Job Description

Company Overview

Palladium is a global leader in the design, development and delivery of Positive Impact - the intentional creation of enduring social and economic value. We work with foundations, investors, governments, corporations, communities and civil society to formulate strategies and implement solutions that generate lasting social, environmental and financial benefits.

For the past 50 years, we have been making Positive Impact possible. With a team of more than 2,500 employees operating in 90 plus countries and a global network of more than 35,000 technical experts, Palladium has improved - and is committed to continuing to improve - economies, societies and most importantly, people's lives.

Palladium is a child-safe organization, and screens applicants for suitability to work with children. We also provide equal employment to all participants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, veteran or marital status.

EpiC Central Asia Region Project Description:

Meeting Targets and Maintaining Epidemic Control (EpiC) is a five-year global project funded by the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). EpiC is dedicated to achieving and maintaining HIV epidemic control and the project provides strategic technical assistance (TA) and direct service delivery (DSD) to break through barriers to 95-95-95 and promote self-reliant management of national HIV programs by improving HIV case-finding, prevention, and treatment programming. In Central Asia, EpiC implements activities in Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan focused on expanding HIV case finding, and treatment initiation, adherence, and retention support for people living with HIV (PLHIV), with a focus on select key population groups. While EpiC has a regional approach in the overarching management of the Central Asia project, each country has its own targets, priority focus areas and expected deliverables.

Job Summary

The EpiC Tajikistan Policy and Financing Consultant will be Palladium’s technical lead for activities focused on policy, HIV financing, and public financial management strengthening and sustainability on the EpiC Tajikistan project. Reporting to the Regional HIV Financing & Sustainability Advisor and Palladium’s US-based Central Asia Manager, the Consultant will work closely with EpiC regional and global technical team. This includes regular meetings with the EpiC Tajikistan Country Director to ensure close coordination and reporting of activities.

The Policy and Financing Consultant will support the program team to strengthen the HIV and health policy environment in support of government-led and financed HIV programming, and strengthen the sustainability of delivery of high-quality community-based HIV prevention, care, and treatment services to people living with HIV (PLHIV) and key populations. S/he will be responsible for leading implementation of project activities at country level, will participate in technical thought leadership at the regional and country-levels, will undertake communication and relationship management with key partners/stakeholders on policy and financing activities, and will facilitate knowledge sharing to strengthen the enabling environment for delivery of high-quality HIV services.

In 2022, Palladium’s EpiC work in Tajikistan will continue to support implementation of the Social Contracting Roadmap Implementation Action Plan for HIV-related services. This includes finalizing and approval HIV and social services standards and indicators, strengthening the Agency of Social Protection of Population RT (MoHSPP)’s processes on adaptation of HIV and social services standards and indicators for social contracting , and setting tariffs for cascade of HIV and social services for key populations. EpiC will also update the Stigma and Discrimination Reduction Policy, using findings from the recent Stigma Index.

Suitably qualified candidates openly living with HIV and/or who are representative of key populations affected by HIV are actively encouraged to apply.

Period of Performance and Level of Effort:

The anticipated duration of this consultancy is February – September 2022. This is a part-time consultancy with estimated level of effort up to 75 days.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provides TA and capacity building for the HIV policies, financing, and sustainability portfolio, including social contracting by drafting tariff and guideline on monitoring and evaluation of social contracts delivering HIV services to key populations , developing policies and plans with the MOH, generating evidence and strengthening capacity of decision makers to use the evidence in decision-making;
• Provides TA to finalize and obtain government approval of the list of HIV and social services standards and indicators;
• Provides TA to establish tariffs HIV and social services for key populations;
• Provides policy, finance, and sustainability-related technical and management support for CSO partners to strengthen their capacity to participate in the policy process and to strengthen sustainability of the CSO response;
• Strengthens the capacity of CSO partners to engage in social contracting programs, receiving funding directly from the Tajik government, and conduct advocacy for sustainability of the national HIV response;
• Reviews and disseminates quantitative, statistical, and financial analyses and supports the government and CSOs to use these data in policymaking and advocacy;
• Develops presentations, reports, and briefs for internal and/or client or government use;
• Lead the adaptation of HIV and social services standards and indicators for social contracting and supports the EpiC Tajikistan Project Director and team members to facilitate collaboration and coordination with the Ministry of Health, Republican AIDS Center, USAID, and other key country stakeholders;
• Represents Palladium and EpiC in professional and public settings, and makes presentations at professional meetings including representation EpiC in the National Technical working group on implementation plan of actions based on Index Stigma assessment results;
• Collaborates with the EpiC Regional Communications Manager, EpiC leadership, Palladium, and FHI 360 Corporate Communications teams on preparation and dissemination of project documentation materials, including academic articles, success stories, blog posts, video documentaries etc;
• Develops project deliverables and monitoring and evaluation indicators and targets related to policy, finance, and sustainability together with the Strategic Information team as required;
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Deliverables:

1. List and standards of HIV and social services for key populations approved by MOHSPP and Agency of social protection of population MOHSPP RT;

2. Draft tariffs for approved HIV and social services for key populations;

3. Draft guideline on monitoring and evaluation of social contracts delivering HIV and social services to key populations;

Minimum Qualifications:

• Degree in public health, health economics, public administration, or related field;
• Experience providing technical assistance and capacity building to government and civil society partners in HIV programs directly working with one or more key population groups in Central Asia;
• Knowledge of Law on Social Procurement and understanding of approaches to implementing social contracting in Tajikistan;
• Experience building consensus and informing decisions with government and CSO partners;
• Knowledge of country’s health financing system;
• Experience in translating technical analyses into key talking points for government stakeholders and CSOs;
• Experience working on international donor-funded HIV programs;
• Experience in developing policy documents, developing or advocating for resources in the public sector budgeting process;
• Sensitivity to cultural differences and understanding of the political and ethical issues surrounding PLHIV and key populations;
• Ability to set realistic priorities, and plan for the successful implementation of programs;
• Ability to work well with others and to develop and maintain compatibility among project partners, staff, subcontractors, consultants, and recipients of assistance;
• Knowledge of PEPFAR programming and reporting preferred;
• English and Russian language fluency required; Tajik fluency preferred.

Travel Requirements:

• 10-15%, mostly within Tajikistan

The position is open to Tajik residents and will be based in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.

This job description summarizes the main duties of the job. It neither prescribes nor restricts the exact tasks that may be assigned to carry out these duties. This document should not be construed in any way to represent a contract of employment. Management reserves the right to review and revise this document at any time.