June 30th, 2014 | 
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Title: Executive Secretary/Technical Advisor to the CCM
Duty Station: Tbilisi, Georgia
Closing date: July 13, 2014
Georgia Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) is looking for a qualified candidate for a position of an Executive Secretary/Technical Advisor
Background
HIV/AIDs and Tuberculosis (TB) remain a major public health challenge for Georgia. Despite some decline in TB prevalence, incidence and mortality rates Georgia stands among 27 countries worldwide with highest burden of MDR TB. As per HIV/AIDs, Georgia is among concentrated HIV epidemic countries with highly affect most at risk population groups (MARPs), first of all MSM and PWIDs.
The Global Fund (GFATM) continues to be the major player in scaling up the National Response to HIV and TB in Georgia. The present proposals for HIV and TB had been approved through round 10 and will be implemented until December, 2015 and June, 2016 respectively. It has to be emphasized, that the coming two years are crucial in terms of developing country’s capacities in delivering effective national response to emerging HIV/TB issues and ensuring smooth transition/hand-over of financial responsibilities to the state.
In this pursuit, the Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) plays instrumental role in inter-sectorial and multi-sectorial coordination of the national response to epidemics of HIV/AIDS and TB to support the national government’s efforts in providing the country with opportunities for producing better health outcomes for its population.
Scope of the Work
The CCM is looking for an Executive Secretary/Technical Advisor to assist in fulfilling its core functions, i.e.:
- Providing technical expertise and coordinating development of country’s guiding policy and program documents on HIV and TB, including the country’s strategic plans of action, M&E plans and the proposals for the GF New Funding Model;
- Validating, developing and/or revising other relevant national development plans and policies for ensuring establishment of enabling legal and policy framework for effective national response to HIV and TB;
- Coordinating and monitoring of implementation of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and other programs.
- Advocating for mobilization of increased domestic & external resource investments (financial, technical & human) for scaling up implementation of the national HIV/TB Programs.
This full time assignment is offered for initial 3-month period, with possible renewals of the contract.
Tasks and Responsibilities:
Applying Technical Expertise
- Advice the CCM chairperson and the Secretariat on technical issues related to scaling up and harmonizing the HIV and TB National Responses in Georgia;
- Organize and coordinate technical experts panels for systematic review of the National policies and strategic, M&E and program documents on HIV/AIDS; Provide regular reports to the CCM on progresses made in these directions;
- Lead the development of the country’s proposals for the GF’s New Funding Model on HIV and TB; organize relevant local and international technical assistance as needed;
- Coordinate national working group for harmonization of the National HIV and TB responses within the State and GF Programs and effective planning increasing state allocations for the coming years with the aim of gradual complete take over the funding responsibilities;
- Prepare technical brief notes and progress reports for the CCM Secretariat, implementing partners, Global Fund Secretariat or other external consultative missions, as required;
- Ensure day-to-day coordination with the TB and HIV partners, i.e. government, NGO and International Agencies on TB and HIV/AIDS related issues beyond the Global Fund Programs;
- Participate in and support the working group on development of Strategies and Action Plans and follow up of finalization/legalization of the document and proper implementation of TB and HIV/AIDS control activities
- Take part in coordination and monitoring of the GF funded grant
- Participate in budgetary discussions of the State TB and HIV/AIDS Programs.
- Participate coordination and monitoring of the TB and HIV/AIDS programs funded by other donors than the GF;
- Communicate with HIV/AIDS and TB management and stakeholders to ensure that HIV/TB collaborative activities are in place.
General Functions within the CCM Secretariat
- Undertake overall coordination and oversight of all functions of the CCM Secretariat
- Assure smooth and transparent communication among the Global Fund, CCM, development partners and mass-media;
- Assist CCM and its committees in developing of a Plan of Action and annual operating budget for the CCM;
- Provide relevant support to the CCM for implementation of the oversight, monitoring and evaluation functions;
- Participate in development of the CCM annual work plan and Oversight Plan;
- Participate in the activities of the working groups established under the CCM;
- Organize monitoring visits to the PR, SR and SSRs;
- Follow up with PR regarding action plans;
- Coordinate and document CCM oversight activities, including site visits;
- Participate in subject-matter trainings/conferences, workshops;
- Support the establishment of the dashboard tool for all grants and follow up with the dashboard cycle all the way up to the implementation of the decisions of the general assembly
- Support the CCM and its committees to conduct the orientation of new members of the CCM.
- Track the progress in the achievement of the targets set in the Georgian CCM performance framework.
- Follow up on the management letters from the GF;
- Attend Oversight Committee meetings to support dashboard interpretation and formulation of recommendations;
- Assist the Oversight Committee to identify locations for site visits, accompany CCM members on oversight site visits as requested;
- Write up reports of site visits;
- Support preparation of the Oversight Committee’s presentation to the CCM;
Management of approved and submitted programs to the Global Fund
- Regularly check the guidelines of the Global Fund concerning the elements of new proposals to be submitted to the GF;
- Disseminate to the interested parties the information needed for development of the proposal including the GF guidelines and requirements;
- Coordinate finalization of proposals and collect the necessary information to accompany the proposals;
- Ensure alignment and harmonization of the CCM’s proposals with national initiatives;
- Send proposals to the Global Fund and ensure all necessary communication;
Qualifications/skills required
- Advanced university degree in medicine, public health, or similar health policy and management; The relevant international graduate program degree is considered as an asset.
- More than 3 years of progressive professional experience in managing national/international public health programs with special attention to M&E, analysis, policy and strategy development techniques;
- Experience in management and administration of the TB/HIV related programmes to be considered as a strong asset.
- Knowledge of practices in situation analyses, policy, strategy and standards development, researching and programming in complex situations;
- Strong ability to draft clearly and concisely ideas and concepts in written and oral form.
- Self-motivated, innovative and able to work under pressure;
- Strong interpersonal skills, strong professional ethics, professional presentation;
- Excellent communication and presentation skills;
- Advanced negotiation skills;
- Teamwork & networking skills;
- Computer skills: MS office, Internet Explorer.
- Proficiency in spoken and written Georgian and English. Fluency in Russian is considered as an asset.
Performance indicators
Executive Secretary/Technical Advisor’s performance will be evaluated against the following criteria: timeliness, responsibility, initiative, communication, and quality of the products delivered.
Unsatisfactory performance
In case of unsatisfactory performance the contract will be terminated by notification letter sent 30 days prior to the termination date.
Supervision arrangements
Direct supervision lies with the CCM Chairperson. As of June 2014 Minister of Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia is chairing the Country Coordinating Mechanism.
The interested candidates are requested to submit a cover letter, CV, copies of diplomas and names of two references with their contact details no later than July 13, 2014 to the following e-mail addresses: admin.ccm@caucasus.net; geoccm@caucasus.net
Only short-listed applicants will be contacted for an interview.
