Senior Program Officer for Pediatric HIV Care, Support and Treatment

Background
The Regional Centre for Quality of Health Care (RCQHC) is affiliated to Makerere University School of Public Health. RCQHC’s mission is to provide leadership in building regional technical capacity to improve quality of health care in Africa by promoting evidence-based best practices. RCQHC currently operates in several countries in the Africa region.

RCQHC, has over the time formed and, hosts networks of health care professionals through which several program activities are carried out.

One such network is the African Network for Care of Children Affected by HIV/AIDS (ANECCA). ANECCA was established in the year 2001 in response to the recognition that in Africa, services for children affected by HIV/AIDS are below desired standards and coverage.

To address this problem, the Network brings together clinicians and social scientists committed to promoting improved access to quality HIV services for children in the region. The Network efforts are focused at leveraging existing local technical resources to increase access to, and improve the quality of pediatric HIV services.

RCQHC/ANECCA invites applications from suitably qualified candidates from countries in the Africa region for the following post:

Title: Senior Program Officer for Pediatric HIV Care, Support and
Treatment
Location: Kampala - Uganda.
Reporting to: RCQHC HIV/AIDS Technical Advisor
Tasks and Responsibilities:

1. Implementation of RCQHC/ANECCA program activities:
a. Respond to technical assistance needs from countries in the region by directly providing assistance/support, or indirectly by identification and mobilization of technical resources within and outside the Network, and facilitating availability of the resources to programs/countries in need.
b. Provide TA to already existing RCQHC/ANECCA field programs to ensure optimum, effective and efficient implementation in the various countries.
Such activities include but are not limited to: in-service training of various categories of health care providers; clinical mentoring, coaching and support supervision; development/strengthening of technical resource materials (guidelines, job aids and training curricula); and program assessments, evaluations and design.

2. Networking:
a. Facilitate, strengthen and coordinate networking activities of the Network.
b. Work with other ANECCA Secretariat team members to further develop and utilize innovative methods for communicating with Network members and the rest of the global world; including promoting knowledge sharing, learning and dissemination of relevant key information.
3. Developing, designing and promoting appropriate innovations for pediatric HIV programming and service delivery, including but not limited to:
a. Identification of emerging key issues in the area of pediatric HIV and AIDS and designing approaches to address those issues in the region, aiming at strengthening policy, programming and practice across the continent.
4. Fundraising and new business development – work with rest of secretariat team to continually identify new opportunities and develop new business for the Network through:
a. Establishing and building partnerships and collaborations with other organizations/agencies and potential funders
b. Development, submission and follow up of funding proposals as necessary.
5. Developing work plans for various activities, including budgeting and overseeing finance management and reporting.
6. Monitoring, evaluation and reporting on activities to various stakeholders and funders

Required Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
1. A basic degree in Medicine and a post graduate qualification in clinical pediatrics at Masters Level or equivalent. An additional Masters in
Public Health will be an added advantage.
2. Demonstrable experience (at least 3 years) in actively providing clinical care and treatment services to children and adolescents living with HIV, in developing country settings.
3. Demonstrable experience in leading and conducting pediatric HIV care and treatment in-service training activities for various categories of health care service providers is required.
4. Demonstrable experience in programming for pediatric HIV service delivery in developing countries is a requirement.
5. Basic knowledge of approaches to providing counseling and psychological support services to children/adolescents affected by
HIV, together with their families, will be of added advantage.
6. Hands-on computer skills, including using Microsoft Office programs, internet, e-mail and basic databases is a requirement
7. Excellent good writing, communication and interpersonal skills will be essential.
8. Fluency in written and spoken English language is desirable. Working level proficiency in French language, Kiswahili or Amarharic will be of added advantage.
The officer will be expected to travel significantly, mainly within the Africa region (and sometimes other) countries, where RCQHC/ANECCA’s field activities are focused.
Interested and qualified individuals should send their CVs with a cover letter (not later than 14 days from the day of appearance of this advertisement) to:

The Administrator
Regional Centre for Quality of Health Care,
Makerere University School of Public Health
E-mail : mail@rcqhc.org
Copy to hbarigye@rcqhc.org

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