Abt Associates - The International Development Division focuses on improving the lives and economic well-being of people in lower and middle-income countries. We command technical expertise in health, agriculture, climate change, food security and governance - as well as in international evaluation. Our multi-layered health portfolio includes policy, health promotion and disease prevention, health finance, and health systems management. In partnership with government clients and local experts, our high-quality programs in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East are known for impact and innovation.
The project seeks to harness the full potential of the private sector and catalyze public-private engagement to improve health outcomes in TB, family planning, HIV/AIDS, maternal and child health, and other health areas.
In Nigeria, SHOPS Plus will increase the availability of and access to TB services in the private sector by establishing a network of private providers from different cadres (clinicians, PPMVs, community pharmacists (CPs) and labs) to detect, diagnose, and successfully follow up and/or treat TB. SHOPS Plus will work in the states of Lagos and Kano.
These two large states have high TB burdens as well as a high level of private sector activity.
Key Roles and Responsibilities
SHOPS Plus seeks to facilitate the availability of government supplied drugs and laboratory reagents in the private sector by providing technical support to the State TBL Control Program and private clinical facilities for the logistics management of anti-TB commodities (drugs and reagents) at the assigned state central medical stores and health facilities.
The objectives of the Logistic Management Support are to:
Build the capacity of Intermediary Organization (IO) network officers on Logistics Management Information System (LMIS): the logistics consultant will build the capacity of the Intermediary Organization to ensure adequate mentoring of the private facilities. The IO Network Officers will in turn build the capacity of private facilities on logistics management of anti-TB drugs and reagents on a continuous basis
Provide on-the-job mentoring to private facilities: In addition to continuous capacity building of private providers by the IO, the logistics consultant will carry out periodic supportive supervisory visits to private facilities to carry out on-the-job mentoring on timely and accurate generation, collation and submission of logistics reports to ensure uninterrupted supply of drugs and commodities
Conduct data quality assurance for LMIS: Conduct routine monitoring visits to private DOTs facilities and stand-alone laboratories for data verification, validation and logistics data quality assessments (DQAs) using standard checklists
Ensure minimum stock levels in private health facilities: build capacity of private providers on adequate quantification and forecasting in line with National TB Program (NTP) guidelines to prevent stock-out of TB commodities in clinical facilities and labs
Provide technical support to state TB logistics system: Support State TB Logistics Officer to remove organizational bottlenecks in third-party logistics for supply of anti-TB medicines and reagents to health facilities by facilitating documentation, quantification, distribution and other logistics processes
Generate project logistics reports and tracking of project M&E indicators: provide periodic reports on stock status, commodities storage condition, logistics activities and warehousing maintenance and other month/bi-monthly/quarterly and supportive supervision reports
Enhance collaboration between public and private TB Stakeholders: coordinate the TB state stakeholders in logistics mentoring and supportive supervision to the supported facilities
The pharmacy/ logistics consultant is expected to perform, but is not limited to the following tasks:
Develop and maintain a logistics information database for all engaged facilities. The database will be updated periodically as more facilities are actiavted for TB services with SHOPS Plus support
Build the capacity of the Intermediary Organization during formal training of IO personnel and during mentoring and supervisory visits
Carry out site visits to private providers and laboratories for mentoring and supportive supervision on LMIS
Carry out quarterly data quality assurance
Attend program review meetings for giving and receiving feedback during network meetings on a monthly basis
Prepare monthly logistics reports and tracking of logistics indicators
Support private providers on logistics processes including quantification and forecastiing in line with NTP guidelines to prevent stock out of TB commodities and reagents
Attend state logistics planning and technical working group meetings to ensure effective collaboration between public and private TB stakeholders
Periodic logistics reports
Minimum Qualifications
(8+) years of experience and a Master Degree or the equivalent combination of education and experience.