SOLICITATION_____Senior_Community_Health_Team_Lead_Cote_d'Ivoire.pdf

Sol. # 624-15-013 – Senior Community Health Team Lead

ISSUANCE DATE: July 30, 2015

CLOSING DATE: August 12, 2015 5:00 p.m. Ghana Time

SUBJECT: SOLICITATION NO. 624-15-013 FOR A U.S. CITIZEN OR A THIRD

COUNTRYNATIONAL PERSONAL SERVICE CONTRACTOR

SENIOR COMMUNITY HEALTH TEAM LEAD, COTE D’ IVOIRE.

Ladies/Gentlemen:

The United States Government, represented by the United States Agency for International Development/West Africa (USAID/West Africa), is seeking applications from qualified U.S. citizens and Third Country Nationals interested in providing Personal Services Contractor (PSC) services as described in the attached solicitation.

Submissions must be in accordance with the requirements of the solicitation, at the place and time specified. In order to be considered for the position, a candidate must meet the minimum qualifications listed in the solicitation and must submit all required documentation. The Senior Community Health Team Lead position will be located in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.

All application packages are to be submitted to:

Via email: accrapsc@usaid.gov.

Via courier: Regional Executive Office

USAID/West Africa No. 24 Fourth Circular Rd. CT P.O. Box 1630 Accra, Ghana

Please cite the solicitation number and position title within the subject line of your email application. Any attachments provided via email must be in a format compatible with Microsoft Word 2003 or PDF and not zipped. Note that attachments to email must not exceed 3 MB. Application letters and Form a302-3 must be signed. Incomplete and unsigned applications will not be considered.

USAID/West Africa anticipates awarding one (1) Personal Service Contract as a result of this solicitation.

Please note that this does not constitute any guarantee that a PSC will be awarded as result of this solicitation nor does it constitute any authorization by USAID to reimburse costs incurred in the preparation of an application.

Any questions on this solicitation may be directed to Vida Aggrey at vaggrey@usaid.gov or the undersigned at dbrady@usaid.gov.

Sincerely, Don Brady Supervisory Executive Officer

U.S. Agency for International Development No. 24 Fourth Circular Rd.

P. O. Box 1630, Accra-Ghana

Tel: 233-302-741-200 Fax: 233-302-741-365 mailto:accrapsc@usaid.gov mailto:vaggrey@usaid.gov mailto:dbrady@usaid.gov

SOLICITATION NUMBER: 624-15-013

ISSUANCE DATE: July 30, 2015

CLOSING DATE/TIME: August 12, 2015 5:00 p.m. Ghana Time

POSITION TITLE: Senior Community Health Team Lead

MARKET VALUE: ($86,399 - $112,319) the market value for this position is equivalent to GS-14 level. Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value based upon the candidate’s past salary, work history and educational background. Salaries over and above the top of the pay range will not be entertained or negotiated.

AREA OF CONSIDERATION: U.S. Citizens and Third Country Nationals

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: Two years

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire

SECURITY/MEDICAL CLEARANCE: Selected applicant must obtain Facility Access or

Employment Authorization and Medical Clearance within a reasonable period of time (USAID will provide details regarding these clearances to the selected candidate). If such clearances are not obtained within a reasonable time or negative suitability issues are involved, any offer made may be rescinded.

1.0 BACKGROUND:

As Côte d’Ivoire grows into an emerging economy after decades of economic and political instability, the country faces significant health challenges. HIV prevalence is 2.7 percent among the general population and much higher among key and priority populations. The total fertility rate is five children per woman, and 27 percent of women have an unmet need for quality family planning services. The regional Ebola virus outbreak highlighted the country’s lack of health infrastructure capacity or readiness plans to adequately respond to such a crisis. USAID’s Health Office in Côte d’Ivoire implements increasingly diverse and integrated health programs to address these challenges and seeks a Senior Community Health Team Lead to oversee community-based health efforts.

