UNDP Jobs - 64553- Programme Manager (Open to Turkmenistan Citizens O

Programme Manager (Open to Turkmenistan Citizens Only)

Location :

Ashgabat, TURKMENISTAN

Type of Contract :

Service Contract

Starting Date :

01-May-2016

Application Deadline :

01-Apr-16 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

SB-5

Duration of Initial Contract :

1 year with possible extension

Languages Required :

English Russian

Expected Duration of Assignment :

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.

Background

Position Information

Job Code Title: Programme Manager (Global Fund funding)

Duty Station: Ashgabat, Turkmenistan

Reports to: Deputy Resident Representative

Proposed grade: SB5/ step 5

Remuneration: USD 2,428

UNDP is a key partner to the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GF) and is the UN agency assuming the role of interim Principal Recipient of the tuberculosis (TB) programme funded by the GF in Turkmenistan (the ‘Project’). In its role as interim Principal Recipient, UNDP ensures quality financial management, timely procurement of supplies, and efficient monitoring and service delivery.

UNDP‘s management role consists of implementing grants, ensuring financial accountability, and training of national and international counterparts on programme management, financial accountability and timely programmatic reporting to the Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) and Global Fund Secretariat. To ensure effective and efficient management of the Project in Turkmenistan, UNDP established a Project Management Unit (PMU) which collaborates with the national tuberculosis programme. .

Capacity development is an integral part of all UNDP programmes, including those financed through the Global Fund. The capacity development work focuses primarily on strengthening and creating national systems necessary for the implementation of programmes. Among the key drivers of the Global Fund’s New Funding Model is a transition to sustainable domestic financing of the response to the three diseases. This has immediate implications for middle-income countries like Turkmenistan, including an end of their eligibility for Global Fund support, or significantly reduced support. UNDP has embarked on direct support to countries in sustainable financing, chiefly through modelling options under different budget scenarios and institutional strengthening.

UNDP is also ensuring that linkages are made between the prevention and control the three diseases and UNDP’s work on non-communicable diseases (NCDs) including the integration of NCDs into national health sector and disease strategies.

In order to coordinate the smooth implementation of the GF funded activities and to achieve the Project objectives, UNDP Turkmenistan is seeking the services of a Grant Manager to coordinate the implementation of the project, provide strategic direction for the programme, ensure institutional capacity development and health system strengthening for national response to TB as well as related health issues. The Grant Manager will provide technical leadership to the implementation of the grant, in collaboration with Government, UN Agencies, donors and other partners, to ensure that the implemented Project will contribute to the broader national strategy and capacity development of national systems.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall guidance of the UNDP Deputy Resident Representative and direct supervision of the UNDP Programme Officer of Governance, the Programme Manager is responsible for the achievement of planned targets and the effective and transparent execution of the financial resources of the Project as authorized by the project board/CCM. The Programme Manager is also expected to contribute substantially in the formulation and monitoring of the Global Fund grant activities and assisting UNDP and the project board/CCM in providing strategic direction for the development of project.

Summary of key functions:

Provide strategic leadership in all areas of Grant implementation (programme, M&E, finance, procurement, human resources);
Building and maintaining effective partnership with key partners and stakeholders (including sub-recipients);
Ensuring timely implementation Grant deliverables and achievement of outputs;
Support to capacity development of national systems necessary for the implementation and sustainability of national TB programme and the national health strategy;
Support the work on tuberculosis and co-morbidities;
Facilitation of knowledge building and sharing between the national TB programme, Ministry of Health and Medical Industry, donor community and other UN and international development organizations inside and outside Turkmenistan.

Summary of Expected Deliverables Timeframe

Overall coordination of preparation and submission of Annually, in February and August

Progress Update and Disbursement Request (PUDR) to Global

Fund and following-up on Global Fund’s feedback

Timely follow-up on decisions made at the meetings of Country Following each regular and ad-hoc CCM meetings Coordination Mechanism (CCM)

Implementation of actions related to management responses Continuously throughout the grant implementation period following Onsite Data Verification and/or

Spot-check/monitoring visits by the Local Fund Agent and/or the

Global Fund country team. Timely follow-up, involving the NTP on

Issues/recommendations of the OSDV/spot-checks

Grant rating of project performance not less than B1 in accordance Each quarter

with Global Fund grant rating criteria

Capacity Development Plan developed for the National Tuberculosis By end 2016

Programme and agreed with relevant national institutions

Sustainability plan would have to be developed and the PIU need to By mid 2017

lead and coordinate the process.

