UNDP is a key partner to the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (TGF) and has been assuming the role of temporal Principal Recipient of Global Fund HIV, TB and Malaria in Sudan.

In January 2018, the Global Fund ( GF) approved the Program Continuation request of the Republic of Sudan to fund HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria/RSSH under New Funding Model (NFM)-2 for the implementation period of 2018-2020.  UNDP was designated as Principal Recipient of the HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis grants. During the period of implementation of NFM-2, UNDP and the GF agreed on Principal Receipent (PR) transitional measures which will enhance gradual transfer of the PR-ship roles of GF grants to the Ministry of Health and to any other national entity - as may be determined by the Sudan Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM ) and the GF.

In this new arrangement, in addition to implementation of important PR core responsibilities for financial, programmatic management, procurement of health and non-health products, and Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E);  UNDP will implement a Transition and Systems Development Plan, tailor-made to address identified capacity gaps at the Federal Ministry of Health and NGOs/CBOs who will be designated by the CCM to take over as PR for TB and HIV and grants.

Under the technical guidance and direct supervision of the GF Programme Manager at UNDP, the Capacity Development and Transition Officer will be responsible for ensuring that implementation of Transition and Systems Development Plan is done according to the approved plan, including expected standards, quality, performance metrics and deadline.  In responding to this core function, s/he will work in close collaboration with the Multi-agency Transition Implementation Monitoring Team (TIM) -  a committee created by the CCM,  with members representing the Federal Ministry of Health ( FMOH) Civil Society Organizations/ Non-Governmental Orgnanization(CSO/NGOs)  and health cooperating partners vested with responsibility to provide technical oversight over implementation of the  Transition and Systems Development Plan, across programmatic and institutional arrangements,  Programmatic and Institutional Arrangements, Procurement and Supply Chain  Management, Financial Management and in Health Information and Monitoring and Evaluation.

In his/her core functions, the Capacity Development and Transition Officer promotes a collaborative, client-focused, quality and results-oriented approach across different Directorates of the FMOH, the PMU at the FMOH,  Global Fund grant sub-recipients and stakeholders. S/he works in close collaboration with the UNDP PMU grant teams, procurement and supply chain management , and finance and administration and monitoring and evaluation  staff and the colleagues within the UNDP Sudan Country Office.

The Capacity Development and Transition Officer will build strong partnerships with the FMOH and health cooperating partners involved in building sustainable and resilient systems for health and developing capacities of health implementers in Sudan, and will ensure that the Transition and Systems Development Plan is not  implemented in isolation, but as an integral part of the National Health Sector-wider institutional, systems and human  capacity development initiatives.

Summary of key functions:

1: Ensuring the timely implementation of the Transition and Systems Development Plan, according to the approved work plan and budget, and  in compliance with terms and conditions agreed between UNDP and FMOH and as approved by the GF. 

• Develop awareness and understanding,  by all the stakeholders, of the contents of the “Transition and Systems Development Plan”, and elaborate  strategies to  sustain ownership of the Plan within the FMOH Department and Directorates as well as with States MoH and CSO/NGO to enhance effectiveness in improving capacities, systems, processes, and compliance in program design, programme management, Financial Management, Procurement and supply chain management systems, Health Management Information Systems, monitoring and evaluation and reporting, and in the areas of health governance and sub-recipient management.
• Proactively engage with the Transition Implementation Monitoring Team (TIM) to elaborate,  in collaboration with the Heads of Sections and Functional/ Technical Staff  at the  UNDP and FMOH Projects Management Units (Programmatic and institutional arrangements,  Procurement and Supply Chain  Management, Financial Management and in Health Information and Monitoring and Evaluation), advise the teams on appropriate strategies for providing  oversight, monitoring of activities and producing periodic reports to be presented to CCM, on quarterly basis.
• Develop clear roadmap for involvement of the UNDP, FMOH, CSO/NGO and CCM in the implementation of the plan, including roles and responsibilities of each agency, and put in place realiable mechanisms for accountability of results and resources.
• Ensure that all capacity transfer and training activities conducted and funded under the plan are adequately planned, well designed and implementation is documented with high quality, standards, completeness and in real-time.
• Develop and/or sustain programme and financial reporting mechanisms for the implementation of Transition and Systems Development Plan, in collaboration with the Programme and Finance Units at UNDP and FMOH/PU to ensure that the financial management systems and reporting comply with agreed PR standard operating procedures ( PR SOPs).

2: Ensuring the effective coordination and adequate oversight over implantation of Transition and Systems Development Plan.

• Provide support to the Transition and Systems Development Plan implementing partners to develop, review and update periodic workplans by identifying potential areas of the planned activities and budget as well as implementation arrangement  which needs to be revised or amended. Prepare the note to suggest the rationale for the revision or amendment for validation of TIM and endorsement by the FMOH, CCM and approval by the GF.
• Develop capacities of the individual staff at the FMOH, UNDP and CSO/NGOs, States MoH to  tracking progress in capacity transfer and improvements in systems development, and  put in place mechanisms to assess and produce monthly, quarterly and semester and annual report on progress of implementation of the plan, status of achieving the intended outcome (change), and overall intended results against the targets, expenditure reports and absorption capacity, challenges encountered, opportunities and lessons learnt as well recommending remedial measure to improve performance.
• Build strong partnerships with FMOH Implementing departments and Directorates, National Medical Supplies Fund (NMSF), UNDP/GF Project Management Unit(PMU) Functional units to ensure there is a coordinated,  holistic and harmonized approach in the design of capacity transfer interventions and optimum use of resources to respond to priority capacity gaps with a view to build resilient and sustainable  systems for health (RSSH)
• Prepare the scope of work and terms of reference for international and national consultants/Technical Assistance (TA) recommended in the approved Transition and Systems Development Plan, including  contributing  technical expertise to the hiring and contract management of these consultancies and ensuring that the final products meet the expected standards, quality and  delivered in real time.

