DR_OVC_Specialist_PD_06042019.pdf

Position Description

Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) Advisor

USAID/Dominican Republic, Office of Health, Population and Nutrition (HPN)

SOLICITATION NUMBER: TBD

ISSUANCE DATE: TBD

CLOSING DATE AND TIME: TBD, 2019

Santo Domingo

POSITION TITLE: Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) Advisor

MARKET VALUE OF POSITION: The position is the equivalent of a GS-14, ranging from $000 to $000 per annum. Final compensation will be based on the individual’s salary and work history, experience and educational background.

EVALUATION FACTORS: Evaluation of qualifications and experience required of candidates will be conducted on a 100-point

Scale and weighted as follows: Relevant Work

Experience (40%); Technical Knowledge and

Abilities (30%); Communications/Interpersonal

Skills (30%).

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: Two (2) years

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

SECURITY ACCESS: TBD

AREA OF CONSIDERATION: U.S. PSC or Third Country Nationals (TCN)

I. POSITION DESCRIPTION

Background:

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is at the forefront of the U.S.

government (USG) response in the fight against HIV and AIDS. USAID is a key partner in the

President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and works closely with other USG agencies on this initiative in more than 90 countries. The Dominican Republic’s PEPFAR portfolio, implemented by USAID, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the State Department, has recently undergone a significant pivot to focus more effectively for epidemic control among specific vulnerable population groups.

The Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) Advisor position is located in the HIV/AIDS team in the Health Office. In FY20, the HIV team will manage an annual budget of $13.5 million and oversees programs in behavioral and biomedical prevention, care and treatment, health systems strengthening, and OVC and community care focused on vulnerable and hard to reach populations, specifically Individuals of Haitian descent residing in the DR.

USAID/Dominican Republic, in collaboration with other U.S. Government Agencies, supports the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for HIV/AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).

Approximately 15 million children worldwide have lost one or both parents to AIDS. In the

Dominican Republic, PEPFAR seeks to serve over 12,000 Orphans and Vulnerable Children of

Haitian descent. Many more children have been made vulnerable because of family illness and the widespread impact of HIV/AIDS on their communities. Furthermore, these children are vulnerable both due to the stigma and discrimination faced by families of Haitian descent living in the Dominican Republic.

Through PEPFAR, USAID/Dominican Republic is supporting child-centered, family-focused, community-based, and government-supported OVC programming. This evidence-based programming targets the full range of OVC needs at different developmental stages. It is linked with broader development efforts around education, food and nutrition, and livelihood assistance.

PEPFAR works with countries to address the long-term impact of HIV/AIDS on child development. The quality services provided to OVC today can benefit the future well-being of a partner country. PEPFAR is supporting countries in pursuing the following objectives in OVC programming: building national systems of care; strengthening the capacity of families and communities to care for vulnerable children; and, developing and targeting need-based OVC responses that are sensitive to the diversity of sub-populations within the larger OVC population.

Increasing focus is also being placed on ensuring HIV testing and linkage to care as appropriate.

PEPFAR is working with the Government of Dominican Republic (GoDR) to ensure that the diverse needs of OVC are included in efforts to identify, map, and plan to address overall

HIV/AIDS needs in Dominican Republic. PEPFAR is also coordinating with other USG and donor efforts to expand country-led initiatives intended to identify and address the needs of the families of those living with HIV/AIDS especially those of Haitian descent. To ameliorate OVC needs, PEPFAR strives to better address the needs of: newborns, infants, and toddlers by strengthening linkages with food and nutrition programming, clinical care treatment sites, as well as by improving training for community health workers and home visitors to monitor child growth and development; young school-age children, by linking programs to basic education initiatives, enabling OVC to stay in school; and, adolescents, who often comprise the largest number of OVC, by increasing efforts in youth livelihood-development initiatives with a focus on higher levels of skill development.

PEPFAR also works to support adolescents and young adults as they transition from OVC programs into society and careers. PEPFAR helps countries to prioritize programming for most vulnerable children, including children living outside of family-based care; abused, exploited and neglected children; and children and adolescents who meet the criteria for other most-at-risk categories.

