Mobile App for HIV to be launched in the Philippines

The iMonitor application, which provides communities with tool for real-time monitoring and problem-solving, will be rolled in the Philippines during an in-country workshop. The community of people living with HIV in Greater Metro Manila area will be the focus for this initial phase of implementation

2016-2018 Davao City AIDS Plan developed

The UCO and UNICEF provided technical assistance to the Davao City AIDS Council's three-day evidence-based planning workshop to develop its three-year costed plan addressing needs of its key populations. Davao City is one of seven priority big cities in the Joint UN Programme of Support till 2018.

2015-2017 Health Sector Strategic Plan on HIV developed

The Department of Health's National AIDS/STI Prevention and Control Program organized a workshop to finalize the 2015-2017 Health Sector Strategic Plan on AIDS on 15-17 July 2007 at Clark, Pampanga, Philippines. Around 25 stakeholders from different organizations attended, including UNAIDS, who provided technical inputs. The strategic plan will be costed in another workshop.

Photo: Bo Espinas

Possible source to fund P3billion HIV needs identified

Authors of Bill to amend the AIDS Law filed in the House of Representatives called a special meeting on July 10, 2014 to tackle the budget appropriation in the AIDS Bill. Congressman Baguilat advocated for PhP3b for HIV budget in 2015 to be covered by proceeds from the sin tax, based on the AIDS Investment Plan developed by DOH and PNAC with support from UNAIDS Country Office in the Philippines.

City of Manila amends AIDS Ordinance

The Amended City of Manila AIDS Council (CMAC) Ordinance has passed the third reading of the council. This is a triumph for both the City Health Office and the HIV and AIDS local partners who have been lobbying for this since mid-2013. The ordinance provides for hiring of 60 peer educators for the city; CMAC budget of about $46,000; strengthened prevention programs for entertainment establishment-based workers; continuing education programs and division of labour among agencies involved.

The City of Manila is one of the seven (7) areas supported by the 2012-2014 United Nations Joint Program on AIDS in the Philippines.

Protect the Goal Philippines Launched

The UNAIDS Country Office and the Philippine Football Federation signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) covering the launch of Protect the Goal Philippine Campaign aligned with the global campaign.  The initiative is funded by Asian Development Bank as part of its support to 3 countries in the Asia Pacific Region.

New HIV Clinic opens in Quezon City

Quezon City recently opened a second sundown clinic inspired by the success of Klinika Bernardo, the first sun down clinic in the country, which catered to the needs of MSM. It operates from 3pm to 11pm to accommodate varying schedules especially the working and studying males. It has received a number of recognitions from different award-winning bodies in the country. With the opening of the second sundown clinic, the Quezon City government aims to reach more MSM especially those who are not able to go to other Social Hygiene Clinics in the City.

Quezon City is one of the seven (7) areas supported by the 2012-2014 United Nations Joint Program on AIDS in the Philippines.

Vacancy: Research Assistant, APW

Type of assignment:        Research Assistant, APW

Duration:                            3 months (March to May 2014)

Location:                            Makati City, Philippines

Preferred starting date:   3 March 2014 or earlier)

Host agency:                     UNAIDS Country Office -Philippines

Application deadline:       20 February 2014

Background

The UNAIDS Country Office (UCO) in the Philippines provides technical support to assist in the implementation of the 5^th AIDS Medium Term Plan (AMTP5) for 2011-2016. The AMTP5 emphasizes among other the need to increase the availability and use of information for policy makers and programme planners through monitoring, evaluation and research. It also stresses the need to establish an effective resource tracking system in order to ensure increased, sustainable and efficiently allocated resources for the national response to HIV and AIDS.

The UCO provides technical support in a range of areas including monitoring, evaluation, strategic planning, costing and resource flow tracking. Particular assistance is granted by the UCO to the Philippine National AIDS Council (PNAC) who is mandated with the coordination and the monitoring of the national multisectoral response to HIV and AIDS. The mandate of the PNAC involves the tracking of financial resources that support the implementation of the national response to the epidemic, particularly monitoring progress towards the achievement of targets set at the UN High Level Meetings on AIDS, most recently the 2011 UN High Level Meeting (HLM) in New York.

