Team Leader, Health Systems Strengthening (Internal Announcement)

UNOPS Myanmar

Myanmar is one of UNOPS leading offices in Asia, acting as fund manager for three of the largest development programmes in the country, namely the Three Millennium Development Goal Fund (3MDG), the Livelihood and Food Security Trust Fund (LIFT) and the Joint Peace Fund (JPF). Also, UNOPS Myanmar is Principal Recipient for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in Myanmar and Cambodia, and for the Global Fund¹s Regional Artemisinin-resistance Initiative targeting drug-resistant malaria in the Greater Mekong sub-region. UNOPS provides procurement, infrastructure and project management services to a wide range of organisations in the country, including the Government of Myanmar, international development partners, other UN agencies, NGOs and INGOs. UNOPS Myanmar plays a critical role in ensuring that the quality of services provided to its partners meets stringent requirements of speed, efficiency and cost effectiveness.

Job Specific

The 3MDG Fund was launched in 2012 and is set to continue until the end of 2018. By pooling over $283 million through the contributions of seven bilateral donors – Australia, Denmark, the European Union, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States of America – 3MDG promotes the efficient use of development funds.  3MDG accelerates progress towards the health Millennium Development Goals and the achievement of Universal Health Coverage in Myanmar. In close partnership with the Government of Myanmar and others, it strengthens the national health system at all levels, helping poor and vulnerable people access quality health services.

A new structure for the 3MDG Fund

In 2016 the Ministry of Health and Sports (MOHS), in consultation with Health Partners, developed the 2017-2021 Myanmar National Health Plan (NHP) – a roadmap for the country’s response to health challenges in the next five years.  The 3MDG Fund, now extended until the end of 2018, aims to support implementation of the NHP by fully aligning investments with its approach. This entails:

-        Focusing efforts on the delivery of an Essential Package of Health Services (EPHS) to all populations in Myanmar;

-        Focusing on equity and on access to Health for the most underserved populations (remote and conflict areas, marginalized populations)

-        Ensuring that all interventions – including through support to service-delivery – contribute to capacity building and Health Systems Strengthening (HSS).

As part of this transformation, the Fund Management Office (FMO) is being reorganized, moving away from a vertical structure by components and towards an organigram in which a Strategy Department provides cross-cutting support (Health, HSS, Civil Society, Conflict Sensitivity) while a Programmes Department manages grants and interventions in selected geographies.

The Strategy Department is organized by technical areas of expertise. The HSS Team Leader works under the supervision of the Strategy Director to provide advisory support on health systems strengthening efforts at both the national and subnational levels.  Under the supervision of the Strategy Director, the HSS Team Leader is responsible for the following:

Oversight of the technical aspects of the 3MDG Programmes 

• Provide technical and strategic advice in support of the needs of the Programmes Department, ensuring that programmes are evidenced-based, impactful,  optimize efficiency gains, and in-line with priorities outlined in the National Health Plan
• Ensure that the HSS technical advice is integrated throughout the programmes, strengthening the foundation that aims to maximize the delivery of health services to respond to the needs in maternal and child health, communicable diseases, and  primary health care in general
• Explore innovative and practical ways to add value to programmes
• In collaboration with the program and strategy team, support ways to deliver more health per dollar by expanding the set of essential health services available to people in Myanmar and increasing the number of people with access to these services
• Accompany the programme team on missions for routine monitoring and evaluation, donor delegations and other missions as identified to provide technical support  and advice
• Serve as responsible focal person for management of 3MDG grants under HSS unit

Health Systems, Strategic, and Technical Partnerships

• Establish strong relationships with the MOHS and EHOs
• Support the MOHS, EHOs, and other stakeholders on health systems strengthening strategic direction to ensure successful implementation of National Health Plan 2017-2021
• Lead in discussions with the MOHS to reach consensus on approaches to ensure programme activities are aligned with the National Health Plan, Ministry priorities, EHOs’ priorities when relevant, 3MDG’s conflict sensitivity principles, approaches to civil society engagement, and with other key principles of the Fund
• Maintain close collaboration with UN  agencies, the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the Global Fund, LIFT and other technical partners to ensure programmatic alignment
• Maintain a sound understanding of grant outcomes, in particular as they relate to the strengthening of health systems and the improved health situation of vulnerable communities. Regularly communicate on these outcomes with partners and stakeholders.

Information and knowledge management

• Keep the 3MDG Fund and its key partners abreast of developments in health systems strengthening at both the national and subnational levels
• Support in the drafting of bi-annual lessons-learned reports and/or case studies that highlight key developments in responsible technical area of intervention
• On a regular basis, critically analyze risks to 3MDG investments in the area. Develop, implement, and update mitigation plan(s) for identified risks.

Other

• Represent 3MDG at coordination meetings with development partners and stakeholders
• Assist with other tasks as assigned by the Strategy Director or the Fund Director.

a.      Education

• A Master’s degree in a relevant discipline (in international development, public health, public administration, sociology, political science) with 5 years of relevant experience.
• A Bachelor’s degree with 7 years of relevant experience is considered as equivalent

b.     Work Experience

• At least 5 years of experience managing grants or projects is required
• At least 3 years of working experience in the health sector is required
• Competent in the usage of computers and office software packages required
• Experience of working sensitively and effectively in a culturally diverse setting required
• Previous experience with the 3MDG Fund is desirable
• Sound understanding of health systems strengthening and recent developments in Myanmar is desired
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including drafting presentations, newsletters, and program memos is desired
• Strategic planning, including the use of the logical framework approach and other planning activities is desired
• Risk management experience, particularly in conflict sensitive areas is desired
• Demonstrated understanding of development aid, health, and humanitarian aid architecture is desired
• Experience of working in local governance, including but not limited to formal local government structures, local and community based NGOs, traditional governance systems, and informal networks

c.      Languages

• Fluency in written and spoken English and Myanmar
• Knowledge of other languages spoken in Myanmar would be an advantage

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns. Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

This is a Local Internal Position and Only Myanmar Nationals Working Currently in UNOPS are Eligible to Apply.
UNOPS may consider allowing current holders of FTA contracts who are successful to keep their FTA contracts.

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