Historically, there has not been an OVC-focused program in the Dominican Republic. This is an exciting opportunity to build a new program, leveraging global successes and lessons learned in

OVC care and graduation as well as leveraging the excellent network of community care groups in the Dominican Republic focusing on areas such as Zika, nutrition and community support.

The country PEPFAR program is working to reach 70% of OVCs within the target population and provinces (based on population size estimates).

The incumbent will serve as an advisor to the HIV/AIDS Team of the Mission’s HPN Office on all things related to orphans and vulnerable children and adolescents within the PEPFAR context.

Duties and Responsibilities:

The OVC Advisor, working with the Health Office Chief and HIV/AIDS Deputy Team Lead, will primarily provide leadership and serve as the subject matter expert for USAID/Dominican

Republic’s OVC portfolio, and support the Health Team with setting strategic technical and programmatic direction for the HIV USAID-supported OVC activities in Dominican Republic.

The Advisor will serve as an advisor for community care and services for OVC and their families. S/He will provide technical and managerial leadership on programs providing care and support for persons living with HIV (PLHIV) and OVC in Dominican Republic. S/He will also work with technical representatives of other USG agencies, GoDR counterparts, Office of the

Global AIDS Coordinator (OGAC), international donors, and other key development partners.

Specific Tasks and Objectives:

A. Technical Leadership (45%)

● Provide strategic technical leadership and expertise to USAID on the implementation of high quality orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) care and support programs within the community.

● Act in a leadership role in the HIV Team in developing OVC guidance and evaluation for

OVC and adolescent partners.

● Represent USAID, as necessary, to the broader PEPFAR team on OVC and adolescent related issues, including participating in the PEPFAR care and treatment Technical

Working Group (TWG), and representing USAID at the national relevant TWGs.

● Work closely with senior and mid-level counterparts within the Ministries of Health, Education, Women and Youth counterparts dealing with OVC issues; other donors;

international non-governmental organizations; civil society organizations; universities and research institutions; the private sector; and other USG agencies involved in providing OVC assistance in Dominican Republic.

● Organize periodic OVC partner meetings with the ministries and CSOs that have an OVC mandate to share progress and best practices in the OVC arena.

● Provide technical advice on issues related to referrals, linkages, and case management for

OVC and adolescents from community to health facility and back to the community.

● Conduct data and trend analysis, and providing technical recommendations to improve the performance of OVC and adolescent care and support programs at the national, district, and community levels. Lead routine analysis of reported program results across the clinical cascade and use data to redirect implementation as needed. Identify areas of weakness on a regular basis, at least monthly, and devise improvement plans

B. Project Management (25%)

● Serve as Activity Manager and/or Agreement Officer’s Technical Representative

(AOTR)/Contract Officer’s Technical Representative (COTR) for assigned USAID activities.

● Provide support in managing HIV clinical contracts or cooperative agreements, including workplan development, monitoring of budgets allocated to USAID clinical partners; review of budget for appropriateness, monitor the use of funds for adherence to proposed activities, quarterly review of budget status and outlays, and providing advice for realignment of budget, and accruals.

● Provide technical advice and direction to grantees and contractors on management and implementation of grants, contracts and/or cooperative agreements to ensure consistency with PEPFAR policies and GoDR policies and regulations.

● Conduct regular site visits and maintain frequent communication with implementing partners to ensure that partners have sound technical and financial work plans in place and implementation is proceeding in accordance with those plans.

● Together with the HIV/AIDS team, prepare the PEPFAR annual Country

Operational Plan (COP).

● Provide regular status reports on progress for all projects under his/her responsibility and prepare the required reports on OVC issues. This will include mandated quarterly COP reports on results as well as weekly and monthly partner data reviews.

C. Administrative Management (10%)

● Maintain current OVC files, including all site visit reports, progress meeting reports, and other reports. S/he will update OVC information, including PowerPoint presentations, success stories, site visit reports, data quality sheets and other documents as required.

● Maintain financial and expenditure spreadsheets and track all OVC expenditures to ensure compliance with PEPFAR guidelines.

