Health Programme Manager

Job Description

Background

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The 2030 Agenda for SDGs and the pledge to leave no one behind reflect the interconnectedness of health and sustainable development, including widening economic and social inequalities, the climate crisis, the continuing burden of diseases (e.g., HIV, malaria, tuberculosis), the growing burden of non-communicable diseases and the emergence of health threats. The scope and scale of delivering health and well-being for all requires innovative partnerships and financing, hence the strong partnership with the Global Fund, GAVI, and others for delivering on the health-related goals of the 2030 Agenda.

As a long-standing partner of the Global Fund, UNDP's value proposition lies in providing an integrated package of development solutions to strengthen institutions to deliver health services. Through its contributions as an interim Principal Recipient (PR), during years 2005 to 2021 UNDP Country Office in Sao Tome and Principe provided technical assistance, as well as implementation and capacity development support to the country and yielded significant health and development results in challenging operating environments. After the successful transition of PRship to the Government, from 2022 onward, UNDP continued its support to the country strengthening its positioning as a health implementation support partner in the Global Fund, GAVI, and other health-related intervention. Currently, UNDP is supporting the Government of Sao Tome and Principe in implementation of two grants funded by the Global Fund, C19RM, and GC7 focused on strengthening the health systems, as well as funding from GAVI aimed at digitalization of the health system, namely implementation of m-Supply and DHIS2 and smart facilities.

The Programme Manager will be responsible for delivering results, promoting collaboration and cohesion among the programme, monitoring and evaluation, finance, and procurement and supply management within the health team, as well as the Country Office teams, in ensuring successful implementation and oversight of health programme resources and Country Office performance. In addition, the Programme Manager will work closely with functional teams in the Country Office to promote overall synergy, integration, and capacity development.

Duties and Responsibilities

Key duties and accountabilities include:

1. Ensures oversight, programme planning and execution focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Leads on the planning, integration, synergy, oversight and programme management in compliance with UNDP's rules, policies and procedures, and the terms and conditions of the grant agreement with the Government of Sao Tome and Principe, based on the requirements of the Global Fund, or other health-related donors/partners, as applicable.
• Provides technical advice to the Ministry of Health, other national institutions and partners and support work on programme adjustments, as necessary.
• Coordinates across all functional areas and units (e.g. programme, finance, monitoring, procurement and supply management, capacity development and policy) and fosters strategic discussions to develop a cohesive, organization-wide approach to implementation, to ensure programmatic performance will achieve or surpass UNDP's commitments.
• Provides quality and timely management of programme lifecycle, including meeting programmatic and financial deliverables.
• Oversees the implementation and proactively diagnoses underperformance, bottlenecks and ensure accountability of corrective action plans and timely escalation of the same, as required.
• Ensures project compliance with UNDP project planning, management and closure processes.
• Participates in technical committees of the Country Coordinating Mechanism and other forums, as required.

1. Ensures that proactive financial oversight and controls are in place and proactively performs risk assessments focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Ensures that all UNDP's financial, asset management, safety and security policies and procedures are complied with.
• Ensures project performance against UNDP corporate dashboards.
• Delivers timely and quality submissions of documents and reports, as and when required;
• Proactively identifies, escalates, and mitigates risks, including operational, financial, legal, contractual, reputational and safety. Ensures regular reviews of the risk management matrix for the health projects and that mitigation actions are implemented and proactively work with other units to ensure adequate oversight and support is provided.
• Proactively contributes to the programme audits, as required, and in coordination with the Regional Bureau, Office of Audit and Investigations, Health Implementation Support Team (GF/HIST) and ensure follow up on audit recommendations.

