Background
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP: we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), as a knowledge frontier organization within the UN Development System, plays a central role in integrating collective efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP’s policy work, spanning HQ, Regional Hubs, and Country Offices, brings together local expertise and global insights to address sustainable development challenges. A key part of this work is facilitated through the Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise that supports the signature solutions and organizational capabilities outlined in UNDP’s Strategic Plan.
As a founding co-sponsor of the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and a key partner in the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria, UNDP’s HIV and Health Group plays a critical role in advancing global health goals. Through its HIV and Health Connecting the Dots Strategy 2022-2025, the HIV and Health Group focuses on three core areas: reducing the inequalities that drive disease, promoting effective and inclusive governance for health, and building resilient, sustainable health systems. By leveraging UNDP’s strengths in governance, poverty reduction, and climate action, the HIV and Health Group helps countries integrate HIV and health into broader development efforts, ensuring that health interventions contribute to sustainable outcomes.
UNDP also works closely with countries and international partners to address the complex interactions between governance, human rights, and health responses, with a particular focus on those often left behind, such as LGBTI+ people and persons with disabilities. The UNDP/Global Fund partnership is central to this work, ensuring that countries facing resource constraints can access critical funding for health projects related to SDG3. Furthermore, the HIV and Health Group is active in health emergency response, supporting countries in managing health crises and addressing the health dimensions of post-crisis recovery.
The HIV and Health Group’s focus on supporting resilient health systems includes the Project for the Improvement of Infectious Waste Management in Southwest Asia (HCWM Project). Supported by the Government of Japan, this project addresses the surge in healthcare waste (HCW) exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh, Bhutan and the Maldives. Through the provision of specialized equipment, digital management systems and training for healthcare workers, the project promotes sustainable, clean, and green solutions for infectious waste management. Additionally, the project fosters South-South learning, enabling knowledge sharing between countries in the region. Aligned with the UNDP HIV and Health Strategy 2022-2025, the HCWM Project directly contributes to addressing the social, cultural and economic determinants of health.
UNDP in Asia and the Pacific also works to address development challenges relating to inequities that exacerbate risks to health and decrease access to health services by supporting integrated and multi-sectorial responses, enabling policy and legal environments, that protect the rights of people living with and affected by HIV and key populations, including LGBTI+ persons. The Regional Hub provides technical and substantive support to UNDP Country Offices and regional partners.
Duties and Responsibilities
The Programme Specialist will work under the supervision of the Policy Specialist, HIV and Health and overall guidance by the Team Leader, HHG Asia-Pacific.
Programme Management Support with the following key responsibilities:
- Coordinate the implementation of activities and deliverables related to the HCWM project and LGBTI inclusion.
- Coordinate and prepare annual and quarterly work plans and budgets, plan and monitor activities as determined in project document(s).
- Monitor technical support needs and provide assistance to ensure high quality technical support to regional partners, UNDP Country Offices and national partners.
- Analyse, review and monitor activity development and implementation, with the aim of identifying and addressing problems, in close consultation with country Project Managers.
- Draft and aid the development of briefings and speeches, as applicable.
- Ensure high quality and timely reporting to donors and UNDP internal reporting mechanisms.
- Lead in the preparation of conducting Project Board meetings, including circulation of meeting minutes and work plans, and ensure follow-up on the implementation of Project Board decisions.
- Provide substantive and administrative support to the preparation of meetings and other consultations, and country missions if applicable.
Contribute to Procurement of Goods and Services with the following key responsibilities:
- Provide oversight of overall project administration and procurement management.
- Guide and coordinate the preparation of procurement plans, in close consultation with UNDP procurement teams at BRH, Copenhagen and Kuala Lumpur.
- Lead in the recruitment of international consultants and technical experts to facilitate provision of high quality technical support to UNDP Country Offices and national partners.
Contribute to Financial Management with the following key responsibilities:
- Ensure effective and accurate final oversight as part of reporting.
- Implement adequate internal control, coordinate country allocations and/or HACT transfers, payments and reporting in line with HACT policy.
