Health Project Specialist –HIV and C19RM

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the UN’s global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. We are on the ground in 170 countries and territories, working with governments and people on their own solutions to global and national development challenges to help empower lives and build resilient nations.

As a trusted, long-term partner of The Global Fund (GF), UNDP’s value proposition lies in providing an integrated package of development solutions to strengthen institutions to deliver health services. Through its contributions as interim Principal Recipient (PR) and provider of technical assistance in over 53 countries since 2003, UNDP’s provision of integrated policy, implementation and capacity development support to countries has yielded significant health and development results in challenging operating environments. Proactive risk management and investing in sustainability are the cornerstones of UNDP’s portfolio management approach and providing technical assistance to national counterparts during all phases of implementation, strengthening legislation, policies and regulatory frameworks, and building capacities across key functional areas, including financial management, health information systems, procurement and supply chain management.

The UNDP CO’s strategic visioning of the health for development (H4D) portfolio draws  inputs from the current ongoing programmes and projects which support the government in implementing the national health sector strategic plans and strategies for the control of the three disease (TB and HIV) and support that UNDP provide  in the implementation of Malaria/RSSH grants,  as well as National COVID-19 response plan and  emergency health .

As the interim Principal Recipient for the Sudan GF programmes to be implemented from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2023, UNDP is responsible for the financial and programmatic management and the procurement of health products for the Global Fund HIV,TB and Malaria grants to Sudan (the ‘Grants’) in coordination with the Federal Ministry of Health, national and technical partners for the achievement of programme results and the effective use of grant resources.

In order to provide strategic planning, programmatic and operational management and oversight to the GF portfolio to achieve the defined programme goals, targets and effective delivery, a dedicated Project Management Unit (PMU) has been established. Under the overall supervision of the  Programme Manager, the  Health Project Specialist - HIV and C19RM  will provide technical support to the FMOH and SR in designing health programmes and projects, mobilization of resources and devising appropriate, effective and efficient strategies to accelerate and deliver health programmes and projects managed by UNDP.

Under the overall supervison of the Programme Manager, the Health Project Specialist - HIV and C19RM will be responsible for the follwing functions.

1. Technical support and strategic direction for accelerating implementation of programs/projects

• Provide routine technical support to SRs, working alongside the  SRs assigned programme/project’s focal persons  to provide capacity transfer, ensure speedy implementation and delivery of approved work plan and budgets and proper accountability for programmatic results and efficient use of the Global Fund resources.
• Provide policy advice, process management and programme advisory support to SRs; undertake policy analysis and capacity development process, addressing existing capacity gaps at the SRs level.
• Identify existing bottlenecks in the overall coordination, management, and implementation of assigned projects and guidance and strategic solutions to sub recipients and national counterparts in the implementation of activities related to the assigned programme/projects
• In close collaboration with M&E and other grant sections analyze results of projects, and incorporate lessons learnt into the decision-making process of recipients and donors, research inputs and provide strategies for dissemination of information.

2. Grant management, including ensuring programmatic and financial performance and achievement of intended targets

• Directly work with the sub recipients and national counterparts in their effort to improve the overall performance of the assigned programme/project’s interventions in Sudan.
• Develop and submit work plans and budgets, and coordinate with M&E and PSM teams to ensure that the performance frameworks and PSM plans for the assigned programme/projects are realistic and achievable and that they are in tandem with national strategic plan and programmes.
• Ensure that programme components are implemented in accordance with UNDP rules and procedures, and in compliance with Internal Control Framework as well as with UNDP’s general framework agreement with the GFATM;
• Coordinate the timely preparation of the quarterly programmatic and financial progress reports as well as annual work plans, reports and activity schedules with other sections within the Global Fund Programme Management Unit (PMU)
• Establish agreements, oversee and monitor implementation of work plans by Sub-Recipients and national programmes, and ensure effective coordination   amongst them; including conducting monthly meeting with respective Sub Recipients and National Programme to follow up on programme implementation.
• In accordance with approved relevant work plans and budgets, timely prepare procurement plans and technical specifications in close consultation with the relevant National Programme and facilitate procurement of commodities with the Procurement Section of the UNDP GFATM PMU.
• Work with the Supply Chain and Procurement sections to ensure the proper and timely implementation of the relevant activities under the assigned programme/projects
• Ensure, in close collaboration with Finance the financial management of the grant budgets, including budget revisions, monitoring the grant absorption rate, monthly and quarterly tracking and review of expenditures etc.
• Work closely with M&E section towards effective monitoring, timely reporting and analysis of results of projects to incorporate lessons learnt into recommendations for improvement to be implemented by partners.
• Liaise with procurement and legal sections to prepare and follow up contracts of GFATM sub-recipients; provide substantive inputs and lead the sub-recipients contracts management;
• Timely identify bottleneck/s in hindering GFATM projects/grants implementation and promptly propose exit strategy and report to Programme Manager.
• Work closely with the Project Associates to maintain an assets inventory for GFATM project

