TB Consultant

Purpose of Position:

• The TB Accountability Consortium (An Independent Contractor of our client, Wits Health Consortium) seeks to appoint a TB Consultant to support the Civil Society Forum with the development of a National and Provincial Tuberculosis Advocacy Strategies

Background:

• South Arica has made some progress towards reaching the END TB goals with TB incidence reduced by 54% since 2015 (reaching 2025 milestone)
• However, TB mortality is high and unchanged over several years
• The current trajectory is unlikely to see South Africa reaching a 90% reduction in TB incidence rate and 95% reduction in TB mortality by 2035
• Modelling suggests that the country will need to massively scale TB testing to accelerate reductions in TB incidence and mortality

Location:

• Remotely based with travelling on a regular basis to KwaZulu Natal, Western Cape and Johannesburg for workshops 

Educational and Work Requirements:

• Master's Degree in Public Health, Public Policy or related field
• 5 - 10 years related experience

TB Strategic Plan (2023 - 2028):

• The South African National Department of Health has implemented TB Recovery Plans over the last three years to address the COVID-19 related declines in TB diagnosis and treatment and the subsequent up-tick in TB incidence and mortality
• A subsequent 5- year strategic plan (aligned to the National Strategic Plan for HIV, TB and STIs 2023-2028) articulates the approach for 2023-2028. This plan has five key pillars namely:
  • Communicate & Advocate
  • Find & Link
  • Treat & Retain
  • Prevent & Prepare
  • Monitor & Assess
• Whilst the plan has a strong evidence base and an enabling policy environment, poor implementation at provincial and district levels is the key challenge to driving the impact needed

Minimum Requirements:

Candidates with the following competencies and skills are invited to apply:

• Expert understanding of the Political Economy of Tuberculosis response in South Africa
• Expert understanding of the National TB Strategies and Implementation Plans
• Experience working with Civil Society and Community Actors in the TB response
• Experience in facilitating participatory workshops

Duties:

• To support the TB Accountability Consortium (TBAC) in the objective of strengthening the participation to civil society and community actors in addressing TB priorities
• The TBAC is seeking a TB Consultant to support the team in the development of a National and Provincial (KwaZulu Natal and Western Cape) TB Advocacy Strategy and an accompanying Advocacy Toolkit

A) Desktop Assessment:

• Conduct a thorough desktop assessment of the National Strategic Plan for HIV-AIDS, TB and STI’s (NSP 2023-2028), the National TB Programme Strategy, WHO End TB Strategy and GFTAM TB specific Investments in South Africa
• Review TB Advocacy strategies and tool kits that can be adapted to the South Africa context

Advocacy Strategy Development

• Design and develop tailored advocacy strategies in support of SANAC National Civil TB Task Team (Incorporating the TB Technical Task Team)
• Facilitate National and Provincial TB Task Team to support CSF in developing and executing effective advocacy initiatives

Advocacy Toolkit

• Create a step-by-step guide tailored for civil society and community actors in the TB response detailing how to engage with governments at National and Provincial level to enhance advocacy efforts
• Sample advocacy letters and templates
• Develop sample advocacy letters, meeting requests, and position statements for outreach to government bodies
• Step-by-Step advocacy roadmap
• Outline key actions for engaging with policymakers, provincial departments of health and other stakeholders, covering: Planning and Preparation of advocacy actions
• Identifying and targeting relevant stakeholders
• Structuring meetings, negotiations, and follow-up actions with policy makers and implementers
• Effective communication tips
• Provide guidance on effective messaging and framing to maximize impact in lobbying and advocacy
• Infographics and visual aids
• Design infographics and visual aids to simplify complex concepts, supporting easy comprehension and retention for advocacy action

B) Timeframe:

• The TB Consultant shall commence January 2025 with 3 key milestones to be completed by 31 March 2025

TO APPLY:

• Only if you meet the minimum job requirements and experience as mentioned above, you may submit a detailed updated CV.
• Please take note that the applicants who do not adhere to the above requirements will not be considered for the respective position.
• Please Apply Online and complete your registration on Ditto Hire (our application tracking system) to enable and protect you as a candidate to accept the new POPIA terms and conditions. This will then create your permanent profile with which you can apply for all jobs as advertised by AJ PERSONNEL. However, you may remove your profile from AJ PERSONNEL when you are no longer in the job market.
• The closing date for all applications: 21 January 2025.
• Note WHC, in accordance with their Employment Equity goals and plan, will give preference to suitable applicants from designated groups as defined in the Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998 and subsequent amendments thereto.

Please note:

• AJ Personnel is only responsible for the advertising and response handling of the advertisement on behalf of their client Wits Health Consortium.
• AJ Personnel does not have any salary or other information regarding the position.
• Wits Health Consortium will only respond to shortlisted candidates.
• Candidates who have not been contacted within two weeks from the closing date can consider their application to be unsuccessful.