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Community HIV Counseling and Testing Specialist

PATH is an international, nonprofit organization that creates sustainable, culturally relevant solutions, enabling communities worldwide to break longstanding cycles of poor health. PATH's mission is to improve the health of people around the world by advancing technologies, strengthening systems, and encouraging healthy behaviors.

The Strengthening Communities’ Responses to HIV and AIDS project is a three-year contract funded by USAID, with two one-year option periods. The goal of the project is to strengthen the organizational development and human capacity of civil society organizations (CSOs) so they are better able to reach people across Ethiopia with quality interventions that reduce the impact of HIV and AIDS. Coordinating its work with regional and federal offices of the Ministry of Health and the HIV and AIDS Prevention and Control agency, this project makes grants to CSOs across the country.

Job purpose

The Community HIV Counseling and Testing Specialist will serve as the primary technical expert and contact for HCT activities at the community level. The incumbent will facilitate the development, modification, and/or adaptation of appropriate counseling and testing strategies, with the goal of improving target community access to and use of HCT services. S/he will facilitate the expansion of HCT services at facility and community settings; and improve post-test referrals for all clients. The community HCT Specialist will build the capacity of the NIP’s and CSOs technical staff to deliver high-quality services; and train/supervise community counselors to prove high-quality counseling and testing, with a particular emphasis on effective referrals and service linkages. HCT Specialists will work closely with NIPs and Regional Health Bureau to enhance their participation on the provision supportive supervision, on-site coaching; and more importantly, laboratory External Quality Control (EQC). S/he will be responsible for liaising with SCRHA project to ensure that these strategies extend the network of referrals between community/home-based HCT program with public/private facility-level HIV/AIDS preventive, treatment, care and support services.

Responsibilities include:

  • Ensure quality design and implementation, achievement of results for HCT activities within the project, and collaborates with other technical units to ensure effective teamwork
  • Work with NIPs, Regional Health Bureau and Regional laboratories to develop quality assurance mechanisms and ensures that QA mechanisms are in place and functional
  • Work with MOHs and NAPs to design and put in place a strong supervision system for counselling and testing (CT) sites
  • Extend technical supports for NIPs/CSOs in assuring appropriate waste disposal for solid and liquid wastes in curtailing cross contamination and chance of community and home HIV transmission.
  • Facilitate the expansion of HCT services at facility and community settings; and improve post-test referrals for all clients
  • Provide overall leadership and sound advice for the Community Based HIV Counselling and testing activities in SCRHA project
  • Lead the development of annual HCT activities work plans and reports; and ensure integration of community HCT activities in larger project work plan
  • Review NIPs monthly and quarterly reports to share to SCRHA M&E and line manager.
  • To support NIPs/CSOs in fostering collaboration and partnership with Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH), Federal/regional HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Offices, Regional Health Bureau (RHB) and Town/Woreda Health offices.
  • Provide leadership and technical support to NIPs/CSOs in organizing semi-annual and quarterly review meetings.
  • Extend technical support to NIPs in preparing and submitting timely monthly, quarterly, semi-annual and annual reports.
  • Review NIPs monthly and quarterly reports in developing PATH/SCRHA Project’s component reports to be shared with line manager at SCRHA Project.
  • Liaise with M & E on collecting data on HCT.
  • Undertake other responsibilities as may be required.

  • Facilitate the development, modification, and/or adaptation of appropriate counselling and testing resource materials, approaches and strategies, with the goal of improving community access and use of HCT services.
  • Lead in carrying out assessments of community HCT capacity among NIPs and CSOs
  • Participate in the preparation of component specific manuals, guidelines and other materials as may appropriate.
  • Assist NIPs in the predation of Supportive Suspension and training/orientation workshops master plan.
  • Develop appropriate technical support to NIPs/CSOs in developing annual and monthly plans and activities to address the capacity gaps identified through assessments.
  • Lead and coordinate the provision of technical support to NIPs, CSOs and other implementing partners around design, implementation, management, monitoring and evaluation of quality HCT services.
  • Provide technical leadership in the development of approaches and strategies for mobilizing communities for HCT in collaboration with the Community Empowerment Specialist and other project staff
  • Build the capacity of the NIPs technical staff to deliver high-quality services and to train community counsellors among CSOs with a particular emphasis on effective referrals and linkages
  • Provide on-going support through coaching, supervision visits and mentoring to counsellors and volunteer providers implementing HCT activities.
  • Consolidate and disseminate knowledge and information regarding best practices, lessons learned, and proven approaches around community HCT
  • Required Skills
    • B.Sc in Nursing, public health is required, with M.P.H. preferred
    • Significant experience developing guidelines, performance improvement standards, pre and in-service training, and curricula and materials for infection prevention, counselling, and gender-sensitive and youth-friendly services.
    • Willingness and ability to travel in-country up to 25% time.
    • Fluency in English required.

    Required Experience
  • 5+ years experience providing clinical support
  • 5+ years working with USAID-funded HIV/AIDS programs
  • Technical experience in clinic and community-based settings as well as outreach services
  • Job Location
    Addis Ababa, ETHIOPIA

    Community HIV Counseling and Testing Specialist