ThaiNGO

Care and treatment Consultant

Project Description

Funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and managed by FHI 360, the Linkages across the Continuum of HIV Services for Key Populations Affected by HIV (LINKAGES) project in Lao PDR focuses on interventions to mitigate HIV among key populations -- those at higher risk for HIV transmission, namely men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender (TG) women.

 The LINKAGES Thailand project uses the HIV cascade of services as the overall strategic framework for the project. This framework maps how individuals should ideally move through the continuum of HIV prevention-care-treatment services to reduce HIV transmission as well as to ensure a high quality of life for PLHIV. Activities under the LINKAGES Thailand project centers on bringing high risk individuals into the HIV cascade of services through compelling and incentivized outreach techniques and easy-to-access community based HIV testing. A major component of the project is supporting the Thai Community-based MSM/TG Test and Treat Study, a cohort study designed to examine behavioral and biologic outcomes of test and treat strategies. This study engages six community-based organizations that operate six KP-friendly drop-in centres in Bangkok, Pattaya, Chiang Mai and Hat Yai.

Consultant Summary / Responsibilities:

Work with LINKAGES/FHI 360 and local partners in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and Hat Yai to determine barriers to the HIV cascade of services, particularly linkages between an HIV diagnosis, initiation of ARV treatment, and continued adherence. Partners include community-based organizations directly supported by LINKAGES/FHI 360 but also a broader service coalition network that includes clinics and hospitals where MSM and TG seek ARV treatment following an HIV diagnosis. The consultant will help to formalize this network in the project sites.

Based on the above, make strategic recommendations to FHI 360 on how to reduce these barriers and work with partners to build their capacity to implement these strategies. This will include clarifying and strengthening the roles and responsibilities of so-called community-based supporters and peer mobilizers at the community-based organizations that LINKAGES/FHI 360 supports. 

Work with LINKAGES/FHI 360 to devise strategies to change health provider behavior to implement “test and treat,” essentially the initiation of ARV treatment as soon as possible after diagnosis and to implement these strategies. Such strategies may include training materials, use of creative targeted communications, continuing medical education credits for providers.

Linked to the above, work with LINKAGES/FHI 360 and partners to develop strategies to enhance MSM and TG’s HIV treatment literacy so that they fully understand their right to immediate HIV treatment, the efficacy of such treatment, and that HIV testing and early ARV treatment are essential for the health of HIV-positive MSM and TG health. Such strategies may include working with organizations to increase the visibility of HIV-positive role models in Thailand.

Work with LINKAGES/FHI 360 to develop and support a small number (3-4) of “warm community clinics” (private sector clinics) that provide HIV testing services and possibly ARV treatment services to MSM and TG. Part of this support will be to engage with Thailand’s NHSO to explore the possibility of reimbursing these clinics for their services.

Consultancy Location and Travel

The consultant will be based at the FHI 360 Asia Pacific Regional Office in Bangkok. Some travel may be required to attend meetings and meet with partners in Chiang Mai, Pattaya, Hat Yai and Bangkok sites.

Period of Performance

January 2016 – October 2016. Estimated number of days: 80

Deliverables/Milestones

-Report on barriers to access to ARV treatment, strategic recommendations to remove these barriers, and follow-up with partners to implement these strategies

-Strategies to change health provider behavior to reflect Thailand’s “test and treat” policy and the development and implementation of training materials, use of creative targeted communications, continuing medical education credits for providers, or others agreed upon by FHI 360.

-Strategies to increase HIV treatment literacy among MSM and TG and follow-up with LINKAGES partners to implement these strategies

Plan to increase access of MSM and TG to HIV testing in private sector clinics and follow-up work with clinics to offer these services; Follow-up with NHSO to offer reimbursement to clinics.

Remuneration and Expenses

Consultant will be paid an agreed daily rate for her/his services.  Payment will be made approximately 30 days after the successful completion of the deliverables and receipt of a correct invoice accepted by FHI 360.

Qualifications

The successful candidate will:

-Have demonstrable knowledge and experience with HIV/AIDS programs in Southeast Asia, with experience in Thailand preferable

-Have a minimum of 3 years’ experience working with HIV/AIDS programs in Thailand

-Have experience with HIV interventions for men who have sex with men (MSM), male sex workers (MSW), transgender (TG) and or people living with HIV and AIDS (PLHIV)

-Have completed a Master Degree level or possess equivalent experience in a relevant field (e.g. public health, clinical science, nursing, medicine, international development, etc)

-Be a Thai national or have native fluency in Thai and be able to work legally in Thailand

-Have strong English communication skills (reading, writing and speaking)

Evaluation Criteria (70 pts total)

Technical Capability – 40 pts

Experience with HIV Program in Southeast Asia Region and Thailand – 20 pts

Strong knowledge in developing technical material related to care and support – 20 pts

Past Performance/relative experience – 20 pts

Proposed Price- 10 pts

FHI 360 is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. FHI 360 is committed to providing equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, age, disability or status as a veteran with respect to policies, programs, or activities.

FHI 360 may cancel the solicitation and not award

FHI 360 may reject any or all responses received

Issuance of the solicitation does not constitute an award commitment by FHI 360

FHI 360 reserves the right to disqualify any offer based on failure of the offeror to follow solicitation instructions

FHI 360 will not compensate any offeror for responding to solicitation

FHI 360 reserves the right to issue award based on initial evaluation of offers without further discussion

FHI 360 may choose to award only part of the activities in the solicitation, or issue multiple awards based on the solicitation activities

FHI 360 reserves the right to waive minor proposal deficiencies that can be corrected prior to award determination to promote competition

FHI 360 will be contacting each offeror to confirm contact person, address and that bid was submitted for this solicitation

Submissions

Applicants should submit the following:

-Applicant’s CV and references

-Cover letter outlining experience

-Proposed daily rate

-360’s biodata form (Should be included as a separate attachment)

Application and Deadline

Application deadline 30 December 2015. To apply, please submit a cover letter detailing relevant experience and proposed daily rate in THB, and a recent CV with three references to hr.thailand@fhi360.org.   Only short listed candidates will be contacted.