Consultant for HIV and Viral Hepatitis Programs

Required number: 1

Consultancy period- 35 days

• Program review: 15 days
• HIV NSP revision: 20 days

Who we are?

We’re Population Services International (PSI), the world’s leading non‐profit social marketing organization. We work to make it easier for people in the developing world to lead healthier lives and plan the families they desire by marketing affordable products and services that range from mosquito nets to contraceptives to HIV testing. We are a $560m enterprise based in Washington, DC, operating in the private and public sectors in more than 65 countries.

There are over 9,000 “PSI’ers” around the world. It’s a diverse group of entrepreneurs and professionals with an unusually wide range of backgrounds – from the medical industry to the music business – all with unique skills we bring to the job.

PSI/Ethiopia wants to reimagine healthcare, put the consumer at the center, and whenever possible, bring quality care to the front door. We achieve health impact in Ethiopia by working with both government and private partners and harvesting technology innovation to bring quality care closer to communities, schools, and homes. We empower consumers by including them in the design of healthcare solutions, offering them more healthcare choices, and helping them to have a voice in influencing national priorities. We work with all market actors in the health system to understand their needs, designing and delivering solutions so that market systems can sustainably serve consumers for the long term, helping to support the Government of Ethiopia in achieving Universal Health Coverage.

PSI Ethiopia is embarking on a new innovative project in Ethiopia called Delivering Innovations in Self-Care. This project will support the FMOH to introduce DMPA-SC for self-injection as a part of the method mix in Ethiopia. PSI Ethiopia’s support to the MOH for the simultaneous introduction and rollout of DMPA-SC PA and SI will build on the lessons learned, best practices, and materials already developed through PSI’s global flagship program, DISC, Discovering Innovations in Self-Care. At the user level, a communications ecosystem will be created to support women across their self-injection journey. At the community level, word of mouth and support structures will be created through experienced users and communities. At the provider level, a focus on mindset shifts will improve the support providers give women for self-care.

Background

Ethiopia has made commendable success in the HIV response demonstrated by a decline in the number of new HIV infections and AIDS deaths, However, there is still significant number of new infections and deaths which shows the need to intensify the epidemic response. ,Despite relatively low HIV prevalence of 0.85% there are regional disparities with highest prevalence recorded in Addis Ababa with 3.14% followed by Gambella region at 3.09% and lowest prevalence recorded in Somali region at less than 1% (0.17%) [2024 SPECTRUM estimation).

The current national HIV/AIDS strategic plan, 2023/24 – 2026/27, developed using an Investment Case Approach. The National Strategic Plan (NSP) provides the platform to align the national HIV response with global agendas and targets

Purpose of assignment – The consultant for HIV and viral hepatitis external program review

Will coordinate, compile and generate report the overall national HIV and viral hepatitis program review as well as the write up of the 2026/27–2029/30 HIV national strategic plan.

General objective

• The aim of this consultancy work is to assist MoH to conduct a national HIV and viral hepatitis national program review which informs the revision and write up of 2026/27–2029/30 HIV NSP.

Specific objectives:

• To assess the country’s HIV and viral hepatitis performance in the context of the HIV national strategic plan
• To identify implementation challenges and opportunities, and forward key recommendations for program improvement towards achieving the HIV and viral hepatitis 2030 global targets.
• To facilitate the revision of the HIV national Strategic plan, based on the program review findings.

Methods for the program review:

The program review will use the following methods:

• Key informants’ interview with program leaders and experts
• Participatory appraisal engaging all stakeholders

Scope of work:

The consultant will have role of conducting program review of the HIV and hepatitis programs, revision of the HIV national strategic plan in close collaboration with the national task force under the MOH . The consultant:

• Coordinate and facilitates the participatory appraisal workshop and KII
• Compile the participatory appraisal and KII findings
• Triangulate the field assessment finding with the epi synthesis report
• incorporate the field assessment report , participatory appraisal ,KII findings and epi synthesis
  report to develop a draft program review report (both narrative and PPT) for validation
• Facilitates validation workshop, together with MoH, delivers presentation, incorporates the feedbacks, prepares and submits the final national HIV and viral hepatitis program review report.
• Conducts revision of the HIV national strategic plan in accordance with findings of the program review
• perform the write up of the 2026/27–2029/30 HIV NSP

Expected deliverable and results for the program review and NSP revision

• Lead and coordinate the participatory appraisal and KII of the program review
• Weekly updates to the MoH and national task force regarding progress on the program review
• Draft report of program review on key findings and recommendations (narrative &ppt)
• key finding and recommendation presentation to the validation workshop
• Final program review report
• Revised HIV National Strategic Plan

Work relationships and coordination

• The consultant is accountable to MoH– HIV prevention and control office LEO for the program review and NSP revision

Education

• Master’s degree in epidemiology, public health, monitoring and evaluation, biostatistics, demography and related.

Work experience

• 10 years of minimum work experience on HIV program
• Experience on HIV care and treatment, HIV related operational research, survey, monitoring and evaluation
• Experience in program management, leadership and coordination
• Previous experience on HIV external program review
• Previous experiences in the write-up of HIV strategic documents
• knowledge on HIV and related programs among key and priority populations in the context of Ethiopia
• Fluency in spoken and written English