3. Create partnerships and ensure harmonization with the SRs and partners

• Ensure coordination and operational harmonization of GFATM programmes and interventions in Sudan; and work closely with all partners supporting the  intervention efforts in Sudan.
• Establish and maintain effective communication channels and ensure sustainable information sharing with National Programmes and sub recipients in the implementation of GFATM programme activities.
• Work closely with the relevant Sub-committees and prepare regular reports and updates for a better and systematic monitoring and evaluation of assigned programme/projects
• Ensure a collaborative vertical coordination between the different grant sections as well as M&E, including implementing harmonized approaches with respect to the financial tracking of grants and annual financial reporting, and any other cross-cutting issues.

4. Performance management, knowledge sharing and capacity building to enhance effective and efficient implementation of assigned programme/projects

• Provide training and guidance to a team of the assigned programme/projects staff at DCD and develop work plans and priorities, monitoring achievements and evaluating performance of staff.
• Capacity building and knowledge sharing on disease- and grant specific issues especially for the section staff, through (on-the-job) trainings and synthesis of lessons learned/best practices.
• Take the lead in compiling best practices in implementing Global Fund programme activities at the country level  and ensure that these are disseminated internally and externally.
• Develop knowledge products based on lessons learned, experiences and data generated through programme implementation.
• Support and facilitate capacity building of the relevant National Programme and other relevant partners to mobilize/utilize GFATM resources.

5.  Support implementation of the plan for the transfer of the Principal Recipient responsibilities to the designated entity

• Ensure elaboration and implementation of assigned programme/projects Grant Management  specific capacity development/transfer plan to improve technical skills and program management systems at the DCD and any other designated National entity in preparation to  adequately assume PR functions related to coordination and management of  grant, according to the GF guidelines and requirements

Institutional Arrangement

Under the overall supervision of the Programme Manager, the Health Project Specialist - HIV and C19RM  promotes a collaborative, client-focused, quality and results-oriented approach across grant sub-recipients and stakeholders. The Health Project Specialist – HIV spends about 70% of weekly working hours working in close collaboration with the assigned programme/projects focal persons at SRs ,providing hand-on technical support to preparation of accelerations plan and capacity transfer in actual implementation of SR work plans, and proactively addressing bottlenecks which could delay speedy implementation of SR work plans and budgets to ensure proper accountability for programmatic results and efficient use of the Global Fund resources. In delivering these important functions, the  Health Project Specialist- HIV and C19RM  works in close partnerships with M&E team, PSM Team,  and finance and admin staff at SRs and within the UNDP-PMU and the colleagues within the Health for Development Portfolio, and other UN partners..

• Sound knowledge of HIV program with working experience in Tuberculosis and TB/HIV integrated services
• Excellent  organizational, communications, interpersonal, as well as proven management skills.
• Experience in working with government counterparts coupled with the ability to travel within Sudan;
• Sound knowledge of the Programme and financial procedures.
• A solid understanding of the Global Context and Sudan’s own national strategies to respond to HIV epidemic is desirable.

CORE VALUES / GUIDING PRINCIPLES

• Integrity: Demonstrate consistency in upholding and promoting the values of UN Women in actions and decisions, in line with the UN Code of Conduct.
• Professionalism: Demonstrate professional competence and expert knowledge of the pertinent substantive areas of work.
• Cultural sensitivity and valuing diversity: Demonstrate an appreciation of the multicultural nature of the organization and the diversity of its staff. Demonstrate an international outlook, appreciating difference in values and learning from cultural diversity.

• Organizational Awareness: Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment
• Development and Innovation: Take charge of self-development and take initiative
• Work in teams: Demonstrate ability to work in a multicultural, multiethnic environment and to maintain effective working relations with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.
• Self-management and Emotional Intelligence: Stay composed and positive even in difficult moments, handle tense situations with diplomacy and tact, and have a consistent behavior towards others 
• Conflict Management: Surface conflicts and address them proactively acknowledging different feelings and views and directing energy towards a mutually acceptable solution.

Education:

• Master’s Degree in Medical, Public Health, Social Sciences or any other related fields.
• A first-level university degree in combination with additional two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience :

• A minimum of five years of work experience with Master’s degree or seven yers with Bachelor degree at the national or international level in public health programme; minimum 3 years’ experience working on Global Fund programs specifically with PRs, SRs, SSRs and other Global Fund implementing partners.

Required Language(s) (at working level:

• Fluncey in wrirtten and oral English and Arabic.