Through the PEPFAR program, USAID is undertaking a comprehensive, multi-sectoral approach towards the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Côte d’Ivoire that expands access to HIV prevention, care and treatment services. USAID’s PEPFAR programs in Côte d’Ivoire include community-based supports for HIV services, private sector engagement for clinical service provision, supply chain strengthening to ensure access to lifesaving treatment, orphans and vulnerable children programs, evidenced-based combination prevention programming, and strategic information analysis. USAID partners with other USG Agencies, the Ivoirian government, the private sector, and non-governmental organizations to provide services to people living with HIV and AIDS with an overall aim to help control the epidemic through targeted programs and partnerships. Community-based interventions that promote health service uptake for key and priority populations are the cornerstone of the PEPFAR Cote d’Ivoire country strategy.

In addition to the PEPFAR portfolio, USAID has growing investments in the areas of family planning and reproductive health, neglected tropical diseases, and emerging pandemic threats preparedness. The Senior Community Health Team Lead will lead community mobilization, prevention, and behavior change communication across all of the Health Programs in Côte d’Ivoire, with HIV/AIDS programming as the largest programmatic component. Behavioral and biomedical prevention efforts are a priority to the PEPFAR program and USAID/Cote d’Ivoire is searching for a dynamic and critical thinker who can lead these areas for the USAID Health Office and community health team. The successful candidate will combine technical leadership, interpersonal skills, strategic vision, and programming experience with a proven track record of producing results.

2.0 BASIC FUNCTION OF POSITION

The Senior Community Health Team Lead is the USAID Health Office’s leading technical expert in the area of community mobilization, behaviour change communication and health promotion, and HIV/AIDS prevention. S/he will work under the leadership of the Health Office Director or Deputy Director and in close collaboration with the USAID health team leads for Health Systems Strengthening, Strategic Information, and Clinical Services. The Community Health Team Lead directly supervises two technical FSN positions. Given the interagency nature of the PEPFAR program, the Senior Community Health Team Lead will work in close collaboration with the PEPFAR/CDC-led Branches and team members for community, prevention, and care and treatment services, ensuring a coordinated approach to the overall community and prevention strategies in country.

The Senior Community Health Team Lead will have overall responsibility for the implementation, evaluation, and design of the HIV/AIDS combination prevention, behaviour change and communication activities, orphans and vulnerable children programming, and community-based health promotion activities. Currently, this portfolio represents an annual value of $15 million and has seen significant annual growth. Ensuring technical excellence and programmatic synergies across the USAID and PEPFAR health portfolios is a key component to this position.

The Senior Community Health Team Lead is responsible for staying abreast of worldwide developments and best practices regarding community HIV and health programs, and HIV prevention science and technology. S/he is responsible for applying lessons learned to the CI environment as appropriate. In this regard, s/he is responsible for overseeing the strategic direction, coverage and quality of the HIV community-based services and prevention portfolio for USAID.

S/he is also responsible for participating within the Côte d’Ivoire PEFPAR team structures to ensure coherence and coordination of all PEPFAR CI HIV/AIDS community-based and prevention activities including those implemented by all USG agencies (USAID, CDC, DOD, DOS, HRSA).

3.0 MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Serve as USAID Health Office’s lead technical expert in the area of community health and HIV/AIDS prevention activities (35%)

Provide technical leadership and programmatic guidance to the health behaviour change communication, demand creation, and enabling environment components of USAID’s HIV/AIDS and health portfolio.

• Serve as the expert in the areas such as:

- HIV/AIDS prevention, stigma reduction, and testing and counseling promotion

- Condom programming and social marketing.

- HIV/AIDS Programming for Key Populations (FSW, MSM) and Priority Populations, with an emphasis on service promotion and linkages to care and treatment.

- Gender equity and changing social norms to create an enabling environment for positive health practices and behaviours.

- Demand creation and behaviour change communication for HIV/AIDS and Health activities

• Ensure overall technical guidance and oversight for orphans and vulnerable children programming and community health aspects of neglected tropical diseases, Ebola preparedness and emergency health threats, nutrition and water and sanitation efforts in Côte d’Ivoire.

