NCD Programme Specialist

UNOPS Myanmar will be supporting the NCD Unit in the Ministry of Health and Sports (MOHS) for the development of Myanmar NCD Action Plan (AP) that is a revised, updated, and operation able derivative of the National NCD Strategy. For this purpose, the MOHS will convene and lead a task force of key national and international stakeholders that will operate in a fully participatory manner. This would be supported by the technical assistance of UNOPS through the current position.

Under the direct supervision of the Head of the Programme and technical guidance of the Director of the MOHS NCD Unit, the NCD Programme Specialist shall be responsible for supporting the NCD Unit (as external technical assistance) in the production and delivering of the AP from a technical perspective, ensuring quality assurance and management support. S/he will also be responsible for other programmatic technical assistance activities to the MOHS.

The NCD Programme Specialist will ensure best practice in performance and delivery of the UNOPS-Technical Assistance. This role represents an exciting opportunity to ensure the effective launch of a practical plan to scale-up actions on NCD in Myanmar in a coordinated manner.

The AP should be driven by ambitious objectives but also should take into account operational realities and financial resources that can be mobilized in the short term.  The plan should consider relevant operational and management aspects, such as identification of human resources, procurement and infrastructure needs and improving community level engagement.  The agreed actions in the plan should not be limited to the mandate of the Ministry of Health but encourage multi-sectorial action. 

The NCD Programme Specialist shall be responsible for the following specific duties and responsibilities:

1.      Coordination:

• Coordinating TA activities with NCD Unit and with other development partners and stakeholders.
• Support NCD Unit in coordinating relevant technical meetings and develop professional networks amongst all stakeholders, whether in Nay Pyi Taw or Yangon, and maintain a detailed knowledge base of all relevant issues impacting public health in the context of NCD.

2.      Strategic and analytical inputs 

• Collect and review existing documents/literature on NCD
• Assess the situation and gaps for the implementation of the agreed NCD NSP priorities based on relevant documents (National Health Plan, NCD National Strategic Plan, relevant policies, development partners commitments, NCD project documentation), and consultations with MoHS and other stakeholders.
• Assess research gaps and needs for specific additional research. Develop ToRs for research to be commissioned.
• Ensure synergies and linkages between the AP and the existing National Health Plan implementation including sub-national planning processes.
• Support advocacy efforts for multi-sectoral NCD action planning.
• Under the leadership of the NCD Unit, provide technical inputs to develop the NCD AP and facilitate the consultations with Ministry of Health, as well as the relevant technical agencies, donors and implementers, Civil Society and multi-sectorial partners.
• Support the development and Coordinate review and adaptation of the National NCD Monitoring Framework in conjunction with the AP and with consideration of data availability aspects.
• Support the MOHS NCD Unit in strengthening Technical Strategy Group.
• Draft and finalize the Myanmar NCD Action Plan including all inputs from consultation processes.
• Oversee the integration in the AP of gap analysis and recommendations in supply chain and procurement of NCD related items.
• Perform other technical assistance related duties as assigned by the supervisor.

3. Programme Management and Capacity Building

• Lead UNOPS technical assistance activities.
• Analyze results of projects, and incorporate lessons learned into the technical assistance activities.
• Provide up to date, relevant and timely advice to address NCD Unit strategic needs and find solutions appropriate to specific situations.
• Contribute to the NCD Unit continuous improvement; supporting its priorities, developing tools, policy recommendations and sharing best practices. 
• Tracking budget expenditures and produce regular report/update of UNOPS supported activities in compliance with UNOPS procedures.

Expected Results:

• Timely, complete and high quality costed Action Plan developed (including national targets) and submitted for endorsement of the MOHS.
• Fully operational NCD TSG, composed of key national and international stakeholders that meet on regular basis with clear ToRs and follow-up actions.
• Successful coordination of key stakeholders and Myanmar’s development partners in the achievement of the AP.

Education

• Master’s in Public Health, Medicine, Epidemiology, Health Economics, Sociology, Anthropology and or related disciplines, Management, Social or Political Sciences or in a similar discipline with 7 years of relevant experience is required.
• A Bachelor's degree in these areas with 9 years of relevant experience is considered as equivalent.

Experience

• At least 7 years of progressive responsibility in programme management in Public Health with focus on planning, budgeting, implementation, monitoring and evaluation and coordination in a developing country is required.
• Minimum 3 years’ experience and expertise with proven track record at a strategic level in Public Health programmes in NCD is required.
• Proven experience in production of action plans and programmes would be an asset.
• Experience with and/or knowledge of Myanmar is an asset.
• An in-depth understanding of national and international development issues related to NCD is an asset.

Language

• Fluency in written and spoken English required.

Other considerations

• Ability and willingness to travel as necessary.

Contract type: International Individual Contractor Agreement (IICA) Contract level:         IICA 3
Contract duration:    Ongoing ICA –(7 months initial contract with possible extension)



For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link:
https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements.aspx  

• 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.
• Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
• 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.

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

Working with us

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Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.