- Monitor financial expenditures against project budgets, undertake regular expense review, identifying issues and taking remedial actions, follow-up on periodic and annual closure exercises.
- Coordinate financial assurance activities such as field verifications, spot check and/or audit exercises and ensure implementation of recommendations as per audit policies.
Results Reporting, and Monitoring and Evaluation with the following key responsibilities:
- Coordinate results reporting (e.g., progress reports, donor reports, annual reports, etc.).
- Collaborate and coordinate with partners on results and M&E reporting.
- Support specific programme evaluations and/or reviews, including preparation of terms of reference, participation in consultant selection and technical feedback on evaluations.
- Coordinate and follow-up on the implementation of evaluation recommendations, ensuring the optimal use of evaluations by initiative partners.
Partnership-building, Communications and Knowledge Management with the following key responsibilities:
- Support the Policy Specialist to maintain effective partnership and working relationships with initiative partners, UNDP country offices and other relevant stakeholders.
- Support communications on key results of regional initiatives.
- Contribute to the development of knowledge products, tools and trainings.
- Support the Policy Specialist in recruitment processes and the maintenance of expert rosters.
- Contribute to Community of Practice iniatitives.
- Support the Policy Specialist in cross-country and cross-regional exchange of knowledge by collaborating with policy teams in Regional Hubs to research, develop and share knowledge-based tools and guidance to help influence/advance policy dialogue on HIV, key populations and human rights.
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Competencies
Core competencies:
- Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact
- Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems
- Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
- Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands
- Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
- Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
- Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity
Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:
Business Management
- Results-based management. Ability to manage the implementation of strategies, programmes, and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results. Knowledge and understanding of relevant theories, concepts, methodologies, instruments, and tools.
- Operations Management. Ability to effectively plan, organise, and oversee the Organisation’s business processes in order to convert its assets into the best results in the most efficient manner. Knowledge of relevant concepts and mechanisms.
- Resource Management. Allocate and use resources in a strategic or tactical way in line with principles of accountability and integrity
- Monitoring and Evaluation. Ability to systematically monitor results of strategies, programmes, and activities with a view to make sure that they are being implemented effectively; Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback and reporting on the consistency or discrepancy between planned activities and programme management and results. Ability to make independent judgment of the management and results of strategies, programmes and activities based on set criteria and benchmark, keeping in mind the needs and concerns of client, current and upcoming.
Knowledge and understanding of monitoring and evaluation frameworks, concepts, methodologies, systems, processes, and tools. Ability to make an independent judgement based on set criteria and benchmarks. Ability to anticipate client’s upcoming needs and concerns.
2030 Agenda: People
- Health. Inclusive social protection in the context of HIV and health
- Rule of Law, Security and Human Rights. Safeguarding human rights and protecting vulnerable groups
Business Direction & Strategy
- Systems Thinking. Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Political or Social Sciences, Public Administration, Economics, Gender, International Studies or related field is required, or
- A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree) in Political or Social Sciences, Public Administration, Economics, Gender, International Studies or related field in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Experience:
- Minimum 5 years (with Master’s degree) or 7 years (with Bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible professional experience in development in a governmental, multilateral or civil society organization in a multi-cultural setting.
- Project management and M&E experience.
- Minimum 3 years’ experience working in Asia and the Pacific in the health and development context, including on implementation and monitoring of health systems strengthening and key populations and/or LGBTI+ inclusion programmes.
- Knowledge and experience of project management and coordination at UNDP and/or other UN agencies;
- Familiarity with health, social inclusion, governance and human rights issues relating to vulnerable groups is required, preferably in an Asian context;
Required languages:
- Fluency in English is required.
- Additional Asian languages considered an asset.
Travel:
- UNDP will cover the cost of travel of the individual to the duty station, as well as their return to their home upon completion of their services. Travel costs are covered only in the event that the function will be undertaken physically in the duty station and excludes working from home arrangements.
- Include any official travel expected to be associated with performing the functions
Disclaimer
Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment.
UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.
Applicant information about UNDP rosters
Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.
Non-discrimination
UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.
UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
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