FINDING OPPORTUNITIES TO GROW
IN KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND EXPERIENCE

“Often the interpersonal skills of a consultant are more important
than their technical expertise.”

“Sometimes we end up doing the work of the consultant!”

“We like to work with consultants who are from our Region”

What makes a consultant effective?

The TSF Southern Africa works with many clients across the Southern Africa Region who manage and co-ordinate HIV and AIDS programmes. They tell us what type of consultant offers the best services. Clients want consultants who are technically competent with first rate interpersonal and facilitation skills.

The TSF is committed to building a knowledgeable and skilled group of Regional consultants of Southern African origin who are living and working in the Region.

What professional development services does the TSF offer Regional consultants?

The TSF offers four professional development services to Regional consultants in “hard” technical areas and in “soft” process skills. Often it is the soft skills that present the greatest challenge for those who are schooled in technical areas.

1. TSF publication for consultants

The TSF Southern Africa has a publication that targets consultants who work on short term assignments. Our publication has checklists that help support a consultant meet his/her responsibilities for an assignment effectively. 

Download “A Guide for Consultants to Short Term Technical Assistance for HIV and AIDS Programmes”

2. Technical development opportunities for Regional consultants

The TSF Southern Africa has a regular programme of technical workshops:

* M&E for HIV and AIDS Programmes (2 day workshop programme)

Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) of HIV and AIDS programmes is critical in today’s environment of heavily donor-funded projects and other reporting requirements.

The workshop addresses:

1. The evidence base behind programme design of the five main HIV/AIDS service delivery areas (Prevention, Treatment, Care and Support, TB/HIV co-infection, and Supportive Environment) and how this translates into the selection of appropriate measurement tools for effective M&E.
2. Orientates consultants to the tools necessary to complete M&E assignments in a standardised fashion.
3. Explores how to develop feasible approaches in M&E system consulting in the context of what is happening on the ground, while maintaining the minimum requirements of current developments of the field

* Evidence Based Strategic, Operational Planning and Costing for HIV and AIDS Programmes (4 day workshop programme)

HIV/AIDS strategic plans are important in order to direct and monitor national responses to the epidemic, as a tool for resource mobilisation and as a guide to resource allocation. The processes involved in developing national strategies can also be very important, in terms of empowering and mobilising diverse stakeholders, as a means of forging a common national vision, and signifying a renewed effort to tackle the many complex challenges associated with HIV and AIDS.

There are many efforts underway to improve the quality of national strategies, including the World Bank AIDS Strategy and Action Plan (ASAP) Programme. ASAP is being promoted to assist the standardisation of planning, the review of national plans, and the prioritisation and costing of plans.

The workshop addresses:

1. Improved application of evidence to strategic planning in prevention, care, treatment and support for national country and sectoral HIV and AIDS plans
2. Strengthened skills in results-based planning
3. Shared best practices on strategic and operational planning and prioritisation.
4. Greater familiarity with ASAP tools

* Technical Resource Packs
The TSF Southern Africa has technical resource packs in key technical areas on this website.
Resource packs are available to anyone wanting to use them.

* M&E Resource Pack
Drawing heavily on UNAIDS, World Bank/GAMET, Global Fund, FHI and other materials, TSF Southern Africa has put together this resource pack on M&E of HIV and AIDS programmes to orientate and assist consultants working in this area.
- Review the M&E Resource Pack

* Evidenced Based Strategic, Operational Planning and Costing Resource Pack
Drawing heavily on ASAP materials, the TSF Southern Africa has put together a resource pack on HIV/AIDS strategic, operational planning and costing to orientate and assist consultants.
It contains essential background documentation and useful tools for consultants contracted to work on national strategies and plans in the Southern Africa region.
Review the Evidence Based Strategic, Operational Planning and Costing Resource Pack

3. Process skills for Regional Consultants

The TSF offers opportunities for consultants to gain more process skills. These are:

* Coaching and mentoring for consultants (3 day workshop programme)

Coaching and mentoring skills assist consultants to work in teams and support the process of skills transfer when working with client counterparts. During the workshop participants explore the opportunities for mentoring and coaching and learn skills to enhance interpersonal effectiveness.

* Leading and understanding systems, organisational and development processes (3 day workshop programme)

This is a facilitated programme for consultants to explore their understanding of systems, organisational and development change processes. Consultants are given opportunities to explore their personal styles and to build their skills as facilitators.

4. On-the-job learning

The TSF is committed to providing learning opportunities through assignments. Where possible the TSF provides a technical mentor to a less experienced consultant working on a TSF assignment. The TSF also provides opportunities for a consultant to shadow another consultant when the task provides a good learning opportunity. For example many consultants have been involved with planning exercises for local organisations but may not have had the opportunity to contribute to planning the national HIV and AIDS response.

How are the TSF Professional Development Services funded?

The TSF is in a position to fully fund professional development activities for some consultants selected to participate.

In other cases the TSF capacity development programme may only partially fund activities. Should the TSF Capacity Development Programme be unable to fund your request for support then we will support your application to other funding sources.

How do I contact the TSF capacity development programme?

If you are interested in any of the TSF professional development services then please send an email to info@tsfsouthernafrica.com telling us about what support you would like to get from the TSF. A member of the TSF capacity development team will be in touch with you to discuss your request. Alternatively you can phone us on Tel +27 11 484 8217