Program Officer, HIV Testing Services (HTS)

Country
Zambia
City
Lusaka
Type
Full Time
Program (Division)
Country Programs - Zambia
Overview

The Clinton Health Access Initiative, Inc. (CHAI) is a global health organization committed to our mission of saving lives and reducing the burden of disease in low-and middle-income countries. We work at the invitation of governments to support them and the private sector to create and sustain high-quality health systems.

CHAI was founded in 2002 in response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic, with the goal of dramatically reducing the price of life-saving drugs and increasing access to these medicines in the countries with the highest burden of the disease. Over the following two decades, CHAI has expanded its focus. Today, along with HIV, we work with our partners to prevent and treat infectious diseases such as COVID-19, malaria, tuberculosis, and hepatitis. Our work has also expanded into cancer, diabetes, hypertension, and other non-communicable diseases, and we work to accelerate the rollout of lifesaving vaccines, reduce maternal and child mortality, combat chronic malnutrition, and increase access to assistive technology. We are investing in horizontal approaches to strengthen health systems through programs in human resources for health, digital health, and health financing. With each new and innovative program, our strategy is grounded in maximizing sustainable impact at scale, ensuring that governments lead the solutions, that programs are designed to scale nationally, and learnings are shared globally.

At CHAI, our people are our greatest asset, and none of this work would be possible without their talent, time, dedication, and passion for our mission and values. We are a highly diverse team of enthusiastic individuals across 40 countries with a broad range of skill sets and life experiences. CHAI is deeply grounded in the countries we work in, with the majority of our staff based in program countries. Learn more about our exciting work: http://www.clintonhealthaccess.org

CHAI is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and is committed to providing an environment of fairness, and mutual respect where all applicants have access to equal employment opportunities. CHAI values diversity and inclusion, and recognizes that our mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of people with diverse experience, backgrounds, and culture.

Program Background

Zambia and the region stand at a turning point in the HIV response. Despite progress toward 95‑95‑95 targets, persistent gaps in testing and treatment demand bold new approaches. HIV self‑testing (HIVST) offers a transformative solution—expanding access, reducing health‑system burden, and empowering clients with autonomy and confidentiality.

The HIV testing program is designed to support the rapid scale up of HIVST through lower‑cost products, smarter resource allocation, and innovative delivery models. By strengthening supply chains, enabling private‑sector participation, and embedding evidence‑driven decision-making, the initiative will help the Ministry of Health in Zambia to overcome systemic barriers and sustain epidemic control amid shrinking resources. The main outputs for this support are:

  1. Rapid Scale-Up of HIVST Through Lower-Priced Products: CHAI will support the Ministry to rapidly adopt low‑cost HIV self‑testing products by streamlining forecasting and quantification, expand distribution channels, thereby reducing reliance on health workers and driving efficient service delivery through widening access.
  2. Evidence-Driven Prioritization of HTS Resources for Maximum Impact: CHAI will deploy advanced analytics to reveal the true impact of HIV testing strategies, supporting Ministries to optimize diagnoses, treatment initiation, and resource use for maximum public health impact.
  3. Strong Enabling Environment for Private Sector HIVST Distribution: CHAI will support the government in efforts to reform regulations, strengthen oversight, and pilot private‑sector HIVST models linking clients to care by building foundations for broader self‑care and prevention commodity distribution.
  4. Catalysing Adoption of Effective Global and National HTS Strategies: CHAI will drive global adoption of efficient HIV testing by sharing evidence, tools, and lessons through national groups, global partnerships, and publications, equipping countries to sustain access and impact despite shrinking resources.

Position Overview

The Program Officer, HIV Testing Services (HTS), will provide technical, analytical, and operational support to the HTS program under the guidance of the Program Manager, HIV Testing Services. The role will support the implementation of HIV Testing Services activities, including study coordination, data management, partner engagement, and documentation, to facilitate the effective scale-up of national HIV self-testing (HIVST) initiatives.

Responsibilities

Implementation Support for HIV Testing Services

  • Support the rollout and implementation of HIV Testing Services (HTS) and HIV self-testing (HIVST) activities in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MoH) and implementing partners.
  • Assist in executing national HIVST scale-up plans, ensuring timely delivery of activities aligned with approved workplans.
  • Identify implementation bottlenecks and contribute to agreed corrective actions.

Support with Operational Research and Evidence Generation

  • Assist in compiling and organizing data for modelling, costing, and analytical exercises.
  • Support documentation of program research findings, implementation experiences, and lessons learned.
  • Contribute to drafting program reports, briefs, and presentations based

Coordination and Stakeholder Support

  • Support coordination between CHAI, MoH, and implementing partners to facilitate smooth implementation of HTS activities.
  • Participate in technical working groups and program meetings and support tracking of action points.
  • Assist in coordinating field activities, pilot implementations, and partner engagements.

Monitoring, Reporting, and Documentation

  • Assist in tracking progress against program work plans and activity timelines.
  • Maintain organized program files, databases, and documentation for HTS activities.

Operational and Administrative Support

  • Provide logistical and administrative support for meetings, trainings, and fieldwork related to HTS activities.
  • Support coordination of travel arrangements and stakeholder engagements as required.
  • Perform other related duties as assigned to support program delivery.
Qualifications
  • Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health or Social Sciences
  • A Master’s Degree will be an added advantage
  • 3–5 years’ experience in HIV programs, health systems strengthening, or public health implementation.
  • Experience engaging with MOH, development partners, government officials, donors and regulatory bodies.
  • Strong analytical background—modelling, data analysis, costing, or operational research.
  • Excellent communication, diplomacy, and documentation skills.

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