PEPFAR Country Coordinator

Added: Jun 12, 2015 4:34 am

The Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator (S/GAC) is responsible for implementing the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) - the U.S. Government initiative to help save the lives of those suffering from HIV/AIDS around the world.  This historic commitment is the largest by any nation to combat a single disease internationally, and PEPFAR investments also help alleviate suffering from other diseases across the global health spectrum.  It plays a critical role in President Obama’s Global Health Initiative, and provides a platform to integrate and leverage non-HIV/AIDS health services. 

The incumbent serves as the PEPFAR Coordinator (“the Coordinator”), the Embassy-based presence of the Department of State’s Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator (S/GAC).  The incumbent represents the PEPFAR program and policies of the Global AIDS Coordinator in a designated country.  In country, the Ambassador or his/her designee will provide on-site line management and country-level policy direction to the Coordinator, with an official reporting relationship to the Global AIDS Coordinator or his/her designee. 

Globally, S/GAC is responsible for overseeing the substantial investments of PEPFAR, ensuring that these investments are wisely and effectively deployed to have the greatest impact on the HIV/AIDS epidemic.  The Coordinator’s main area of oversight is the facilitation, planning, implementation, and reporting of program performance for the interagency program in the designated country.  As the S/GAC representative in a partner country or region, the Coordinator is charged with ensuring that the bilateral funds deployed by PEPFAR are wisely and effectively used to address that locale’s HIV/AIDS epidemic.  Specifically, the Coordinator ensures that funds are allocated strategically across agency and technical areas, are coordinated with inputs from the partner country government and other donors, are consistent with U.S. Government (USG) laws and policies, especially legislation pertaining specifically to PEPFAR, and support the national goals and plans of the partner government.  With guidance from S/GAC’s Management and Budget division, the Coordinator will establish fiscal controls and reporting systems to track funds accurately and control disbursements so that resources are correctly directed and rapidly deployed.

PEPFAR is a ‘whole of government’ program, involving multiple U.S. Government (USG) agencies in a single, strategic response coordinated by the Department of State at the headquarters level and by the Coordinator in the field.  An open, transparent and effective interagency process is essential for the success of PEPFAR’s efforts in HIV prevention, care, and treatment.  The Coordinator’s role is to ensure that the country level program reflects this whole of government approach, working with S/GAC’s Programs division to communicate key policy and technical issues to the broad USG PEPFAR team in country.