Senior Global Health Security (GHS) & Infectious Disease (ID) Advisor, DOS LEAP Global - Burundi

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 Senior Global Health Security (GHS) and Infectious Disease (ID) Advisor will support the MOH Emergency Operations Center (EOC or COUSP in French) and NACP (National AIDS Control Program) in carrying out life-saving humanitarian assistance (LHA) in full alignment with the new Presidential Executive Order (EO) directives.  The primary focus of the Advisor will be technical support with a special emphasis on preventing, detecting, and responding to infectious disease threats which impact public health. The Advisor will also provide support for the National HIV response to improve capacity for PEPFAR transition.

The Senior GHS and ID Advisor will support the appropriate multi-sectoral Government Departments and Agencies - such as the Ministry of Health, Agriculture, and Environment-  for the effective adoption and implementation of life saving interventions focusing on preventing, detecting and responding to infectious disease threats with public health potential, such as zoonotic diseases. The Senior GHS & Infectious Disease Advisor will identify programmatic bottlenecks and facilitate solutions through coordinated technical support and facilitation of effort through the GHS projects, Pandemic Fund and the Global Fund. The Senior GHS and ID Advisor will be based within the EOC and will also work with the NACP.  The Advisor will receive direction from the Director of the EOC and as needed, from the NACP Director, who will serve as the onsite Manager/Supervisor.  Familiarity with Department of State/USG programming and C/AOR experience are highly desirable as the Advisor is expected to support the implementation of the Department of State GHS and HIV portfolio. French and English fluency are required for this assignment. The Advisor will report to the U.S. Department of State on a weekly and monthly basis.

Responsibilities

Support multisectoral ministries in effective delivery of life-saving humanitarian assistance (LHA) through utilization of domestic and donors’ (e.g. the Pandemic Fund, Global Fund when relevant such as COVID-19 response funds).

• Assist the relevant ministries with effective delivery of LHA GHS services, including but not limited:
  • community-based active surveillance,
  • systems capacity for detecting priority diseases/threats,
  • data systems for monitoring, analyzing, and reporting on threats,
  • infection prevention and control (IPC), including commodities and WASH in healthcare facilities,
  • case management; and Emergency Management including Emergency Operating Centers (EOC) and Point of Entry Screening,
  • Risk Communication and Community Engagement,
  • Emergency outbreak response.

• Provide technical support and actively engage with field work to implement programmatic and response interventions at national and sub-national levels.
• Assist in monitoring the progress of GHS program implementation and provide recommendations for improvements of service delivery.
• If relevant for the country, review and analyze performance reports submitted to the Pandemic Fund, Global Fund (GF), and other partners.
• Help organize regular discussions among the multisectoral stakeholders and partners to ensure alignment of technical approaches in the respective GHS portfolio.
• Provide support to the appropriate multisectoral ministries in identification of performance gaps, potential barriers and bottlenecks, and facilitate consensus on targeted interventions to improve performance on key indicators attributable to:
  • reduction in incidence and mortality for epidemic and pandemic prone diseases;
  • strengthening systems to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease threats;
  • rapid and effective responses to infectious disease outbreaks which are threats for public health.

Support the implementation and expansion of best practices in GHS and outbreak response nationwide.

• Support MOH and other relevant Ministries in routine review of service delivery processes and outcomes.
• Promote the dissemination of best practices and effective models nationwide.
• Promote prioritized interventions in effective community-based active surveillance, strengthening systems capacity for detecting priority diseases/threats, and data systems for monitoring, analyzing, and reporting on threats;
• Support of the adoption of infection prevention and control (IPC), including commodities and WASH in healthcare facilities; case management;
• Support and strengthen Emergency Management including Emergency Operating Centers (EOC or COUSP in French) and Point of Entry Screening; Risk communication.
• Support the relevant Ministries to rapidly and accurately report infectious diseases threats to the relevant, domestic and international system– such as the International Health Regulations (IHR) and World Animal Health Information System (WAHIS) for quick responses to pandemic threats.
• Assist the relevant multisectoral Ministries with emergency outbreak responses as needed.
• Assist the relevant multisectoral Ministries to achieve the relevant GHS related targets including the Joint External Evaluation (JEE); IHR States Parties Self-Assessment (SPAR); and the Pandemic Fund Framework which includes reporting on the 7-1-7 target (7 days to detect, 1 day to report, 7 days to complete the initial response)
• Assist and provide information to the Department of State to prepare U.S. Government workplans and reports.

Support the relevant Ministries in effective utilization of Pandemic Fund grants; other donors’ resources, and emergency outbreak responses efforts.

• Provide technical support to develop Pandemic Fund grant applications and support grant implementation review to ensure effective grant implementation and avoid duplication with US Government funded projects.
• Consult with relevant stakeholders on required technical assistance.
• Assist in monitoring the progress of grant implementation.
• Review and analyze performance reports submitted to the Pandemic Fund and other partners.
• Help organize regular discussions among the relevant multisectoral stakeholders, Ministries, and donors, and DOS to ensure alignment of technical approaches in the respective GHS portfolios.
• Support emergency outbreak response including assisting with mobilizing resources, coordination of efforts, and technical support for efforts to contain and respond to the outbreak.

Support the National AIDS Control Program (NACP or PNLP in French and other stakeholders) to improve the Government of Burundi’s capacity for PEPFAR transition.

• Provide technical support for the district oversight approach to improve the MOH’s capacity to oversee and delivery essential HIV services to reach and maintain HIV epidemic control
• Provide technical support for streamlining of health systems approaches and strategies (e.g. laboratory, reporting, supervision and training) in the context of reduced resources and preparation for PEPFAR transition.
• Consult with relevant stakeholders on required technical assistance.

Communications:

• Regular conference calls with multisectoral stakeholders, US Embassy and DOS/Washington to review progress, discuss activities and address emerging issues.
• The Senior GHS and ID Technical Advisor should provide information and avail him/herself for calls/meetings with the US Embassy as requested.
• The Advisor will provide monthly reports to US Embassy/U.S. Department of State

REPORTING:

The Senior 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 the U.S. Department of State (and participate in weekly calls) to include a short paragraph about main successes for that week. 

Qualifications 

• Advanced degree (MPH, MD, PhD, DVM, or equivalent) in public health, epidemiology, medicine, or a related field.
• Minimum of 7 years of technical and programmatic experience in global health security and infectious diseases.
• Demonstrated understanding of USG program implementation, USG interagency coordination, and donor landscape.
• Knowledge of the host country and government institutions and bureaucratic processes, policies, and regulations. This entails high-level knowledge of host government laws, policies, procedures, and institutional doctrines.
• Knowledge of research and analysis techniques to successfully study complex subjects and issues related to assigned program area.
• Familiarity with international frameworks such as IHR 2005, JEE, SPAR, UNAIDS and HIV epidemic control metrics and USG’s LHA guidance.
• Demonstrated experience working collaboratively across government ministries, donors, and implementing partners.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English and French.

Preferred Qualifications 

• Previous experience with USG-funded programs.
• Experience using digital platforms for surveillance, health information management, and emergency coordination.
• Knowledge of the One Health approach and integration of human, animal, and environmental health efforts.