Thursday, December 19, 2013

VACANCY: ADB/World Bank Big Cities Project Team Lead

TITLE: TEAM LEADER, HIV PREVENTION IN BIG CITIES PROJECT, PHILIPPINES 
(National Full Time)
DEPARTMENT: ASIA AND EAST EUROPE
DATE: DECEMBER 2013 

PSI is a leading global health organization with programs targeting malaria, child survival, HIV and reproductive health. Working in partnership within the public and private sectors, and harnessing the power of the markets, PSI provides life-saving products, clinical services and behavior change communications that empower the world's most vulnerable populations to lead healthier lives.

PSI's core values are a belief in markets and market mechanisms to contribute to sustained improvements in the lives of the poor; results and a strong focus on measurement; speed and efficiency with a predisposition to action and an aversion to bureaucracy; decentralization and empowering our staff at the local level; and a long term commitment to the people we serve. PSI has programs in approximately 65 countries.  For more information, please visit www.psi.org.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the World Bank (WB) have agreed to jointly support the Government of Philippines  in implementing the 5th AIDS Medium-Term Plan (AMTP V), particularly in generating evidence on cost-effective and high impact HIV prevention interventions in the Philippines, focusing on HIV service models for men who have sex with men (MSM) in Metro Manila and Metro Cebu, and interventions addressing HIV transmission and drug demand for people who inject drugs (PWID) in Metro Cebu. The Philippines Department of Health (DOH), as the main recipient of this technical assistance, facilitates the implementation of the project and performs review and oversight functions. ADB, who administers the project, has engaged Population Services International (PSI) to provide technical support to the DOH, and develop and implement the project activities in collaboration with its partner, the Philippine NGO Council on Population, Health and Welfare (PNGOC).

PSI seeks an experienced Team Leader (TL) to lead the implementation of the project as contracted to PSI and PNGOC. The team leader should have significant leadership, management and development experience; a demonstrated track record of managing relationships with government; and working with Community Based Organizations of key populations especially Men who have Sex with Men (MSM) and People Who Inject Drugs (PWID). Experience in behavior change communication with a focus on concentrated epidemics is highly desirable. The position reports to the PSI Deputy Regional Director for Asia and East Europe, with a dotted line reporting to the PNGOC Executive Director. This position is open only to Filipino nationals and is based in Metro Manila. 


RESPONSIBILITIES:

The TL will be responsible for the overall project direction and management. S/he will oversee the project implementation in close coordination with the Director of the Bureau of International Health Cooperation (BIHC) who is the project manager for DOH. The TL will undertake the following tasks:

1.     Act as the focal person of the project to coordinate with the DOH.
2.     Provide programmatic oversight and strategic leadership for the project.
3.     Performs the role of the ADB grant manager in close collaboration and direction from PSI/Washington or any other office of PSI, as assigned.
4.     Ensures rapid scale up of the project with assistance and close collaboration from Project Coordinator and Deputy Regional Director of PSI.
5.     Provide supervision and technical guidance to the project staff, including staff of the community based organizations (CBO) that may be subcontracted.
6.     Coordinate with the DOH technical units for HIV/AIDS for the smooth implementation of the project.
7.     Ensure regular liaison, progress update meetings and collaboration with the local government units (LGUs) and Centers for Health Development (CHD) and other key stakeholders, as required.
8.     In concert with the project coordinator, ensure that all activities and actions are consistent with ADB, WB, and PSI policies, protocols and regulations.
9.     Ensure formal and documented approval of project activities at the national and local levels.
10.  Ensure complete and on-time submission of technically sound, formal written reports and other project documents as required by PSI.
11.  Provide technical support as needed to the project associates based at BIHC, National STD-AIDS Prevention and Control Program (NASPCP), and National Epidemiology Center (NEC) to ensure completion of project deliverables.
12.  Coordinate with the PSI Project Coordinator for quality assurance in project implementation and for proper and timely disbursement of funds to PNGOC.
13.   Conduct regular meetings in order to review project accomplishments with the PNGOC project team in preparation for submission of the monthly progress reports and other project reports and documents to PSI.


QUALIFICATIONS:

The TL should have an advanced degree in public health, social sciences or related field or its equivalent. The position requires at least 10 years of public health experience, including at least three years in Asia in HIV prevention, and as team leader of HIV projects. Work experience in the Philippines with the DOH or any other Southeast Asia country is necessary. Experience in working on MSM and PWID issues, including prison settings, is preferred.

Please apply with detailed CV and Cover letter to asiaadmin@psi.org.  The last date for applications will be 10 January 2014.

Monday, December 16, 2013

UNAIDS supports yearend review of Quezon City and Manila

In the last two weeks, at least two cities in the National Capital Region, Quezon City and the City of Manila, with high reported incidence of HIV have held UNAIDS-supported programme implementation review to identify how they can level up/scale up their ongoing response to HIV. This is in aid of developing site specific investment options.

Philippine CSOs discuss key issues in the AIDS Law amendment

On December 13, representatives of different Civil Society Organizations (CSO) from around the country heald a UNAIDS-supported national consultation to discuss their position on the controversial  provisions in some of the bills filed at the Lower House of Congress to amend the 1998 AIDS Law and tackle  the issue of community testing, among others.

Philippine Congress tackle ammendments to the AIDS law

In Observance of World AIDS Day (WAD), December 2, a parliamentarian in the House of Representatives Honorable Ibarra M. Gutierrez III of the Akbayan Citizens' Action Party, who filed a bill to amend the 1998 AIDS Law gave a privilege speech on HIV and the need to update the law. At least 4 other authors opened the "Yest to Test", a three day Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) in the grounds of the House of Representatives, by taking an HIV test and speak against stigma and discrimination.

On December 10, the House of representatives' Committe on Health heard the seven (7) bills filed on HIV and agreed to the consolidation of the bills through the Technical Working Group (TWG) of the main authors. Members of Parliament who were in attendance of the Committee meeting signified their interest to co-author the consolidated bill. UNAIDS was invited to provide comments to the bills based on policies and evidence.

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Lani Mercado, fellow solons get tested for HIV

BY ANGELA CASAUAY
POSTED ON 12/02/2013 2:21 PM  | UPDATED 12/02/2013 3:28 PM

MANILA, Philippines – There's no shame in getting tested.

To raise awareness on HIV prevention, 3 members of the House of Representatives underwent free HIV testing and counseling at a mobile clinic parked at the House of Representatives on Monday, December 2.

World AIDS Day was celebrated on Sunday, December 1.

Representatives Teddy Brawner Baguilat Jr (Ifugao), Barry Gutierrez (Akbayan), and Lani Mercado-Revilla (Cavite) said they did this to highlight the importance of voluntary testing.

"What we did today is an attempt to show that there should be no stigma attached to HIV testing, to HIV treatment, to the spread and dissemination of HIV-related information and education," Gutierrez said. "We hope to take the crucial first steps towards preventing any further increase and hopefully to get us back on track on dealing with HIV."

Read more here:
http://www.rappler.com/nation/45043-solons-hiv-aids-test