Comprehensive Pediatric ART (CPART) Assistant at Catholic Relief Services (CRS) - 8 Openings

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is an International non-governmental organization supporting relief and development work in over 99 countries around the world. CRS programs assist persons based on need, regardless of creed, ethnicity, or nationality. CRS works through local church and non-church partners to implement its programs, therefore, strengthening and building the capacity of these partner organizations is fundamental to programs in every country in which CRS operates. CRS re-established presence in Nigeria in 2000 and has been a continuous leader in development and humanitarian response within Nigeria - focusing on the three Strategic Program Areas of Agriculture, Health and Emergency Response.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Comprehensive Pediatric ART (CPART) Assistant

Job Ref Code: CT0621
Locations: Abuja (FCT), Benue, Delta, Enugu, Imo, Lagos, Nassarawa and Rivers
Employment Type: Temporary

Background

• FASTER (Faith-based Action for Scaling up Testing and Treatment for the Epidemic Response) project is designed as a new component of the global FOCUS (Faith-based Organization Capacity Strengthening for Universal HIV Services) project. Funded by the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), FOCUS was developed with the intent of building FBO network capacity, assisting FBOs to contribute to HIV multi-sector planning for expanded service delivery, and documenting successful approaches. Led by CRS, FOCUS builds understanding of how to leverage the faith-based community’s contributions at sub-national and national levels, reinforcing mutual responsibility and country-driven leadership. FASTER takes FOCUS’ objectives to the next level by creating an enabling environment in Nigeria where government, civil society, the private sector, and FBOs can accelerate normative pediatric HIV case finding, testing, linkage to care and treatment, and adherence support by strengthening and streamlining joint coordination and provision of pediatric HIV service delivery.

Job Summary

• Comprehensive Pediatric ART (CPART) Assistants will be expected to support the FASTER Nigeria project strategies towards achieving UNAIDS 95:95:95 by strengthening pediatric and adolescent HIV case management, OVC case management and community referral coordination as well as providing support for Monitoring Evaluation Accountability and Learning (MEAL) activities in the delivery of FASTER Project mandate in line with USG funding policies and procedures at the zonal/state levels.

Specific Job Responsibilities

• Support the implementation of FASTER project technical strategies and activities design to respond to the program priority actions to address Pediatric and adolescents case findings, linkage to treatment and retention in care in response to HIV/AIDS pandemic across various supported facilities.
• Support health facilities to implement the DSD models for the children and the adolescents living with HIV.
• Strengthen / establish the adolescents support group across facilities.
• Support the provision of adolescents’ friendly services for the adolescents.
• Strengthen the Index case and genealogy testing strategies among FASTER "priority" sites.
• Facilitate the effective referral coordination platforms across various LGAs and facilities being supported FASTER project.
• Support the age-appropriate disclosure among children and adolescents living with HIV.
• Strengthen the capacity of HCWs on HIV counselling and testing, PMTCT and Early Infant Diagnosis (EID), improving referral and counter-referral systems between communities and facilities.
• Work with IPs to scale – up the use of age-specific HIV Risk screening tool for determining children and adolescents at risk of HIV and prioritizing them for HIV testing in community and facility settings.
• Support the development of effective strategies for linkage to care and treatment of children living with HIV.
• Support the facility referral linkages to increase ART uptake and retention in care among children and Adolescent
• Strengthen the asset-based model Operation Triple Zero Initiative for adolescents and young people living with HIV.
• Provide all administrative support to ensure effective running of M&E activities on the FASTER project at the Zonal and state levels.
• Provide necessary support in training of partners to develop capacity to implement HIV/AIDS support activities as per the project requirement.
• Support program efforts on learning, formative research, special studies and operational research and work with MEAL team, FASTER technical team, and external support (if needed) to conduct research.
• Support the STS MEAL and the FASTER team in strengthening MEAL strategies for effective OVC Case management and referral coordination at the zone and state of FASTER project implementation.
• Support the efforts of GoN at sub-national level and PEPFAR to standardize and scale up the use of evidence based technical strategies for OVC Case Management and Referral Coordination.
• Support the development of SOPs, job aids and guidelines on OVC Case Management and Referral Coordination for PEPFAR implementing partners and civil society organizations (CSOs).
• Support MEAL strategies to strengthen bi-directional linkages towards improved OVC continuum of care with focus optimizing health and social services workforce and improved data management information system.

Qualifications and Skills
Education and Experience:

• A Bachelor’s degree in any Sciences, Social Sciences, Medicine, Surgery and related fields.
• Minimum of 2 years of experience in HIV/AIDS programming.
• Experience working in PEPFAR pediatric HIV and OVC programming is an added advantage
• Demonstrated skills in MEAL, data management and quantitative and qualitative research methodologies.
• Ability to effectively support Technical / Senior Technical Specialist in relations with government and implementing partners as well as knowledge transfer to diverse audiences through workshops, training and meetings using participatory methods and adult learning principles.
• Basic analytic and problem-solving skills, with capacity to see the big picture and ability to make sound judgment and decisions.
• Ability to learn communications and presentation skills; and to develop tailored and persuasive messaging for varied audiences.
• Excellent written and spoken English.
• Ability to use the Microsoft suite of computer software applications especially MS Word, Excel, Outlook and Commcare.

Application Closing Date
16th June, 2021- 5:00pm

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to Download Application Form

Fill the form and send with a detailed resume / CV as one document in PDF format to: [email protected] using the position being applied for, location and the Job Ref Code (e.g. "Comprehensive Pediatric ART (CPART) Assistants - Lagos, CT0621" ) as the subject of the application. 

Note

• Kindly adhere strictly to this guideline
• Qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply
• Equal Employer Opportunity
  • CRS is an equal - opportunity employer, does not discriminate based on race, color, religion and we are committed to gender sensitive programming and management’. etc.
• Safeguarding:
  • By applying to this job, I understand and acknowledge that CRS requires its staff to treat all people with dignity and respect and to actively prevent harassment, abuse, exploitation, and human trafficking. Further, I understand that if I am a successful candidate, I will be subject to a comprehensive background check, and my personal/professional references will be asked to evaluate my behaviors related to the above safeguarding-related topics.
• Statement of Commitment to Protection:
  • CRS’ recruitment and selection procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation"