UNDP Programme Specialist (TBRSSH), NPSA9

Entry Mid Crisis & Emergency Response

Contract

This is a NPSA-9 contract. This kind of contract is known as National Personnel Services Agreement. It is normally only for nationals. It usually requires 2 years of experience, depending on education. More about NPSA-9 contracts.

Background

Organizational Context:

UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet. UNDP has been working in Afghanistan for more than 50 years on climate change and resilience, gender, governance, health, livelihoods, and rule of law. Under the broader framework of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and in close coordination with other UN agencies, UNDP is supporting Afghan people’s aspiration for peace, prosperity, and sustainability. UNDP is currently implementing its flagship crisis response programme, ABADEI (Area Based Approach to Development Emergency Initiatives), as part of the ongoing UN-led response to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe and the breakdown of Afghanistan’s economy following the August 2021 shift in power.

Office/Unit/Project Description

As a trusted, long-term partner of The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (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 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. Within the HIV, Health and Development Group, Bureau of Programme and Policy Support, Global Policy Network the Global Fund – Health Implementation Support Team (GF/HIST) is a dedicated team providing support to UNDP Country Offices implementing health and development programmes.

In Afghanistan, UNDP is the interim Principal Recipient (PR) for the three diseases, HIV, TB and malaria and resilient health system strengthening grants. UNDP is also the interim Principal Recipient for the multi-country TB programme implemented in Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan (the ‘MCG’). For effective implementation of the Global Fund resources, UNDP Afghanistan has established a Program Management Unit (PMU), which is responsible for the day-to-day overall programme management, risk management, policy guidance, financial accountability, procurement of goods, including health products and services, strengthening of the national pharmaceutical and laboratory supply chain systems. The country has also accessed additional GF resources for the COVID-19 response (C19RM), which is being implemented by UNDP. The GF resources are implemented in accordance with UNDP rules, policies and procedures, the grant confirmation, corporate agreements with the GF and in close coordination with the national partners, including NGOs, CSOs, communities, technical partners and UN entities and the Global Fund (Local Fund Agent).

The Programme Specialist (TBRSSH) will be responsible achieving a high level of programme performance, coordinating and building strategic partnerships, providing policy and strategic technical guidance and engaging with partners capacity on strengthening national systems and health institutions. The position will work in close collaboration with the Sub-recipients (SRs) of the Global Fund Grant and MCG, the operations and project teams in the PMU and other key partners to deliver results pursuant to the terms of the Grant Agreements with the Global Fund.

InstitutionalArrangement

The Programme Specialist reports to the Grant Manager

Duties and Responsibilities

ONLY CURRENT AFGHANISTAN NATIONALS AVAILABLE FOR EMPLOYMENT AND WILLING TO TRAVEL IN KABUL AND THROUGHOUT VARIOUS LOCATIONS IN AFGHANISTAN, ARE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR THIS POSITION. ALL OTHER APPLICANTS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED

Scope of Work

1- Provide strategic guidance, policy advisory support and hands-on technical support for the achievement of the following results:

• Engage with national technical stakeholders on the implementation of the TB/RSSH components and the MCG for the achievement of program targets in accordance with UNDP rules, policies and procedures and corporate agreements with the Global Fund;
• Lead and be responsible for annual planning and reporting on the TB/RSSH and MCG in accordance with donor and corporate UNDP requirements;
• Coordinate with key HSS partners including representatives of GAVI, UN agencies etc. to ensure harmonization of the RSSH activities in line with national strategic plans and in support of all three diseases-especially in cross cutting components, including warehousing, HMIS, LMIS;
• Facilitate joint planning and regular consultation with national and regional partners, , donor andrelevant taskforces to ensure full understanding of the various grant components, shared decisionmaking,activeinvolvementandownershipin implementation;
• Provide technical support with the development of relevant tools for regular review and evaluation of the TB/RSSH and MCG in relation to the national health strategic plan;
• Provide regular analysis of the national health system situation and the impact of the UNDP supported projects on strengthening health systems in Afghanistan;
• Represent UNDP-GF program in CCM meetings and all high-level health sector coordination forums, UN forums to represent the organization and program, share lessons learnt and best practices and address bottlenecks to achieve program results;
• Responsible and focal point for the management and implementation of the MCG in Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan;

• Facilitate timely communication and support with HIST, and other key partners, including, UNDP Iran, IOM, UNHCR, Global Fund, NTP Pakistan, NTP Iran, WHO and partners for effective grant making, negotiation and management of the Global Fund TB Multi-country Grant (Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran).

