LEAP Program Description

Global Solutions Ventures (GSV) – a joint-venture partnership between ZemiTek, LLC and Dexis Consulting Group – is implementing the Long-term Exceptional Technical Assistance Project (LEAP Global), a mechanism originally used by USAID to battle against infectious diseases such as malaria, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, neglected tropical diseases, and pandemic influenza. As of July 1, 2025, LEAP Global transitioned to the U.S. Department of State (DOS). This initiative aims to address the complex human resource challenges faced by national infectious disease programs in the USA-supported countries.

The intervention of this project is to hire and embed technical expert advisors and subject matter experts within government entities. By directly embedding the technical expertise within the national programs, LEAP provides long-term, sustainable lifesaving support to empower host governments to lead and manage key aspects of their infectious disease portfolios and improve coordination between the U.S. Government and the host country.

About the Position

The Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (GDRC) and the U.S. Government (USG) are expected to implement a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for 2026–2030 aimed at strengthening country ownership, sustainability, and health systems integration within the national HIV response.

The implementation of the HIV transmission elimination program, as well as care and support interventions for people living with HIV (PLHIV), at-risk populations, and affected individuals, is carried out through health facilities and community-based organizations under the coordination of the National HIV/AIDS Control Program (PNLS) and the National Multisectoral HIV/AIDS Program (PNMLS). The strategic directions of this program are primarily defined by the Ministry of Public Health, Hygiene and Social Welfare. However, the majority of funding for essential commodities is provided through resources from the Global Fund and PEPFAR. In order to strengthen the geographical coverage of HIV services, the Government has adopted a policy aimed at integrating these services, including the program for the elimination of vertical transmission of HIV, into primary health care and maternal and child health services. This initiative is being progressively implemented across health facilities. The integration of HIV services into core health system interventions constitutes part of the HIV/AIDS Response Sustainability Roadmap, under the coordination of the PNMLS under High-Level Result (HLR) 4: Optimal coverage of HIV response services is achieved by 2030 and sustained thereafter

As the HIV program transitions toward greater government leadership and long-term sustainability, there is a need for technical assistance to support the integration of HIV services into broader health systems and primary healthcare platforms, while maintaining gains in epidemic control and quality of care.

The Advisor will provide strategic, technical, and coordination support to facilitate integration of HIV services across national and provincial systems, aligned with national health priorities and the MOU framework to support in carrying out life-saving humanitarian assistance (LHA) service delivery in full alignment with the new Presidential Executive Order (EO) directives. 

The purpose of this role is to support the design, operationalization, monitoring, and institutionalization of integrated HIV service delivery models within the DRC health system under the USG–GDRC MOU 2026–2030. The Advisor will help ensure that HIV services are increasingly embedded within:

• Primary healthcare services
• Maternal, newborn, and child health services
• Tuberculosis services
• Community health systems
• Laboratory and supply chain systems
• Health financing and governance mechanisms

3. Objectives

The Advisor will support the following objectives:

1. Develop a strategic framework for HIV integration aligned with national policies and the MOU.
2. Strengthen coordination between USG agencies, GDRC institutions — including the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Finance, PNLS, PNMLS, and provincial health divisions — implementing partners, civil society organizations, the Global Fund, Gavi, and other multilateral health initiatives, in alignment with the TMU coordination structure established under the MOUIP.
3. Support transition planning toward increased government ownership and sustainability in line with specific transition commitments.
4. Improve integrated service delivery models at facility and community levels.
5. Strengthen monitoring systems to measure integration outcomes and service quality.
6. Support policy reforms and operational guidance related to integration.

Responsibilities

Strategic and Policy Support

• Review existing national HIV, health systems, and primary healthcare policies relevant to service integration.
• Support development of a national HIV integration roadmap under the MOU framework.
• Advise on policy harmonization between vertical HIV programs and integrated health service delivery approaches.
• Identify opportunities for phased transition of selected HIV program functions to GDRC leadership.
• Support alignment of HIV integration activities with the MOUIP's priority strategies and the Steering Committee's gap prioritization criteria.
• Advise on the transition of disease-focused training approaches to patient-centered, integrated training models for primary care providers across vertical programs, in line with the MOUIP target and timelines.