• Ensure that best practices and evidence-based approaches are incorporated into all USAID Community-based programming and HIV prevention activities. Ensure that combination prevention efforts are functionally linked to testing, care and treatment programs.

• Represent USAID/ Côte d’Ivoire at technical, policy and strategic meetings, including with other USG Agencies, the Government of Côte d’Ivoire, and donor agencies.

• Liaise with all USAID Health Teams, PEPFAR CDC branches, and Mission offices to ensure full integration and coordination of community-based activities, approaches, and strategies into other related program areas.

• Keep abreast of new survey and research findings on the HIV epidemic in CI and the West Africa region; synthesize their findings and implications and disseminate these to PEPFAR CI staff, host country counterparts and implementing partners; advise on appropriate shifts in the USAID and PEPFAR strategies to respond to evolving epidemiological data.

Conduct day-to-day management of Community Health and HIV/AIDS prevention activities (35%)

• Oversee and coordinate USAID Community Health and HIV prevention activities, to include design, implementation, and evaluation of activities. Serve as AOR and/or activity manager for bilateral or field support awards. Manage interactions with community-based partners including helping to develop sustainable strategies to facilitate medium to long-term impact of partner activities, providing direction and capacity strengthening, reaching agreement on follow-up actions with HIV/AIDS implementing partners regarding program activities and following through to ensure they are effectively carried out. Ensures that all implementing partners’ activities are evidence-based, best practice or theory-driven, and that all HIV prevention partners use the latest evidence-based intervention guidance. Assist implementing partners to understand compliance with all relevant USAID and PEPFAR regulations and procedures.

• The incumbent drafts strategic plans, contributes to USAID Health Office’s operational planning, the PEPFAR Country Operational Plan, and project design documents. S/he also drafts the community-health component of portfolio reviews, congressional presentations, annual budget submissions, required congressional notifications, briefing papers, cables, action memos, justifications, acquisition documents, among others, for the design, implementation, and reporting on Community Health and HIV activities. Liaises closely with all USAID/ Côte d’Ivoire Health activities to provide analyses and reports as required, including those for presentation at national, regional and international meetings and conferences.

• The incumbent conducts regular site visits to review implementation of community-based programs. Based on information collected during field visits, communicates findings and recommendations for strengthening prevention activities to the HIV Team and broader Health Office and, as appropriate, to implementing partners and Government of Côte d’Ivoire counterparts.

• Results: The incumbent leads the implementation of monitoring and evaluation activities for prevention programs. Serves as the key lead for the HIV/AIDS Team in the planning, management, supervision, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of partner results, including PEPFAR-required SIMS visits. Assists in the preparation of USAID project documentation and reports and maintains records ensuring systematic monitoring of performance.

Supervision/Oversight over Others (20%)

• The Senior Community Health Team Lead will directly supervise two technical FSN positions:

the Social Protection and Family Strengthening OVC Advisor (FSN-11) and the Community Health Promotion Advisor (FSN 10 or 11).

• The Senior Community Health Team Lead will coordinate work assignments and provide day-to-day oversight and management of the community health team. S/he will have responsibility for annual evaluations and performance management functions.

• The Senior Community Health Team Lead will have supervisory and management responsibility for the technical domains led by his or her technical staff. Currently, the OVC specialist serves as the AOR for a community based OVC award that is the largest bilateral mechanism in the Health Office, and serves as activity manager and USAID technical representative for nutrition activities.

• The Community Health Team Lead will delegate appropriate responsibility within the team to his or her staff and maintain oversight for the full community HIV and Health portfolio for USAID/Health. S/he will also have primary responsibility for coordination of short-term TA to the community health team.

Other Duties (10%)

• The Senior Community Health Team Lead will ensure that community health concerns are appropriately integrated throughout the USAID portfolio.

• Responsibility for ensuring civil society is appropriately engaged in community health portfolio.

Liaison with other USAID Mission Offices (including the DRG Human Rights portfolio) to ensure appropriate programmatic synergies.

