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) Advisor will support the U.S. Department of State in carrying out life-saving humanitarian assistance (LHA) service delivery in full alignment with the new Presidential Executive Order (EO) directives and the American First Global Health Strategy.  The primary focus of the Adviser will be to provide technical support with a particular emphasis on strengthening national surveillance systems to prevent infectious disease threats and rapidly detect and respond to outbreaks.

The Senior GHS Advisor will support U.S. Department of State and 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 epidemic potential.  The Senior GHS Advisor will identify programmatic bottlenecks and facilitate solutions through coordinated technical support and facilitation of effort through the GHS projects and Pandemic Fund (where applicable). The Senior GHS Advisor will be based within the appropriate Ministry.  The Advisor will receive direction from U.S. Department of State and the appropriate Ministry staff, who will serve as the onsite Manager/Supervisor.  Familiarity with U.S. government programming and program management experience are highly desirable as the Advisor is expected to support the implementation of the GHS portfolio.  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 U.S. health foreign assistance in line with the America First Health Strategy and multi-year bilateral agreement with the Kyrgyz government.

• Assist the relevant ministries with effective delivery of U.S. foreign assistance 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,
  • Risk Communication and Community Engagement,
  • Emergency outbreak response,
  • Mechanism to prevent and detect fraud, waste, and abuse in supply chain delivery system.

• 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 in service delivery.
• Assist in monitoring the Kyrgyz Republic’s performance pertaining to agreed-upon key service delivery targets and financial contributions.
• 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.
• Assist MOH and U.S. Department of State the in coordinating GHS-related activities across the USG-funded activities and programs.
• Promote the dissemination of best practices and effective models nationwide.
• 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 Ministers emergency outbreak responses as needed as well as US CDC and other State implementing partners.
• Assist the relevant multisectoral Ministries to achieve the relevant GHS related targets including 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 toS. Department of State and CDC to prepare U.S. Government workplans and reports.
• Support U.S. Department of State on GHS cross-cutting areas, including other health program portfolios.
• Support U.S. Department of State in preparing the monitoring visits and health-related public events.

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

• Provide technical support to MOH to develop Pandemic Fund grant applications and support grant implementation review to ensure effective grant implementation, avoid duplication with US Government funded projects, and ensure resources from all donors are maximized and fully leveraged.
• Assist in monitoring the progress of grant implementation including reviewing and analyzing performance reports submitted to the Pandemic Fund and other partners.
• Support emergency outbreak response including assisting with mobilizing resources, coordination of efforts, and technical support for efforts to contain and respond to the outbreak.

Communications:

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

REPORTING:

The Senior Advisor will provide a detailed monthly report to the U.S. Department of State/US Embassy, submitted by the 5th day of the following month.   Additionally, the Advisor will submit a weekly progress report to U.S. Department of State (and participate in weekly calls) to include a short paragraph about main successes for that week. 

Qualifications

• Advanced degrees (MPH, MSc, PhD, MD, or equivalent) in public health, laboratory sciences, veterinary medicine, microbiology, epidemiology, or related field.
• Minimum 10-12 years of progressive experience in infectious disease, zoonotic disease surveillance, epidemiology, laboratory systems, Global Health security; at least 10 years in coordination/leadership roles.
• Minimum 10 years’ experience in managing and coordinating USG-funded health programs.
• Experience collaborating with MoH, CDC, Global Fund and Pandemic Fund.
• Extensive experience in PEPFAR, TB, GHS, and other infectious disease and epidemic control programs.
• Written and verbal professional proficiency in English, Russian and Kyrgyz.