D. Partner Relationships and Coordination (15%)

● Serve as USAID representative on matters pertaining to OVC at technical, policy and strategic planning meetings, including meetings with the Dominican Republican government, cooperating partners, USG PEPFAR team, and international groups.

● Develop collaborative relationships with a wide range of partners and stakeholders (the

Ministries of Health, Education, Women and Youth, UN Agencies, other donors, USG interagency team, Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator (OGAC), NGOs and FBOs) dealing with the OVC, adolescents, and HIV care issues.

● Serve as a chair or rotating chair on the inter-agency PEPFAR Dominican Republic

Care and Support Technical Working Group (TWG) to ensure effective coordination of work plan development, implementation strategies, and evaluation plans for all

USG agency OVC activities.

● Participate with other PEPFAR professionals on committees dealing with OVC issues, communicating needs and issues and ensuring implementation of best practices for OVC programs.

E. Other duties as assigned (5%)

● Respond flexibly and capably to a wide range of work-related requirements. This includes, but is not limited to, responding to Congressional inquiries, supporting VIP visits, responding to Washington policy and operational requests, and carrying out ad-hoc assignments as dictated by unforeseen operational requirements at the discretion of the

USAID Mission Director, Deputy Mission Director, Health Director, HIV/AIDS Team

Lead, and HIV/AIDS Deputy Team Lead.

● Provide mentoring, including technical and leadership training, to other team members.

II. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND EVALUATION CRITERIA

Education (10%)

● Master’s degree in public health, international development, clinical medicine, social science, social work or a closely related field is required.

Work Experience (25%)

● Minimum 8 years of work experience of responsible relevant professional experience in community-based service provision as well as planning, developing, and managing

HIV/AIDS activities.

● Experience in technical oversight, development, implementation and evaluation of

HIV/AIDS activities programs that involve coordination with an international agency or implementing partners is required.

● Experience in family case management, community, youth and/or OVC programs required.

● Experience should demonstrate ability to manage high level coordination and relationships with bi-lateral and multilateral donors and NGOs.

● Experience working with PEPFAR and U.S. Government operations, rules, regulations, procedures, policies, and programs.

Technical Knowledge (30%)

● Knowledge of HIV/AIDS, OVC/youth, community care, and adolescent care and support programs’ design, implementation, and evaluation.

● Knowledge of the issues involved working in limited resource environments.

● Preferred knowledge of U.S. Government legislation relating to development assistance and USAID programming policies, regulations procedures, and documentation.

● Preferred general knowledge of Dominican Republican or LAC public sector health system and its affiliated agencies, donors, and related private sector programs.

Abilities and Skills (35%)

● Excellent interpersonal and team building skills.

● Excellent management, facilitation, and coordination skills.

● Strong verbal skills and ability to communicate technical information clearly and effectively to both technical and non-technical colleagues.

● Must have the ability to obtain, analyze, synthesize, and disseminate data and present findings in both oral and written form.

● Excellent communication skills in English and Spanish. Creole/French desirable.

● Presentation skills and diplomacy are critical. Must be able to prepare precise and accurate reports and to develop and present briefings.

● Management skills to develop, implement, and oversee HIV programs, including internal financial and administrative management and interaction with partners.

● Must have the ability to effectively in a team environment and proactively work to achieve consensus on policy, project, and administrative matters is required.

● Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain relationships and contacts with counterparts in GoDR from the Ministries of Health, Education, Women and Youth to the community level, UN Agencies, other bi-lateral Donor partners and CSO/NGO partners working in HIV treatment and care.

● Sound judgment combined with a mature and professional demeanor is a necessary trait.

● Ability to work under pressure to meet project or event deadlines.

● Ability to work within other crosscutting areas guiding development work in Dominican

Republic.

● Strong skills in the operation of computers and software program applications authorized for use (including Excel, PowerPoint, and Word) are required.