National financing and spending assessments were done the Philippines since 2005 and has covered more than a decade of AIDS investments in the Philippines (2000-2012). Data from these assessments were used to contribute to the bi-annual progress reports to the UN. These assessments were conducted under the leadership of the PNAC, through the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), and with technical support from the UCO.

Financing and spending assessments will be conducted again this year, to collect data needed to track resource flows and to inform resource mobilization and allocation efforts. The data will be used also for the 2014 Global AIDS Response Progress Report (GARPR) of the Philippines to the UNAIDS Nations and financial gap analysis as input to the concept note of the Philippine HIV Programme Proposal to the Global Fund. The global guidelines on the GARPR reporting is already available, including the definition of indicators related to AIDS financing, spending and investments.

The UCO is committed to providing technical support to the PNAC and NEDA with the organization and implementation of the upcoming assessment. However, additional human resources will be required to meet this commitment and therefore the UCO seeks to identify a suitable candidate who can assist primarily with carrying out the financing and spending assessment. Whenever possible, the candidate is also expected to support the finalization of the 2014 GARPR.

The research assistant will work on a UCO space under a UNAIDS Agreement for Performance of Work (APW). 

Description of Duties

Under the direct supervision of the UNAIDS Strategic Information Advisor, and co-supervised by the PNAC Secretariat Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, and the NEDA Specialist on NASA,  the research assistant will undertake the following duties and responsibilities:

·        Work in close collaboration with PNAC and NEDA staff to implement the financing and spending assessment. This includes but is not limited to providing assistance with the following tasks:

§  Organize and facilitate meetings, and presentations on the assessment;

§  Refine survey instruments and update directories of respondents including government institutions, non-governmental organisations, bi- and multilateral organizations;

§  Monitor sending and reception of survey instruments to/by respondents;

§  Respond to queries and provide clarifications to respondents;

§  Verify and cross check information received and revert to respondents for complementary information or to request corrections if required;

§  Prepare data entry spreadsheets, enter all the data and cross-check and clean the data;

§  Analyse and interpret the data and develop graphic presentations; and

§  Draft report with assessment results and other documents and presentations.

It is essential that the above tasks be conducted in a participatory manner.

·    Work closely with M&E staff at the UCO and at PNAC to support the following activities:

§  Preparation of the 2014 GARP report and related summaries and multimedia presentations; and

§  Participation in relevant meetings, workshops and conference as required.

·  Other tasks assigned by the UNAIDS Strategic Information Advisor and/or Country Coordinator.

Expected Results/Outputs

·    Financing and spending assessment (2011-2013) successfully completed and report produced.

·    Timely and meaningful inputs and effective support to the above-mentioned tasks and functions.

Qualifications/Requirements:

·  University degree (preferably Masters degree or enrolled in Masters Programme) in Economics, Social Sciences or Public Health with a solid training in Economics or in Accounting;

· Good knowledge and skills in surveys, preferably with financial or economic surveys/assessments;

·     Proven quantitative and qualitative data collection, processing, analysis and interpretation skills;

·        Practical work or research experience in developing countries a major asset;

·        Excellent oral and written proficiency in English and experience in report writing; and

·        Good understanding and/or genuine interest in HIV and AIDS issues.

Competencies:

·        Computer skills:  Strong computer knowledge and skills, especially in Excel

·        Language skills:  Fluency in English

·        Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;

·        Very good interpersonal and communications skills;

·        Experience in interacting with people from different cultures and backgrounds;

·        Excellent organization, communication and presentation skills; and

·     Pro-active and independent individual who takes initiative and is an outstanding team player.

Interested and qualified candidates are encouraged to apply, through sending a cover letter and updated CV under the subject line ‘Research Assistant” to mosendez@unaids.org by 20 February 2014. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted and references will be required before appointment.