  2- Ensure conceptual coherence across the GF projects in Afghanistan in relation to overall Resilient and Sustainable health systems-including Community Systems Strengthening and over all capacity development of the national systems for the achievement of the following results:

• Monitor, document and coordinate TB/RSSH and MCG initiatives of UNDP Afghanistan’s GF projects in accordance with the UNDP Afghanistan’s programming approach;

• Provide technical support to the country TB/RSSH taskforce, including substantive and technical inputs;
• Ensure systemic engagement of all members and technical partners in Health Systems strengthening as one of the cross-cutting areas for all GF supported Projects in the country;
• Provide substantive technical inputs to national partners with the development of new concept notes, pipeline projects strategic plans and others;
• Actively engage and contribute to annual corporate reporting system (ROAR) making sure UNDP projects contribution to health system strengthening are well captured and reflected in annual reporting; and
• Lead the implementation of the MOPH and CSO capacity development plans in coordination with PMU, national stakeholders, UNDP-HQ, GF.

3.****Ensures effective management of the Global Fund TB/RSSH and MCG focusing on quality control from formulation to implementation for the achievement of the following results:

• Lead the process for Sub-Recipients (SRs) selection in compliance with UNDP rules and procedures and in line with signed grant agreement budget and performance framework;
• Contribute to the preparation of work plans and budgets with SRs, technical partners and other stakeholders to ensure compliance and execution in line with the National strategies;
• Ensures engagement with the relevant national counterparts for effective and timely preparation of the quantification of health commodities timely delivery of non-health and health products and monitoring of the procurement and supply chain management plan;
• To assume the operational management of the programme plan, initiate and manage project activities in accordance with UNDP rules and procedures;
• Coordination of the implementation of the TB/RSSH and MCG grants with the national and international stakeholders, SRs and other stakeholders to ensure synergies and complementarity of funding;
• Ensure effective use of resources and timely monitoring of budgets including re-programming of savings in accordance with Global Fund policies;
• Financial and substantive monitoring and evaluation of the grant, identification of operational and financial constraints and development and effective implementation of solutions to achieve planned results;
• Work with the M&E Team in the PMU and national programmes to develop and implement the M&E Plan as agreed with the Global Fund;
• Proactively undertakes regular monitoring of project sites independently as well as jointly with MOPH and partners;
• Ensure strict monitoring of TB/RSSH and MCG projects assets in compliance with donor and UNDP policy including for assets transfer, proper inventory control and proper usage;
• Proactively respond to projects related issues and follow up with GF, LFA, national and international partners to ensure smooth projects implementation;
• Ensure that the pogramme management module in ATLAS is updated on a quarterly basis;
• Ensures timely preparation of relevant program reports PUDR, annual report, UNDP reports, briefs etc;
• Contribute to the development of Risk Mitigation Plans for SRs and do risk based monitoring of SRs program and financial reporting to ensure quality data, compliance with financial rules to avoid misuse of grant funds;
• Ensure thorough review of SRs quarterly reports and certification of achievement of program targets linked to approved budgets;
• Facilitate and develop C19RM funding application together with national and international partners;
• Implement the C19RM fund, make analysis and report back to the Ministry of Public Health and Global Fund; and
• Participation in audit of the project, respond to audit queries, develop action plans to address audit recommendations and ensure timely implementation of audit recommendations.

4.****Ensure creation of strategic partnerships for resource mobilization and knowledge sharing in the Global Fund and other areas focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Maintain close co-ordination between the GF TB/RSSH and MCG projects with other HIV, TB, HSS, Malaria initiatives in the country to ensure and promote continuity, partnership building and avoid duplication of programmatic activities;
• Participate and promote the organization of events, forums etc. on RSSH in general to fortify the different national structures and overall health system;
• Synthesis of lessons learned and best practices on systems strengthening and TB control in Afghanistan and region;
• Engage with national partners to build institutional capacity of Community Based Organizations andCivilSocietyOrganizations;
• Maintain close coordination and collaboration with Bangkok Regional Hub and Global Fund Partnership Team for resource mobilization and implementation of MCG grant;
• Focal point for the capacity building of the Ministry of Public Health, CSOs & CBOs in UNDP;
• Provide technical support to the Ministry of Public Health, National departments, SRs, CSOs in the development of capacity development strategies aimed at assisting governments, CSOs and national entities to assume the Principal Recipient role and successfully implement and development projects in coordination with the Global Fund and UNDP; and
• Strengthen and integrate the different functional capacities programmatic, procurement strengthening, finance, capacity development, leveraging technical assistance and policy support; and

• Any other duty assigned by the Programme Specialist (TB/RSSH).

