UNDP Jobs - 13933- Partnership Development Specialist (Avian Influenz

Partnership Development Specialist (Avian Influenza - AI)

Location :

Hanoi, VIET NAM

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

01-Feb-2010

Application Deadline :

29-Dec-09 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-3

Duration of Initial Contract :

One year

Languages Required :

English

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

Under the supervision and guidance of the Head of Sustainable Cluster, the Partnership Development Specialist (PDS) is based within the Secretariat Office of the Partnership for Avian and Human Influenza (PAHI) within the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD). Specific tasks will be agreed with the Director of the Secretariat Office of PAHI.

In line with UNDP staff rules, the PDS’s annual performance will be measured by a full Results and Competency Assessment (RCA). The RCA by the Supervisor, with self-assessment of the PDS, will be based on inputs from the Director of PAHI Office, and will be reviewed by UNDP’s Competency Review Group set up by the UNDP Resident Representative. As such, the PDS is fully accountable to UNDP as the funding agency for the project.

The PDS builds capacities of and provides advice to the project partners both MARD and the Ministry of Health (MoH) on institutional arrangements and strategic directions for the PAHI and overall coordination of the Viet Nam Integrated National Operational Programme on Avian and Human Influenza (OPI), 2006-2010.

The PDS will be the AHI Focal Point for the UNCT Viet Nam, and is part of the UNDP-managed component of the Government-UN Joint Programme on Avian and Human Influenza, Phase II: Capacity-Building Support aimed at Strengthening the Management of Public Health Emergencies in Viet Nam - with a focus on the Prevention and Control of Diseases of Epidemic Potential, including Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), including a specific UNDP-managed parallel fund from USAID for support to the organization of IMCAPI Hanoi 2010.

In exercising his/her role, the PDS supports the planning, management and monitoring of the project and activities. The incumbent works in close collaboration with national counterparts as well as with the programme staff in the UNDP Country Office, the UN Resident Coordinator’s office, UN Heads of Agencies and programme staff, with the UN Country Team (UNCT) Pandemic Focal Point, and with UN regional and HQs units (particularly UN System Influenza Coordination - UNSIC and UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs –UN OCHA)

The PDS ensures the alignment of the project outputs with intended outcomes and impacts of the UNDP’s Sustainable Development Programme (SDP) in Viet Nam, of the Government-UN Joint Programme on Avian and Human Influenza, and the One Plan and relevant Programme Coordination Groups.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of key functions:

Promote opportunities for policy and technical dialogue and sharing of information, knowledge and experiences between Government of S.R. Viet Nam (GoVN) and international partners on key issues related to avian influenza and pandemic preparedness and response. The key main focus until May 2010 is to ensure successful organization of the 6th International Ministerial Conference on Avian and Pandemic Influenza (IMCAPI Hanoi, April 2010). Ensure effective, coordinated and forward-looking UN support to the GoVN and effective sharing of knowledge and experience through national, regional and international networks.
Provide advice and build capacity on institutional development and overall strategic directions for effective coordination of the national response to avian and human influenza, including mobilization and coordination of national and international funding and activities through the Partnership.
Provide advice to and facilitate the enhanced coordination, monitoring and evaluation of the Green Book including the planning and implementation of key reviews of the Green Book and its main components, with a particular focus on future directions for the Partnership and coordination of the national response beyond 2010.
Provide advice and support to GoVN, UN agencies, multilateral and bilateral donors, NGOs and other Partnership members and stakeholders including visiting missions on technical, institutional and policy aspects of avian and human influenza coordination, including support to national pandemic preparedness.

1. Promote policy dialogues and sharing of information, knowledge and experiences on avian influenza and pandemic preparedness and response, in particular focus on support to the organization of the the IMCAPI Hanoi 2010 conference.

Contribute strongly to the successful organization of the annual PAHI Plenary meeting and ad-hoc Plenary meetings as required;
Provide advice and undertake the organization of national and sub-national fund mobilisation, strategic review, policy and technical meetings and workshops between GoVN, UN Agencies, Donors, NGOs and other Partnership stakeholders;
Provide strategic and operational advice to the National Organizing Committee for the 6th IMCAPI; Facilitate the cooperation between the National Organizing Committee and key international partners including UN System Influenza Coordination (UNSIC), the UN Resident Coordinator and UN Country Team (UNCT), the EC, and the United States Government at the international and country levels; and contribute substantively to the organization of the 6th IMCAPI;
As AHI Focal Point for the UNCT Viet Nam, work closely with the UN Resident Coordinator’s office (UNRC), UN Heads of Agencies and programme staff, and with UN regional and HQs units to ensure effective and coordinated UN support to the GoVN and effective sharing of knowledge and experience through national, regional and international networks;
Keep abreast of developments on AHI coordination and response at national, regional and global level and provide effective briefings to the UNRC, UNCT and UNDP management as required;
Maintain close liaison with the UNSIC regional hub in Bangkok and participate actively in regional AHI coordination networks;
Advise UNRC, UNCT and UNDP on the organization of key visiting missions related to avian influenza, pandemic preparedness and UN joint programming and play a leading role in successful implementation of these visits;
In the context of the current UN reform, share experiences from the AHI Joint Programme in Vietnam with the UNCT, visiting missions and other appropriate fora;
As UNDP focal point, provide inputs to the review of the UNCT pandemic contingency plan as required;

2. Provide advice and build capacity on institutional development and overall strategic directions for effective coordination of the national response to avian and human influenza.

