Consultant - Syphilis Free Start

ABOUT EVIDENCE ACTION

At Evidence Action, we deliver data-driven interventions that transform lives at an unprecedented scale. We identify neglected global health issues and deploy proven solutions, forging healthier futures for generations.

Our model operationalizes leading academic research (including from Nobel-winning economists). We measure progress and outcomes at every stage to ensure we’re making a real impact for people living in poverty and suffering from preventable or treatable health issues. Operating across 9 countries, our team of 900+ has reached over 500 million people, working closely with governments to scale these interventions.

• Our Deworm the World program has delivered over 2 billion treatments, significantly reducing worm prevalence and generating more than $23 billion in lifetime productivity gains.
• Through Safe Water Now, we’ve saved the lives of over 15,000 children.
• Our Accelerator explores untapped opportunities in global health, testing low-cost interventions with the greatest potential to save and improve lives.

BACKGROUND

One of Evidence Action’s initiatives is the Syphilis-Free Start (SFS) Program, in which we partner with Ministries of Health to increase syphilis screening and treatment among pregnant women in an effort to prevent mother-to-child-transmission of syphilis. Leveraging investments in HIV, our aim is to close syphilis screening gaps through the introduction or scale-up of HIV/syphilis dual testing and to close syphilis treatment gaps by implementing strategies to address context-specific treatment barriers for pregnant women who test positive for syphilis.

SFS was first launched in Liberia in 2020. Our efforts in Liberia (in partnership with the Ministry of Health) increased syphilis screening from 7% to 88% within 3.5 years, Now 94% of syphilis-positive pregnant women receive treatment. Within one year of receiving technical assistance, the Liberian Ministry of Health procured the full national need for dual tests and benzathine penicillin via The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM). We have since scaled this program to Zambia, Cameroon, and most recently to Côte d’Ivoire and are seeing the same promising results. In Zambia, syphilis screening rose from 45% to 75% within the first year of scale-up, with 86% of syphilis-positive pregnant women receiving treatment, leveraging the investments made by PEPFAR and GFATM to supply dual tests to the country.

In recognition of the changing global health landscape, impacting PEPFAR and GFATM’s funding, Evidence Action has received a grant from the Gates Foundation to provide light-touch technical assistance to focal countries to sustain, or increase where feasible, the volume of dual tests and/or benzathine penicillin included in upcoming GC8 agreements and/or domestic funding commitments, where possible.

We are seeking 5-7 consultants to serve as the technical assistance providers among the select focal countries. We anticipate requiring up to 16 hours of support per week.

Note: Evidence Action will select 5-7 focal countries; we are targeting to contract with one consultant per country though we are open to considering a consultant who can readily support two or three countries. The current countries under consideration are: Angola, Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gambia, Guinea, Kenya, Madagascar, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. Final selection of countries will run concurrent with recruitment of the consultants.

Scope of Work / Responsibilities:

1. Stakeholder Engagement:
1. Maintain relationships on behalf of Evidence Action with key stakeholders in Ministries of Health, local GFATM country coordinating mechanisms, development partners, and other implementing partners;
2. Conduct stakeholder mapping, where needed, to identify key decision-makers and influencers regarding GFATM proposal decisions and/or domestic funding commitments in the area of health;
3. Serve as an advocate for dual (HIV & Syphilis) or triple (HIV, Syphilis, and Hepatitis B) elimination prioritization in multi-stakeholder forums;
2. GC8 Proposal Development Support:
1. Participate in GC8 planning, budgeting, quantification, and proposal writing meetings with Ministry of Health stakeholders;
2. Provide technical input on integrating HIV/syphilis dual tests and benzathine penicillin (BZP) into GC8 funding requests;
3. Support development and revision of relevant national policies, guidelines, strategic plans, and operational plans related to dual/triple elimination, where needed;
4. Support drafting of GC8 proposal sections related to PMTCT and congenital syphilis elimination;
5. Review draft GC8 submissions and provide technical feedback;
6. Assist in developing implementation roadmaps and M&E frameworks, where needed;
3. Technical Analysis & Tools
1. Conduct commodity quantification for dual HIV/syphilis tests and benzathine penicillin based on country needs;
2. Utilize and adapt Evidence Action-provided tools and/or toolkits (e.g., quantification calculators, budget templates, policy alignment frameworks);
1. Review costing and cost-benefit analyses developed to demonstrate the value proposition of dual testing;
3. Support gap analysis to identify bottlenecks in the GC8 proposal process;
4. Other
1. Facilitate virtual meetings between Evidence Action staff and in-country stakeholders;
2. Where needed, arrange logistics and schedule meetings for any potential in-country visits by Evidence Action program staff; and
3. Support the operational and financial logistics required for Evidence Action to support up to two meetings / workshops related to the GC8 proposal development;
4. Facilitate, if needed, Evidence Action’s attainment of an MOU or other legal agreement required to provide the intended technical assistance.

Additional scope of work may be defined as activities proceed. Any expansion to the agreed scope of work will be negotiated in writing and agreed upon by both parties (Evidence Action and the Consultant).

Reporting & Deliverables

The consultant will report to Evidence Action's Associate Director of Syphilis-Free Start and will be expected to:

• Attend regular virtual meetings with Evidence Action global program staff;
• Submit monthly progress reports documenting activities, meetings attended, and key developments;
• Share technical documents produced as part of the GC8 proposal development support
• Submit a final country-specific summary report at engagement conclusion
• Contribute to cross-country learning and provide feedback on the usefulness of any Evidence Action-provided tools and/or toolkits;

Requirements

Essential Experience

• 10+ years of relevant professional experience in global health;
• Demonstrated experience supporting and/or participating in Global Fund proposal and budgeting processes, ideally across multiple funding cycles;
• Demonstrated experience providing technical assistance to Ministries of Health in the intended country;
• Deep knowledge of HIV prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) programming and service delivery;
• Strong understanding of maternal and child health systems in low- and middle-income countries;

Technical Expertise

• Familiarity with Global Fund application requirements, templates, and review processes;
• Experience developing policy documents, strategic plans, and operational guidelines;
• Understanding of health systems strengthening and integration approaches;

Skills / Competencies

• Proactive and able to take initiative, identifying solutions and recommendations for improvements;
• Strong relationship-building skills with government officials and technical partners;
• Priority will be given to individuals who are based in or from selected focal countries;
• Oral and written fluency in English; with French and/or Portuguese fluency required in countries where this is the spoken language;

Contract Details:

• Duration: Upon contracting through December 2026.
• Level of Effort: Up to 45 days per country.
• Travel: Provided the consultant is based in the focal country, the consultant is not expected to travel domestically unless it is to participate in a meeting related to the GC8 proposal that is held outside of the capital.
• Reimbursement: Travel expenses will be reimbursed in accordance with Evidence Action policies.

Originally posted on Himalayas