Background

MANDATE OF THE DEPARTMENT:

Provide leadership and coordinate support for an expanded UN system response to support countries towards ending the AIDS epidemic as part of the Sustainable Development Goals. To promote, support and provide guidance to national partners and the UN system in reaching Global AIDS targets by 2020 with a Fast-Track approach to rapidly scale up HIV services focused on populations and in locations most affected by the epidemic. Promote effective use of strategic information and documentation of trends on the epidemic and the response as well as provide intellectual leadership on the status of the response to HIV in the country.

Duties and Responsibilities

UNAIDS is integrated into the UN Resident Coordinator System and, as such, the UNAIDS Country Director (UCD) represents UNAIDS in the UN Country Team (UNCT), under the leadership of the Resident Coordinator/Humanitarian Coordinator (RC/HC), who retains the overarching authority to strategically position the UN in country and manage the overall United Nations Development Action Framework (UNDAF).

The UNAIDS Country Director ensures the provision of expert support to the national HIV response, through effective policy and strategic guidance, technical collaboration, and political outreach to key partners in order to achieve UN General Assembly goals and targets and advance towards the global vision of 'Zero new HIV infections, Zero AIDS-related deaths and Zero AIDS-related discrimination.

The UCD participates in international and national fora on behalf of the UNAIDS Country Office (UCO); leads, coordinates, and facilitates an expanded joint UN system response to HIV at country level and HIV related areas of focus within the UNDAF, a Joint UN HIV Programme of Support and, where applicable, a common Country Programme Action Plan (cCPAP).

Under the guidance and supervision of the Director, UNAIDS Regional Support Team (RST), (first level supervisor) and Executive Director (second level supervisor) the incumbent is responsible for:

  1. UN system effectiveness:
    1. In support of the UN RC system, leads and ensures mutual accountability of the UNCT in the area of HIV, and the effective implementation of the HIV focus areas of the UNDAF/P, the Joint UN HIV Programme of Support, and the cCPAP. Coordinates the UN system's support to the national HIV response, and oversees its programming, policy, financing, implementation, monitoring and accountability, including quality assurance.
    2. Shares oversight of the UNCT, technical working groups and other relevant forums, to ensure coordination, policy coherence, results-based planning, and communication within the UN and between the UN, government and other development partners.
    3. Provides guidance and leadership advocacy within the UNCT in support of the UN Cares, and UN Plus initiatives.
  2. Leadership, policy guidance and advocacy:
    1. Leads and provides authoritative guidance to national and international partners on emerging global development policies and key strategic interventions for an effective and efficient National HIV Strategic Plan and Programme.
    2. Reaches out across national decentralized levels and key political actors to develop high impact opportunities, initiatives, and partnerships to align the HIV response with political and development agendas.
    3. Advocates for the integration of HIV into broader health and development efforts.
    4. Plays a key role in the development and application of a joint UN advocacy strategy and plan for the scaling-up and integration of effective and evidence informed HIV and related strategies and programmes.

 

3.Strategic information to guide national strategies and programmes:

