UNDP Job Opportunity: United Nations Development Programme Hiring “National Programme Specialist” || May-2025
Latest Job Opportunity at United Nations Development Programme (UNDP Pakistan), Islamabad.
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 Pakistan is looking to hire “National Programme Specialist at Islamabad.
Details are as follows:
Position Title: National Programme Specialist NPSA-11
Location: Islamabad
Vacancy Type: National Personnel Service Agreement
Practice Area: Effectiveness
Contract Duration: 1 Year with Possibility for extension
Job Description:
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.
UNDP has been identified by the GF as the interim PR for the Pakistan HIV grant for the implementation period 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2026. For effective implementation of the Global Fund resources, UNDP Pakistan has established a Program Management Unit (PMU), which 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 systems. The GF resources are implemented in accordance with UNDP rules, policies and procedures, the grant confirmation, corporate agreements with the GF and in close coordination with the national and provincial stakeholders, Common Management Unit, Sub-recipients (SRs) and Sub-sub-Recipients (SSRs), NGOs, CSOs, communities, technical partners, UN entities and the Global Fund (Local Fund Agent) and Country Coordinating Mechanism.
Required Skills and Experience:
Education:
- Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Public Health or relevant related field is required, or
- A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Experience:
- Minimum 7 years (with master’s degree) or 9 years (with bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible relevant experience at the national or international level in working in the implementation of HIV programming and developing or implementing capacity and strengthening systems for health is required.
- Experience working with a public health institution in the area of HIV.
- Experience in the use of computers, office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and web-based management systems, and advanced knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages.
- Knowledge and experience working in the UN or UNDP rules, regulations, policies and procedures is an asset.
- Demonstrated experience in developing and managing effective partnerships with government and civil society organizations.
Required Languages:
- Fluency in English and Urdu is required.
- Knowledge of other local languages is an asset.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Under direct supervision of the Project Manager, the National Programme Specialist will provide technical, advisory and strategic support to achieve successful implementation of the HIV grant in Pakistan as well as any other health-related programs which may be implemented by UNDP in the future. This will be done in accordance with UNDP rules, policies and procedures, the grant agreement, and corporate agreements with the GF, and working in partnership with national and provincial stakeholders, Sub-recipients (SRs) and Sub-sub-Recipients (SSRs) and close coordination with the GF (including Local Fund Agent), CCM, technical partners and UN entities, and the GF/HIST. The National Programme Coordinator 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.
Ensures and advises on effective programmatic management for the achievement of the following results:
- Supports on 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);
- In coordination with the Project Manager and other PMU unit colleagues, contributes to 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;
- Develop and submit work plans and budgets, and coordinate with M&E and PSM teams to ensure that the performance frameworks and PSM plans for HIV grant are realistic and achievable and that they are in tandem with national HIV strategic plan;
- Establish agreements, oversee and monitor implementation of work plans by Sub-Recipients and national programmes, and ensure effective coordination amongst them, including conducting monthly meeting with respective Sub-recipients (SRs) and national and provincial programmes to follow up on programme implementation;
- 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;
- Supports the establishment of a framework and agreed procedures with the 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);
- Supports on the programmatic 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;
- Ensures that the project management module in ATLAS is updated on a quarterly basis;
- Monitors closely the budget, in liaison with the Finance Specialist conduct quality analysis of the performance of the budget by cost inputs and partner; the analysis to be shared and discussed at PMU Senior Management meetings; and
- In coordination with Project Manager in the areas of programme, SR management supports programme audits (including SRs) and investigations and in coordination with the Regional Bureau, Office of Audit and Investigations, GF/HIST, ensures timely follow up on management actions and recovery actions.
Provides capacity building in grant management for the achievement of the following results:
- Supports the Project Manager to coordinate with other UN agencies, government agencies, NGOs, CSOs and other organizations on programmatic interventions to strengthen policies and procedures and health systems;
- In coordination with the Project Manager and other PMU units proactively anticipates implementation bottlenecks and identifies innovative ways to resolve the same to strengthen programme implementation and oversight in order to support the transition of the PR role from UNDP;
- Supports development and implementation of capacity development and transition plans and mechanisms;
- Ensure links between the UNDP Global Fund grant management work and the policy advisory role of UNDP;
- In coordination with the Programme Specialist maintains close coordination between the programmes and HIV initiatives in the country, to promote partnership building and avoid duplication of programmatic activities and to exchange critical and technical information and resolve implementation issues;
- Engages in the national strategic planning processes for the programmes based on evidence gained during implementation of the programmes;
- Ensure a collaborative coordination between the different grant sections as well as M&E, including implementing harmonized approaches with respect to the financial tracking of grants and annual financial reporting, and any other cross-cutting issues; and
- Leads the design and delivery of programmatic training and/or capacity building to national partners, together with implementing partners involved in the implementation of the grants.
Ensures creation of strategic partnerships with key national actors and supports resource mobilization efforts focusing on achievement of the following results:
- In coordination with the Project Manager, builds strategic partnerships and maintains strong working relationships with the national and provincial partners, NGOS, CSOs, communities, donors, technical partners, and UN entities to ensure transparent and effective management, quality services and oversight of the programmes;
- Serve is an alternative to the Project Manager as the PMU and UNDP representative at the UN Joint Team on AIDS meetings and CCM;
- In coordination between the programmes and other health and development initiatives in the country, to promote partnership building and avoid duplication of programmatic activities and to exchange critical and technical information and resolve implementation issues; and
- Supports the Project Manager 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 for the interim PR role focusing on achievement of the following results:
- Participate and promote the organization of events, forums etc. in order fortify the different provincial and national structures;
- Provide support to the Project Manager to provide 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 Project Manager;
- Monitor closely the budget, in liaison with the Finance Specialist conduct quality analysis of the performance of the budget by cost inputs and partner; the analysis to be shared and discussed at PMU Senior Management meetings;
- Work closely with M&E section towards effective monitoring, timely reporting and analysis of results of projects to incorporate lessons learnt into recommendations for improvement to be implemented by partners;
- Liaise with procurement and legal sections to prepare and follow up contracts of SRs;
- Provide substantive inputs and lead the SR contract management;
- Identifies and supports development of communications (print, video) highlighting key programme achievements, best practices, and lessons learnt and contributes to information sharing with the mplementing 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, working groups at country, regional and global level and gathers lessons learnt to apply to the programmes.
The incumbent of the position will uphold the non-discriminatory behavior and ensure that:
- Human rights and gender equality is prioritized as an ethical principle within all actions;
- Activities are designed and implemented in accordance with “Social and Environmental Standards of UNDP”.
- Any kind of diversities based on ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, disability, religion, class, gender are respected within all implementations including data production;
- Differentiated needs of women and men are considered;
- Inclusive approach is reflected within all actions and implementations, in that sense an enabling and accessible setup in various senses such as disability gender language barrier is created;
- Necessary arrangements to provide gender parity within all committees, meetings, trainings, etc
Last Date to Apply: 06 June, 2025
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Note: 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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