Job Description:

OBJECTIVE:

To assess the extent to which and how TB stigma acts as a barrier to both accessing and providing services, and to support the development of recommendations to address TB stigma so that quality TB services are available, accessible and acceptable to all, with special considerations given to the needs of key, vulnerable and underserved populations.

ASSESSMENT AREA:

The TB Stigma Assessment (informed by the desk review) will be done at the national and subnational level or targeting certain TB key populations.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES:

• To understand the level and dimensions of perceived self-stigma, and stigma directly experienced and observed by people diagnosed with TB.
• To understand how and the extent to which perceived self-stigma manifests among people diagnosed with TB.
• To understand the settings and stages of care in which TB stigma is being experienced and observed by people diagnosed with TB.
• To understand the level and dimensions of secondary TB stigma, stigma directly experienced, and stigma observed by family members / primary carers of people diagnosed with TB.
• To understand how and the extent to which secondary stigma manifests among family members / primary carers of people diagnosed with TB.
• To understand the settings and stages of care in which secondary TB stigma is being experienced and observed by family /primary carers of people diagnosed with TB.
• To understand the level of perceived TB stigma against people diagnosed with TB in communities and stigma observed by the community.
• To understand how and the extent to which stigma against people diagnosed with TB takes place in communities.
• To understand the settings and stages of care in which TB stigma against people diagnosed with TB is being observed by community members.
• To understand the level and dimensions of perceived TB stigma against people diagnosed with TB in health care settingsand stigma against health care workers.
• To understand how and the extent to which perceived stigma against people diagnosed with TB manifests in health care facilities.
• To understand the settings in which TB stigma is experienced by TB health care workers.
• To understand the settings in which TB stigma against health care workers is observed by other TB health care workers.
• To support the development of recommendations to address TB stigma in order to reduce peoples’ vulnerability to TB infection, increase peoples’ access to TB services and improve treatment outcomes.

KEY RESPONSIBILITES:

• Conduct the stigma desk review that will inform the development of the TB Stigma Assessment Protocol.
• Map all the stigma stakeholders who should engage in the process.
• Develop draft 1 of the TB Stigma Assessment Protocol.
• Draft the agenda for the Core Group meeting.
• Co-facilitate the Core Group meeting.
• Develop draft 2 of the TB Stigma Assessment Protocol based on feedback from the Core Group.
• Present draft 2 at the multi-stakeholder orientation meeting.
• Develop draft 3 of the TB Stigma Assessment Protocol based on feedback from the orientation meeting.
• Develop Terms of Reference for the TB Stigma research assistants/data collectors.
• Develop training materials for the TB Stigma research assistants/data collectors.
• Train the TB Stigma research assistants/data collectors.
• Oversee the data collection process.
• Facilitate a focus group discussion (FGD) to score the extent to which any existing laws/policies, the enforcement of those laws/policies and the corresponding media coverage could harm or protect people with or who have had TB.
• Draft policy recommendations based on the FGD.
• Draft report (draft 1) with preliminary findings and recommendations for the Core Group to review.
• Incorporate Core Group inputs to produce draft 2 of the report.
• Share draft 2 of the report with the NTP for review.
• Incorporate NTP inputs to produce draft 3 of the report.
• To conduct inception meeting and follow up meetings.
• Work with the costing consultant to develop the first draft of the TB Stigma Action Plan.
• Facilitate discussions on the Action Plan at the multi-stakeholder meeting.
• Incorporate feedback from the multi-stakeholder meeting to produce draft 2 of the TB Stigma Action Plan.
• Share draft 2 of the TB Stigma Action Plan with the Core Group.
• Incorporate feedback from the Core Group to produce draft 3 of the TB Stigma Action Plan.
• Share draft 3 of the TB Stigma Action Plan with the Ministry of Health.
• Incorporate Ministry of Health feedback and finalize the TB Stigma Action Plan.

REQUIREMENTS AND COMPETENCIES:

• Minimum 10 years of experience.
• Advanced university degree in social science and/or policy research disciplines.
• Demonstrated expertise in stigma measurement methodologies, as well as their implementation, analysis and publication will be preferred.
• A qualitative and quantitative researcher with experience in statistical sampling and analysis.
• Demonstrated in-depth knowledge of TB and TB programmatic responses.
• Demonstrated experience of stigma in the context of TB.
• Familiarity with the country’s ethics review process and the documentation needed.
• Demonstrated experience in analysis and report writing, as well as policy advocacy.
• Strong analytical skills.
• Ability to research, analyse and present complex information.
• Excellent planning and facilitation skills.

*Hiring on rolling basis