Programme Manager – Health At United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)


Job Description

Background

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP:  we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.

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.

UNDP Mozambique Country Office (CO) is part of the United Nations system working to support the country’s development agenda. Its overall aim is to ensure that people attain a better standard of living through sustainable development. Relations between the Government of Mozambique and the United Nations system were formalized on 1976.

The work of UNDP in the country is guided by the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) for the period 2022-2026 and its Country Programme Document 2022-2026 (CPD), and focuses on:

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•            Human development

•            Economic diversification and sustainable livelihoods;

•            Climate resilience and sustainable use of natural resources;

•            Peace building, human rights and inclusive governance

The Health Programme in UNDP Mozambique is supporting the Government of Mozambique as an Implementing Partner through the Ministry of Health (MoH). The Health Portfolio interventions align with the UNDP signature solution on poverty as it contributes to improving access to healthcare. UNDP Mozambique through a Financing Agreement (FA) modality work with the MoH, Central Medical Stores (CMAM), National Health Institute (INS), Department of Infrastructure and Hospital Equipment (DIEH) and other relevant Governmental institutions at central and sub-national level. The Programme is implemented in all country provinces having representatives in Beira (Sofala) and in Pemba (Cabo Delgado).

UNDP and the Ministry of Health initiated a partnership with The Global Fund funding in 2019. For the past years the partnership incorporated more donors – Islamic Development Bank, Gavi – with also UNDP contributing for the current Portfolio. Consolidated in key strategic axes of intervention aligned with National Policies and MoH priorities, UNDP supports the MoH on mid-long-term development – Supply Chain and Logistics including Cold Chain, Health Care Waste Management and Community Health; Emergency Preparedness and Response and recently incorporating response to presidential initiative “One District, One Hospital”.

Strengthening the health products supply chain in the country in support of the National Logistics Pharmaceutical Plan (PELF) UNDP delivers newly constructed as well rehabilitated Medical Warehouses, equipped and licensed. Strengthening laboratory capacity for decentralized testing in all the provinces UNDP increases the diagnostic efficiency at sub-national level, aiming at providing citizens with their right to access quality services of treatment and care in a timely manner. Support is also being expanded for the establishment of the Regional Centers, enhancing country capability for research and data readiness for accurate management towards developing evidence-based preparedness plans for epidemics and pandemic COVID-19 that can inform efficient response plans. New construction of hospitalization Center in capital city Maputo, moving towards sustainable investment to become reference center for hospitalization of patients with infectious diseases that require isolation has also been part of provided support to the MoH.

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UNDP also expanded to tailored intervention towards strengthening community health system to increase access to quality services of prevention, treatment and care in remote areas affected by natural and man-made disasters. With 3 sites handed over to the Government, ten new locations are waiting to have such key infrastructure for effective public services provision under the principle that Leave no one behind (LNOB) is the central, transformative promise of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Position Purpose 

This position is based in the UNDP office, Maputo, Mozambique. The Programme Manager reports to DRR-P and is the Head of the Health Programme.

The Programme Manager will lead the daily programme and operations management of the different projects that are currently funded by The Global Fund (GFATM) with a hard pipeline of other different donors which agreements are currently in final stage of negotiation.

The Programme Manager will lead a team of 9 members, international and national; additionally supervising different consultants on key areas of expertise, UNVs and staff in detail assignment. Additionally, the Programme Manager will be key focal point of coordination with Governance and Environment Units, but also with Accelerator Lab – namely for the ongoing initiatives on Health-Climate and Health-Energy. He/She will also continue leading the discussions for the development of the community model to implement in the North provinces of the Country (Cabo Delgado, Nampula and Niassa) in close collaboration with Decentralization and the HIV, Health and Development projects.

The Programme Manager will be pivotal in consolidating the Health Programme vision into the next Country Project Document and to scale up the results namely into Digital components (e.g. Health Care Waste Management; SMART Systems for Health).

UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.

Duties and Responsibilities

Develop and foster the establishment and maintenance of strong technical and strategic partnerships, and support resource mobilization focusing on the key responsibilities:

  • Develop and maintain systematic engagement with the Government counterparts, and other health sector partners to ensure UNDP’s effective engagement as a key technical health partner at strategic, policy and programme levels in coordination with other UN Agencies and Office Units.
  • Manage day-to-day technical relationships with Government and health partners to ensure UNDP enjoys maximum benefits in the implementation of Global Fund and other donors health projects, to inform strong implementation and the quality of health services of UNDP health projects;
  • Represent UNDP in relevant technical meetings with Government, partners and technical health working groups to inform UNDP’s policies and procedures and support resource mobilization efforts, keeping the financial sustainability of the Health Programme in line with established vision;
  • Finalize the Addenda number 3 to C19RM fund (GFATM);
  • Finalize the Agreement for Grant Cycle 7 (Global Fund funded);
  • Finalize the Agreement for new project funded by the Islamic Development Bank;
  • Continue the negotiations for the new projects under pipeline with: Japan, World Bank, Gavi and USAID/HETA;
  • Ensure continuous management of the Health Programme pipeline also in UNITY (Quantum+);
  • Lead the development of ongoing innovative initiatives of Health Programme: Health-Climate, Health-Energy, Community Model, Digital Healthcare Waste Management, SMART Systems for Health.

