Activity Design Specialist (USAID DRC)

Job Description

GH-TAMS is seeking candidates for an Activity Design Specialist for a six-month assignment with USAID/DRC. The consultancy will be hybrid - though full in-country support is preferred (a minimum 50% in-country may be considered). Level of effort is 135 days, with start date approximately mid-late February 2024..

Background

USAID/DRC’s Health Office is heading into the solicitation phase of designing an ambitious suite of integrated health activities. These awards, to be launched in early 2025, will both follow the Mission’s current, flagship health award ($314 million, integrated health bilateral contract) and consolidate other Mission health investments. The Mission intends to incorporate four of its Global Health Security (GHS) mechanisms, which are ending in 2024-2025, in the design of new bilateral awards. There will be a key focus on Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE), Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), Infection Prevention and Control (IPC), and community-based surveillance and outbreak response in urban/peri-urban settings. As this gets integrated with other health interventions, the overlap with other community engagement (e.g. vaccinations, polio, family planning, and maternal and child health - MCH) will be essential.

Dedicated, experienced support is needed to advance critical steps of these complex procurement efforts, working closely with USAID’s core and extended design team members in country and in Washington, DC. Additionally, the goal to move health as a broader intervention into the One Health Approach, will require this suite of new integrated health activities to animal health and the environment; the Activity Design Specialist will need to improve collaboration across all stakeholders at those levels.

The Activity Design Specialist will engage with all relevant stakeholders to provide strategic, management, and technical support for the implementation of GHS, health, and nutrition funding for the DRC and for the design of a suite of new, USAID-funded integrated health awards.

Role and Responsibilities

• Specific activity design responsibilities will focus on the following areas:
• Managing internal procurement review and approval processes;
• Preparing and reviewing design, pre-solicitation, and solicitation documents, including concept notes, an activity approval memo, and notices of funding opportunities;
• Co-leading/supporting the design, convening, and follow-up of consultations/industry. including co-creation workshop
• Engage with the Government of DRC to discuss how USAID can best support DRC’s health priorities from 2025-2030 and obtain feedback on planning as it progresses.
• Engage with health donors and technical partners to coordinate efforts.
• Coordinate Health Office staff and other internal stakeholders at the Mission and in Washington to advance the design process.
• Support internal procurement review and approval processes.
• Develop and maintain trackers for the design process.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Public Health or related field.
• Excellent written and oral English communication skills. Advanced French professional proficiency preferred.
• At least 8 years of progressive experience in international public health with 2-3 years developing and deisgning projects
• Knowledge and experience with USAID project design and procurement processes / systems a plus
• Technical expertise in infectious diseases, behavior change, supply chain management, and/or health emergency management and response.
• Strong diplomacy skills and ability to work with senior-level officials within the USG and host country governments.

International Business & Technical Consultants, Inc. (IBTCI), is the prime contractor implementing the $125 million USAID-funded Global Health Technical Assistance and Mission Support Project (GH-TAMS) activity. Along with its subcontractor, Dexis Consulting Group (Dexis), IBTCI provides the Bureau for Global Health (GH) and USAID field missions with high quality technical expertise to achieve the Agency’s foreign assistance global health mission (October 2019-October 2024). GH-TAMS technical assistance supports over 65 Missions and 19 GH Offices and other Bureaus covering a broad range of technical areas and cross-cutting issues such as HIV/AIDS, family planning, MNCH, infectious disease, TB, health finance, reproductive health, organizational development, OVC, project design, facilitation, M&E and strategic planning.

Project assignments are located in Washington D.C. and worldwide in Africa, Asia and elsewhere. Assignments typically range from two weeks to six months in duration.

About the Organization

International Business & Technical Consultants, Inc. (IBTCI), is the prime contractor implementing the $125 million USAID-funded Global Health Technical Assistance and Mission Support Project (GH-TAMS) activity. Along with its subcontractor, Dexis Consulting Group (Dexis), IBTCI provides the Bureau for Global Health (GH) and USAID field missions with high quality technical expertise to achieve the Agency's foreign assistance global health mission (October 2019-October 2024). GH-TAMS technical assistance supports over 65 Missions and 19 GH Offices and other Bureaus covering a broad range of technical areas and cross-cutting issues such as HIV/AIDS, family planning, MNCH, infectious disease, TB, health finance, reproductive health, organizational development, OVC, project design, facilitation, M&E and strategic planning.

Project assignments are located in Washington D.C. and worldwide in Africa, Asia and elsewhere. Assignments typically range from two weeks to six months in duration.