HIV Competence Capacity Development Specialist

Working alongside Malawi Interfaith AIDS Association (MIAA)
Based in Lilongwe, Malawi
Two-year placement (with the possibility of renewal)

The HIV Competence Capacity Development Specialist will work alongside the Malawi Interfaith AIDS Association (MIAA) and its membership facilitating the process of developing the technical HIV competence of staff and religious leaders. This placement is part of a project on promoting Effective HIV Responses through Improved HIV and AIDS Advocacy and Management Capacity Development with Malawi Civil Society, which includes two other partners and two other Progressio development workers. The project aims to contribute to HIV prevention, mitigating its impact, especially amongst women and girls, through the greater and positive involvement of women, men, girls and boys themselves, and religious and community leaders in dealing with stigma, denial, discrimination, inaction and mis-action, and also through advocacy for policy change and effective HIV and AIDS programming.

S/he will also support the staff of the Society for Women and AIDS in Malawi (SWAM) and of the Malawi Network of Religious Leaders living with or personally affected by HIV (MANERELA+), through building institutional capacity to mobilise resources, plan, implement, coordinate, and monitor and evaluate HIV and AIDS programmes effectively.

You should have a Master’s Degree in Social Sciences, Development Studies, Public Health, or other related fields.

A minimum of five years’ experience in gender-sensitive and transformative HIV and AIDS programming including planning, implementation, and establishing participatory monitoring and evaluation systems; a minimum of three years’ experience of developing and implementing organisational strategic plans and project proposals to respond to HIV and in the organisational development of NGOs and/or community based organisations; proven experience in facilitating networking and collaboration amongst organisations, and of working in a multi-cultural setting, with people of different educational, cultural, socio-political and faith backgrounds is essential.

You should also have an understanding of participatory capacity building techniques and methods, and the ability to transfer skills and knowledge through formal or informal training and skill-sharing; analytical skills in policy analysis, including the ability to communicate complex (and potentially sensitive) ideas through briefings and presentations for diverse audiences; an in-depth knowledge of governance issues, especially from a rights-based approach; leadership and interpersonal skills, including the ability to communicate and work with a wide range of stakeholders in a participatory, respectful, and consultative manner, and enhance effective work relationships; maturity and sound political judgement; good problem solving skills, an openness to learning and a drive for innovation and excellence; project management, self-organising and prioritising skills to meet competing deadlines; an ability to adapt skills and knowledge to the local context and work with existing resources in a resource poor environment; skills in engaging with potential national, regional and international donors and mobilising resources, and an empathy with and readiness to work with people living with or affected by HIV.