The International Harm Reduction Development Program (IHRD) and the Latin America Program recruit a consultant

News

The International Harm Reduction Development Program (IHRD) and the Latin America Program recruit a consultant

21 January 2013

Application deadline: February 15, 2013.

The International Harm Reduction Development Program and the Latin America Program of the Open Society Foundations seek a bilingual Spanish/English consultant with knowledge of community-based programming to reduce harm to stimulant users. Portuguese fluency and familiarity with public health context in Latin America preferred.

Background

The International Harm Reduction Development Program (IHRD), part of the Open Society Public Health Program, works to advance the health and human rights of people who use drugs. Through grant-making, capacity building, and advocacy, IHRD works to reduce HIV, fatal overdose, and other drug-related harms; to decrease abuse by police and in places of detention; and to improve the quality of health services. IHRD supports community monitoring and advocacy, legal empowerment, and strategic litigation. IHRD's work is based on the understanding that people unwilling or unable to abstain from illicit drug use can make positive changes to protect their health and that of their families and communities.

The objectives of the consultancy are to help identify promising practices in community based harm reduction for stimulant use and to assist in knowledge exchange in Latin American countries now seeking to move from a criminal to public health frame to respond to substance use and dependence.

Scope of the Assignment

Terms of Reference will be negotiated with selected candidate though likely duties include:

Review of Spanish and English language literature (peer-reviewed and “grey” literature, including NGO publications and conference presentations) to identify evidence on harm reduction practices for stimulant users, with particular focus on community based, peer-run programming to assist users of crack and other smoked coca derivatives.

Identification of and interviews with key informants on promising practices in stimulant harm reduction.

Monitoring of list serves, professional conferences, and publications for key developments in stimulant harm reduction/drug treatment, preparation of summaries/translations, and synthesis and distribution to OSF staff and country partners.

Technical assistance to OSF staff, grantees, and key in-country representatives including review of grant proposals, identification of advocacy opportunities, and summary of international developments in the field.

Mapping of activities of other donors/implementers working on harm reduction, HIV, drug dependence in IHRD Latin America countries of interest.

Required qualifications

  • Familiarity with harm reduction approaches to the health of people who use drugs, specifically with emerging practices with users of stimulants.
  • Spanish and English language fluency (reading, writing, speaking) required; Portuguese fluency preferred.
  • Demonstrated research, advocacy and training skills and the ability to synthesize information in a clear and concise manner.
  • Demonstrated ability to liaise professionally with multiple stakeholders in field of drug treatment, harm reduction, and drug policy.
  • Experience in Latin America and understanding of the political and socio-economic context preferable.


Consultancy term:

Up to 35 days from March 15 to December 31, 2013


To Apply:

If you meet these qualifications and requirements, please submit your resume and cover letter indicating your areas of expertise and experience in the design and conduct of participatory trainings, as well as your anticipated daily fee (in USD) by February 15, 2013 to: IHRDapplications@opensocietyfoundations.org

Please include the following in the subject line: Spanish-Speaking Consultant-IHRD.

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