Job Vacancies at Panagora Group

Position Summary

• Panagora seeks a Program Support Advisor to support USAID/South Africa (Care & Treatment) who will be responsible for leading, advising and supporting quality improvement across the program. This will be achieved through programmatic data synthesis, identifying programmatic strengths and weaknesses and facilitating performance improvement through clear and achievable direction to partners. This will include supporting monitoring and evaluation processes, guiding teams with clear advice on setting up programmatic processes in line with USAID policies and procedures.  The role will provide procurement direction, utilizing prior knowledge of USAID processes and requirements in program design and procedures.  The role will maintain and strengthen partner and stakeholder relationships, coordinating key meetings, progress reports, ongoing monitoring and evaluation.

Primary Responsibilities

Data Review and Data Use:

• Synthesize qualitative and quantitative data to elucidate operational issues and key themes across partners and geographies and disseminate findings to appropriate stakeholders to drive programmatic improvement (including findings from Data Quality Assessments (DQAs)).
• Facilitate the review and identification of performance indicators and targets for Care and Treatment programming (in collaboration with the Strategic Information Lead).
• Interpret and incorporate program monitoring and evaluation findings into on-going program implementation.

Program Design and Procurement Support:

• Serve as resident expert on USAID processes and requirements for program design and advise on the full range of program design principles and procedures, ensuring adherence to the USAID Program Cycle and relevant Mission Orders, supporting Care and Treatment Planners as needed.

Guide and lead technical teams in the preparation of program design and development tasks including: 

• development and refinement of logical frameworks
• drafting concept notes and program descriptions
• conducting market research
• creating performance management plans, including the identification of project milestones, targets and performance indicators
• ensuring program design and development products adhere to USG and USAID legal, policy, and regulatory requirements
• Identify and compile data or analyses needed for program design efforts.
• Draft, review and provide technical contributions to design and procurement documents for up to four new programs.
• Provide logistics and technical support for design processes, such as stakeholder meetings and design workshops.

Program Support, Coordination and Knowledge Management: 

• Conceptualize, coordinate, facilitate, and contribute to Care and Treatment partner meetings, quarterly performance reviews and other program monitoring activities.
• Coordinate and draft program (work plan) guidance and disseminate strategic information, latest research and other knowledge products to partners for improved program implementation.
• Identify, draft and disseminate best practices and other program documentation. 
• Draft, edit and/or finalize high quality, routine products for Agency processes such as budgets, memos, and programmatic briefs/updates.
• Provide guidance and monitoring for site visit tracking, reporting and analysis for both cooperative agreement management compliance and programmatic improvements.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in a medical, public health or relevant discipline.  
• 8-12 years of experience in international, public health programming, and experience working in technical oversight, design, and implementation of HIV and AIDS and/or other health programs in developing countries.  
• Specialized knowledge in the demography and epidemiology of HIV and AIDS and other health areas. 
• Specialized knowledge and demonstrated expertise in understanding the current evidence base as it applies to HIV and AIDS and other health areas program design, management, and evaluation.  
• Relevant work experience for this position includes previous work as a technical advisor for the South African Government, other donors, civil society, community health services, or international donors.
• Skilled at strategizing, developing and implementing effective USAID-supported HIV and AIDS and other health area programs, including financial management and administrative skills to oversee the performance of implementing partners, technical advisors and development partners.  
• Strong quantitative, analytical and reasoning skills, verbal skills and ability to communicate technical information clearly and effectively to both technical and non-technical colleagues.  
• Familiarity with HIV and AIDS and other health area modeling of incidence and prevalence and ability to interpret results for programmatic decision making/prioritization.  
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work with individuals from diverse professional backgrounds. 
• Analytical thinking and attention to detail.  
• USAID procurement experience preferred.
• Strong report writing and presentation skills in English. 
• Strong work ethic and the ability to work well independently and as part of a team. 

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Position Summary

• The Technical Support Services (TSS) Activity helps USAID/Southern Africa and Regional Health Office (RHO) to address technical priorities and develop creative, innovative solutions to strategically allocate resources, strengthen connections with partners, and replicate best practices and effective program models. Through the TSS contract, Panagora Group augments capacity by providing technical, operational, and administrative support to USAID’s largest health portfolio. TSS deploys advisors in response to USAID requests for priority work with government stakeholders, implementing partners, and/or other entities. TSS supports Health Office staff and teams to integrate creative solutions into routine work. TSS also provides international and local expertise for surge support, as needed, for USAID Program Cycle requirements, planning, development, outreach, communications, and Health Office human resource functions. 
• The assignment will focus primarily on time-bound tasks related to the close out of 25 plus implementing mechanisms, supporting the start-up of 15 new implementing mechanisms, transition of grants to contracts, and completing the new five-year initial environment examination (IEE). 
• As part of USAID/Forward, USAID has undergone a series of reforms intended to improve the quality and effectiveness of USAID projects through improved planning and procurement processes. 
• During the past year, USAID/SA Health Office has undergone a major transition to reduce management units and put in place more streamlined and targeted activities to support the Government of South Africa (GoSA) efforts to control the HIV epidemic. In November 2018, approximately 25 implementing mechanisms initiated close out processes while simultaneously over 15 new mechanisms started up. An additional six mechanisms are being transitioned from grants to contracts. The Technical Expert will assist the HO in advancing key procurement-related actions in both administrative and technical elements. 

