HIV Facility Linkages Specialist: Catholic Relief Services (CRS)

Deadline: 13 May 2022

About

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States of America. CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion, or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding. Registered in Zimbabwe under the PVO Act, certificate number 6/2002, CRS has been supporting program activities in Zimbabwe since 1989 and has long-standing relationships with Church and non-Church partners and communities throughout the country. The Zimbabwe program implements projects through 14 partner organizations in 30 districts in the areas of health, OVC, education, food security and agricultural livelihoods, and peacebuilding. CRS seeks to fill in the following position that has arisen.

Job summary

The successful candidate will provide technical analysis and support to Pathways project in the area of HIV clinical linkages in line with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) program quality principles and standards, donor guidelines, and industry best practice to advance the delivery of high-quality programming to the poor and vulnerable. Working closely with other Pathways staff, his/her skills and knowledge will contribute towards determining how effective, adaptive and innovative CRS’ HIV Linkages programming is across the globe.

Responsibilities

Coordinating and monitoring the HIV / AIDS activities (HIV Testing and Counseling, referral and linkage, HIV treatment, adherence, viral load monitoring etc.) undertaken by implementing partners of the program in collaboration with Health Facilities; Monitoring, tracking, analyzing and evaluating clinical data, reviewing HIV registers and providing technical guidance on sound HIV management for Pathways’ clients and beneficiaries in accordance with MOHCC clinical guidelines and protocols; Collaborating and facilitating LIP relationship with national, provincial, district and site level MoHCC staff and clinical partner counterparts to strengthen facility-community linkages; Providing technical guidance to LIPS for other health related services required by Pathways beneficiaries such as maternal, newborn and child health services to ensure integrated health service delivery; Working with implementing partners and district level stakeholders, including a wide network of health workers, teachers, para social workers and others in mapping out existing services, identifying needs and improving coordinated referrals for OVCs and caregivers; Collecting and disseminating HIV linkages related information and resources to Pathways staff and partners and assisting with the organization, designing, and coordinating training workshops to support capacity building efforts; Identifying new approaches and methods for online learning; Contributing to the learning agenda by researching and analyzing information, conducting literature reviews, mappings or information gathering from various internal and external sources on assigned topics; Providing recommendations for program operations, training, communications and MEAL in line with the Pathways HIV Community linkages and clinical support strategy; Providing technical support in establishing strong linkages and referral systems between the Community and health facilities for suitable HIV prevention, care, treatment and follow up activities.

Education and experience

A Medical or nursing degree with current registration with relevant practitioners’ council; A postgraduate qualification / Master’s Degree in Public Health, HIV Management, Health Services Management or related degree will be an added advantage; Completion of an advanced HIV / AIDS management course is an added advantage; At least 3 years’ experience in clinical management of HIV and TB/HIV at public health facility / OI/ART clinics an added advantage; Experience providing training, supportive supervision, technical assistance and capacity building in a health facility and community settings; experience in quality improvement processes a plus; Understanding and experience using MoHCC data systems (ART registers, EPMS etc) a strong advantage; Experience with USAID / PEPFAR funded projects preferred.