Accelerating the Sustainable Control and Elimination of NTDs (ASCEND) is a £200 million investment from the UK government’s Department for International Development (DFID), to advance the impact and sustainability of national programs tackling neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). To be implemented between September 2019 to March 2022, ASCEND comprises of two lots – one focusing on South Asia, East and Southern Africa (lot 1) and the other on West and Central Africa (lot 2). ASCEND lot 1 is implemented by a consortium of technical partners led by Crown Agents, including Abt Associates, Oriole Global Health and the Royal Tropical Institute. Central to ASCEND 1’s approach is a close collaboration with National Governments and other implementing partners, to enhance national approaches to NTD control and elimination. ASCEND’s goal is to contribute to the global goal of reducing the burden of targeted NTDs so that they are no longer a public health problem.
In Mozambique, ASCEND will focus on four NTDS; Lymphatic Filariasis, Schistosomiasis and Trachoma anchored on the following broad areas of intervention:
DFID has contracted Crown Agents together with its consortium partners to act as Fund Manager for ASCEND in Mozambique. Therefore, Crown Agents will work with the Ministry of Health (MoH) to support the immediate procurement of services from Implementing Partners (IPs) that will further the above-stated objectives of ASCEND in the country.
The Program Officer Capacity Building will be working closely with the National NTD Program and ASCEND country lead and will support the program in capacity building of the NTD programme. He/She will be responsible for providing training and follow up of tools and keep the NTD program informed of the global guidelines.