Primary Responsibilities

The Procurement Support: Technical Expert will support one or more of the following tasks, core activities, and deliverables as listed below and as assigned by their POC based on TSS quarterly workplans with USAID: 

• Provide operational support to HO staff to ensure quality and timeliness of HO procurement-related actions. 
• Liaise with Regional Office of Acquisitions and Assistance (ROAA) staff to maximize efficiencies and timeliness of procurement-related actions. 
• Support AORs in the completion of required close out processes for awards ending, ensure timeliness of all close out processes and procedures, and triage issues that arise during the close out process. 
• Identify areas to be improved of current AOR management of new mechanisms and develop quality control mechanisms and user-friendly systems to support AORs in their management and oversight of the new mechanisms. 
• Provide assistance with ongoing HO technical and administrative priorities, including but not limited to the completion of a new five-year initial environment examination, supporting the fiscal management of COP18 funding, and supporting procurement related tasks in support of the PEPFAR Treatment “Surge” for COP18. 

Deliverables include, but are not limited to, the following: 

• Draft documents for procurement actions, to be reviewed/finalized/approved by HO staff. 
• Draft IEEs for four technical work streams. 

Requirements

• Master’s Degree in public health, health policy, behavioral, social science, or a related field is required 
• A minimum of three to five years of experience working in PEPFAR programs, and/or managing international development programs. 
• Significant knowledge of USAID procurement processes 
• Excellent verbal and written English language skills. 
• Proven capacity to take initiative and willingness to learn new skills as needed.  
• Strong work ethic and the ability to work well independently and as part of a team. 

go to method of application »

Position Summary

• The Technical Support Services (TSS) Activity helps USAID/Southern Africa and Regional Health Office (RHO) to address technical priorities and develop creative, innovative solutions to strategically allocate resources, strengthen connections with partners, and replicate best practices and effective program models. Through the TSS contract, Panagora Group augments capacity by providing technical, operational, and administrative support to USAID’s largest health portfolio. TSS deploys advisors in response to USAID requests for priority work with government stakeholders, implementing partners, and/or other entities. TSS supports Health Office staff and teams to integrate creative solutions into routine work. TSS also provides international and local expertise for surge support, as needed, for USAID Program Cycle requirements, planning, development, outreach, communications, and Health Office human resource functions.  
• Panagora Group requires a Senior Government-to-Government (G2G) Award Specialist to support the National Treasury International Development Cooperation (IDC) Chief Directorate in ensuring the smooth administration of G2G awards in South Africa. While focused on filling immediate capacity needs for the National Treasury IDC Chief Directorate, this consultant would also be responsible for helping to build the capacity of the staff eventually hired by IDC to sustainably fill these functions in the long-term. 

In line with the Biden Administration’s priorities around localization and transformative partnerships, the USAID/Southern Africa (SA) Bilateral Health Office has prioritized the development of awards that directly fund South African Government (SAG) entities to address shared priorities. To date, USAID/SA has active awards with the following implementing government entities via the Government-to-Government (G2G) modality: 

• The Department of Basic Education 
• The Department of Social Development 
• The Western Cape Provincial Department of Health 

More subnational units are in the planning and risk assessment stages and will require greater engagement with the National Treasury to ensure compliance and alignment with local policies and processes for donor relations of this nature. 

Each award is designed with a fixed-fee payment structure paid based on the achievement of costed milestones agreed upon by USAID, the implementing government entity, and the South Africa National Treasury, through the IDC Chief Directorate. Milestones are defined across a range of programmatic issues such as services rendered for caring for children living with HIV, number of students reached with comprehensive sexuality education, and innovative programs established to reach clients with HIV and TB services.  

While technical priorities are negotiated between USAID and the implementing government entity, the National Treasury’s IDC Chief Directorate is responsible for officially approving financial agreements with USAID, validating that milestones completed by the implementing government entity are in line with financial agreements of the G2G, and that each implementing government entity meets the South African requirements for accepting and utilizing donor funds.  

Primary Responsibilities

In direct support to the Chief Director for International Development Cooperation, Senior Government-to-Government Award Specialist will be responsible for supporting the National Treasury IDC to: 

• Serve as a point of contact for implementing government entities (i.e., Departments and subnational units) on matters related to business case approvals and other financial management procedures as required by National Treasury. 
• Supporting the appropriate involvement of the National Treasury in the design, review, and eventual approval of new G2G awards. This includes maintaining communication channels to keep stakeholders sensitized of risk assessment procedures, scope design, and other policy procedures relevant to the National Treasury. 
• Ensure the alignment and compliance of G2G award milestones to National Treasury standards and policies. This includes coordinating across points of contact within USAID, the implementing government entities, and the National Treasury to ensure the efficient negotiation and development of milestones that address the shared priorities of the SAG and USG.  
• Develop, agree, and institutionalize standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the review of milestones and deliverables as agreed upon in the G2G awards. This should also include developing standard templates that the Chief Director may use for milestone approvals. This includes supporting the National Treasury IDC with training of new staff and establishment of these SOPs as required.  
• Establishing and maintaining knowledge management and archival systems required by the National Treasury to appropriately record the implementation of G2Gs. 

The consultant may be required to fulfill other duties as required by the IDC CD of National Treasury in addition to ensuring the proper administration of G2G awards with USAID. 

Requirements

• Master’s degree in finance, economics, international development or related field. 
• At least 3 years of experience supporting the South African National Treasury or similar government entity in the establishment and management of G2G awards with the United States Government.  
• A track record of at least 3 years working collaboratively with the South African National Treasury IDC and USAID in a fast-paced and highly regulated environment. 
• Expertise on financial management procedures and policies for G2G engagements from the perspective of the South African Ministry of Finance Government.  
• Excellent verbal and written English language skills. 
• Proven capacity to take initiative and willingness to learn new skills as needed.  
• Strong work ethic and the ability to work well independently and as part of a team.