4.0 EVALUATION CRITERIA: EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE REQUIRED FOR THE

POSITION

• Education: Master’s Degree in Public Health, health policy, or behavioural or social sciences is required.

• Experience required: Minimum 10 years of experience in implementing and evaluating HIV/AIDS programs in international/resource poor settings. This includes experience with an international agency, host government or implementing partners, with progressively increasing responsibility for activity management and design, and at least one year of managerial experience with multiple staff is required. Must have demonstrated skill in the management of cooperative agreements/contracts, familiarity with USG procurement and documentation requirements, and experience in project design, implementation, management and evaluation.

Experience should demonstrate ability to manage mid-level coordination and relationships with public sector entities, bilateral and multilateral donors, and NGOs. Specific experience with HIV/AIDS Prevention programming and community-based programming is preferred.

Supervisory experience required.

• Knowledge: Comprehensive knowledge of HIV/AIDS epidemiology and current strategies for community-based programs, treatment, care, behavioural and biomedical prevention is required.

Must have thorough knowledge of HIV/AIDS program design, implementation and evaluation in general, and HIV prevention in particular.

• Skills and Abilities: Strong interpersonal and leadership skills, including the ability to work effectively on a team and to lead a team. Incumbent must be able to plan, implement, monitor and advocate for programs. The incumbent must have strong management skills and time-management competency in order to prioritize and manage several activities simultaneously.

• Language Proficiency: Fluent (Level IV) English language proficiency for both speaking and writing is required. Level IV French for both speaking and writing is required.

5.0 POSITION ELEMENTS

• Supervision Received: The Senior Community Health Team Lead works under the general supervision of the Health Office Director or Deputy Director. Assignments are made orally and in writing, with a discussion of any elements of the assignment that may be new or to determine priority. Once the office work flow is established, most assignments will occur in the normal course of the work, but the incumbent must be aware of situations that must be coordinated with superiors. The supervisor provides a review of the assignment, the goals and objectives to be achieved, and the results expected. The incumbent must seek advice and assistance as required.

Work is reviewed in terms of results achieved and judgement exercised.

• Available Guidelines: PEPFAR guidance, USAID regulations (including the Automated Directives System), the Côte d’Ivoire Integrated Country Strategy and West Africa Regional Development Cooperation Strategy provide broad guidelines as to the conduct of work related to the duties described above. Other guidelines include USAID Mission Orders, other relevant reports, and other published and unpublished guidelines. Many guidelines are general in nature and not specific to the situation at hand; in situations where considerable interpretation is required the incumbent will coordinate with appropriate superiors.

• Exercise of Judgment: Good judgment is required to analyse, interpret, and adapt prior experience, particularly as guidelines are updated and new activities developed. Within a range determined by the incumbent and superiors, the incumbent exercises independent judgment in planning and follow-up of actions and assignments. The incumbent works with a high level of independence.

• Authority to Make Commitments: The Senior Community Health Team Lead has limited authority, but within the limits of training and experience may make administrative arrangements consistent with ADS guidance and Mission policy. The incumbent takes action and establishes priorities based on available guidelines and practical judgment, but guidance must be sought when needed. AOR/COR training will be required and provided within the first year.

• Nature, Level, and Purpose of Contacts: The incumbent will be expected to accompany the

Health Office Director, USAID Development Counsellor, or Mission Director on occasion to visit GoCI officials at the highest levels in government and non-governmental sectors. The incumbent will be expected to dialogue with a wide variety of representation levels—e.g., MSLS leadership, heads of Departments within the Ministry of Health and the Fight Against AIDS, district officials and high level visitors from the US and other bilateral and multi-lateral donors, the research community, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and the National AIDS Program -- in order to further comprehensive community health and HIV/AIDS prevention strategies, policies and quality interventions by the GoCI, USG and implementing partners. S/he operates at senior levels of the HIV/AIDS community in Côte d’Ivoire and within the region; engages in substantive discussions and negotiations concerning national policies and strategies.

