icddr,b is a Bangladesh-based international health research institute that strives to solve key public health problems through high-quality scientific research and innovation. icddrb as a value-based organization encourages women and people with disabilities.

The Programme for HIV and AIDS under the Health System and Population Studies Division at icddr,b provides good quality HIV prevention services to vulnerable populations at risk of HIV infection. This has been made possible by working with the Government of Bangladesh (GoB), AIDS and STD programme, donors, NGOs and CBOs. Implementing PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) and Chemsex intervention for preventing HIV among sexual and gender diverse (MSM and transgender) population in Bangladesh is another new intervention under the programme. This position will be responsible for different HIV intervention including PrEP/PEP and Chemsex.

Key responsibilities:

The HIV Counseling Officer will report to the Senior Research Investigator, Programme for HIV and AIDS and will be responsible for providing psychological counselling, STI counselling, and mental health support to the key populations at risk of HIV infection such as MSM/MSW/Hijra and those who use drug among these groups of the population to enable intervention participants to ensure adherence to the services including PrEP medicine, to reduce the risk behaviours within the guidelines of the project/ study protocols and organizational values and guidelines. The position holder will require frequent travel to the field sites. S/he will be involved in –

• Project checklist and counselling guidelines provided by the PI;
• Obtain informed written consent from the participants;
• Provide pre-test information and post-test counseling;
• Counsel clients to ensure adherence to the services, and to reduce the risk behaviors.
• Provide psychological and mental health support to the clients; Refer STI-positive clients for further treatment, care, counselling etc.;
• Conduct group education sessions with the clients;
• Provide counselling and emotional support to patients and families of patients diagnosed with HIV;
• Refer positive patients within the professional network for further treatment, care, counselling, participation in self-help groups, etc.;
• Counsel clients to provide biological samples;
• Counsel clients for uptake of PrEP, PrEP adherence, harm reduction for Chemsex drugs, HIV testing, and risk behaviors.; Dispense PrEP to clients;
• Conduct a psychological assessment of key populations (KPs) at risk of HIV; Provides individual counseling to KPs; Conduct group psychoeducation sessions for KPs;
• Conduct routine supervisory visits to ensure the smooth running of the project activities
• Connect with organizations in similar and allied spaces regularly for self-development, maintaining professional relationships etc.;
• Support counselling initiatives sponsored by other organizations to assist those in need to cope with the stigma and reality.
• Maintain close liaison with the project staff like, physicians, laboratory technologists, local DIC management and relevant organizations;
• Guide and motivate the Peer Educators of the local DIC to implement the activity smoothly;
• Review the existing data periodically; maintain the confidentiality of the data and do basic analysis;
• Prepare monthly and quarterly reports regularly and share those with the PI;
• Maintain the clinic registers and the reporting tools.

Required qualification and experience:

• Master’s Degree in Psychology/Clinical Psychology;
• At least 2 years’ of experience in the relevant field of counselling or psychotherapy. Preference will be given to candidates who have experience working with key populations at risk of HIV, especially sexually and gender-diverse population groups;

Location: Dhaka,

Number of positions: 01

Contract Type and duration:

• CSA basis for 8 months with a possibility of extension subject to availability of fund and performance.

Salary & benefits:

• Tk/-59, 900 per month (consolidated) inclusive of house rent and conveyance allowances;
• Festival bonus, income tax paid by icddr,b and subsidized canteen; Transport and daycare facilities are subject to space availability.

Notes of attention:

• Only short-listed candidates shall be invited for written test/interview;
• icddr,b does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process.

Interested candidates who fulfill the requirements should submit online applications using icddr,b website: career.icddrb.org by 15th October, 2024.