Provide briefings and advice on global, regional and national developments on avian influenza and pandemic preparedness, fund mobilisation results and new opportunities, institutional arrangements, policy and information sharing, etc. to the Director, Vice-Director and Management Group of the Partnership Secretariat;
Ensure effective and coordinated UN support to the GoVN in avian influenza;
Provide advice on appropriate institutional arrangements and overall coordination for implementation of the PAHI’s activities;
Advise on the development and review of annual and quarterly plans and reports for the Partnership and its Secretariat;
Provide day-to-day mentoring, guidance and support to project staff on planning, management and monitoring of Partnership activities;

3. Provide advice to and facilitate the enhanced coordination, monitoring and evaluation of the Green Book, focusing on future directions for the Partnership and coordination of the national response beyond 2010.

Facilitate and coordinate the technical inputs, drafting, and roll-out of the national AHI Monitoring and Evaluation Framework;
Maintain and further enhance financial monitoring of national and international funding commitments to the Green Book; gradually develop consolidated overall monitoring of delivery;
Coordinate key overall reviews of the Green Book and its main components, including facilitation of planning by GoVN and other Partnership members and stakeholders, communications, coordination of consultants and other inputs, organization of review meetings, and documentation of overall results;

4. Provide advice to GoVN, UN agencies, multilateral and bilateral donors, NGOs and other Partnership members and stakeholders including visiting missions on technical, institutional and policy aspects of avian and human influenza coordination, including support to national pandemic preparedness.

Briefings on AHI coordination and the role and functions of PAHI provided to donors, NGOs, visiting missions, researchers, etc.;
Provide advice and undertake presentations on Viet Nam’s national coordination of avian influenza and pandemic preparedness in relevant national, regional and international meetings;
Provide comments on national, regional and HQ units on draft programme documents, policies, tools and plans related to effective coordination of avian influenza and pandemic preparedness;
Facilitate and support Viet Nam’s information sharing and participation in global monitoring and review of overall responses to avian influenza and pandemic preparedness, including through the International Partnership for Avian and Pandemic Influenza (IPAPI)/ IMCAPI processes.

Impact of Results

Overall performance/impact of the PDS will be assessed based on the following criteria:

Successful organization of the 6th international ministerial conference on Avian and Pandemic Influenza (IMCAPI April 2010), in Ha Noi. the IMCAPI Hanoi 2010 conference is expected to result in a Ministerial statement as a key direction for the global response to avian and pandemic influenza.
Enhanced coordination and monitoring of AHI activities, fund mobilisation and utilisation, and policy dialogue in Viet Nam within and between the Government, the UN System and key donors.
Effective sharing of information, key results and lessons learned in responding to avian influenza and pandemic preparedness in Viet Nam to the wider regional and global networks.
Provided effective communication, with appropriate styles in different situations
Provided high quality advice on capacity building needs and plans
High quality inputs into project progress reports and work plans, and review-comments of high quality and relevance
Project management advice (planning, monitoring, evaluation) of high quality and relevance
Significant contributions to the devlopment and operation of the UNDP’s Ssustainable Development Programme in Viet Nam.

Competencies

Competencies:

Demonstrated knowledge and experience in working on aid coordination and capacity building, appropriate to Viet Nam’s context.
Strong managerial competency with knowledge / experience in results based management and results oriented approach to project implementation.
Strong inter-personal skills, communication, networking and team-building skills; competent in leading teams and creating team spirit, management of inter-group dynamics and conflicting interests of various actors, stimulating team members to produce quality outputs in a timely and transparent fashion.
Excellent oral communication skills and excellent written communication skills, with analytic capacity and ability to synthesize project outputs and relevant findings for the preparation of quality papers and reports.
Maturity and confidence in dealing with senior and high ranking members of national and international institutions, government and non-government; ability to deal with politically sensitive issues.
Results driven, ability to work under pressure and to meet strict deadlines; remains calm and in control under pressure.
Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude.
Shares knowledge and experience actively, mentors project staff.
Focuses on result for the client and responds positively to feedback.
Demonstrates commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision and values.
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Critical Success Factors

Whether the PDS will be successful depends partly on external factors, such as the progress with overall implementation of the Government-UN Joint Programme and other key projects within the framework of the Green Book, and the commitment and follow-through of Partnership members to voluntarily share information and contribute actively in Partnership activities. It is also important that the Green Book and its potential results on responding to avian influenza and pandemic preparedness continue to be fully supported by the national leadership. Success factors that depend directly on the PDS include whether the incumbent manages to fully use his/her skills and competencies as per the above, including appropriate self management and effective daily work planning as well as the effective use of practical tools including IT (see also Qualifications, below).

Required Skills and Experience

Education

Masters degree or equivalent in international relations, social sciences or public health.

Experience

At least 5 years of relevant experience at the international level in international development issues, especially in aid coordination.
Strong interpersonal, representational and advocacy skills.
Experience in coordination work among international and national development partners including the organization of high level, complex international meetings.
Experience in managing and facilitating information sharing, policy dialogue and development assistance and activities.
Experience in the development and review of national plans and monitoring systems on avian influenza, pandemic preparedness or related areas.
Knowledge and understanding of the UN system and other international organizations and the wider donor community.
Experience on gender mainstreaming in policies and programmes is an asset
Knowledge of Viet Nam; experience working with Government, particularly MARD and MoH, is an advantage.

IT Requirements

Excellent skills in standard software (Word processing, spreadsheets) are expected

Language Requirements

A high degree of proficiency in both spoken and written English, including excellent writing and presenting skills
Vietnamese language ability desirable.