  Perform other duties within your functional profile as assigned and deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the office

Competencies

Expected Demonstration of Competencies

Core

Achieve Results:

LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing

work

Think Innovatively:

LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated

thinking

Learn Continuously

LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning

Adapt with Agility

LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process

Act with Determination

LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously

Engage and Partner

LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain

coalitions/partnerships

Enable Diversity and Inclusion

LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Thematic Area

Name

Definition

Business Direction and Strategy

Negotiation and Influence

Ability to reach an understanding, persuade others, resolve points of difference, gain advantage in the outcome of dialogue, negotiate mutually acceptable solutions through compromise

and create ‘win-win’ situation

Business Development

Knowledge

Generation

Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge,

relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need

Business Management

Project Management

Ability to plan, organize, priorities and control resources,

procedures and protocols to achieve specific goal

Business Management

Partnerships Management

Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policie

Partnership

Relationship Management

Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding

Digital & Innovation

Innovation capacity building

Ability to define and create the conditions for trying out new ways of working or introducing new problem solving approaches to an organisation. Ability to develop, manage and evaluate a learning curriculum that raises awareness, builds confidence, strengthens innovation capabilities around a certain method, tool or technique; or helps develop an innovation mindset. Ability to create the authorizing environment

(mandate, incentives) to embed and spread new ways of

working. In-depth knowledge of one or more innovation methods, broad knowledge of innovation processes and

innovation management. Ability to align a learning and development strategy with broader innovation strategy.

HIV, Health and Development

Access to treatment and quality services

Knowledge of access to treatment and quality services, policy and principles and strategic and/or practical situations for

communicable and non-communicable diseases

Required Skills and Experience

ONLY CURRENT AFGHANISTAN NATIONALS AVAILABLE FOR EMPLOYMENT AND WILLING TO TRAVEL IN KABUL AND THROUGHOUT VARIOUS LOCATIONS IN AFGHANISTAN, ARE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR THIS POSITION. ALL OTHER APPLICANTS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED

Application Requirement

• All Applicants MUST complete and attach the UNDP Personal History-P-11 Form (found here) to their applications in the vacancy site.
• Submission of personal resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV) will not be acceptable and candidates who fail to attach the above required P-11 form will not be considered.

Min. Academic Education

• Master’s Degree in Public Health, Business Administration, Public Administration, or relevant field.
• A Bachelor’s degree Public Health, Business Administration, Public Administration, or relevant field with 2 additional years of relevant experience may be considered.

Min. years of relevant Work experience

• With Master’s degree (2) years and with Bachelor’s degree (4) years of relevant experience in the area of managing health programmes

Required skills and competencies

• Excellent analytical aptitude, communication, writing and presentation skills.
• Demonstrates track record of good working experience with national stakeholders and partners.
• Demonstrates ability to function at both policy advisory and project implementation levels.

Desired additional skills and competencies

• Demonstrated experience of donor reporting is an asset.
• Experience in the implementation of Global Fund projects is an asset.
• Previous UN or UNDP work experience is an asset.
• Experience in monitoring and evaluation of health programmes is an asset.
• Demonstrated understanding of National Strategic Plans for TB and RSSH and related international policies and institutionalization issues is desirable.

Required Language(s)

• Proficiency in English is required – both written and verbal communication.
• Fluency in local language of duty station Dari and/or Pashto is required.

Travel:

The Program Specialist is required to make travels to the provinces for the purpose of supervision, monitoring and evaluation of the TBRSSH and MC grants. Any travel associated with performing the functions of the Programme Specialist TBRSSH shall be payable by UNDP as per applicable Policy.

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Added 2 years ago - Updated 2 years ago - Source: jobs.undp.org