The U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) Deputy Country Coordinator (DCC), reporting to the PEPFAR Country Coordinator (PCC) in Lesotho, supports the full mandate of the PEPFAR Coordination Office (PCO). The DCC works closely with the PCC to ensure communication and coordination among the various U.S. Government (USG) departments and agencies involved in the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) in Lesotho. This includes the U.S. Ambassador to Lesotho and Deputy Chief of Mission, Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator (OGAC), particularly the Lesotho Country Support Team Lead, interagency core team, designated Embassy counterparts, and representatives of the PEPFAR Lesotho USG implementing agencies. In addition, the DCC is responsible for supporting coordination between USG agencies implementing PEPFAR and other partners including the Government of Lesotho (GOL), bilateral and multilateral donors, implementing partners and civil society. The DCC provides full support to the PCC and advice and counsel to other members of the PCO on all matters related to PEPFAR in Lesotho.
Background
The U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) Deputy Country Coordinator (DCC) in Lesotho, reporting to the PEPFAR Country Coordinator (PCC), supports the full mandate of the PEPFAR Coordination Office. The DCC ensures communication and coordination among U.S. Government departments and agencies, including the U.S. Ambassador, Deputy Chief of Mission, Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator, interagency core team, embassy counterparts, and PEPFAR implementing agencies.
The DCC also liaises with the Government of Lesotho, donors, implementing partners, and civil society to coordinate and advise on PEPFAR activities in Lesotho.
Work Details
- Lead the Country Operational Plan (COP) process with the PCC, ensuring PEPFAR goals are met and timely, quality submission of all COP tools.
- Coordinate interagency data streams and develop reporting to OGAC.
- Support USG and Global Fund program coordination and joint planning by facilitating relationships with Global Fund stakeholders and serving as the USG point of contact for the Global Fund Country Coordinating Committee.
- Serve as Acting PCC in the PCC's absence.
Program Coordination and Planning:
- Communicate USG policy and technical direction to implementing agency leadership.
- Liaise with the PCC to manage communications with the Embassy Maseru front office, including the Ambassador, Deputy Chief of Mission, and public affairs office.
- Assure accountability of PEPFAR and other HIV/AIDS programs to administration officials, Congress, and the public through statements, reports, and representation.
- Organize and coordinate logistical arrangements for interagency work and meetings of the PEPFAR interagency team and Agency Leads group.
- Analyze COP development guidance, develop schedules, timelines, assignment lists, and databases to track planning and reporting processes.
- Coordinate timely submission of COP tools, annual calendars, and work plans.
- Assist agency leads with budgeting during COP and ensure balanced interagency budgets.
- Respond to OGAC routine and ad hoc information requests as assigned.
- Oversee travel and meeting logistics for international visitors and VIPs.
- Assist PCC in convening meetings with senior Government of Lesotho officials and multilateral partners.
- Act as PCC in his/her absence.
Budgeting, Personnel Management and Administration:
- Serve as principal point of contact for Embassy Maseru financial management of the PEPFAR State Budget.
- Collaborate on fiscal oversight of the PEPFAR Coordination Office budget.
- Develop and manage performance within the annual operating budget, including quarterly financial reviews.
- Advise on recruitment, screening, and selection of staff.
- Develop training opportunities and manage interns, consultants, and temporary personnel.
- Supervise 1 to 2 PCO staff members.
Program Monitoring & Evaluation:
- Coordinate COP/Quarterly Reporting, S/APR updates, institutional data calls, and ad-hoc requests.
- Work with agency SI liaisons and HQ to define and report PEPFAR indicators via DATIM, EA, and other systems.
- Strengthen core team capacity to use data for planning and target setting.
- Provide technical guidance for report development and ad-hoc requests.
- Collate and report country-level data to OGAC, ensuring checklists and justifications are completed.
- Liaise between agency SI advisors and OGAC.
- Evaluate expenditures and financial data annually to identify programming improvements, efficiency gains, and cost savings.
- Participate in portfolio reviews.
Global Fund Liaison:
- Serve on the Lesotho Country Coordinating Mechanism and represent USG and Government of Lesotho bilateral interests.
- Advise on strategies for complementary investment by GF, USG, GOL, and other donors.
- Collaborate with USG and GF staff, CCM members, and stakeholders to improve strategic investments, minimize duplication, and ensure grant performance.
- Coordinate donor mapping and reporting between PEPFAR and GF programs.
- Keep USG stakeholders informed on key GF issues and implementation challenges.
- Provide policy and governance advice.
- Review and analyze data on technical areas.
- Participate in site visits and grant oversight.
- Gather performance data for GF grant activities and reports.
Special Initiatives:
- Support PCC in responding to requests from the U.S. Embassy Front Office, OGAC, Government of Lesotho, and partners for special initiatives, regional meetings, and conferences.
- Ensure PEPFAR Lesotho representation in meetings and conferences.
- Facilitate development of informational materials, press releases, speeches, and strategy documents.
- Maintain high professional quality of all materials.
Period of Performance
Includes a base period plus three option periods
Place of Performance
Maseru, Lesotho (U.S. Embassy Maseru and Government of Lesotho offices)
Bidder Requirements
- Master's degree in public health or a related field.
- Five to seven years of progressive program management experience with at least three years focused on HIV/AIDS.
- Proven track record managing large teams and complex processes.
- Experience living and working in developing countries.
- Experience with fiscal management of large program budgets.
- Prior experience supervising programs and staff.
