NGO JOBS

Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is an international humanitarian aid organisation that provides assistance in more than 60 countries to populations in distress, to victims of natural or man-made disasters and to victims of armed conflicts, without discrimination and irrespective of race, religion, creed, or political affiliation.

The South African Medical Unit (SAMU) of MSF’s Operational Centre Brussels (MSF-OCB) was established in 2006, and provides support to projects with tuberculosis (TB) and HIV activities across Africa and beyond. This includes activities related to diagnosis and management of drug-resistant TB (DR-TB).

MSF-OCB is currently recruiting a TB/HIV Adviser to be based in Cape Town, South Africa as part of the SAMU team.

Main Objectives of the post

Support field teams in the definition and implementation of TB (both drug-sensitive and drug-resistant) and HIV activities, in both high and low burden settings
Increase MSF-OCB’s internal capacity to implement TB (including DR-TB) and HIV programmes with progressive and innovative diagnostic and therapeutic strategies
Participate in operational research on TB and HIV

Main functions

To give support and direction to MSF programmes with TB, DR-TB, and HIV activities in both high and low burden settings, in close collaboration with medical coordinators on the field, medical polyvalents in the Operations Department, other members of the Medical Department (paediatrician, pharmacist, patient support, infection control, etc), and external experts
To supervise strategic and technical aspects of these programmes
To conduct field support visits, including for project evaluations
To support the integration of TB care and treatment in HIV and other programmes
To contribute to the definition of policies, strategies and technical norms on TB, DR-TB, and HIV (with external expert network)
To participate in updating technical guidelines, strategic papers and tools for TB, DR-TB, and HIV, including in neglected diseases
To capitalise on MSF experience in these issues (e.g. contributing to the Medical Activity Report)
To participate in operational research in TB, DR-TB, and HIV in collaboration with those supporting operational research: define priority areas for research, suggest topics for specific projects, write protocols, supervise/coordinate study and data analysis, contribute to writing of reports/articles (e.g. MSF-OCB’s Medical Activity Report)
To organize briefings of field staff on TB, DR-TB, and HIV
To organize/participate in training courses organised by MSF
To participate as necessary in MSF’s international working groups
To help keep an overview (including data collection and program indicators) of all MSF-OCB activities related to TB and DR-TB
Contribute to medical advocacy where relevant
Contribute to the international strategic direction of TB and HIV/AIDS for the movement

Job requirements:

Candidate’s profile

• Medical doctor with additional training in tropical medicine
• Training in epidemiology and/or public health is an advantage
• A minimum of three years of field experience with MSF, including a minimum of 12 months in a project with MDR-TB activities
• Able to work independently and accept responsibility
• Able to work as part of a team
• Languages: English essential, French and Portuguese an advantage

Conditions

• Full-time
• Based in South Africa with frequent travel to field programmes
• Open-ended contract starting in January 2013
• Moral commitment of 3 years

Due to maternity leave we are looking for a full time replacement of our:

HIV/TB Advisor (100%) - based in Amsterdam - from 1 December 2012 to 31 August 2013

BACKGROUND

The overall purpose of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is to preserve life and alleviate suffering while protecting human dignity and seeking to restore the ability of people to make their own decisions. MSF accomplishes this through the provision of medical aid and a personal commitment to act as witness to events surrounding populations in danger. This work is essentially performed in periods of crisis, when a situation is no longer held in balance and the very survival of a population may be threatened. The underlying basis for realising its objectives is respect for medical ethics, humanistic ideals, human rights and international humanitarian law.

The Public Health Department (PHD) of the MSF Operational Centre Amsterdam (OCA) supports the overall purpose of MSF, providing medical and public health leadership for the organisation. The department is responsible for providing strategic direction and integrated advice on medical and public health issues to the field and headquarters. The PHD plays a key role in developing and maintaining the medical humanitarian identity and image of MSF-OCA, and in continuing to develop and improve intervention strategies so as to be relevant and effective.