III. POSITION ELEMENTS

Supervision received: The incumbent will report to the USAID/Dominican Republic HIV/AIDS

Deputy Team Lead within the Health Office. S/He is expected to develop annual work objectives in consultation with supervisor. The incumbent is expected to be able to exercise considerable independent judgment in carrying out assigned tasks and to be able to function effectively within a multicultural and interagency environment. As a technical advisor, s/he should work independently on key tasks, and also keep managers and colleagues fully apprised of the status of work assignments. Assignments are often self-generated in response to goals and objectives to be achieved with expected results. S/He functions as a part of USAID/Dominican Republic’s

Development Objective team for Health.

Physical Demands and Work Environment: The incumbent is stationed at the USAID office in

Santo Domingo. S/He is expected to conduct site visits in PEPFAR supported sites. This position requires up to 30% travel in-country and to international conferences or trainings.

Available guidelines: The ADS and USAID handbooks (where ADS guidance is not yet available), USAID Mission Orders, established USAID/Dominican Republic administrative procedures and regulations; standard accounting, auditing and financial management operating procedures and systems requirements. Prepares memoranda of agreement and memoranda of understanding, bilateral agreements, contracts, and agreements with providers of services.

Exercise of judgment: Considerable independent judgment is required in planning and evaluating the relevance and reliability of information; and in organizing and presenting data during the preparation of documents. The incumbent must recognize requests for decisions or position papers that require prior USAID review and approval. Must use sound judgment in recommending terms of reference for new and continuing activities for funding. Exercise of sound judgment is expected in the selection and training of USAID staff. Independent judgment must be exercised on a broad range of project management issues and when meeting with GoDR or NGO counterparts and other donors and when reporting to the Ambassador and the Mission

Director on critical events/issues in the OVC care and support sector. The incumbent is expected to analyze situations and the requirements to resolve problems.

Post-entry training: The incumbent will be given on-the-job training regarding Agency policies, procedures and regulations, including the Automated Directives Systems (ADS) and Mission

Orders. Training in USAID project implementation, auditing and financial management operating procedures and requirements as needed. Other guiding documents include the Country

Strategic Plan, Performance Monitoring Plan, and the Health Team Charter. Incumbent will receive Agreement Officer’s Representatives (AOR) training and certification on the job.

Authority to make commitments: The incumbent has full authority and responsibility as delegated by ADS, other Mission, and USAID guidelines for C/AORs. Commitments are limited to actions within the scope of the position. No commitments are authorized to GoDR officials, international agencies, donor organizations, contractors or grantees.

Nature, level, and purpose of contacts: The incumbent will be expected to accompany the

HIV/AIDS Team Leader, Health Office Director or Mission Director on occasion to visit GoDR 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., MoH leadership, heads of Departments within the Ministries of Health, Education, Women and Youth, province officials and high level visitors from the U.S. and other bilateral and multilateral donors, the research community, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and the National AIDS

Commission. S/he participates in substantive discussions and negotiations of OVC HIV/AIDS design/implementation issues and matters of national health and communication policies and strategies.

Supervision exercised: The incumbent will supervise up to four OVC assigned team members.

The incumbent will review completed work, provide instructions to the supervised staff, and be responsible for the mid-term and annual reviews and any required coaching/mentoring of these staff. Supervision duties as provided in USAID ADS and other agency guidelines and policy.

Time Required to Perform Full Range of Duties After Entry Into Position: Twelve months.

EVALUATION AND SELECTION FACTORS

The following factors are listed in descending order of importance and will be the basis for the evaluation of applications meeting the required minimum qualifications:

Education (10%)

Work Experience (25%)

Technical Knowledge (30%)

Abilities and Skills (35%)

All applications will be evaluated based on the documentation submitted with the application.

USAID reserves the right to contact your previous employers for relevant information concerning your performance and may consider such information in its evaluation. The highest ranking applicants may be selected for an interview, but an interview is not always necessary.

APPLYING

Eligible offerors are required to complete and submit the offer form AID 309-2, “Offeror

Information for Personal Services Contracts,” available at http://www.usaid.gov/forms.

An up-to-date curriculum vitae (CV) or resume: Your 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 are encouraged to write a brief appendix to demonstrate how prior experience and/or training addresses the minimum qualifications and evaluation criteria set forth in the solicitation.

