Kyrgyzstan: Senior Drug-Resistant TB Advisor

SUSTAINING TECHNICAL AND ANALYTIC RESOURCES

FELLOWSHIP TITLE: Senior Drug-Resistant TB Advisor

HOST ORGANIZATION: National TB Program Office, Ministry of Health

LOCATION: Bishkek, Republic of Kyrgyzstan (RK)

POSITION LEVEL: Senior Technical Advisor

STAR-P1-056

TRAVEL:30% estimated travel

STAR PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Sustaining Technical and Analytic Resources (STAR) is a project of the Public Health Institute (PHI) supported by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) Global Health (GH) Bureau. Its purpose is twofold: (1) Through individual fellowships, STAR will help strengthen the capacity of diverse American and low-and-middle-income country (LMIC) health professionals at all levels to make innovative contributions to global health (GH); and (2) STAR will create ground-breaking opportunities for both US and LMIC GH academic institutions and other groups, including professional associations, to create systems for open-access knowledge sharing, resulting in effective partnerships. STAR’s individual and institutional participants are contributing to the development of self-sustaining systems and tools that will produce global citizens with the full spectrum of relevant health competencies. STAR is managed by the Public Health Institute and implemented in partnership with Johns Hopkins University (JHU), the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), and the Consortium of Universities for Global Health (CUGH).

ABOUT THE FELLOWSHIP

The STAR Fellowship is a two-year global health and learning opportunity with:

· Individualized, tailored support to enhance the fellow’s achievement personal and professional goals

· Personalized learning plans and access to learning resources (courses, conferences, mentoring) based on fellow’s learning style and preferences.

· Access to broad professional networks to enhance peer learning and knowledge sharing.

FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

Background:

STAR is a key component of the USAID Administrator's TB Accelerator to reach the UN General Assembly TB Declaration targets as well as build the capacity and commitment of the host governments to ensure TB self-reliance through evidence-based TB programs. USAID is in the forefront of global tuberculosis (TB) leadership and support to high burden TB countries.

The USAID investment for TB in the Kyrgyz Republic supports the National Tuberculosis Program V 2017-2021 to ensure supported activities achieve national scale and targets in selected key interventions targeting the majority of districts and provinces. USAID TB investments leverage U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) supported TB/HIV activities as well as the Global Fund (GF) TB grant and Kyrgyz government funding which supports health care staff and infrastructure.

Introduction:

The Senior Drug Resistant TB Advisor (Senior Advisor) will support the National TB Program of Kyrgyzstan for effective implementation and scale up of TB and M/XDR-TB activities. Additionally, the Senior Advisor will identify programmatic bottlenecks and facilitate solutions through coordinated technical assistance, as well as support the country to leverage additional resources for TB prevention and care.

Reporting structure:

The Senior Advisor will be based at the NTP within the Ministry of Health (MOH) in Kyrgyzstan. They will receive direction from the National TB Program Manager (NTP Manager), who will serve as the Onsite Manager. The Advisor will also work closely with USAID.

Essential Duties:

Improve support to policy development and enabling policy environment for introduction and scale-up of evidence-based TB interventions.

• Provide Technical Assistance (TA) to develop and update national policies, guidelines, technical directives, and the regulatory framework to ensure timely adoption of the latest WHO recommendations (e.g., MDR-TB Treatment, Contact Tracing, LTBI Diagnosis and Treatment)
• Facilitate consultative processes among all stakeholders and solicit feedback from partners and policy beneficiaries.
• Map out implementation processes to effectively translate policy guidelines into operational Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), including relevant trainings for staff.
• Liaise with the Drug Regulatory Authority and support the registration process of new drugs in the Kyrgyz Republic.
• Support relevant activities under the USAID End TB Accelerator and track progress on UNGA commitments and targets.

Increase the provision of appropriate technical support in the successful implementation and scale up of M/XDR-TB activities

• Support NTP to implement the new MDR-TB recommendations and scale-up patient-centered approaches to MDR-TB.
• Support NTP to improve TB and MDR-TB case finding and implement new and innovative approaches and systems to increase case detection.
• Support NTP in the preparation for introduction of new drugs and regimens in the country, with a focus on clinical management, training and care delivery.
• Facilitate the country-wide transition to new treatment regimens and diagnostic technologies, including all related processes (e.g. revising clinical guidelines, updating national procurement plans to reflect newly-required drugs and regimens, coordinating with partners and the GF program on the phase-out or disposal of relevant drugs, updating the diagnostic algorithm as needed, etc.).
• Strengthen the capacity of consilia and MDR-TB Coordinators on revised MDR-TB guidelines and SOPs; provide both training and on-the-job coaching and supervision on the implementation of new approaches.
• Strengthen pharmacovigilance systems associated with new drugs and regimens.
• Identify programmatic bottlenecks and facilitate technical assistance.
• Through collaboration with NTP and partners to identify programmatic gaps which may require additional technical assistance.

