General Statement of Purpose of the Contract

USAID supports the Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) with high-impact, evidence-based health sector interventions to support HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment; malaria prevention and treatment; tuberculosis (TB) control and treatment; reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health care; nutrition; and water, sanitation, and hygiene.

Operating in a challenging yet dynamic environment, and working in close coordination with the State Department (DOS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of Defense (DOD), U.S. Peace Corps, and the Zambian Government (GRZ), USAID/Zambia has one of the largest U.S. Government development programs in Africa. USAID/Zambia’s overall budget is approximately $360 million and is implemented through four technical teams, including the Health, Education, Economic Development, and Democracy and Governance offices, with the assistance of four support offices. The Mission has over 100 staff, including U.S. direct hires, personal service contractors (PSCs), locally employed staff (LES), and third country nationals (TCN). USAID/Zambia hosts several high-profile Presidential initiatives and programs, including the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEFPAR), the President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI), the Global Hunger and Food Security Initiative known as Feed the Future, the Mandela Washington Fellows Program, the Global Climate Change Initiative, Power Africa, and Trade Africa. Zambia’s development agenda and rapidly changing environment require the most advanced management, programming and diplomatic skills. 

USAID’s Health Office is the largest technical office at the U.S. Mission/Zambia, with an annual budget of approximately $275 million. The PEFPAR program is the 7th largest in Africa with a USAID budget of $175 million, while the PMI budget stands at $25 million and other health areas totaling $75 million. The office is comprised of 48 staff and manages a multifaceted program addressing maternal and child health, reproductive health/family planning, infectious diseases (HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria), health systems strengthening and human resources issues. The office is divided into seven technical Divisions (sub-teams) each supervised by a Division Chief, including HIV and TB; Malaria: Health Systems Strengthening; Monitoring and Evaluation; Family Health; Social Protection; and Decentralized (regional) Offices. 

USAID/Zambia’s Health Office aims to save and enhance lives by improving the health of Zambians and reducing the incidence and impact of HIV/AIDS and other illnesses, with a particular focus on women and children.  Health Office staff partner directly with Zambian Ministry of Health (MOH) personnel to improve the quality of healthcare services and support healthy behavior change to lessen disease burden.  Three approaches guide the overall health program, including: (1): Strengthening Health Systems and Accountability; (2): Improving Health Service Delivery; and (3): Improving Community Health Practices.

The Health Office collaborates closely with other allied Zambian Ministries, the National HIV/TB/STI Council, and cooperating partners (donors) in support of Zambia’s ambitious goals of reducing the prevalence of TB and malaria to levels where the two morbidities cease to be public health concerns, ending preventable maternal, neonatal, and childhood deaths, and achieving an AIDS-free era by 2030.  The aforementioned goals are pursued through the implementation of five-year National Health Strategic Plans (NHSPs) and five-year National HIV/AIDS Strategic Frameworks (NASFs).  The Health Office also coordinates its efforts with the Mission’s Education, Economic Growth, and Democracy and Governance teams to implement integrated health programs across multiple sectors and platforms. 

Commodity Security and Supply Chain management is an integral part of the USAID Zambia Health portfolio.  Expending approximately $110 million/year on medicines and supply chain management systems, this area represents a significant USG commitment to deliver quality medicines where they are needed in the right place, at the right time, and in the right quantity nationwide.  It also constitutes the backbone for health service delivery in Zambia.

Statement of Duties to be Performed

The Senior Supply Chain Advisor will serve as the Lead of the Supply Chain Team that sits under the Health Systems Strengthening Division, and is responsible for providing leadership and technical support to ensure the well-coordinated and effective program implementation of the USG supply chain portfolio in Zambia. The incumbent also carries out a full range of consultative, advisory, strategic planning, and coordination activities to the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) program, the U.S. President’s Malaria Iniative (PMI) program, and reproductive, maternal, neonatal, child and adolescent health (RMNCAH), tuberculosis, and nutrition programs. The incumbent represents USAID at official national government events, donor forums and technical working groups; as well as coordination among implementing partners and other USG agencies as it relates to the supply chain partners and PEPFAR, PMI and other health portfolios.

1. Technical Guidance (50%)
   • Provide direct technical and strategic leadership to build systems and capacity of Zambian entities to procure, track, account for, manage, and distribute commodities to Government counterparts.
   • Engage in high-level advocacy and negotiations with manufacturers and distributors to leverage price negotiations, volumes, best practices, technologies, and capacities (e.g. warehousing or manufacturing capacity).
   • Serve as a subject matter expert providing technical advice and management support on supply chain management issues including warehousing, inventory management and distribution systems, driving and analyzing supply chain performance, distribution optimization through modeling, temperature monitoring, and cost analysis.
   • Provide technical expertise for strategic planning activities related to USG project design, Zambian supply chain systems design, and supply chain activities, e.g. policy development, harmonization of supply chain systems, opportunities to enhance economies of scale benefits policy.
   • Participate in PEPFAR coordinating team meetings and other meetings with Implementing Partners.
   • Review and monitor Zambia’s procurement plans to ensure robust supply chain strategies and technical assistance.
   • Conduct supply chain market intelligence and analysis to provide support on HIV, PMI and RMNCAH related commodity supply chain procurement and supply chain strategies.
   • Participate in internal technical and advisory groups and Health Office meetings.
2. Coordination and Integration (30%)
   • Facilitate the coordination of USAID and USG funded supply chain activities in Zambia to ensure the most cost effective and diplomatic approaches to supporting Zambia’s and the USG’s goals under PEPFAR.
   • Develop and maintain relationships with relevant ministries, bi-lateral donors, international organizations, private sector, local/international NGOs, and other U.S. government agencies involved with HIV/AIDS and PMI activities to ensure that programs are coordinated and supported as appropriate.
   • Support the coordination of supply chain partners and PEPFAR portfolio, with host governments, USG agencies, and other key stakeholders during the planning and implementation of USAID’s contributions to PEPFAR goals in the region.
   • Support the Health Office to ensure coordination with the Global Fund.
   • Share best practices and lessons learned in global forums.
3. Program Management and Oversight (20%)
   • Ensure supply chain partners and supply chain portfolio activities are carried out in accordance with USAID directives and in collaboration with other PEPFAR programs.
   • Review select implementing partner work plans to ensure procurement forecasting and planning is appropriate. 
   • Serve as an Agreement/Contracting Officer Representative (A/COR) for specific projects and activities, by providing technical guidance, budget and program development and review. 
   • Support development of indicator and performance monitoring plans for supply chain partners and supply chain portfolio related activities. Monitor progress according to these plans.
   • Support other A/CORs and Activity Managers on the Supply Chain Team with the provision of strategic direction and technical input.
   • Conduct site visits.
   • Document and track lessons learned to help guide implementation.
   • Directly supervise or mentor supply chain staff within the USAID Health Office which currently consists of two Foreign Service Nationals and one institutional contractor.