Programme Specialist Key Populations and Human Rights Program

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the United Nations' global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries with knowledge, experience and resources to help people build better lives. We are on the ground in 170 countries and territories, working with governments and people to find their own solutions to global and national development challenges to help empower lives and build resilient nations.

The 2030 Agenda of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the commitment to leave no one behind reflect the interconnectedness of health and sustainable development issues such as worsening economic and social inequalities, the climate crisis, rapid urbanization, the persistent burden of HIV and other infectious diseases (e.g., malaria, tuberculosis, COVID.19), the increasing burden of noncommunicable diseases, and the emergence of health threats.  The scope and scale of health and well-being delivery for all requires innovative partnerships and financing.

UNDP's partnership with the Global Fund (GF), in line with  UNDP's HIV and Health Strategy 2022-2025: "Connecting the Dots", makes a key contribution to UNDP's Strategic Plan 2022-2025, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the commitment to leave no one behind. Upon request, UNDP acts as the Interim Principal Recipient (PR), working with national partners and the Global Fund (GF) to manage, implement, and oversee Global Fund grants, while simultaneously strengthening health institutions and systems for national entities to assume the PR role over time. 

UNDP plays 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 United Nations entities and other organizations. This is done through UNDP's core work to reduce the inequalities and social exclusion that cause HIV and poor health, promote effective and inclusive health governance, and build resilient and sustainable health systems. UNDP's coordinating and convening role also helps to bring together multiple partners and resources at the national and local levels.  UNDP is a founding co-sponsor of UNAIDS and within the UNAIDS division of labour, leads on human rights and law issues and co-leads on key population issues. 

As a long-term trusted partner of the GF, UNDP's value proposition is to provide an integrated set of development solutions to strengthen the institutions responsible for delivering health services. Through its contributions as Interim Principal Recipient (PR) and provider of technical assistance in more than 53 countries since 2003, UNDP's provision of integrated policy, implementation and capacity development support to countries has produced significant health and development results in challenging operational environments. Proactive risk management and investment in sustainability are the cornerstones of UNDP's portfolio management approach and the provision of technical assistance to national counterparts during all phases of implementation, strengthening legislation, policies and regulatory frameworks, and building capacity in key functional areas, including financial management, health systems information, procurement and supply chain management. Within UNDP’s HIV and Health Group (HHG), the Global Fund Health Systems and Partnership Team (GFPHST) is a dedicated team that provides support to UNDP country offices in the implementation of health and development programs.

UNDP has been acting as the interim PR for Global Fund programs for Burundi since 1 January 2018. UNDP has been confirmed as PR for the next grant cycle, GC7, from 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2026. To ensure strategic planning, programmatic and operational management, and oversight of Global Fund grants to achieve the defined program goals and targets and ensure effective delivery, a dedicated Project Management Unit (PMU) has been established. UNDP country programme priorities for Burundi include supporting the provision of essential health services while addressing the socio-economic determinants of health, with a cross-cutting focus on promoting good governance, human rights and gender equality.

Position Purpose

This position contributes to the achievement of UNDP’s priorities in Burundi by supporting State decision-makers in Burundi to understand and respond to the needs and rights of sexual and gender minorities and HIV-related key populations; by strengthening the capacity of these populations to understand and influence relevant public policy and laws; and by facilitating the involvement of these populations in governance processes.   

The Programme Analyst (key populations and human rights) will support the implementation of the Global Fund HIV programme in Burundi, supporting state entities in Burundi to become increasingly accountable and responsive to, and inclusive of, LGBTI people and young key populations, which in turn will contribute to better laws, more responsive public sector services, and social norms that affirm these populations’ perspectives,  needs and rights; and strengthening key population organizations and programs to provide effective, person-centered HIV services to key population groups.   

UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. This is a recognition of interconnected nature of development risks & crises that the world is facing and that call for assembling of multidisciplinary teams for an integrated & systemic response. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across issues, units, functions, teams and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration. The Programme Analyst will be responsible for the following duties, all of which must be designed and conducted in close consultation with representatives of key populations to ensure appropriateness and to identify and mitigate possible risks to these populations that may result from the program.

• In close consultation with representatives of key populations, draft annual workplans and budgets for the Global Fund HIV programme in Burundi; monitor progress towards workplan milestones and objectives; monitor expenditures against budget and make recommendations for spending; prepare monthly and annual reports. 

• Design and deliver appropriate technical support and training interventions, drawing on best practice in LGBTI+ inclusion and HIV work with key populations; recruit and supervise short-term consultants responsible for additional technical support provision in specialized fields; plan and organize workshops and events, both logistically and substantively; conceptualize and design relevant field research and learning opportunities. 
• Support key population organizations and programs to develop organizational capacity and autonomy.
• Support key population organizations and programs to assess security risks and to adopt mitigation and response plans and actions.
• Support (and establish if necessary) mechanisms to respond to security incidents and crises affecting key populations and key population programs.

• Work closely with leading LGBTI+ organizations and leaders in Burundi, identifying and responding to their needs in line with the objectives of the Global Fund Programme, and agreeing tactics for identification and engagement of allies that take account of confidentiality and security concerns for key populations.
• Identify potential champions of LGBTI+ and key population inclusion in key human rights and equality organizations in order to establish broader support for the work.
• Identify potential champions of LGBTI+ and key population inclusion in key State roles, including parliamentarians, judges and senior government officials; develop relationships with State stakeholders through one-to-one contact and by facilitating their participation in appropriate national and regional events and processes.
• Engage with the UNAIDS Country Team and the UN Country Joint Team on HIV/AIDS, and build network/relationship with country PEPFAR programme to push the rights of key populations and LGBTI persons in Burundi.

• Identify and promote the use of relevant existing knowledge products; identify key knowledge and evidence gaps and facilitate the development and sharing of relevant resources in response; design and oversee Global Fund Programme key populations related communication activities; participate in relevant Communities of Practice, within and beyond UNDP including with the UNAIDS and other agencies.

• Represent UNDP as appropriate in UN development system meetings; represent Burundi in relevant Global Fund Programme regional meetings and processes; develop relationships with key development cooperation and philanthropic actors in Burundi and support fundraising to sustain the programme.
• Ensure sound project management of the key population activities under the GC7 Global Fund Burundi component in the CO’s project planning and reporting systems.
• Provide programmatic support to other CO’s projects as well as cross-cutting CO initiatives as and when required.
• Lead on and respond to operational processes related to the Burundi Key Populations component of the Global Fund Programme including budgeting, delivery monitoring, monitoring of payment processes.