References: Three (3) references, who are not family members or relatives, with working telephone and e-mail contacts. The references must be able to provide substantive information about your past performance and abilities. USAID reserves the right to contact your previous employers for relevant information concerning your performance and may consider such information in its evaluation of the application.

Security Clearance: Prior to signing a contract, the selected individual will be required to obtain an “employment authorization” if a US Citizen or US Green Card Holder and

“background checks” if a Third Country National. A temporary security clearance will be requested while a personal background investigation is conducted. Instructions for obtaining the security clearance will be forwarded to the selected individual once negotiations have been concluded.

Submissions shall be in accordance with the above information 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. Consideration and selection will be based on a panel evaluation of the applications vis-a-vis the required qualifications. Applicants should note that the salary history for the purposes of the AID309-2 is the base salary paid, excluding benefits and allowances such as housing, travel, educational support, vehicle use, etc. Applicants are reminded and required to sign the certification at the end of the AID309-2.

Offers must be received by the closing date and time specified in Section I, item 3, and submitted to the Point of Contact in Section I, item 12.

To ensure consideration of offers for the intended position, Offerors must prominently reference the Solicitation number in the offer submission.

Methods of application submissions:

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

For applicants to be considered for this position the following guidelines will be adhered to and forms completed, signed and submitted to jobapplications@usaid.gov, to allow the evaluation committee to thoroughly and objectively review your application vis-a-vis the requirements of the position.

Hand Deliver To:

USAID/Dominican Republic

Via U.S. Mail:

USAID/Domincan Republic

If sent via Courier, International or Local Mail use:

USAID/Dominican Republic

4. If sent via email:

11. LIST OF REQUIRED FORMS FOR PSC HIRES

Once the CO informs the successful Offeror about being selected for a contract award, the CO will provide the successful Offeror instructions about how to complete and submit the following forms.

12. BENEFITS/ALLOWANCES

As a matter of policy, and as appropriate, a PSC is normally authorized the following benefits and allowances:

● BENEFITS:

(a) Employer's FICA Contribution

(b) Contribution toward Health & Life Insurance

(c) Pay Comparability Adjustment (d)Annual Increase (pending a satisfactory performance evaluation)

(e) Eligibility for Worker's Compensation

(f) Annual and Sick Leave

● ALLOWANCES:

Section numbers refer to rules from the Department of State Standardized Regulations

(Government Civilians Foreign Areas)

(a) Temporary Quarter Subsistence Allowance (Section 120)

(b) Cost-of-Living Allowance (Chapter 210)

(c) Post Allowance (Section 220)

(d) Separate Maintenance Allowance (Section 260)

(e) Education Allowance (Section 270)

(f) Education Travel (Section 280)

(g) Post Differential (Chapter 500) mailto:jobapplications@usaid.gov

(h) Payments during Evacuation/Authorized Departure (Section 600), and

TAXES

USPSCs are required to pay Federal income taxes, FICA, Medicare and applicable State Income taxes.

USAID REGULATIONS, POLICIES AND CONTRACT CLAUSES PERTAINING TO

PSCs

USAID regulations and policies governing USPSC awards are available at these sources:

● USAID Acquisition Regulation (AIDAR), Appendix D, “Direct USAID

Contracts with a U.S.Citizen or a U.S. Resident Alien for Personal Services

Abroad,” including contract clause “General Provisions,” available at https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/aidar_0.pdf .

● Contract Cover Page form AID 309-1 available at https://www.usaid.gov/forms .

● Acquisition and Assistance Policy Directives/Contract Information Bulletins

(AAPDs/CIBs) for Personal Services Contracts with Individuals available at http://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/aapds-cibs .

● [The CO must check http://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/aapds-cibs to determine which AAPDs/CIBs apply and insert the relevant text as required.]

● Ethical Conduct. By the acceptance of a USAID personal services contract as an individual, the contractor will be acknowledging receipt of the “Standards of

Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch,” available from the

U.S. Office of Government Ethics, in accordance with General Provision 2 and 5 CFR 2635. See https://www.oge.gov/web/oge.nsf/OGE%20Regulations

END OF SOLICITATION

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