Improve NTP activities and reporting to align across implementing partners, donors and other parties.

• Provide support as needed to the current MOH TB Advisor with coordination among NTP, USAID, the Global Fund and other donors and international partners on planning of TB activities and provision of needed TA.
• Contribute to improving overall M&E systems and DR-TB surveillance, by assisting NTP to improve data quality assurance mechanisms, conduct effective supportive supervision and use of digital solutions at provincial and district level.
• Support the development of quarterly and annual programmatic narrative reports.
• Coordinate with the national HIV program and HIV partners for TB/HIV activities.
• Coordinate with USAID bilateral TB programs on MDR-TB clinical management component.
• Participate in regular conference calls/meetings with USAID staff as needed.

Anticipated learning outcomes: * Required 10% time

· Demonstrate proficiency across the core global health competencies defined as development practice, cross cultural awareness, communication, capacity strengthening, ethics of public health, health equity, gender equality and global burden of disease that is necessary for persons practicing in global health.

· Cultivate mentorship skills based on the STAR GH mentorship curriculum to more effectively support and improve knowledge transfer and skills acquisition of staff, incoming fellows and interns.

· Advance leadership skills to successful support capacity building and knowledge sharing activities, and mentor develop junior staff.

· Apply leadership skills and technical expertise to support programmatic growth and scale up within TB programming.

FELLOWSHIP REQUIREMENTS

Required:

• Advanced degree in Medicine (MD) required.

· Minimum 13 years of relevant technical experience with master's degree or a minimum of 15 years of relevant technical experience with bachelor's degree.

• At least 10 years of progressively responsible clinical experience including designing, implementing and managing TB programs and Programmatic Management of Drug-Resistant TB (PMDT) in Central Asia or the countries of the former Soviet Union, with a preference given to candidates with experience in the Kyrgyz Republic and knowledge of the Kyrgyz implementation context.
• Demonstrated knowledge of latest WHO recommendations and approaches, treatment regimens and diagnostic technologies and the requirements for scale-up.
• Demonstrated experience managing successful teams comprised of experienced professionals.
• Demonstrated technical leadership, program management, strategic planning, policy experience and problem-solving skills working on complex projects in a highly sensitive environment are required.
• Ability to work effectively with a broad range of Kyrgyz, USG personnel and partners, and have demonstrated skills in donor coordination and collaboration.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and in a team environment and communicate information to both health and non-health audiences, and achieve consensus on policy, project, research, and administrative matters.
• Excellent verbal communication skills, tact and diplomacy are required to establish and develop sustainable working relationships at the highest level and a high level of trust with public/private organizations. Verbal communication skills are also used to negotiate activity plans and resolve activity implementation issues with counterparts, partners and team members.
• Excellent written communication skills are required to prepare regular and ad hoc reports, activity documentation and briefing papers.
• Proven ability to communicate clearly and concisely in English – both orally and in writing is essential.
• Fluency in Russian both orally and in writing are required.
• Kyrgyz Republic citizenship preferred.

Additional skills (preferred)

• Experience with USAID-funded public health programs preferred.
• Familiarity with Global Fund processes desirable, especially with regard to drug procurement mechanisms.
• Excellent computer skills (MS Word, Excel, Power Point, and Outlook, Access, SPSS and other statistical and other relevant software) are required for effectively operating in this position to implement, analyze, monitor and manage activity goals, inputs, outcomes and achievements.
• Kyrgyz language skills a plus.

TO APPLY:

All applicants are required to apply for this position through STAR’s online recruitment system at https://www.ghstar.org/, which allows you to store your CV/resume and separate cover letter describing your qualifications and experience, interest and familiarity with issues relating to this position, and how this position relates to your career goals is required for each application. All online applications must be submitted by September 2, 2019 by 5:00 pm Eastern time.**