The department is made up of a group of generalist Health Advisors (based in Amsterdam and Berlin) and medical and public health specialists (laboratory, mental health, nutrition, paediatrics, water and sanitation, etc.) so as to provide expert support in a range of fields. The Manson Unit, a medical unit based in MSF-UK, focuses on support to tuberculosis and epidemiology, including longer-term direct field support to overcome implementation challenges.

MSF-OCA has a policy of providing HIV and TB care integrated in our primary and secondary health care programs. We have successfully implemented integrated HIV care and treatment in our missions, including in conflict-affected areas. Key challenges remain to improve our programming in PMTCT, paediatric care, and to discover innovative strategies to better access marginalized and excluded individuals with HIV. The strategic vision for TB is to include access to DST and second line drugs as part of the package of routine TB care in all relevant programs. This strategy poses key challenges for simplification of DR-TB protocols and innovative implementation strategies. Integration of HIV-TB is a key aspect of our policy and this position is designed to provide integrated advisor support to the two diseases.

PARAMETERS OF THE POST

Position within the organisationThe HIV/TB Advisor will be line managed by the Coordinator of Medical Specialists, Public Health Department (Amsterdam). The post holder will work in close consultation with the partner HIV/TB Advisors and TB Implementers on strategic issues and be responsible for support to a specific portfolio of countries. The HIV/TB Advisor will collaborate with the Health Advisors and other specialists in the department.

Objective of the postThe overall aim of this post is to provide support and impetus to strategic planning, implementation and operational research relating to HIV and TB in MSF-OCA projects.

Key outputs expected: The HIV/TB specialists enable MSF-OCA to successfully implement the MSF TB and HIV policy. This includes:o Review of progress in TB and HIV services against the MSF-OCA strategic plan and the topical annual action plan; o Quality and timely support to health advisors and countries (medical coordinators) concerning “specialist” and non-routine TB/HIV questions; o Close collaboration with Manson Unit medical staff and PHD specialists in related topic areas to support field implementation of TB and HIV interventions;o Development of further networks as required to enhance MSF-OCA expertise and support for field implementation (e.g., KNCV, PiH);o Contribute to development and implementation of TB/HIV operational research within MSF-OCA;o Advocating TB and HIV policy and quality of care issues to MSF-OCA operations and other relevant staff.

• Specific tasks also include:o Support the use of the standard reporting format/tools in place for all MSF-OCA TB and HIV interventions; o Support field teams in analysis of routine program monitoring information;o Oversight and analysis of TB and HIV outcomes (including collation and storage of data), so that implementation can be evaluated effectively;o Supporting the revision of TB and HIV training modules and guidelines, and training for MSF staff.

• Specific attention will also be needed in the following areas, and further plans developed relating to:o Integration of drug resistant TB diagnosis and treatment in all TB programs;o TB/HIV co-infection and integrated care; o Interaction between MSF projects and national TB programmes;o Stigma, discrimination and other barriers to accessing TB and HIV care.

CANDIDATE CRITERIAEducation and experience:• Medical doctor with specialization in Infectious Diseases or Internal Medicine;• Experience with planning and implementation of TB and HIV care and treatment programmes, including treatment of MDR-TB; • Strong clinical experience in managing TB and HIV patients in resource limited settings;• Relevant field experience with a humanitarian organisation;• Proven analytical skills, policy development experience and strategic thinking;• Proven interest and experience in operational research and technical expertise development.

Capacities and skills: • Good oral and written communication skills;• Willingness to spend up to 30% of time in the field;• Strong analytical and problem-solving capacity;• Strong interpersonal skills: stimulating, innovative, able to mobilise/motivate and coach people;• Able to work under time pressure on various projects at a time;• Fluent English essential; French desirable.

WE ARE OFFERING • A full time appointment (based on a 40-hour work week) for the specified period; • A gross salary of a minimum € 2,961 and € 4,230 maximum depending on relevant professional work experience, for a full-time appointment;• A stimulating, professional working environment in an international organisation;• Attractive secondary benefits.