Provide technical and support services, guidance and advocacy to Health Programme in management of Global Fund projects and other donors health projects, focusing on the following key responsibilities:

  • Lead the Health Team, programme and operations management, guidance and advocacy in the implementation of Global Fund grants and other donors health projects through each stage of grant life cycle including on feasibility and risk analysis of new initiatives in compliance with UNDP rules, policies and procedures and donors requirements;
  • Provide technical programme, operations and policy advisory support to ensure linkages of Global Fund projects with other health projects for the effective use of resources, ensuring synergies and avoiding duplication;
  • Represent UNDP in key policy and technical fora on Global Fund and other donors health partnerships based to increase opportunities for enhanced collaboration in the Global Fund portfolio and beyond to increase overall engagement;
  • Liaise with HIV, Health and Development Officer to promote coordination and strengthen the area of human rights, gender, Key populations and LGBTI+.

Monitor grant management of Global Fund grants and other donors health and development projects, maximizing overall results, quality and delivery within the corporate agreements and UNDP rules, policies and procedures, focusing on the following key responsibilities:

  • Monitors UNDP’s commitments within corporate agreements, ensuring effective application of Results Based Management and Project and Programme Management tools; monitors donor reporting and financial delivery and performance of the Global Fund grants and other donors health projects, contributing to global tracking tools to ensure maximized performance and delivery;
  • Provide technical support in implementing the defined recruitment strategy for the reinforcement of the Health Team, namely by recruitment of staff, performance and career management, support to detail assignments and technical rosters to promote organizational excellence;
  • Ensure close coordination with the Office Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist to keep Health Programme dashboards up-to-date for the different projects in Quantum and corporate/transparency dashboard with no issues;
  • Ensure compliance with policies and procedures to continue ensuring no audit issues for the Programme;
  • Apply integrated and holistic approach to the practice area and ensure cross-practice and cross-regional collaboration linking to global experiences.

Ensure knowledge sharing and development of systems and tools for effective management of Global Fund and other donors projects, and capacity development of national entities focusing on the key responsibilities:

  • Promote identification and performs knowledge extraction, codification of results/lessons learned in the partnership with Global Fund and other health donors and partners;
  • Promote identification of best practices and knowledge sharing among Country Office in the specific thematic area and actively participate in UNDP’s and other relevant networks and contribute to presentations to enhance results visibility;
  • Promote a knowledge sharing and learning culture across Country Office.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organisation.

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: 1 IPSA11; 2 IPSA10; 1 NPSA7 (direct); 1 IUNV, 1 NUNV, 2 NPSA10, consultants (indirect)

Competencies

  • Core Competencies:

Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact

Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems

Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences

Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands

Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results

Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration

Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

  • Cross-Functional & Technical competencies: 

Business Direction & Strategy-System Thinking: Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system

Business Management-Portfolio Management: Ability to select, prioritise and control the organization´s programmes and projects, in line with its strategic objectives and capacity; ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives and the maintenance of business-as-usual, while optimising return on investment

Business Management-Results-based Management: Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus on improved performance and demonstrable results

Business Management-Risk Management: Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus on improved performance and demonstrable results

Business Management-Project Management: Ability to plan, organise, prioritise and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals

Partnership Management-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

2030 Agenda: People – Health: Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Public Health, Public/Business Administration, International Development studies, or related field is required, or
  • A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the above mentioned fields in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

  • Minimum of 7 years (with master’s degree) or 9 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience at the national or international level in management of complex health and development programmes is required.
  • Experience in the use of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and advanced knowledge of web-based management systems such as ERP is required.
  • Experience in working with healthcare infrastructure projects is an asset.
  • Experience in working with HIV, TB or malaria programmes is desirable.
  • Demonstrated experience working in a developing country is required.
  • Knowledge of UNDP and/or UN rules, policies and procedures is an asset.
  • Knowledge of Global Fund’s rules, policies and procedures is an asset.
  • Experience working on technical working groups, representing international development organizations in the relevant field is desired.
  • Demonstrated experience in developing and managing effective partnerships with government, development partners and civil society organizations in health and development programmes is an asset.
  • Fluency in oral and written communication skills in English and Portuguese/Spanish are required.

Please note that continuance of appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.

Disclaimer

Important information for US Permanent Residents (‘Green Card’ holders)

Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment.

UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Non-discrimination

UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.

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