Gender & HIV Consultant - FHI 360 (Apply by: 31 March 2014)

Date of Issue: 25 March 2014

Closing Date:31 march 2014

Vacancy Announcement No. : FHI 360/10/2014

Position Title: Gender and HIV Consultant for developing a Gender strategy and operational framework to work with Spouses of migrants under the TA to BSACS for the roll-out of the National Source Migration Strategy Project.
Organization: FHI 360 (trade name for Family Health International) 

Duration: 20 days (15 April-30 May 2014)
Location: Delhi (with travel to Bihar)

FHI 360 is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified and experienced candidates are encouraged to apply.

BACKGROUND: 

Emerging evidence from small scale research studies as well as HIV sentinel surveillance system, points to the increasing risk of HIV infection faced by spouses of male migrants particularly in high out-migration states of Uttar Pradesh (UP), Odisha and Bihar. A recent study in high outmigration states of UP, Odisha and Bihar found that women whose husbands’ had migrated were 1.5 to 8 times more likely to be HIV positive as compared to women whose husbands had never migrated (Saggurti et al., 2012). Another study conducted among spouses of male migrants in northern regions of Bihar found that wives of male migrants were more likely to report RTI/STI symptoms as compared to spouses of non-migrants (Roy and Nangia, 2005).

In addition, evidence from recent national HIV surveillance data shows emerging pockets of higher HIV prevalence among antenatal care (ANC) clinic attendees in certain districts of UP and Bihar where overall ANC HIV prevalence is low (Department of AIDS Control, 2012). These findings have raised concerns regarding the role of migration in the spread of HIV infection in these areas.

‘Technical Assistance to Bihar State AIDS Control Society (BSACS) on national source migrant’s strategy’ is a two-year support under the Centers for Disease Control, US-funded DAKSH project. The project aims to contribute to the PEPFAR gender element of ‘Improving gender equity in HIV/AIDS programs and services’. The project works with the returnee and potential migrants and spouses of migrants at source in 12 high out-migration districts of Bihar, providing technical assistance in rolling out the strategy at the state level with a special focus on two districts (Gopalganj and Darbhanga).

Bihar has a large network of women’s groups and women’s self-help groups run primarily under the Mahila Samakhya, Jeevika and Women’s Development Corporation programs. Frontline workers of the health department, Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) and Auxiliary Nurse and Midwife (ANM) and the Women and Child Development department, the Anganwadi Workers also work closely with women at the village level.

FHI 360 proposes to work with the spouses of migrants through the existing structures and platforms to reduce their vulnerabilities related to HIV and linking them with health, HIV and social protection services. A gender strategy and operational framework outlining the specific vulnerabilities related to HIV faced by spouses of migrants and strategies to address the vulnerabilities needs to be developed.

BRIEF SCOPE OF WORK:

FHI 360 wishes to engage a consultant with a background in gender and HIV to work closely with the Project Director and other project staff in undertaking the following tasks:

- Assess the gender vulnerabilities of spouses of male migrants with regard to HIV and develop a gender vulnerability framework
o Review of secondary literature including the National Source Migrant Strategy, HSS data and existing studies on migration and HIV
o Develop tools for data collection based on the Global Gender Frameworks/ tools
o Conduct meetings with women’s groups, SHGs, spouses of migrants and health and ICDS frontline workers to understand the vulnerabilities and possible areas of intervention with spouses of male migrants
o Conduct meetings with BSACS and existing programs such as Jeevika, Mahila Samakhya etc to understand the existing programs and the possible interventions with spouses of male migrants
o Develop a gender and HIV vulnerabilities matrix of the spouses of male migrants

- Design a gender based strategies and operational framework to work with spouses of male migrants and key stakeholders to address the gender vulnerabilities with regard to HIV

Educational Qualifications and Skills Set: 

- At least 10 years of relevant experience in the area of Gender and HIV and migration (preferable).
- Experience of having worked with global and national gender tools is essential
- Understanding of existing government programs and platforms for women, especially in Bihar is preferred
- Fluency in English and Hindi is essential

Compensation:
Compensation levels at FHI 360 are equivalent to market rates within the development sector. However, offers shall be based on salary history, relevant experience and qualifications.

Please send your resumes to hrindia@fhi360.org. It is necessary to mention the post title in subject line while applying. Selected candidates will be required to join within one month of selection. Only short listed candidates will be notified.