Background

The Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS in Nigeria is currently operating in a rapidly changing environment, with numbers of HIV/AIDS cases ranking number two globally. The epidemic has in several states moved from the high risk groups to the general population. The country’s hope for effectively mounting and coordinating a mass national response is largely hinged on the SACAs. A new paradigm is being formed taking into account global experiences for local action. Several multilateral and bilateral donors support the national programme

The Country’s HIV/AIDS pandemic is widely hypothesized to be both a cause and consequence of this humanitarian crisis, with a particularly disastrous impact on people living with HIV/AIDS.

Within this context, the exceeding challenging nature of tasks and demands facing UNAIDS in Nigeria becomes apparent.   PCB has encouraged strengthened support for country level (joint) governmental, multilateral, bilateral and nonpublic scaled up response to HIV/AIDS to meet the challenges faced. UNAIDS in Nigeria has thus proposed a management structure to suffice this demand.
           

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the guidance and supervision of the UNAIDS Country Coordinator, the incumbent is assigned part of or all the following responsibilities:

• Proactively support the responsible officer in the efficient functioning of the UN Theme Group (UNTG) or UN Joint Team on HIV, including the development and implementation of the UN Integrated Support Plan (ISP) while ensuring effective coordination and communication within the UN (including Technical Working Groups and other relevant forums) and between the UN, government and other development partners.
• Facilitate and promote collaboration, consultation and programming mechanisms among cosponsors and UN agencies, including but not limited to monitoring and assessing in country developments, trends and institutional frameworks towards identifying implications for the work of the Theme Group or Un Joint Team, as well as opportunities for advocacy, communication, promotion, fundraising; reviewing national plans and government policies vis-à-vis the United Nations General Assembly special Session on HIV (UNGASS) commitments and targets against core indicators; as well as mainstreaming of HIV through UN Integrated planning and Common Country Assessment (CCA) the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF), poverty reduction programmes and other instruments as appropriate.
• Contribute to the on-going analysis, collation and dissemination of information on the country’s HIV situation, response, gaps and needs, documenting the role of UNAIDS in advocacy , leadership and resource mobilization, as well as other strategic information for national, regional and global advocacy; facilitating the adaptation, promotion and application of best practices at the national level, together with ensuring that country experiences and lessons learnt are widely shared towards improving advocacy and resource mobilization; bolstering national coordination and consultation mechanisms for an effective multi-sectoral response among NGOs, HIV service providers and People Living with HIV organisations, including identifying opportunities for access by National AIDS Programme and civil society organizations to Theme Group/Cosponsor and other partners’ support.
• Participate in strengthening of health information systems at central level while monitoring and evaluating and ensuring support to the HIV National Strategic Planning process at national and sub-national levels; and, as appropriate, providing guidance to bolster government and donor efforts to achieve set targets and objectives, including the evaluation of implementation levels and resource needs; identifying as related to planning and administration of human and financial resources.
• As required, collaborate to the activities of the International Centre on Technical Cooperation on HIV (ICTC), including identifying needs for specialized advice on access to international and horizontal technical cooperation regional cooperation and inter-regional cooperation.
• Perform other related responsibilities as assigned, including replacing and/or backstopping for others.

Competencies

FUNCTIONAL/TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS:

Demonstrated knowledge of developmental, political and financial issues linked to HIV in the country of origin.
Knowledge of the UN system organizations and their delivery mechanisms.
Sound understanding of the HIV epidemic and impact.

UNAIDS Values                                                                                                         

• Commitment to the AIDS response
• Integrity
• Respect for diversity

 Core competencies                                                                                                       

• Working in teams
• Communicating with impact
• Applying expertise
• Delivering results
• Driving change and innovation
• Being accountable

 Managerial competencies                                                                                              

• Managing performance and resources
• Developing and empowering others
• Exercising sound judgement
• Building relationships and networks

Required Skills and Experience

EDUCATION

Essential  First university degree in public health and /or planning, development economics or business/public administration. Desirable:  Advanced university degree in one of the above fields.

EXPERIENCE
Essential:  A minimum of four to five years’ experience in development, planning, programming and monitoring and implementation of technical cooperation programmes in governmental or international institutions.
Desirable:  Experience with international donors, non-governmental development organizations and/or the UN system

LANGUAGES
Essential: Excellent knowledge of English.
Desirable: Good working knowledge of another UN official language an asset

UN 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.