in Kenya.
   · Familiarity with the policy framework for the HIV response in Kenya.
   · Proven skills in strategic planning and leadership, organisational development and change management.
   · Strong leadership, facilitation and decision-making skills.
   · Excellent interpersonal communication.
   Qualifications
   · Advanced university degree (at least at Masters level) with specialisation in the field of management, public health, or related social sciences, or equivalent experience.

HOW TO APPLY:

Applications from qualified and interested candidates should be sent by e-mail to:recruitment@phdaf.org. If email is not possible, a hard copy can be sent via post to the following address: HR: Technical Support Unit, PO Box 3737 - 00506, Nairobi, Kenya.

Applications should consist of an updated CV with current daytime telephone contact and a cover letter indicating the position applied for in the subject header and stating the current salary and expected salary. All applications must be received no later than June 11th, 2016. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.