UNAIDS Myanmar Vacancy Announcement (National Consultant (Community System Strengthening)

Title:  National Consultant (Community System Strengthening)
Duration: 12 months
Period: October 2015 to September2016
Location: Yangon
Contract type: Consultant Contract

Background
Meaningful involvement of communities, especially of people living with HIV and key affected populations (KAPs) – men having sex with men (MSM), transgender people, people who use drugs and sex workers, women and youth ‐ has played a central role in the fight against HIV since its beginning and is recognized as an essential element in an effective HIV/AIDS response.
Community involvement has many benefits: it ensures a much greater reach; and its contributions – in terms of money, material and manpower – can be mobilized to improve the lives of people both infected and affected by HIV. The community also has a right to be involved in decisions that affect their every‐day lives. 

The recognition for community involvement is reflected in the Myanmar National Strategic Plan (NSP) II for HIV and AIDS (2011‐2015) and its revised version 2011‐2016. The Plan has shown a considerable increase in the number of, and role of, groups providing services and information comprised of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA), men who have sex with men, female sex workers, people who use drugs, faith‐based groups, and the local community. It also acknowledges the need for intensive and long‐term support required for capacity building and development of organizational and governance structure of community‐based organizations (CBOs).

To support the implementation of the NSP II, UNAIDS Country Office (UCO) Myanmar has facilitated this Community System Strengthening (CSS) strategy development process. It is the result of joint efforts and a series of activities conducted in the beginning of 2015. It has been developed in close collaboration with 9 national community networks in Myanmar working in
the field of HIV and AIDS ‐ the Aye Myanmar Associations (AMA), the Myanmar Interfaith Network on AIDS (MINA), Myanmar Positive Group (MPG), the Myanmar Positive Women Network (MPWN), the Myanmar MSM Network (MMN), the Myanmar Youth Star (MYS), the National Drug User Network Myanmar (NDNM), the National NGO Network (HIV/AIDS) (3N), and the Sex Workers in Myanmar Network (SWiM) – and other local based organizations and NGOs.

The CSS strategy presents a roadmap for strengthening community systems in Myanmar, in specifically regarding the role of community networks in order to achieve the targets set forward in the NSP.

Purpose of Consultancy
The purpose of this individual contract is to strengthen UNAIDS efforts in implementing the CSS Strategy for scaling‐up HIV prevention AND TREATMENT programs.

Specific Objectives
a) The consultant is expected to support the Community Mobilization and
Networking Adviser in implementing the CSS strategy to strengthen advocacy,
organizational, and human capacity of the community networks in the HIV
response;
b) Reinforce and reignite the engagement and leadership of people living with HIV, women and key affected populations in the AIDS response;
c) Ensure HIV response has a powerful human face and is engine for community mobilization for prevention, treatment and HIV‐related social justice; 

Key Tasks and Deliverables 

Under the supervision of Community Mobilization and Networking Advisor the National Community System Strengthening Consultant will undertake the following activities:
 Provide assistance to organizing meetings in relation to Community System
Strengthening of the networks of Key Affected Populations: e.g. consultation meetings with stakeholders, coordination meetings between Self‐Helf Groups and local stakeholders;
 Provide assistance to organizing training workshops: e.g. general and advanced capacity building on human rights, gender and media, programme planning and management, legal literacy, advocacy, leadership and teambuilding;
 Support development and implementation of joint advocacy and media campaign by all community networks;
 Support in development of proper monitoring and reporting systems that support adequate and sufficient interaction between national and regional / local levels;
 Assist in ensuring adequate coordination and communication among community networks, UNAIDS Myanmar, NGOs and other concerned institutions, including training institutions ;
 Help providing technical support to civil society and communities in tracking and monitoring of resources;
 Perform other related duties as assigned. 

Required Qualifications
 University degree
 Experience in capacity development of civil society;
 A good understanding of context of HIV and AIDS in Myanmar;
 Experience in HIV advocacy and networking;
 Good interpersonal, presentation, facilitation, and communication skills;
 Able to use common software such as Microsoft word, excel, power point

People Living with HIV OR FROM KEY AFFECTED POPULATIONS are encouraged to apply.

Duration of the assignment
One year with possibility of extension depending on project resources

Duty Stations
Yangon

Interested candidates are requested to send their application to:
The Country Director, UNAIDS Myanmar, No. 137/1, Thanlwin Road, Kamayut Township, Yangon (Tel: +95 1 534498, 504832, 503816, 538087, 538938) or by email to htwey@unaids.org.

Your application should contain the following:
1. UN P11 (Personal History Form).
2. An updated curriculum vitae and recent passport photo.
3. Covering letter, which addresses each of the required qualifications above.
4. Proposed budget and consultancy fees for the assignment.

Applications will be reviewed as received; due to large volume of applicants only those seriously under consideration will be contacted. Please note that the deadline for application submission is the 25th September 2015.