I. GENERAL INFORMATION
1. SOLICITATION NO.: 72012124R00018
2. ISSUANCE DATE: July 31, 2024
3. CLOSING DATE/TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: August 30, 2024 (11:59 p.m. EST)
4. POSITION TITLE: HIV/AIDS Advisor
5. MARKET VALUE: $104,604-$135,987 per annum, equivalent to GS-14. Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value.
6. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: one (1) year, with four (4) option years. Options may be exercised based upon satisfactory contractor performance, mutual agreement between the Contractor and USG, continued Mission requirements and the continued availability of funds.
7. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Kyiv, Ukraine
8. SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: Secret
9. STATEMENT OF DUTIES
BACKGROUND:
USAID/Ukraineโs Office of Health is one of four technical offices in the Mission and is responsible for the management of a portfolio, valued at approximately $24 million per year, which supports the Government of Ukraine (GOU) and civil society to build a health system that responds to the needs of the Ukrainian people. In addition to a strong focus on health reform, USAID partners with Ukraine to respond to its high burden of HIV/AIDS, viral hepatitis C co-infection, and multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), and is working to improve Ukraineโs immunization program.
USAID, in collaboration with the Department of State, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Defense, and Peace Corps, implements the U.S. Presidentโs Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) in Ukraine. Partnering with the Ministry of Health, local government, healthcare facilities, and civil society organizations, the program aims to support the country to reach epidemic control by 2030. USAID technical assistance improves HIV service quality, ensures more Ukrainians know their HIV status, links people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV) to treatment and care, and reduces stigma and discrimination.
Despite progress on HIV/AIDS in Ukraine, greater efforts are still needed. Only 72 percent of PLHIV in the 12 PEPFAR-supported regions of Ukraine know their status, and only 71 percent of those identified are on antiretroviral therapy. More positively, 93 percent of those on ART are virally suppressed. HIV/TB co-infection remains one of the highest causes of HIV-related mortality in Ukraine.
Current priorities for the PEPFAR program include: refining and scaling efforts to identify and link PLHIV, ensuring those on treatment remain virally suppressed, expanding prevention activities among key populations, and continuing technical assistance in support of Ukraineโs broader health reforms and the capacity of the central procurement authority. The success of the HIV program depends on the Government of Ukraine health sector and policy reforms, including the restructuring of HIV clinical services in accordance with a client-centered approach and decentralization of HIV services, in particular, building capacity of primary level healthcare facilities to provide a full range of HIV services including HIV prevention, diagnostics, and treatment.
Russiaโs brutal invasion of Ukraine has significantly disrupted the health and well-being of the Ukrainian people and the capacity of the Government of Ukraineโs public health system. As of June 2024, MoH estimated that attacks on civilian infrastructure damaged 1,833 health care facilities, and 145 health workers were injured and 43 killed. The war in Ukraine has triggered an unprecedented humanitarian crisis across the country, prompting widespread displacement of the countryโs populace. As of August 23, 2022, nearly 14 million Ukrainians are estimated to have left their homes due to the fighting, with almost 7 million people internally displaced and nearly 8 million having fled the country. The scale and dynamic nature of population displacement due to the ongoing war has made it difficult to determine regional estimates of people living with HIV (PLHIV). It is currently unknown how these population shifts and other risk factors brought on by war may have changed the landscape of the HIV epidemic in Ukraine.
BASIC FUNCTIONS OF THE POSITION:
The HIV/AIDS Advisor will provide technical, strategic, and project management support to the Office of Health and its implementing partners, with a specific focus on the PEPFAR portfolio. Under the direct supervision of the Deputy Office Director, the Advisor provides strategic leadership for the portfolio, provides support for partner and activity management, and leads various planning and reporting processes. The Advisor will be based in Kyiv.
The HIV/AIDS Advisor works in close coordination with all USAID and USG PEPFAR teams and groups, relevant counterparts in the Government of Ukraine, and implementing partners for the HIV/AIDS portfolio, with a focus on supporting high quality planning, implementation, monitoring, and reporting of program activities.
The HIV/AIDS Advisor has advanced expertise in the area of international public health and management and will have responsibility for independently planning and carrying out important programs/projects and activities; determining the approach to be taken and the methods to be used; resolving or referring conflicts and questions as needed; coordinating work with others; and interpreting policy in terms of established objectives. The Advisor keeps supervisors informed of progress, potentially controversial matters, and problems with far-reaching implications.
The work of the HIV/AIDS Advisor requires teamwork, the exercise of discretion, judgment, and personal responsibility. As a member of a highly operational office, the incumbent is willing and able to perform a wide range of administrative functions to help ensure programmatic success. The incumbent has a high level of integrity and attention to detail to ensure the use of USAID systems and procedures to maintain effective and efficient management of funds, programming, and monitoring and evaluation. The incumbent is highly flexible and willing to work under conditions of ambiguity and ongoing change, and remains professional and respectful of colleagues and authority in a diverse workforce. She or he places a premium on the building of positive relationships with his or her respective team, and with key stakeholders both in and outside of USAID. The incumbent is able to prioritize and complete tasks with minimal supervision, while also filling in gaps as needed to ensure the responsiveness of the team. The Advisor is a strategic thinker, articulates innovative ideas, presents solutions, and is a positive role model for colleagues. The Advisor may supervise up to 2 employees.
MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Program/Project Management (40%)
- Provide support to local implementing partners to ensure high quality implementation and administrative management of PEPFAR-funded programs; ensure that implementing partners have the systems, processes, and staff in place to meet PEPFAR monitoring and reporting requirements; mentor implementing partner staff, as required, in high frequency reporting, data analysis, PEPFAR indicators, and PEPFAR reporting requirements.
- Assist Contracting/Agreement Officerโs Representatives (CORs/AORs) and/or Activity Managers with site-level data management; actively analyze site-level data to ensure appropriate geographical and technical focus of PEPFAR investments; make recommendations for programmatic shifts as and when appropriate.
- Assist CORs/AORs and/or Activity Managers to review activity work plans, budgets, performance monitoring plans, quarterly and annual reports, and other key documents. Ensure that work plans and program implementation align closely to COP plans, priorities, and targets.
- Conduct regular site visits to ensure progress toward agreed-upon goals, targets, and objectives; participate in PEPFAR Site Improvement Monitoring System (SIMS) visits; make recommendations to Office of Health colleagues and implementing partner staff to improve program effectiveness and efficiency.
- Serve as a COR/AOR or Activity Manager as assigned by the Office Director/Deputy Director, subject to the requisite certification.