“Stronger Together” is soliciting a consultant for organizing a regional meeting and a consultative process on behalf of the Southeast Europe Regional Coordinating Mechanism for HIV and TB. Deadline: 18 February 2018.
Consultancy position: Expert on sustainability of HIV services for preparation of concept and materials for the regional meeting of the Southeast Europe Regional Coordinating Mechanism, consolidation of input and preparing meeting reports.
Total length of the engagement: 12 consultancy days.
Expected duration of the assignment: 22 February 2018 – 5 March 2018
The engagement of the expert on sustainability of HIV services will include 3 days for preparation of materials and agenda for the Southern Europe Regional Coordination Mechanism (RCM) meeting, 4 days in-country time (including a day of preparations and a day of debrief) and 5 days of post-visit time for consolidation of all meeting notes and outcomes. The total engagement should not exceed 12 consultancy days.
This Call is published as part of the regional activities within the Initiative for ensuring responsible transition from Global Fund funding to a sustainable financing through the National Budget of the HIV prevention and support programs for key affected populations, which is implemented in partnership by Stronger Together, Association for Support of People Living with HIV (Skopje, Macedonia) and HERA – Health Education and Research Association on behalf of the Macedonian Civil Society Platform for Sustainability of HIV Prevention and Support Services and is supported by the Open Society Foundations and the Foundation Open Society Macedonia.
Background
The Southeast Europe Regional Coordinating Mechanism for HIV and TB (RCM) will hold its third meeting in the period of 25-27 February 2018, in Skopje, Republic of Macedonia, to be attended by representatives from 9 countries of the region. The meeting will focus on strengthening regional advocacy towards increasing domestic funds for HIV and tuberculosis in the region of Southeast Europe. It will respond in particular to the need to prioritize sustainability of HIV services and responsible transition from donor to domestic funding in the countries of Southeast Europe, especially in regards to prevention among key affected populations, which is often jeopardized after the exiting out of the Global Fund funding. The meeting will also seek to strengthen the vision for scaling up programs in the region, especially in order to address the increasing HIV prevalence among men who have sex with men in the region and to expand the delivery of integrated and decentralized treatment and care services. Progress in this direction must be based on a renewed emphasis on effective and innovative interventions and strategies, including combination HIV prevention and respect for human rights. The removal of punitive laws must gain new importance and focus. Communities and civil society must continue to be engaged at every step of the transition processes and of the implementation of programs. The vision for Southeast Europe is supported by good coordination among different regional stakeholders, including an active and strong civil society sector and community-based organizations.
The Regional Meeting in Skopje, Macedonia (25-27 February 2018) will be attended by 18 CCM-nominated representatives from 9 different countries in Southeast Europe (Albania, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Kosovo, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania and Serbia), as well as by other community and civil society representatives from the region and will include a discussion on the key issues of affected communities to be addressed in a multi-country project proposal to the Global Fund. The meeting will be the last and most important event in the regional consultation process for developing a draft concept note for a Global Fund multi-country HIV grant. The concept note will propose joint regional advocacy interventions designed to ensure the sustainability and domestic funding of HIV services for key affected populations, to achieve adequate scale-up and to improve laws and policies that influence national HIV programs, as well as the rights based approach in HIV prevention.
Responsibilities expected from the consultant:
- Help collect relevant data from various sources, such as national level reports including relevant data from Albania, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Kosovo, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania and Serbia and other publications issued by UN, governmental bodies, community organizations and other NGOs, to inform the discussion of the meeting;
- Provide guidelines, advice and support in the planning and preparation of the Regional Meeting with a purpose to ensure good quality and useful discussion on the details of the multi-country project proposal that is being developed by the RCM and with a view towards reaching consensus between the key stakeholders regarding critical issues;
- Provide relevant information and prepare presentations as facilitator(s) of the Regional Meeting that will be held 25-27 February 2017 in Skopje, Macedonia
- Facilitate the Regional Meeting scheduled for 25-27 February 2018;
- Participate in on-line meetings/conference calls scheduled in the period before and after the meeting.
Time-frame and expected deliverables:
February 22-25, 2018: 3 days of preparation of materials and agenda for the Southern Europe Regional Coordination Mechanism meeting coordinated with the relevant CCM Macedonia Secretariat staff; Deliverables: meeting agenda and presentations regarding current HIV and TB data in the region.
February 25-27, 2018: 3 days of facilitation of the Southeastern Europe Regional Coordinating Mechanism pre-meeting on 25th February and main meeting 26-27 February 2018.
February 27-March 5, 2018: 5 days of post-visit time for consolidation of all meeting notes, collected input and outcomes. Deliverable: Report of the third SEE RCM meeting.
Qualification and experience required:
- Degree in relevant field including: Public Health, Economics, Law, Financing, International Development, Project Management.
- No less than 8 years of extensive experience as public health specialist with a record of successfully managing and contributing to HIV programs in particular in the Southeastern Europe or Eastern Europe and Central Asia region.
- Previous experience in writing successful regional applications to the Global Fund to Fight HIV, Tuberculosis and Malaria for the Eastern Europe and Central Asia region.
- Knowledge and experience facing transition and sustainability of HIV programs in Southeast Europe (Macedonia, Montenegro, Bosnia, Albania, Kosovo, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldavia) or Eastern Europe and Central Asia region.
- Proven analytical skills, team spirit and ability to work under tight deadlines.
- Excellent knowledge of English.
How to apply:
Please submit your CV, cover letter and explaining your expertise in the required filed and consultancy fee per day to the following e-mail: association@strongertogether.mk, no later than 18 February 2018.