1. Ensures proactive contribution to strategic partnerships and resource mobilization efforts, focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Builds partnerships and maintains conducive relationship with the Ministry of Health and its different departments, other national partners, UN Agencies, NGOs/CSOs, and other partners as well as with international and local stakeholders to ensure transparent and effective implementation of the health programme.
• Maintains close coordination among the GF programme, GAVI, and other health initiatives to ensure sustainability, partnership building, synergy and to avoid duplication of programmatic activities.
• Supports national planning processes related to the health programme, based on evidence gained during implementation of the programme.
• Contributes to resource mobilization efforts, development of proposals, projects, and programmes on strengthening the country's health system, in order to promote continued cooperation.

1. Actively contributes to facilitation of knowledge building and sharing focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Engages with national partners and contributes to capacity development in the country.
• Undertakes a synthesis of lessons learnt and disseminate best practices for management of the programme.
• Represents UNDP in relevant technical meetings with partners, working groups.
• Contributes substantially to information sharing with other agencies/partners at the global, regional and local level and within UNDP.
• Participates in UNDP and other relevant external networks to promote UNDP's health and development work in relevant forums (conferences, e-forum).

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

4. Institutional Arrangement

Under the overall supervision of the Deputy Resident Representative, with a secondary reporting line to the Assistant Resident Representative – Programme, the Programme Manager will be responsible for achieving a high level of programme performance, coordinating and building strategic partnerships, and providing policy and technical guidance while engaging with partners to strengthen national systems and health institutions. The Programme Manager will promote a collaborative, client-oriented approach, ensuring integration of relevant work streams across functional areas within and in coordination with the Country Office, Regional Bureaus, other UNDP business units, Global Fund and Health Implementation Support Team (HIST) and support to the integration of capacity and health system strengthening activities. The Programme Manager will oversee the personnel hired for implementation of the health projects.

UNDP Country Office in Sao Tome, and Principe 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.

Competencies

CoreAchieve Results:LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impactThink Innovatively:LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problemsLearn Continuously:LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiencesAdapt with Agility:LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demandsAct with Determination:LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater resultsEngage and Partner:LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaborationEnable Diversity and Inclusion:LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

People Management

UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site.

Cross-Functional & Technical competenciesThematic AreaNameDefinitionBusiness Direction & StrategyNegotiation and InfluenceReach a common understanding/agreement, persuade others, resolve points of difference through a dialogue, negotiate mutually acceptable solutions and create 'win-win' situations.Business ManagementResults-based managementAbility to manage the implementation of strategies, programmes, and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results. Knowledge and understanding of relevant theories, concepts, methodologies, instruments, and tools.Business ManagementPartnerships managementBuild and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies.Business ManagementRisk ManagementAbility to identify and organize action around mitigating and proactively managing risks.Business ManagementCommunicationAbility to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication, to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience. Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels.Business Direction and StrategySystem ThinkingAbility 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.2030 Agenda: PeopleHealthSupport to Global Fund and other Health Programmes

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in the area of Public Health, Development Studies or other relevant discipline is required, OR
• A first-level university degree (bachelor's degree) in the areas stated above, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

A Masters in Public Health is an advantage.

Experience:

Minimum of 5 years (with master's degree) or 7 years (with bachelor's degree) of relevant experience in health-related development in a UN, governmental, bilateral, and/or civil society organization

• Experience in providing technical advice and guidance on the implementation of health and development programmes.
• Experience in the management of health and development programmes in partnership with the government/national institutions.
• Experience in developing proposals for health programmes, including budgets, workplans and performance-based monitoring and evaluation frameworks.

Proven strong knowledge of Global Fund's rules, policies and procedure and other health partners and donors.

• Experience in developing and managing multi-stakeholder partnerships in health programmes is an asset.
• Strong knowledge of UN and/or UNDP's rules, policies and procedures is an asset.
• Work experience in a developing country is an asset.
• Fluency in English is required.
• Fluency in Spanish is required.

Knowledge of an additional UN language (French) or Portuguese is an asset.

Any additional health-related certification will be an advantage.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.

Right to select multiple candidates

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.

Scam alert

UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.

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