3: Supporting the implementation of the FMOH, CSO/NGOs and States  Capacity-Building Plan.  

• Plan and take a leading role, in collaboration with the FMOH, States MoH and selected CSO/NGOs and with support of consultants to designing the Capacity assessment of States MoH and the CSO/NGO entity designated by the CCM as next PR
• Spearhead stakeholders participatory process for elaboration of capacity development plan of the States MoH and selected CSO/NGOs, including organizing thematic working sessions to design the plan, preparation of stakeholder’s validation workshop and prepare required documentation to facilitate the endorsement of the plan by the CCM and the GF
• Ensure routine monitoring of the implementation of  the Transition and Systems Development Plan is captured , and produce period reports,  documentation and communication of achievements made, including dissemination of best practices and most significant changes to stakeholders (FMOH, States MoH, designated CSO/NGOs, partners, the CCM and the GF Secretariat)
• Enhance follow-up and report on progress of implementation of management actions recommended by the Global Fund Local Fund agent (LFA), the Global Fund and the CCM on any gaps in implementation, risks and challenges identified in the assessment of  implementation of Transition and Systems Development Plan,
• Foster a regular and sustained communication between all national actors and the Global Fund Secretariat  in the implementation of Transition and Systems Development Plan. Initiate feed-back letters, Management Letters, and follow-up actions which should be communicated on monthly, quarterly and semesterly basis to all implementing entities.
• Working under the oversight of the National Transition Implementation Monitoring (TIM) team, spearhead the process for design, implementation and dissemination of the mid-year, and annual evaluation of progress  of implementation of Transition and Systems Development Plan.

4: Supporting the FMOH, States MoH and designated CSO/NGO’s strategic engagement with other stakeholders, CCM and the Global Fund. 

• Help to ensure alignment of implementation of Transition and Systems Development Plan, with the GF grant implementation cycle, and ensure the implementation of the plan responds to capacity needs to implement  the national strategic plans (NSPs) for HIV, TB and Malaria to achieve the overarching goals, objectives and targets.
• Support the FMOH to identify potential alternative sources of funding, in additional to the GF,  and support in mobilization of in-country technical capacities,  from partners, to support implementation of Transition and Systems Development Plan.
• Ensure complete, real-time and quality production of documentation, records and minutes of the implementation of the Transition and Systems Development Plan and coordination meetings within PMU and with partners.

5: Knowledge Management and sharing  

• Prepares reports on activities, outputs and outcomes to meet internal UNDP requirements and for FMOH and the GF;
• Provides periodic news letters, statistical bulletins and case studies in a timely manner.
• Support the synthesis of lessons learned and best practices in the area of capacity Development, health systems development and transition
• Create synergies and enhance a leverage of the UNDP’s wider capacity development initiatives,  in line with organizational roles in supporting implementation of Transition and Systems Development Plan.
• Undertake any other managerial tasks as assigned by the Programme Manager.

Core:

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards.
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP.
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Functional Competencies:

Managerial and leadership

• Good managerial and leading skills;
• Demonstrate strong coordination and organizational skills;
• Ability to work as a part of a team, sharing information and coordinating efforts within the team;
• Consistently approaches to work with energy and a positive and constructive attitude;
• Excellent analytical and writing skills.

Coordination and partnership

• Build, coordinate and advise on strategic and programmatic partnership
• Facilitate the engagement of major stakeholders or groups in environment and sustainable development decision making, their access to and sharing of information for effective compliance.

Capacity Building Competency

• Uses knowledge and reasoning to identify the strength and weaknesses of alternate solutions, conclusions and approaches to problems;
• Builds strong relationships with internal and external clients, including the Global Fund and the UN family of agencies;

Project Management

• Proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives,
• Establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support,
• Drives for change and improvements,
• Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

Communications & Advocacy

• Strong ability to write clearly and convincingly, adapting style and content to different audiences and speak clearly and convincingly.
• Strong presentation skills in meetings with the ability to adapt for different audiences.
• Strong analytical, research and writing skills with demonstrated ability to think strategically.
• Strong capacity to communicate clearly and quickly.
• Strong inter-personal, negotiation and liaison skill

Education:

Master’s Degree in Public Health, Health Sciences, Project Management, Business administration , or Social Sciences.

Experience:

5 years of relevant experience at the national or international level in health projects/programme management, performing one or more of the following functions:

• Program, finance management,  health systems strengthening in designing, implementing and reporting on performance of HIV/AIDs, Malaria & Tuberculosis.
• Capacity development experience,  including design and facilitation of training packages, support supervision approaches , and providing on the job mentorship and  coaching
• A strong background in managing health programme/ projects in focus on  output, processes,  impact, and results .
• Proven experience of working with and maintaining good relations with Government Departments,CSO/NGOs, bi-lateral and Multi-lateral organizations.
• Knowledge of the GF financial and programme management procedures will be an asset.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills coupled with strong IT skills.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in both oral and written English and Arabic.

• UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

• Qualified female candidates are encouraged to apply.

• 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.

Contract Duration: One Year with possibility for extension