Hiv/Tb Programme Specialist

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the UN’s global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. We are on the ground in 170 countries and territories, working with governments and people on their own solutions to global and national development challenges to help empower lives and build resilient nations. 

UNDP has an important role in supporting health outcomes by supporting countries to address the social, cultural and economic determinants of HIV and health, in partnership with UN entities and other organizations. This is done through UNDP’s core work in reducing inequalities and social exclusion that drive HIV and poor health, promoting effective and inclusive governance for health, and building resilient and sustainable systems for health. UNDP also contributes through its coordinating and convening role in bringing together multiple partners and resources at national and local levels.

As a trusted, long-term partner of The Global Fund (GF), UNDP’s value proposition lies in providing an integrated package of development solutions to strengthen institutions to deliver health services. Through its contributions as interim Principal Recipient (PR) and provider of technical assistance in over 53 countries since 2003, UNDP’s provision of integrated policy, implementation and capacity development support to countries has yielded significant health and development results in challenging operating environments. Proactive risk management and investing in sustainability are the cornerstones of UNDP’s portfolio management approach and providing technical assistance to national counterparts during all phases of implementation, strengthening legislation, policies and regulatory frameworks, and building capacities across key functional areas, including financial management, health information systems, procurement and supply chain management. 

In Sudan, UNDP is the interim Principal Recipient (PR) for the HIV, TB and C19RM grants and is also implementing Cost Sharing Agreement (CSA) to support the Fedela Ministry of Health (FMOH) in the implementation of specific activities under Malaria grants. 

The UNDP-GF partnership under the 2021-2023 allocation aims to contribute towards the achievement of the vision, goals and strategic responses, including targets of the Sudan National HIV and TB Strategic Plans.  For effective implementation of the Global Fund resources, UNDP Sudan has established a Program Management Unit (PMU), which under the overall guidance of the UNDP senior management is responsible for the day-to-day overall programme management, risk management, policy guidance, financial accountability, procurement of goods, including health products and services, strengthening of the national pharmaceutical and laboratory supply chain systems, and monitoring and evaluation systems. The GF grant is implemented in accordance with UNDP rules, policies and procedures, the grant confirmation, corporate agreements with the GF and in close coordination with the Federal Ministry of Health, Sub-Receipients, national stakeholders, technical partners and UN entities, the Global Fund (Local Fund Agent, (LFA)) the Global Fund Country Team and Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM).   

Under the overall oversight of the Global Fund Programme Manager  and direct supervison of Head of Programme and Monitoring and Evaluation, HIV/TB Programme Specialist  will be responsible for leading a teams of staff  responsible for programmatic functional areas including 1) Preventive services and community response; 2) Laboratory Services; 3) Key population, displaced and Public-Private Mix; and 4) Care and Treatment services. S/hed will be responsible  for providing routine support to the SRs in macro-planning and accelerate implementation of programmes. This will be done in accordance with UNDP rules, policies and procedures, the grant agreements, fund administration agreements and corporate agreements with the GF, and working in partnership with sub-receipients national stakeholders, and close coordination with the GF (including Local Fund Agent), Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM), technical partners and UN entities, the GF/HIST and other UNDP business units and programmes. 

The HIV/TB Programme Specialist will promote a collaborative, client-oriented approach, ensuring integration across functional areas within the PMU and support to the integration of capacity building and health system strengthening activities. 

Working under overall supervision of the Head of Programmes/ M&E  Section, the HIV/TB Programme Specialist  promotes a collaborative, client-focused, quality and results-oriented approach across grant sub-recipients and stakeholders. The HIV/TB Programme Specialist about 70% of weekly working hours working in close collaboration with the assigned programme/projects focal persons at SRs ,providing hand-on technical support to preparation of accelerations plan and capacity transfer in actual implementation of SR work plans, and proactively addressing bottlenecks which could delay speedy implementation of SR work plans and budgets to ensure proper accountability for programmatic results and efficient use of the Global Fund resources. In delivering these important functions, the the HIV/TB Programme Officer works in close partnerships with Programme and M&E team, PSM Team,  and finance and admin staff at SRs and within the UNDP-PMU and the colleagues within the Health for Development Portfolio, and other UN partners.
 

Under the supervison of Head of  Programme/M&E section, the HIV/TB Programme Specialist will be responsible for the following functions.

