Health and Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist At UNOPS

Health and Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist

Job categoriesHealth

Vacancy codeVA/2022/B5145/23587

Department/officeECR, GVA, Advisory Services

Duty stationAshgabat , Turkmenistan

Contract typeLocal ICA Specialist

Contract levelLICA Specialist-10

DurationOngoing (Part-time contract)

Application period16-Mar-2022 to 31-Mar-2022

Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement.

Background information- ECR

Based in Geneva, the Europe and Central Asia Regional Office (ECR) supports UNOPS offices throughout the region through: management, financial and programmatic oversight of global and country-specific portfolios, clusters and operations centres, including hosting services; fund and management advisory services; project implementation; procuring goods and services; and managing human resources.

ECR ensures that projects are executed to the highest standards, providing a shared knowledge base and ensuring that best practices and lessons learned are disseminated between business units and projects across the entire region.

ECR strategy is to:

• Strengthen UNOPS role in operationalizing the Sustainable Development Goals with particular emphasis on health, environment and economic development.
• Position UNOPS in the Balkan sub-region, the Caucasus and Central Asia.
• Strengthen the implementation of ECR global and regional programmes, with revitalized partnerships in infrastructure, procurement and project management.

ECR operates global portfolios from offices in Geneva, Brussels and New York, and country-specific programmes from its operations and project centres located in Eastern Europe and Central Asian countries.

** Background Information – Job-specific

Global Fund Local Fund Agent
UNOPS is acting as the Local Fund Agent (LFA) for the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) in a number of countries including in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, the Middle East, in Asia and the Pacific. The Global Fund does not have a country-level presence outside of its central Secretariat. Instead, it hires third party Local Fund Agents (LFAs) to oversee, verify and report on grant performance. LFAs are selected through a competitive bidding process. The Global Fund typically engages one LFA in each country where its grant funds are disbursed. The LFA provides access to local knowledge that is relevant to grant performance. The Global Fund adheres to the principles of performance-based funding in making disbursement decisions. The aim is to ensure that investments are made only where funding is managed and spent effectively on programs that achieve impact in fighting the relevant diseases. The LFA is a crucial part of the Global Fund’s system of oversight and risk management. Its principal role is to provide informed and independent professional advice about the capacity of fund/grant recipients to manage the implementation of activities funded by grant funds (including the recipient’s capacity to oversee implementation of activities by implementing parties), to make recommendations concerning periodic disbursement of grant funds, to review grant performance when a grant is being considered for renewal, and to provide the donor on an on-going basis with relevant information on issues or risks which might affect grant performance.

In Turkmenistan, more specifically, the LFA is expected to ensure the oversight and monitoring of the Global Fund’s transition grant focusing on tuberculosis (TB) – the objective of which is to finalize the successful transition towards government ownership, while strengthening the sustainability of the TB response in the country, and ensuring quality delivery of health services to patients. In addition, the LFA provides assurance services related to the Global Fund’s investment to support the covid/19 response in the country.

The LFA is expected to have an up-to-date and comprehensive understanding of tuberculosis, how it is prevented, transmitted and treated, and its impact on the country. The LFA team assesses the grant recipients’ institutional, program management, financial management, procurement and supply management capacities and systems to ensure that those are appropriate for the implementation of the donor’s grant. The LFA team also determines whether the recipient has adequate infrastructure and information systems to support grant implementation, including the monitoring of performance of implementing partners and outsourced entities in a timely and accountable manner.

** Functional Responsibilities

The Health and M&E Specialist will be based in Ashgabat and conduct regular monitoring visits to health facilities outside of the capital city. The specialist will report to the M&E specialist and acting team leader based in Armenia, and covering Turkmenistan and Armenia LFA activities. In addition, the specialist will receive operational and logistical assistance from the central project team based in Geneva. The Health /M&E Specialist is responsible for delivering services and tasks in health programmatic/M&E functional area to the high level of quality desired and in a timely manner.

The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.

The incumbent is required to perform the function of technical Health and M&E Specialist for Turkmenistan by carrying out the following activities:

• Report Reviews

· Review progress update reports and disbursement requests submitted by the grant recipients as per following:

· Verify grant recipient and implementing partners’ primary records (supporting documents submitted) for accuracy and completeness, and for the correspondence of those, with the summary internal/external reports prepared by the grant recipients and implementing partners;

· Conduct cross-checks of various primary documents with the summary reports;

· Interview grant recipients and implementing partners’ relevant staff members, as well as program beneficiaries, including TB patients;

· Debrief grant recipient and implementing partners’ staff members on the main findings from the UNOPS verifications/reports;

· Cross verification of M&E and health/programmatic data with financial, management and procurement data/information, including management actions; and

· Conduct comprehensive programmatic and M&E analysis and reflect it in the programmatic and M&E related sections of the obligatory reporting template.

• Implementation Reviews:

· Conduct regular and ad hoc visits to the grant recipients and implementing partners or sub-recipients to monitor implementation of the projects (including trainings and other key events), and prepare corresponding reports;

· Carry out regular monitoring of grant recipients and implementing partner performances and verify the implementation status of the programme and the progress towards reaching the set programme targets;

· Assess reasonableness of the types and quantities (forecasted needs) of TB medicines and other health products that are planned to be procured with grant funds;

· Review implementation planning documents during grant implementation (workplan, budget, procurement plan, M&E, others), and provide an opinion on proposed changes in programme implementation, effects these changes might have on attainment of programme objectives, proposed budget reallocations and provide recommendations to the client;

· Observe meetings with the grant recipient and sub-recipients, as well as attend any in-country relevant Country Coordination Meeting (CCM) or key partners’meetings;

· Plan, prepare and lead data verification and data quality exercises including travel to monitor status of grant implementation;

· Perform other duties as per the donor manual and/or as assigned/ required.

• Relationship with the Global Fund

· Monitor and inform the team leader and the Global Fund of any developments within the country’s health system which may affect the performance of the grants;

· Immediately raise all suspicious acts, transactions and activities and processes which may pose potential risks, misconduct, mismanagement, misuse and frauds by grant recipients and implementing partners to the attention of the team leader; and

· Support and accompany, as needed, the Global Fund Fund Portfolio Manager while conducting country visits and meetings with PRs, SRs, and other partners.

In conducting the above tasks, the incumbent will ensure that the Global Fund guidelines and policies are adhered to including the ones which are related to M&E and programmatic/health functional areas. The respective international guidelines (e.g. WHO, UNAIDS, etc) shall be also consulted and followed.

The Key results expected are:

Executing services as per the country work plans and tasks assigned by the Portfolio Manager and/or country Team Leader;

Ensuring the quality and timeliness of execution of services and of submission of key deliverables to GF in the programmatic and monitoring and evaluation area, and if needed, propose innovative and proactive solutions. This will involve close coordination with the country and fly-in team members, as relevant;

Ensuring professional relations maintained with the Global Fund, partners and stakeholders, including PRs and multilateral organizations.

Progress is regularly discussed with the country LFA Team Leader and LFA Central coordination team based in Geneva.

** Competencies

Develops and implements sustainable business strategies, thinks long term and externally in order to positively shape the organization. Anticipates and perceives the impact and implications of future decisions and activities on other parts of the organization.**(for levels IICA-2, IICA-3, LICA Specialist- 10, LICA Specialist-11, NOC, NOD, P3, P4 and above)**

Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same. Upholds organizational and ethical norms. Maintains high standards of trustworthiness. Role model for diversity and inclusion.

Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates and supports the development of others. For people managers only: Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilizing appropriate leadership styles.

Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own role on all partners and always puts the end beneficiary first. Builds and maintains strong external relationships and is a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role).

Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a goal. Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas. Sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them. Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our impact on our beneficiaries.

Open to change and flexible in a fast paced environment. Effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements. Reflects on experiences and modifies own behavior. Performance is consistent, even under pressure. Always pursues continuous improvements.

Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions. Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks. Applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving.

Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner. Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings and needs of others. Actively listens and proactively shares knowledge. Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground.

** Education/Experience/Language requirements

a. Education

A Master’s degree in Public Health, Medicine, Epidemiology, Development Studies or a related area is required. A bachelor’s degree in the related fields combined with two additional years of relevant experience will be considered in lieu of the master’s degree.

b. Work Experience

Five (5) years with master’s degree or seven (7) years with bachelor’s degree in epidemiology, health programme management and/or Monitoring and evaluation including experience in more than one developing country. The incumbent is expected to demonstrate strong understanding of TB, with experience in working in this field for several years.

Prior experience in the provision of advisory or Local Fund Agent services is a strong advantage.

Experience with large donors in the area of health is an advantage.

c. Language skills

Fluency in Turkmen and proficiency in English (Fluent read/write and Intermediate spoken) is required.

** Contract type, level and duration

Contract type: ICA (Individual Contractor Agreement)

Contract level: LICA-10 (ICS10) Part time Contract

Contract duration: Ongoing contract

For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link:
https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements.aspx

** Additional Considerations

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• Work life harmonization – UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few Mandatory Courses (around 4 hours) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS.
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns.
Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

** Background Information – UNOPS

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

Working with us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.