Position: PEPFAR Coordinator
Location: Kigali, Rwanda
Duration: 4-5 Months (5/11 to 9/11) – End date is flexible
Clearance Required: Secret
DESCRIPTION OF RESPONSIBILITIES:
The PEPFAR Coordinator is the primary point of contact and coordinator of activities related to the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) in Rwanda. The Coordinator plays a critical role in the planning, implementing and reporting of program performance of inter-agency programs. The US government (USG) agencies undertaking HIV/AIDS programs in Rwanda include the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the US Department of Defense (DOD) and the Peace Corps. In addition to working with the USG agencies, close coordination and collaboration with the Government of Rwanda (GOR), other donors working in HIV/AIDS and the USG implementing partners is required. In addition to PEPFAR, Rwanda has been designated a Global Health Initiative (GHI) Plus country and this position also helps to coordinate the USG agencies on this effort. This position reports directly to the Deputy Chief of Mission and works closely with the Embassy Front Office, as the Ambassador heads the PEPFAR team and program in country. This is an opportunity for a Presidential Management Fellow to work in an interagency coordinated fashion with multiple different US government agencies.
Major duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
The Coordinator is a facilitator, a communicator and a negotiator. The Coordinator is not a technical director, although on occasion the Coordinator may be expected to ensure follow-up on implementation of technical recommendations. The Coordinator is responsible for convening weekly or bi-monthly meetings of the entire PEPFAR team, weekly meetings with the PEPFAR Management Team and other ad hoc meetings as needed, and is responsible for identifying action items and ensuring follow-up of these items. Communicating with the entire PEPFAR team and/or the PEPFAR Management Team to ensure knowledge and understanding are shared across all individuals in critical.
The Coordinator is the primary point of contact between the Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator (S/GAC) located at State Department in Washington, DC and the in-country PEPFAR team. S/GAC sets policy and provides guidance related to PEPFAR.
During this timeframe, the Coordinator will be leading the process of preparing the annual Country Operational Plan (COP). This document is due to HQ in mid-October. However, preparations for the submission begin in late May. Some of the key activities will include liaising with the GOR, ensuring the USG implementing partners are kept informed, following up with the PEPFAR staff on timeline, process and deliverables, working with the Management Team to ensure the outlined process and timeline are meeting the needs and being followed, keeping S/GAC and the front office informed on critical issues, and being the primary point of knowledge about the COP guidance and process.
The Fellow will also carry out other duties, including serving as control officer for PEPFAR or GHI related visitors, preparing briefing materials as needed for the Front Office, and traveling outside of Kigali. The Fellow will also work closely with one other staff member in the Coordinators Office, the Strategic Information Liaison.
EXPERIENCE:
Candidates for this position should have strong interpersonal, organizational, and writing skills. Prior experience working in an interagency fashion is needed. French language is helpful but is not required.
Embassy Kigali will provide the Fellow with housing and transportation between their home and the Embassy.
POINT OF CONTACT:
Carrie Whitlock – whitlockc2@state.gov