Specific responsibilities:

Leads implementation of programme focusing on achievement of the following results:

Full compliance of the programme implementation with UNDP/GF rules, regulations and policies, establishment of targets and monitoring of achievement of results;
Management of the grants implementation unit on a daily basis to achieve the performance indicators agreed with the donor and in line with the approved Budgets and Work Plans;
Assess the programmatic impact and oversee the appropriateness and the accuracy of methods used to verify progress and the results;
Analyse programmatic impact and takes decisions to correct possible deviations from targets;
Development of the Annual Work Plan and Budget, Procurement Plan for the grant and monitoring of their implementation, with assistance of the project team;
Preparation and submission for consideration of the Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) of necessary changes and amendments, arising in the course of grants implementation in order to achieve grants results in accordance with the Project Documents and Annual Work Plans;
Daily supervision, guidance and quality assurance of all operational services provided by the PIU, such as procurement activities to ensure the efficient operation of the systems and the timely implementation of the approved procurement plan; and finance management to ensure timely and efficient expenditures against planned activities for the grant;
Participation in recruitment processes of grant personnel and consultants (development of Terms of Reference, participation in short listing of candidates/desk review, acting as a member of the Interview Panel when appointed), providing regular guidance and advice to the grant staff, assessment and evaluation of their performance;
Grants Manager performs functions of Project Manager in Atlas for approval of requisitions;
Financial and substantive monitoring and evaluation of the grants, identification of operational and financial problems, development of solutions;
Timely preparation and submission of progress reports and financial reports to the UNDP management, CCM and GF;
Liaising with relevant national and international stakeholders;
Acting as a main liaison with Fund Portfolio Manager and Local Fund Agent on issues related to grant management;
Proactively address feedback or recommendations received from the Global Fund within the agreed deadlines;
Ensure that agreed deadlines for project activities are met on time.

Makes substantive contribution to creation and development of strategic partnerships and implementation of the resource mobilization strategy focusing on achievement of the following results:

Participate in the national strategic planning processes for TB, and coordinate implementation of concrete follow-up actions based on evidences gained during its implementation;
Provide timely project inputs to effective functioning of the National Monitoring and Evaluation System;
Coordinate the design of the capacity development plan of implementing partners;
Support UNDP’s work on TB comorbidities, including non-communicable diseases and other health related issues;
Analysis and research of information on donors, preparation of substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation, identification of opportunities for initiation of new partnership, active contribution to the overall office effort in resource mobilization;
Establish dialogue with donors, partners and stakeholders to maintain effective working relationships, sustain interests and cooperation. Develop recommendations for resource mobilization to encourage donor interests and increase funding;
Collaborate with internal and external partners, stakeholders and clients to advocate and promote organizational and programme issues;
Identify and share best practices in implementation and management of the TB grant at the local and international levels;
Coordinate the organization of information events for the areas of TB.

Supports key national partner institutions to identify capacity needs/gaps and develop capacity development strategy focusing on achievement of the following results:

Development and building-up of strategic partnership and maintenance of good relations with government counterparts and key stakeholders;
Conducting capacity/needs assessment of sub-recipients;
Support needs assessment of national institutions and development of the capacity development plan;
Support implementation of the capacity development plan and broader health system strengthening activities;
Development and implementation of the sustainability and transition plan.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity and fairness, by modelling the UNDP values and ethical standards;
Promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of UNDP;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Functional Competencies:

Good analytical skills, ability to identify strategic information of relevance to UNDP in both operational and higher-level policy changed by the Global Fund;
Knowledge of the TB epidemic as well as international health financing;
Knowledge of social determinants of health approaches;
Strong negotiation and communication skills, including ability to produce high quality knowledge products, represent the organization and present global policies, norms and tools;
Professional and/or academic experience in one or more of the areas of practice/thematic area.

Managing Relationships:

Demonstrated well-developed people management and organizational skills;
Excellent negotiating and networking skills.

Communication:

Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills;
Excellent interpersonal and networking skills.

Client Orientation:

Builds strong relationships with clients and external actors;
Focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to critical feedback;
Ability to build and sustain effective partnerships with Global Fund, WHO and other UN Agencies and main constituents, advocate effectively, communicate sensitively across different constituencies.

Planning and Organizing:

Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
Promotes knowledge management in UNDP and a learning environment in the office through leadership and personal example;
Capacity to work under tight deadlines, manage stress and adapt to rapidly evolving situations.

Building Trust:

Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment with sound understanding and capability to empower and develop the capacity of national counterparts;
Ability to work in a matrix team and coordinate activities with Global Fund Partnership team, other bureaus and country level staff.

Judgement/Decision-Making:

Mature judgement and initiative.

Knowledge Management and Learning:

Ability to strongly promote and build knowledge products;
Promotes knowledge management in UNDP and a learning environment in the office through leadership and personal example;
Seeks and applies knowledge, information and best practices from within and outside of UNDP.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced University Degree in Public Health, international development, Social Sciences, or related field.

Experience:

A minimum of 7 years of relevant experience in development and/or public health management nationally/internationally;
Strong experience in partnership building and management with multi-stakeholders, including government agencies, health donors and civil society organizations;
Experience of working with HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and their co-morbidities will be an asset;
Previous UNDP or UN agency work experience would be an advantage;
Previous Global Fund work experience would be an advantage.

Language:

Fluency in English and Russian, knowledge of Turkmen is an asset.