Call for Nominations: TB/HIV Technical Advisory Committee Members

In 2004, the World Health Organization (WHO) published the Interim Policy for Collaborative TB/HIV Activities, outlining a set of recommendations for joint TB/HIV activities and calling upon countries to establish and implement necessary mechanisms to decrease the burden of TB among people with HIV/AIDS, and the burden of HIV among TB patients.

In response to the need for community-oriented advocacy and social mobilization, the Open Society Institute (OSI), in partnership with the Treatment Action Group (TAG), launched the TB/HIV Advocacy Grant Competition in 2004 to support and promote informed community involvement in efforts to improve TB/HIV program integration at the local, national, and regional policy levels.

Through two rounds of grantmaking, OSI awarded 31 grants to community organizations in 21 countries. Each organization engaged in unique advocacy efforts to promote the implementation of joint TB/HIV programs in their respective regions including: training of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) communities about TB/HIV through peer education; organizing TB/HIV consultations with local and national stakeholders from TB and HIV programs; and advocating around the need to establish and implement TB/HIV co-infection counseling.

After two successful rounds of competition, OSI and TAG will launch a third grant competition in 2006 to support community-led monitoring and advocacy around the extent to which TB and HIV/AIDS services are linked in policy and practice. The grant competition aims to:

• promote engagement by civil society organizations, led by or with major participation of PLWHA, in articulating demands for expanded TB services in communities affected by HIV/AIDS, and expanded HIV/AIDS services for TB patients;
• support community advocacy for effective coordination between HIV and TB programs in regions burdened by the dual epidemic;
• build a global network among grant recipients to articulate common objectives and policy critiques at the international policymaking level.

Request for Nominations

The Open Society Institute (OSI) and the Treatment Action Group (TAG) are seeking nominations for Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) members for the TB/HIV Monitoring & Advocacy Grants Project. The TAC will function as a group of global TB/HIV advocates to provide regional and local TB/HIV expertise on grant selection, implementation, training, evaluation and project-related advocacy.

Role of the TB/HIV Advisory Committee

• evaluate and recommend TB/HIV grant applications for funding;
• provide regional/local guidance and resources on TB/HIV issues to grantees;
• serve as a liaison between OSI and TB/HIV grantees;
• strengthen new and existing TB/HIV networks;
• promote TB/HIV advocacy activities at the local and national levels.

Responsibilities

• period of engagement: one-year term with the possibility of serving for a second term to ensure continuity of the committee;
• assist in translation and dissemination of grant applications & reports;
• attend monitoring & advocacy training workshop in South Africa (details TBD);
• attend TB/HIV Orientation Workshop (details TBD);
• participate in the TB/HIV grant review;
• conduct site visits to grantees and prepare site visit assessment reports according to geographical region/areas of expertise;
• provide input for OSI TB/HIV newsletters;
• review & comment on narrative interim/final grant reports;
• attend and represent the project at selected advocacy events (i.e., national and international TB and HIV/AIDS conferences).

Expenses

OSI will cover travel expenses associated with attendance at workshops, national/international conferences and site visits when agreed upon in advance by project staff.

Criteria for Participation in TAC

Nominees must represent and participate in an existing TB and/or HIV/AIDS community-based organization.

Nominees should also possess:

• experience as TB and HIV/AIDS advocates;
• extensive experience in community-led advocacy;
• affiliation with non-governmental organizations with strong PLWHA representation at all levels;
• links with regional and/or global TB or HIV networks/coalitions;
• substantial experience living and working in countries affected by the dual TB/HIV epidemic;
• willingness to commit the time and energy required;
• excellent oral and written language skills in English.

Other desirable qualities:

• expertise/experience with gender issues/involvement of women;
• expertise/experience working with other vulnerable populations;
• knowledge in regional languages (i.e., Spanish, French & Russian).

Nominees accepted to join the TAC will be ineligible to apply for a TB/HIV monitoring and advocacy grant in 2006 on behalf of their organization.

To Apply

TAC nominations should consist of:

• TAC Application form (see attached below);
• letter of recommendation from a nominating HIV/AIDS or TB community-based organization;
• nominee’s curriculum vitae

Self-nominations are also welcome and must include the following:

• TAC Application form (see attached below);
• letter of interest outlining candidate’s experience & interest in serving on the TAC;
• recommendation letter from an HIV/AIDS or TB community-based organization;
• curriculum vitae

Deadline

Nominations to the Technical Advisory Committee are due by Wednesday, January 18, 2006, and should be submitted via email, fax, or mail to:

TB/HIV Technical Advisory Committee
Attn: Eleonora Jimenez
Open Society Institute
400 West 59th Street
New York, NY 10019
USA
Email: TBHIV@sorosny.org
Fax: +1-646-557-2553

All TAC nominations must be completed in English. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Selection Process

OSI and TAG staff will review nominations in January 2006 and TAC nominees will be notified of the results the week of February 1, 2006.

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