Program Design and Implementation Support

• Assess current models of HIV service delivery and identify integration opportunities.
• Develop operational models for integrated HIV services at facility and community levels.
• Support integration of HIV services into:
• Antenatal care and PMTCT
• TB services
• Community health worker platforms
• Non communicable disease screening and care
• Epidemic surveillance and outbreak response systems, consistent with MOUIP Section 2.1.
• Facilitate pilot implementation and scale-up strategies.

Health Systems Strengthening

• Support integration of HIV commodities into national supply chain systems, consistent with MOUIP supply chain standards and insurance requirements.
• Strengthen integrated laboratory systems and referral networks.
• Advise on integrated human resources planning and task shifting approaches, in line with the MOUIP HR transition plan and timelines.
• Support integration of HIV indicators into national HMIS/DHIS2 platforms, in line with the MOUIP commitments and timelines.

Coordination and Stakeholder Engagement

• Facilitate coordination among:
• Ministry of Health directorates
• Provincial health divisions
• USG agencies
• Implementing partners
• Civil society organizations
• Community networks
• The Global Fund, Gavi, and other multilateral health initiatives, ensuring complementarity and avoiding duplication across financing streams
• Organize technical working groups and stakeholder consultations.
• Support alignment between donor-supported initiatives and national priorities.

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning

• Align monitoring frameworks with MOUIP performance assessment cycles, ensuring HIV integration indicators are incorporated into these processes
• Develop indicators and monitoring frameworks for measuring service integration.
• Support data analysis and use for adaptive management.
• Document best practices, lessons learned, and implementation challenges.
• Produce periodic progress reports and strategic recommendations.

Sustainability and Transition Planning

• Support development of sustainability benchmarks under the MOU.
• Identify financing gaps and opportunities for domestic resource mobilization.
• Advise on institutional capacity strengthening for national and provincial authorities.
• Support development of transition milestones and accountability mechanisms.
• Support the GDRC in developing and operationalizing co-financing commitments for HIV services.

Expected Deliverables

The consultant will produce the following deliverables:

1. Inception report with workplan and methodology
2. Stakeholder and financing mapping report, consistent with MOUIP tracking requirements
3. Situational analysis of HIV integration opportunities and gaps
4. National HIV integration strategy/roadmap (2026–2030), explicitly cross-referenced to MOUIP workstreams, TMU coordination structures, and Steering Committee reporting requirements
5. Operational guidance/tools for integrated service delivery
6. Monitoring and evaluation framework for integration
7. Monthly progress reports
8. Stakeholder engagement and workshop reports
9. Sustainability and transition assessment reports
10. Final consultancy report with recommendations for scale-up and sustainability

Expected Results

The Advisor is expected to contribute to:

• Increased integration of HIV services into routine health systems
• Improved continuity and quality of HIV care
• Reduced fragmentation of donor-supported services
• Strengthened government ownership of HIV programming
• Improved efficiency and sustainability of HIV investments
• Better coordination across health sectors and partners

REPORTING:

The Advisor will provide a detailed monthly report to the U.S. Department of State submitted by the 5th day of the following month. Additionally, the Advisor will submit a weekly progress report to U.S. Embassy/Department of State (and participate in weekly calls) to include a short paragraph about main successes for that week.

The Advisor will sit at the Ministry of Health HIV/AIDS National Program (PNLS). The Advisor will report to the Department of State PEPFAR Coordinator and work closely with:

• The Ministry of Health HIV/AIDS national Program (PNLS)
• The National HIV/AIDS Multisectoral Program (PNMLS)
• The Ministry of Health systems directorates
• USG agencies
• Implementing partners
• Provincial health authorities
• TMU coordinators

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in public health, health systems, medicine, epidemiology, or related field
• At least 7 years of experience in HIV/AIDS programming and health systems strengthening
• Demonstrated experience with PEPFAR or donor-funded programs
• Experience supporting service integration and transition/sustainability initiatives
• Strong understanding of the health system in Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Experience working with ministries of health and international stakeholders
• Strong facilitation, analytical, and report-writing skills
• Fluency in French required; English preferred