Placement Organization: Lighthouse Trust
Placement Location: Lilongwe, Malawi
Eligible Citizenship: American

About: Lighthouse Trust, a Centre of Excellence for Integrated HIV Prevention, Treatment and Care, works in close coordination with the Ministry of Health and District Health Office to operate two large integrated HIV testing, treatment and care clinics in Lilongwe, Malawi: one on the campus of Kamuzu Central Hospital and another at Bwaila Hospital (Martin Preuss Centre).  Lighthouse exists to fight against AIDS in Malawi by providing a continuum of quality care and support and by working to build capacity in the health sector. This is achieved through our successful technical approaches: (1) To expand high-quality, integrated HIV and AIDS prevention, treatment, care and support services; (2) To promote innovative approaches for HIV prevention, treatment, care and support through program development, piloting, evaluation and dissemination; and (3) To build and strengthen capacity for HIV and AIDS treatment, care and support in Malawi. Currently, our priorities are to strengthen both paper and electronic data management and reporting systems of Option B+ and TB/ART (antiretroviral therapy) integrated programmes, and conduct operation research work in these programmes. 

Position Overview:

  • Review and establish sustainable and effective monitoring and evaluation system for Option B+ and TB/ART integrated programmes
  • Conduct formal evaluation of the Option B+ and TB/ART integrated programmes  and write up the findings for presentation to the clinic team and Lighthouse  management
  • Provide technical guidance on the standard operation procedures of Option B+ and TB/ART integrated programmes
  • Document the success stories of the implementation of Option B+ and TB/ART integrated programs


Responsibilities:

  • Support the process of identifying gaps in the implementation of Option B+ at Bwaila antenatal clinic
  • Support the implementation of TB/ART electronic data systems at Martin Preuss Centre clinic and roll out to other high burden TB registration centres
  • Work closely with the M&E staff in maintaining electronic MS Access databases for management of clinic data according to the Lighthouse M&E guidelines
  • Support the Lighthouse coordinators in developing annual departmental log-frames and ensure that yearly targets are met
  • Steer the process of reviewing data collection tools and reporting  forms, and design them according to the Lighthouse M&E guidelines
  • Support in preparation of technical brief papers, organisational status update for Lighthouse management, partners and donors
  • Support the departmental co-coordinators and M&E departmental focal persons in preparing monthly reports in accordance with approved Lighthouse reporting formats and timing
  • Undertake periodic review of MPC operations, including writing up best practices and lessons learnt
  • Review Monthly and Quarterly departmental reports
  • Support routine data collection, conduct analysis of data and prepare reports in collaboration with the M&E team
  • Develop operation research protocols based on Lighthouse needs and ensure that the study results are submitted either to international peer-reviewed journal or conference for dissemination
  • Undertake any other reasonable duties as may be requested from time to time


Key Deliverables and Expectations

  • Improved ART retention among women starting antiretroviral therapy (ART)  based on option B+
  • Annual Lighthouse departmental logframes  for 2013 developed
  • One formal evaluation of Option B+ or TB/HIV services conducted
  • TB/ART system successfully piloted and evaluated


Required Skills and Experience:

  • Bachelors Degree in Statistics or Demography or related field or Masters in Public Health or Epidemiology
  • Basic data management skills in MS Access
  • Strong analytical skills including statistical analysis using STATA, R, SPSS, etc
  • Excellent organizational and time management skills
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a team


Preferred Skills and Experience:

  • One year experience in M&E
  • Good written communication skills in English language
  • Basic data management skills


Living Conditions: Fellows will be provided with housing in Lilongwe, health insurance and a living stipend of $650/month. Fellows will also receive an award of $1500 upon successful completion of the fellowship year. Flights to and from the placement site and all other costs associated with GHC programming are included.