  1. Oversees the collection, generation, analysis and use of strategic epidemiological and other strategic information to inform technically and ethically sound policies and programmes.
  2. Ensures the provision of expert advice to develop and consolidate tools and mechanisms to prepare, track and efficiently assess the national HIV strategic plan and response.
  3. Gathers and maintains up-to-date social and political intelligence and strategic information on political engagement and national/regional HIV-related policies to inform the Executive Director and senior management of evolving opportunities and challenges in the HIV response.
  4. Tracking, monitoring and analysis of the epidemic and response:
    1. Promotes the development and consolidation of one national Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) system, and facilitates coordination of national, Cosponsor and other development partners' activities in M&E.
    2. Ensures periodic monitoring and annual reporting of activities of Cosponsors and other UN Country Team level actors, according to the agreed set of indicators based on cCPAP and the UNAIDS Unified Budget, Results and Accountability Framework (UBRAF).
  5. Resource mobilization and investment optimization:
    1. Mobilizes and leverages technical, financial and institutional resources for the AIDS response and strengthens national capacity therein.
    2. Engages where appropriate with the private sector to identify resources available to support the HIV response at local or regional levels.
    3. Promotes cost efficient and effective investments, and generates evidence on cost and investments of HIV programmes and initiatives.
    4. Negotiates with regional funding partners, in particular the Global Fund and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) and the United States President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), and Regional Development Banks, to maximize the potential of multilateral grant opportunities and bilateral aid available at national and regional level, to broker well-coordinated resources for civil society, communities and other non-governmental institutions.
  6. Engaging political leadership, supporting civil society participation, and brokering new partnerships:
    1. Engages the media as a key partner for social justice, to address the drivers of HIV, and increase visibility of the actors in the HIV response, and promote key messages.
    2. Brokers strategic partnerships between national and international partners. Catalyzes and increases inter-sectoral participation in the HIV response.
    3. Mobilizes communities for advocacy and demand creation across social movements, including networks of people living with HIV (PLHIV), key populations at higher risk, youth, communities of faith, and the private sector.
    4. Promotes increased participation of relevant sectors of society, national and international partners in the planning, implementation and evaluation of HIV-related activities.
    5. Takes a leadership role for increased participation of relevant civil society and community organizations and Non- Governmental Organisations (NGOs), in particular those representing people living with HIV (PLHIV), with a view to ensure their full, unhindered participation in, and contributions to national HIV-related policy and programme development and implementation.
  7. Managing the UNAIDS Country Office:
    1. Oversees the full range of financial, administrative, procurement, operational and human resources management issues in country operations (including where the UCD is not resident), including staff development and performance management for
  8. UNAIDS Secretariat staff.
    1. Manages and develops results-based work planning and budgeting for the Country Office and ensures its implementation by tracking expenditures and monitoring achievement of results.
    2. Provides overall management and ensures implementation for the safety and security arrangements related to all UNAIDS Secretariat staff, their recognized dependents, assets and programmes, in accordance with UN and UNAIDS safety and security policies.
    3. Represents UNAIDS in the UNCT, the Security Management Team, and where appropriate, the Disaster Management Team
    4. Participates in the performance appraisal of UNCT members and the RC/HC based on agreed UNCT objectives. Conversely, the RC/HC contributes to the formal evaluation of UCD performance, as well as the performance of the UNCT as part of the 180 degree performance assessment process, and participates in the UNAIDS Country Director Performance Appraisal conducted by the Director , Regional Support Team (1st level supervisor).
    5. Ensures close collaboration with the WHO Representative to obtain support and assistance in health-related emergency situations as well as information on recognized health facilities in country. Ensures that all staff in the office have access to emergency numbers and related information.

 

 

Competencies

UNAIDS Values:

  1. Commitment to the AIDS response
  2. Integrity
  3. Respect for diversity

Core competencies:

  1. Working in teams
  2. Communicating with impact
  3. Applying expertise
  4. Delivering results
  5. Driving change and innovation
  6. Being accountable

Managerial competencies:

  1. Vision and strategic thinking
  2. Leading teams
  3. Managing performance and resources
  4. Developing and empowering others
  5. Exercising sound judgement
  6. Building relationships and Networks

 

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master's degree or equivalent in Public Health, or Social Sciences, with training in Public Administration and Management. First university degree and 9 years of experience will be considered as equivalent for internal candidates only.

Experience:

 7 years experience in policy, planning, managing and implementing development cooperation programmes at the national level. Within this experience, some experience in working in policy/project design, management and strategy development and in managing teams. Thorough understanding of the HIV epidemic and its implications.

Understand the relevance of wider public health and development issues as they relate to HIV and vice-versa.

Desirable: Experience of working in a decentralized national arrangement and/or with UN system organizations in public health or human development programmes.

Languages:

Essential: Advanced level of English and Arabic.

Desirable: Knowledge of other UN official languages.

Additional Information:

Please note that for this vacancy only nationals of Sudan and legal residents holding a valid residence or work permit are eligible. A valid passport will be required.

Furthermore, only online applications will be accepted.

Other similar positions at the same level may be filled from this vacancy notice. Annual salary: (Net of tax) USD 73,778 at single rate.

Applicants will be required to take a test. Applicants will be contacted directly if selected for an interview.

Applications from people living with HIV are particularly welcome. Applications from women and from nationals of non- and under- represented member states are particularly encouraged.

Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to the Staff Regulations and Rules of the World Health Organization (WHO) adjusted, as necessary, to take into account the particular operational needs of UNAIDS, and any subsequent amendments.

Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.

  • Note: The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer or promotion of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity. The medical criterion for recruitment is fitness to work in the particular post. The United Nations HIV/AIDS Personnel Policy clearly stipulates that no staff and/or potential candidates shall be discriminated against on the basis of real or perceived HIV status. HIV infection, in itself, does not constitute lack of fitness to work. There is no obligation to disclose HIV-related personal information

Online applications are strongly encouraged to enable UNAIDS to store your profile in a permanent database. Please visit UNAIDS's e-Recruitment website at: https://erecruit.unaids.org. The system provides instructions for online application procedures.

All applicants are encouraged to apply online as soon as possible after the vacancy has been posted and well before the deadline stated in the vacancy announcement.

“UNDP will not be receiving any applications for this vacancy announcement.  All interested candidates should apply for the position using the UNAIDS link below;

http://www.unaids.org/en/aboutunaids/vacanciesandtenders/vacancies/

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