Project Management Specialist

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Office/Unit/Project Description

Globally and locally, the use of information and communications technologies and digital tools has gained increasing relevance, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, to support efficient and effective delivery of health services ultimately contributing to improved health outcomes and accelerating progress across the health-related SDGs. Even though the digital tools such as eTracker and DHIMS2 have been deployed in Ghana, inadequate infrastructure for nation-wide roll out, insufficient analysis of data collected, and sub-optimal human resource capacity prevent the country from gaining maximum benefits from the use of digital tools. Looking at Ghana’s disease burden, it presents a complex picture. While malaria remains a major cause of morbidity, data from routine service delivery reveals the increasing burden of NCDs. Fight against the persistent disease – malaria is not straightforward. It requires an integrated solution that simultaneously addresses malnutrition and anemia given its interlinked association, and innovative ways to detect, diagnose, treat, and follow up cases. In combatting NCDs, prevention is the primary approach by controlling people’s unhealthy lifestyle choices. Hence, the need for a concerted and integrated approach that includes a mechanism and technologies for early detection and screening and health promotion in communities to address the double burden, especially within vulnerable communities. The project will use a multi-pronged approach to improve health service using digital solutions, encouraging behavior changes in communities, and piloting the use of state-of-the-art diagnostics. Furthermore, recognizing the importance of effective participation, partnership, and cooperation of multi-stakeholders such as Government, private sector, civil society, international organizations, technical and academic communities in developing the information society, the project will be implemented in multi-stakeholder partnerships mobilizing and sharing knowledge, expertise, technology, and resources. Through the co-creation of solutions and capacity building, it seeks to ensure the ownership by the skilled and empowered workforce, and thereby sustainability.

Scope of Work: 

A. Lead, manage and coordinate project to ensure effective planning implementation and achievement:

• Facilitate the day-to-day project implementation and ensure achievement of targets as outlined in the project work plan;
• Facilitate and ensure quality control of the work delivered in line with the agreed objectives of the platform;
• Perform oversight roles for project compliance against the relevant government and UNDP regulations for project management;
• Ensure ongoing knowledge-sharing and facilitate capacity building and learning exchange programmes of the project to enhance capacity building opportunities for the project secretariat;
• Ensure effective monitoring of project performance and the preparation of high-quality and results-oriented reports;
• Undertake any other assignment(s) as determined by the Director, Growth and Governance.

B. Ensure effective planning, budgeting, and execution of the project through the following tasks:

• Formulate coordinated approaches and plans to support the implementation of the project;
• Lead project work planning and operation plans for projects;
• Analyze and monitor progress and advise on timely corrective actions for proper operational project delivery;
• Ensure sound and timely monitoring and reporting on the activities and record monitoring in Quantum;
• Oversee project budgets preparations;
• Track expenses, ensure proper allocation and use of funds, review budget revisions and ensure timely payments to vendors through Quantum;
• Review financial reports submitted by counterparts and liaise with counterparts to ensure the transparent and accountable use of funds provided in the framework of LOAs;
• Prepare project procurement plans;
• Prepare the TORs and technical specification for goods and services to be handed over to the Contract and Procurement Unit for them to be able to timely publish ITB, RFP, RFQ, EoI as appropriate.

C. Oversee and coordinate the implementation of the multi-stakeholder process focusing on the achievement of set outputs:

• Provide technical expertise on the day-to-day multi-stakeholder coordination process and ensure the achievement of targets as outlined in the project work plan;
• Deliver conferences and workshops in collaboration with independent facilitator(s) and multiple stakeholders;
• Develop and strengthen relationships with key actors in the health and related sectors and foster their participation in the national/local multi-stakeholder spaces/processes;
• Manage the multi-stakeholder dialogue process to develop, implement and monitor collective action plans and commitments.

D. Ensure appropriate liaison with partners and timely reporting, focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Ensure that donor and other kinds of reporting are done within the UNDP rules and regulations or according to the criteria set out in partnership documents with donors; 
• Ensure proper reporting to donors on implementation, the achievement of outputs as well as, contribute to reporting on progress towards outcomes and impact;
• Coordinate donor and partner steering committees/project boards and prepare project updates for partners;
• Logistics and administrative support for committee meetings;
• Promote information sharing and coordination with UN agencies;
• Make presentations to development partners, as required.

E. Create and nurture strategic partnerships and support the implementation of resource mobilization:

• Substantively contribute to the harnessing of effective partnerships and lead the identification and onboarding process for implementing partners; 
• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships and strategic linkages with implementing and development partners, government officials, businesses, NGOs, other national and regional stakeholders, and beneficiaries to support and ensure accurate interpretation of project objectives and promote inclusive project implementation;
• Substantively contribute to project communications and visibility efforts;
• Make recommendations to the management team on activities with potential for scale-up, replicability and synergies;
• Provide technical support to the implementing partners and act as a liaison between UNDP and the partners;
• Support resource mobilization efforts and project development.

F. Facilitate knowledge building and management for and from the project development and implementation:

• Identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learned directly linked to programme country goals and activities; 
• Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice including corporate communications repositories;
• Facilitate generating of knowledge products such as best practices and lessons learnt for knowledge sharing, which will inform operationalization of the platform beyond the project’s life span.

G. The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Institutional Arrangement

The Project Management Specialist will work under the direct supervision of the Head of Cluster, Inclusive Growth and Accountable Governance Cluster. See Annex for the organogram.

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 Direction and Strategy

• System 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.

Business Development

• Collective Intelligence Design
  • ​​​​​​​Ability to bringing together diverse groups of people, data, information or ideas, and technology to design services or solutions.
• Result-based Management
  • Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results.

2030 Agenda

• People
  • Surge capacity and health infrastructure incl. deployment of digital solutions;
  • Universal Health Coverage, including NCDs.

Partnership Management

• Private Sector Resource Mobilization
  • Ability to identify, develop and manage partnerships that leverage private sector technical expertise and resources.
• Resource Mobilization
  • Ability to identify funding sources, match funding needs (programmes/projects/initiatives) with funding opportunities and establish a plan to meet funding requirements.

Minimum Qualifications of the Successful IPSA

Minimum Academic Education:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in Public Health, Global Health, Project Management or relevant related areas is required; 

OR

• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Minimum years of relevant work experience:

• A minimum of 5 years(with Master’s degree) or 7 years (with Bachelor’s degree) of professional work experience in management and management of health projects or relevant related field is required.

Required skills:

• Knowledge, understanding, and practical experience in health system strengthening at the national level;
• Demonstrated understanding and practical experience of social determinants of health and health system strengthening and ability to apply to strategic and practical situations;
• Demonstrated experience advancing inter-disciplinary approaches through engagement and coordination of cross-team collaboration.

Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section:

• Demonstrated ability to develop knowledge products and outreach pieces related to health and project implementation;
• Experience with the work of multilateral, bilateral, and civil society partners;
• Demonstrated ability to work in an independent manner and minimal supervision;
• Direct experience designing, managing, and implementing health projects;
• Substantive experience working with national governments and stakeholders on health system strengthening, preferably in the African region;
• Demonstrated experience with Japan funded projects, with concrete reporting will be considered an asset;
• Experience supporting countries/territories in developing and implementing digital solutions an asset;
• Experience supporting gender-mainstreaming in projects is desirable;
• Work experience in UNDP and knowledge of UNDP policies and procedures desirable;
• Experience in African region an asset;
• Previous experience with UNDP is desirable;
• Experience in community health system strengthening, Communicable, and Non-Communicable Diseases is an asset.

Required Language(s) (at working level):

• Proficiency in English is required;
• Proficiency in Japanese or another UN language is desirable.

Disclaimer

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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.

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