6.0 INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANTS:

Interested individuals are required to submit the following:

• Fully completed and hand-signed copy of Form a302-3 can be found at http://www.usaid.gov/forms/

(Note: All applicants must submit complete dates (months/years) and hours per week for all positions listed on the Form a302-3 to allow for adequate evaluation of your related and direct experiences.)

• Cover letter and a current resume/curriculum vita (CV). The CV/resume must contain sufficient relevant information to evaluate the application in accordance with the stated evaluation criteria.

Broad general statements that are vague or lacking specificity will not be considered as effectively addressing particular selection criteria.

• Applicants must provide a minimum of three and a maximum of five references within the last five years of the applicant’s professional life from individuals who are not family members or relatives. Three references must be from direct supervisors who can provide information regarding the applicant’s knowledge of contracting work. Applicants must provide e-mail addresses and/or working telephone numbers for all references.

• Applicants also must address the above Section 4.0: Selection Criteria in a summary statement to be included in the application. This summary statement, limited to two pages, must describe specifically and accurately what experience, training, education, and/or awards the applicant has received that are relevant to each selection factor above. The summary statement must include the name of the applicant and the announcement number at the top of each page. Failure to provide this summary statement may result in the applicant not receiving credit for all pertinent experience, education, training, and/or awards.

• Application letters and Form a302-3 must be signed. Incomplete and unsigned applications will not be considered.

7.0 LIST OF REQUIRED FORMS

Forms outlined below can found at: http://www.usaid.gov/forms/

1. AID Form a302-3

2. DS-6561 Physical Examination *

3. SF-86 Questionnaire Sensitive Positions (for National Security) *

4. FD 258 Finger Print Card *

5. AID 500-4 Fair Credit Reporting Act of 1970, as amended *

6. AID 500-5 Notice Required by the Privacy Act of 1974 *

7. AID 6-85 Foreign Activity Data (AID 6-85a continuation page) *

8. AID 6-1 Request for Security Action *

* Forms 2 through 8 shall be completed only upon the advice of the Contracting Officer that an applicant is the successful candidate for the job.

http://www.usaid.gov/forms/

8.0 CONTRACT INFORMATION BULLETIN (CIBs) ACQUISITION

AND ASSISTANCE POLICY DIRECTIVES (AAPDs) PERTAINING TO PSC CIBs AND AAPDSs contain information or changes pertaining to USAID policy and General Provisions in USAID regulation and procedures concerning acquisition and assistance including Personal Service Contracts. AIDAR Appendix D and J applies to USPSC and TCN respectively and can be found at: http://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/aapds-cibs.

9.0 BENEFITS/ALLOWANCES:

As a matter of policy and as appropriate, a USPSC is normally authorized benefits and allowances in accordance with AIDAR Appendix D and other relevant Agency and Mission polices. Third Country Nationals (TCN), as a matter of policy and as appropriate are authorized benefits and allowances in accordance with AIDAR Appendix J and other relevant Agency and Mission polices.

TCNs in Cote d'Ivoire are included in ICASS support, including Embassy housing and access to the Medical Unit.

BENEFITS:

Contribution toward Health & Life Insurance Pay Comparability Adjustment Annual Increase (pending a satisfactory performance evaluation) Eligibility for Worker's Compensation Annual & Sick Leave

*Note: If a US citizen, the Contractor’s salary will be subject to employee’s FICA and Medicare contribution.

ALLOWANCES (as applicable).

(A)Temporary Lodging Allowance (Section 120).

(B) Living Quarters Allowance (Section 130).

(C) Post Allowance (Section 220).

(D)Supplemental Post Allowance (Section 230).

(E) Separate Maintenance Allowance (Section 260).

(F) Education Allowance (Section 270).

(G)Education Travel (Section 280).

(H)Post Differential (Chapter 500).

(I) Payments during Evacuation/Authorized Departure (Section 600)

FEDERAL TAXES: USPSCs are not exempt from payment of Federal and State Income Taxes.

END OF SOLICITAT

http://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/aapds-cibs