Mission and objectives

Serving Communities and Countries to End Inequalities and AIDS, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS leads the global effort to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. By placing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to reduction of inequalities at the heart of our work, UNIDS leads the global response to AIDS by: (i) maximizing equitable and equal access to HIV services, (ii) breaking down barriers to achieving HIV outcomes, and (iii) integrating efficient HIV responses into wider health and protection systems. UNAIDS is committed to creating an equal, safe and empowering workplace culture where all people in all their diversity thrive. The Regional Support Team for Eastern and Southern Africa (RST ESA) provides leadership and coordinates support for an expanded UN system response to ending the AIDS epidemic at regional and country level. It steers, promotes, and supports regional and national partners and the UN system towards ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. Using an equity and equality lens as part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the RST ESA promotes effective use of strategic information of the epidemic trends and the status of its response and provides technical leadership on people centered HIV prevention and response in the region focused on key populations and locations most at risk.

Context

UNAIDS, in collaboration with International Treatment Preparedness Coalition (ITPC) Global, will engage African civil society and community networks partners to establish and implement activities of the African-led Civil Society Global Health Policy Consultative Group (ACG). The programme will support the creation of a body that consolidates expertise, works synergistically with existing groups and coalitions, and create forums for dialogue, advocacy and action at community, country, and regional level. The intention is that this forum will explicitly work on health advocacy, systems, responses, and policies through its form (leadership structure, membership, constituencies), content (health equity across disease areas and populations, with attention to structural determinants of health), and process (transparent, inclusive, responsive to community priorities and accountable to them).

Task Description

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the Senior Regional Adviser, Equality and Rights for All or his designated mandated representative(s), the UN Volunteer will work within the Equality and Rights for All Practice Area to: • Provide technical support to ITPC to implement the project; • Manage and monitor the implementation of the Civil Society Global Health Policy Consultative Group (ACG); • Support development of civil society advocacy strategies, including key publications; • Liaise with UNAIDS country offices and other country partners to facilitate engagement of civil society; • Ensure programmatic monitoring and financial oversight of the resources provided to ITPC through regular communication with the ITPC programme and finance teams, as well as independent reviews and assessments; • Guide ITPC in executing the final project audit based on the agreed schedule, template, targets, deliverables, and/or indicators; • Convene and facilitate meetings, gatherings, consultations, regional and pan-African dialogues through Regional Offices and UNAIDS Country Offices; • Support the mapping exercise and roadmap development and creating a mechanism to integrate civil society-relevant data across health areas and climate; • Analyse and present community data into advocacy messages; • Draft reports to donor that demonstrates civil society advocacy impact. As an active UNAIDS team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly and high-quality support rendered to UNAIDS and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including: • Develop a detailed workplan outlining timelines for the implementation of the Civil Society Global Health Policy Consultative Group (ACG); • Development and dissemination of key publications and advocacy strategies that articulate the priorities and positions of civil society in global health policy; • Regular reports summarizing engagements with partners, highlighting civil society contributions and feedback; • Comprehensive monitoring reports assessing programmatic progress and financial oversight, including recommendations for resource optimization; • A structured audit report based on the agreed schedule, detailing compliance with targets, deliverables, and indicators; • Documentation of meetings, gatherings, and consultations, including participant feedback and action items for follow-up; • A completed mapping exercise report and a strategic roadmap for integrating civil society relevant data across health areas and climate initiatives; • A series of advocacy messages derived from community data analysis, tailored for different stakeholders and contexts; • Detailed reports for donors that illustrate the impact of civil society advocacy efforts, with case studies and metrics demonstrating outcomes; • A series of capacity-building workshops for civil society organizations, enhancing their skills in advocacy, data utilization, and strategic engagement.

Competencies and values

Professionalism; Integrity, Teamwork and respect for diversity; Commitment to continuous learning; Planning and organizing; Communication; Flexibility; Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement.

Living conditions and remarks

The World Bank classifies South Africa as an upper-middle-income economy, one of only eight such countries in Africa. Yet the country is currently ranked just 109th out of 191 countries on the United Nations Human Development Index (HDI). South Africa is a developing country. It is diverse in all possible aspects, from language to religion, owing to the many, many ethnicities unified in this nation. In South Africa, you can find some of the most “Westernized”, wealthy, and progressive facets of the African continent, but also some of its most dire problems. The Economy of South Africa is the third largest in Africa and the most industrialized, technologically advanced, and diversified economy in Africa overall. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy of South Africa South Africa remains a dual economy with one of the highest and most persistent inequality rates in the world, with a consumption expenditure Gini coefficient of 0.67 in 2018. High inequality is perpetuated by a legacy of exclusion and the nature of economic growth, which is not pro-poor and does not generate sufficient jobs. The South African economy was already in a weak position when it entered the pandemic after a decade of low growth, expanding only by an average 1% percent between 2012 and 2021, leading to a contraction of income per capita of 5.6% during this period. Longstanding structural constraints, such as electricity shortages, continue to be binding. South Africa experiences regular power outages known as “loadshedding.” According to the United Nations Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) Travel Advisory: for South Africa, the security situation in South Africa demands constant vigilance. Health hazards are HIV – throughout the country; and malaria – mainly in Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and Kwazulu-Natal provinces. UN Volunteers receives the below entitlements: • A Monthly Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA): $2442.60 per month; • A once off entry lumpsum of $4000 at the start of the assignment; • Medical insurance; Life cover, and annual leave; • Access to all learning platforms; • A once off exit lumpsum at the end of the assignment.

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements