Regional Senior Programme, M&E and Health Systems Specialist

The Asia Regional Health Cluster (ARHC) was established in 2018 for efficient delivery of grants and fund management, and the provision of quality pharmaceuticals and health products. The ARHC aims to significantly impact the targets of UN Sustainable Development Goal 3 on good health and well-being, by expanding the population benefitting from UNOPS-managed health-related engagements across the Asia Region. 

The ARHC portfolio manages the Principal Recipient (PR) Programme of the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund) in Asia. The Global Fund, which has been providing financial support to the Greater Mekong Sub-region for malaria programs since 2003, has selected UNOPS as a PR, responsible for delivering the targets set out in the grant agreements in collaboration with selected sub-recipients from the National Programmes, local and international non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and UN agencies.

Under supervision of the Asia Regional Health ClusterProgramme Director, provide scientific information to support evidence-based programme development, lead the health system strengthening and monitoring and evaluation (M&E) components across the five Mekong countries.  S/he is responsible for strategic coordination programme M&E, national capacity building, health systems strengthening and technical scientific information analysis.   As a senior member of the  Asia Regional Health Cluster Senior Management Team, s/he will assume an active role in defining programme direction and guiding programmatic adaptations to changing circumstances.

• Coordinate Programme Monitoring and Evaluation for all grants in the five Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) countries

• Provide technical leadership and guidance in development of evidence based programming, M&E Plans and frameworks.

• Lead discussions and negotiations with the donor on issues related to M&E and health systems.

• In collaboration with program partners, design data verification and data audit systems to ensure adequate donor reporting.

• Lead the teams in M&E and health systems capacity assessments. 

• Review and redesign as necessary the M&E systems of the civil society organizations that are implementing activities financed under Principal Recipient - The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (PR-GFATM).

• Oversee UNOPS periodic reporting (Progress Updates) to the Global Fund and provide recommendations to improve performance.

• Provide technical leadership and supervision of the PR M&E Specialists, including the international experts in the PR in all GMS Countries. 

• Build national capacity and support strategic planning activities across the five GMS countries

• Represent PR-GFATM at the Ministries of Health, Country Coordination Mechanisms, regional Steering Committee, Technical Strategic Meetings, and others as required.

• Identify and advise on potential implementation problems and bottlenecks. 

• Lead teams in national capacity building activities in all GMS countries.

• Engage with the Head of Programme, national partners and NGOs in the multi-year planning process, providing substantive scientific, evidence-based, timely inputs toward the development of budgets and work-plans.

• Support national strategic planning in proposal writing for resource mobilization. 

• Conduct critical analysis of risk.

• Implementation of Health Systems strengthening (HSS) components in the five GMS countries 

• Coordinate the implementation of health systems activities ensuring MOHs’ and donor priorities are met.

• Lead advisor and team leader on health systems strengthening across the GMS.

• Technical lead providing input toward the design of a health management information systems (HMIS). 

• Manage knowledge and information dissemination throughout the GMS countries, keeping UNOPS PR and its key partners abreast of important developments. 

• Lead on Development of a library of relevant international scientific evidence and best practices

• Lead the PR participation in all technical reviews and evaluations in the GMS countries.

• Manage knowledge and information dissemination and storage of relevant scientific evidence, best practices and lessons learnt to inform programme development.

Education 

• Master’s Degree preferably in Public Health, Health Economics, Health Sciences, Medicine, Epidemiology, Statistics or in a similar discipline. 

• Bachelor's degree preferably in the same areas with 12 years of relevant experience is considered as equivalent.

Experience 

• At least 10 years of health sector experience  

• 7 years of progressive experience in health programme M&E is required.

• Prior experience working with donors/ multi-donor funds is required.

• Experience working in local governance including but not limited to formal local government structures, local and community based NGOs, traditional governance systems, and informal networks is desirable.

• Experience in South East Asia region is preferred.

• Sound knowledge of the UN and regulations and rules is an asset.

• Ability and willingness to travel is necessary. 

Language

• Fluency in English is required.

• Understanding of other UN and/or local languages is an advantage. 

Contract type: staff

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.

• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.

• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.

• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures,  languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. 

• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.

• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process.  If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

Terms and Conditions 

• 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 (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. For more information on a retainer contract here.

• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.

• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.