Ensures effective programmatic management for the achievement of the following results: 

• Leads on the assessing the programmatic impact and substantive monitoring of programme delivery and evaluation of the programmes’ performance and proactively leads on reviews with national and implementing partners, SRs for underperformance, bottlenecks and ensures the accountability for the timely implementation of corrective action(s); 
• Provide routine technical support to SRs, working alongside the  SRs assigned programme/project’s focal persons  to provide capacity transfer in specific diseases response , ensure speedy implementation and delivery of approved work plan and budgets and proper accountability for programmatic results and efficient use of the Global Fund resources.
• In coordination with the Programme and M&E Specialist  and other PMU units, the HIV/TB Programme Specialist leads on performing risk assessments, develops and implements risk management matrix/plan in the areas of programme and ensures adequate oversight and support is provided, with timely incident reporting;
• Liaise with all functional units of the PMU – PSM, Programme, Finance, etc. – to ensure effective coordination towards timely delivery of agreed activities in line with the grant agreement, UNDP rules, policies and procedures and corporate agreements with the Global Fund and leads the preparation of GF programmatic reports and other reporting requirements (e.g., UNDAF, CPD, UBRAF); 
• Establishes a framework and agreed procedures with the Sub-recipient (SRs) for regular, quality reporting to UNDP on programmatic progress (e.g., implementation of activities, and reporting of indicators in accordance with the grant M&E frameworks). 
• Leads on the programmatic and M&E activities for UNDP and SRs to define project proposals, reprogramming requests, annual and quarterly workplans and budgets to ensure timely achievement of agreed results, budget compliance in accordance with UNDP rules, policies and procedures and Grant Agreement with the Fund (e.g., Performance Framework); 
• Develops and maintains an organizational structure for programme and M&E team to ensure adequate resources to deliver UNDP’s commitments, and supports in the management of staff under his/her supervison, fostering diversity, equity and inclusion and builds the technical, management and leadership capacity of staff for promotion of organizational excellence; and

Monitors and coordinates the implementation of programmatic and monitoring and evaluation activities for the achievement of the following results: 

• Provides technical support to the SRs to strengthen their management and implementation of activities, as well as their M&E systems and develops risk mitigation and management plans and establish and tracking system to monitor the implementation of the risk matrix and management plans.
• Work closely with SRs and functional PMU teams to analyze status of implementation, identify bottlenecks, and design solutions to address issues of slow absorption and/or low impact in HIV and TB grants.  Work together to Review Global Fund grant performance data and work plans; work with CTs, technical partners, national HIV and TB programs, and in-country partners to address issues.
• Liaises with national and international health partners to ensure that all the available support and technical assistance is made available to the implementing partners.
• Develops appropriate tools as necessary for UNDP and SRs to facilitate effective implementation and programmatic reporting on the Global Fund grants.
• Ensures that project monitoring arrangements comply with GF grant confirmations /guidelines and UNDP’s rules, policies and procedures provisions are fully observed. 
• Participates and provides technical support to the SRS to prepare TORs, conduct of national surveys, surveillances, and other studies. 
• Reviews the management information systems of the SRs and agrees on required changes or resources to ensure that programme and data quality standards are monitored and met and reviews the quality of existing data sources, including their completeness and timeliness, and identify areas for strengthening in collaboration with the government, partners and programmes; 
• Supports the timely implementation of studies to be carried out by the SRs, including the finalization of study protocols and their detailed budgets for consideration by the GF;
• Prepare and participate in external supervision and evaluation missions of the GF and other agencies by facilitating access to programmatic and M&E data, as required and ensures the optimal use of evaluation findings by providing guidance in preparation of timely management response to all mandatory evaluations and by developing a communication/dissemination plan.

Ensures creation of strategic partnershipswith key national actors and supports resource mobilization efforts focusing on achievement of the following results:

• In coordination with the Head of Programme and M&E, builds strategic partnerships and maintains strong working relationships with the SRs, FMOH, technical partners, and UN entities to ensure transparent and effective management, quality services and oversight of the programmes.
• Ensure, in close collaboration with Head of Programme and M&E and Finance team that the SRs adhere to internal controls and compliance to UNDP policies and procedure ob accountability of results and resources, and ensure real-time and quality  budget reprogramming and revisions, monitoring the grant absorption rate, monthly and quarterly tracking and review of expenditures etc.
• Provide hands on support  to develop funding requests to the GF and that also complement UNDP’s PR role with other health and development activities and the development of project documents and initiation of the programmes.

Facilitation of knowledge building and sharing focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Provides high quality programme briefs, write ups and inputs to UNDP reports including, ROAR, Annual Reports, Briefing Notes and any other request for information and represents UNDP at the UN Joint Theme on HIV/AIDS and CCM, at the request of the Programme Manager and Head of Programmes and M&E; 
• Identifies and supports development of communications (print, video) highlighting key programme achievements, best practices, and lessons learnt and contributes to information sharing with the FMOH, implementing partners, NGOs, CSOs, communities, donors and technical partners, the GF, CCM, Regional Bureau and GF/HIST; and 
• Actively participates in UNDP and other relevant external networks to promote the programmes and UNDP’s health and development work (e.g., conferences, community of practice, Yammer) and represents UNDP in relevant technical meetings, and working groups and gathers lessons learnt to apply to the programmes. 
• Ensure elaboration and implementation of assigned programme/projects Grant Management specific capacity development/transfer plan to improve technical skills and program management systems at the DCD and any other designated National entity in preparation to  adequately assume PR functions related to coordination and management of  grant, according to the GF guidelines and requirements.

Other tasks required by the office