Technical Advisor, Non-Communicable Diseases

Terms of Reference – Technical Advisor, Non-Communicable Diseases

Clinton Health Access Initiatives

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Position/Title: Technical Advisor, Non-Communicable Diseases
Program (Division): Vaccines & NCDs – Non-Communicable Diseases Team
Employment status: Full time
Base location: Vietnam
Additional Location: Preference for role to be based in a NCD program country in South-East Asia

About CHAI

The Clinton Health Access Initiative, Inc. (CHAI) is a global health organization committed to our mission of saving lives and reducing the burden of disease in low-and middle-income countries. We work at the invitation of governments to support them and the private sector to create and sustain high-quality health systems.

CHAI was founded in 2002 in response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic with the goal of dramatically reducing the price of life-saving drugs and increasing access to these medicines in the countries with the highest burden of the disease. Over the following two decades, CHAI has expanded its focus.

Today, along with HIV, we work in conjunction with our partners to prevent and treat infectious diseases such as COVID-19, malaria, tuberculosis, and hepatitis. Our work has also expanded into cancer, diabetes, hypertension, and other non-communicable diseases, and we work to accelerate the rollout of lifesaving vaccines, reduce maternal and child mortality, combat chronic malnutrition, and increase access to assistive technology. We are investing in horizontal approaches to strengthen health systems through programs in human resources for health, digital health, and health financing. With each new and innovative program, our strategy is grounded in maximizing sustainable impact at scale, ensuring that governments lead the solutions, that programs are designed to scale nationally, and learnings are shared globally.

At CHAI, our people are our greatest asset, and none of this work would be possible without their talent, time, dedication and passion for our mission and values. We are a highly diverse team of enthusiastic individuals across 40 countries with a broad range of skillsets and life experiences. CHAI is deeply grounded in the countries we work in, with majority of our staff based in program countries. Learn more about our exciting work: http://www.clintonhealthaccess.org.

CHAI is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and is committed to providing an environment of fairness, and mutual respect where all applicants have access to equal employment opportunities. CHAI values diversity and inclusion, and recognizes that our mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of people with diverse experience, backgrounds, and culture.

Overview of CHAI’s Non-Communicable Diseases Program:

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart disease, cancer, chronic respiratory disease, and diabetes are now the leading cause of death globally, exceeding all communicable disease deaths combined. The WHO estimates that each year, NCDs kill at least 41 million, the equivalent of 71 percent of all deaths globally. Over 85 percent of these deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), and more than 41 percent of these deaths are premature, affecting people younger than 70 years. NCDs also affect children and adolescents in very significant ways: type 1 diabetes, sickle cell disease and rheumatic or congenital heart disease are all severe, chronic conditions that disproportionately affect the poorest. Access to diagnosis and treatment services for these diseases is often only available at referral hospitals in major cities, resulting in significant under-diagnosis, lack of treatment access, catastrophic health expenditure and unacceptable inequity in life expectancy and quality of life.

To support governments in addressing these urgent challenges, in 2021, CHAI initiated an ambitious program to improve access to adequate and affordable diagnosis and care for NCDs. This program has expanded rapidly: 12 CHAI countries across Africa and South East Asia and Pacific now have NCD programs in place. These programs are designed address barriers to diagnosis and care comprehensively, spanning activities focused on decentralizing NCD diagnosis and care to the primary healthcare level; creating enabling policy environments and partner coordination platforms; enhancing access to NCD financing; strengthening NCD forecasting and procurement of NCD diagnostics and medicines; and improving NCD data quality and systems to inform decision-making at all levels. In addition, CHAI is working at the global level on market shaping for essential, quality-assured NCD commodities, as well as strengthening collaboration across partners working on improving access to NCD diagnosis and care.

To further build out this program and meet the growing attention for the urgent needs in this field, CHAI is currently looking for a Technical Advisor, Forecasting and Procurement to support CHAI country teams and governments on improving access to affordable, quality-assured NCD commodities. This work will focus on countries in South East Asia and Pacific and also include extended support to countries in Africa. We are looking for a highly motivated professional with outstanding analytical, relationship management and leadership skills. The Technical Advisor will adhere to the core CHAI values of resourcefulness, entrepreneurialism, flexibility, independence, humility, and work ethic. This position will report to the Senior Program Manager, NCDs.

Core responsibilities

Responsibilities in this role will include but are not limited to the following:

• Become CHAI’s trusted expert on the status of and processes related to NCD commodity access, forecasting and procurement, as well as government priorities as they relate to NCD commodity access in our focus countries.
• Lead regulatory, quantification, forecasting and procurement workstreams in support of CHAI’s NCD programs in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, with an aim to ensure improved access to key commodities for NCD screening and management in the public sector, and to ensure NCD commodity needs are adequately embedded in routine facility-based forecasting and procurement processes.
• Support country implementation and adaptation of global tools designed to support improved NCD forecasting and procurement.
• Creatively scope and initiate projects that could contribute to further improving supply sustainability and accessibility of NCD commodities for LMICs, for example identifying opportunities to reduce markups in the private sector and enhance affordability and supply chain efficiency.
• Develop a strong understanding of global and local market dynamics and access priorities and opportunities for key NCD commodities (e.g., antihypertensive and glucose-lowering medication, insulin, glucose monitoring devices and consumables, insulin syringes/pens) in LMICs.
• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with global health partners to ensure coordination, alignment and collaboration with partner programs and research, with a focus on coordinated forecasting and procurement in Asian countries, and elsewhere as relevant.
• Lead development of presentations, reports, and other analyses to inform global policy and increase the evidence base for high-impact interventions.
• Support the development of concept notes, donor proposals and new projects, and reporting requirements on existing programs.
• Any other duties as required
• 25-30% international travel time required

Qualifications

• Minimum Bachelor’s degree with strong academic performance
• Minimum 6 years of professional experience, in a role that demonstrates an ability to work independently and effectively in a high-pressure, fast-paced environment, manage complex projects, conduct quantitative (e.g., forecasting) and qualitative analyses and work across multiple teams
• Exceptional analytical, research and presentation skills for both qualitative and quantitative data
• Experience in developing sophisticated commodities forecasts, analytical models and supply plans
• Proven experience working with teams in a matrixed organizational structure, build strong relationships with individuals of varying levels of seniority and soliciting expert inputs
• Clear strategic, structured thinker with very strong problem-solving and analytical skills
• Strong project management skills and the ability to work independently and effectively in a high-performance, dynamic environment and handle multiple priorities simultaneously
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with ability to work effectively in a multi-cultural and remote environment
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English with the ability to represent CHAI externally
• Proficiency in MS Excel, Powerpoint and Word
• A balanced and open-minded perspective, with an ability to understand and appreciate different viewpoints and perspectives
• Strong commitment to principles of diversity, equity and inclusion
• Strong commitment to teamwork, team mission, and hard work

Advantages:

• Advanced degree in Business, Economics, Public Health or other related disciplines;
• Experience in medicines, diagnostics or other health commodity forecasting and procurement
• Experience working in health commodity supply chains and procurement (e.g., supply planning, inventory management, other)
• Prior knowledge or demonstrated experience of public health systems strengthening and improving access to health care and commodities in LMICs
• Prior knowledge of or an established network of contacts with relevant manufacturers, multilaterals and other key global health stakeholders

A one-page cover letter should specify the position sought and highlight why the candidate believes they are the right person for the position. A CV detailing professional experience, relevant qualifications and three reference contacts should be provided. Interested candidates should send materials to [email protected]. Indicate position sought in the subject line.

Applications will be reviewed as they arrive but must be received by 15 November 2024. Only shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview.