Health Systems Strengthening Specialist

Background Information - Job-specific

UNOPS Madagascar, which was established in 2022 and currently expanding, provides services through its main office based in Antananarivo and has opened branch offices in several regions of the country. The UNOPS office responds to the support needs of the Government of Madagascar with funding from multilateral and bilateral donors. UNOPS Madagascar provides a wide range of infrastructure, procurement and project management services and aims to extend its support to diversified projects, basic service provision and other related services, particularly in economic and social infrastructure (construction and rehabilitation) and financial management in sectors such as agriculture, transport/public works, renewable energy, health, environment and climate change.

The Health Specialist is expected to work closely and under the direct supervision of the Health Projects Manager and in collaboration with relevant technical experts. His/Her main duties are:

• The person will support the project manager in maintaining knowledge of evolving health sector priorities and dynamics to inform UNOPS activities and strategies.

• Maintain knowledge of evolving health sector priorities and dynamics to inform UNOPS activities and strategies

• The person will support the project manager in maintaining knowledge of evolving health sector priorities and dynamics to inform UNOPS activities and strategies.

• Management of UNOPS subcontracts with NGOs and civil society organizations

• Provide technical support in acquiring and developing new engagements in health in the sector

• Provide technical input to the development of new project and program proposals in the health sector ;

• Provide technical support for any health engagements during implementation of Health projects and programs;

• Lead the development of and manage the knowledge base accumulated in the local health sector;

• Represent UNOPS in relevant health related meetings, workshops, panels, symposia and other relevant fora, including to technical and financial partners in the health sector

• Work closely with the communication department to raise the profile of UNOPS in the Health sector with donors, government departments, other UN agencies and other health partners, and the general public.
  
  
  

  Functional Responsibilities
  

  Project planning and coordination support

  • Support the Health Projects Manager in the planning phase of new projects by sharing local priorities and global best practices, current donor initiatives to ensure alignment and coordination of UNOPS activities

  • Manage the day-to-day coordination of field activities with MOPH representatives, civil society organizations, and local NGOs.

  • Provide regular real time updates on field activity progress and challenges to members of the health team to ensure coordination and a rapid response to address challenges.

    Health Systems Strengthening Technical Support

    • Provide technical expertise on best practices to improve management and maintenance of medical equipment to the Ministry of Public Health.

    • Maintain a close relationships with key MOPH directorates and keep abreast of current challenges in the Madagascar health system related with particular focus on health infrastructure and equipment

    • Represent UNOPS on key health systems strengthening technical working groups within the Ministry of Public Health, technical and financial partners, and donors.

    • Support the development of policies and strategies based on local field experience and international best practices.

      Operational Management

      📚 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗮 𝗝𝗼𝗯 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯! 🌍🤝 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗨𝗡𝗛𝗖𝗥, 𝗪𝗙𝗣, 𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗙, 𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗦𝗦, 𝗨𝗡𝗙𝗣𝗔, 𝗜𝗢𝗠 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀! 🌐

      ⚠️ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐰: 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐚 𝐣𝐨𝐛 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐍𝐎𝐖!

      • Manage subcontracts with local NGOs and civil society organizations for implementation of UNOPS programs. This includes reviewing workplans, budgets, and deliverables and reporting to the Health Projects Manager

      • Monitors and evaluates implementation of field activities ensuring delivery is on target.

      • Monitors key quality assurance indicators

        Knowledge Management

        • Apply and introduce innovative approaches and good practices to build the capacity of partners and stakeholders, and to support the implementation and delivery of concrete and sustainable program results.

        • Keep abreast and conduct research to provide evidence for implementation of best and cutting edge practices in health.

        • Assess, institutionalize and share best practices and knowledge learned.

        • Contribute to the development and implementation of policies and procedures to ensure optimum efficiency and efficacy of sustainable programs and projects.

        • Organize and implement capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of stakeholders to promote sustainable results on health related programs/projects
          

          Education/Experience/Language requirements
          Education:
        • Advanced University degree (Master’s degree) in Public Health, Medicine, Nursing, Epidemiology, Applied Health Sciences, Health Informatics or a related field.

        • A Bachelor’s degree preferably in the above fields with additional two (2) years of relevant experience is considered as equivalent. Experience:
          
          

        • A minimum of 4 years of experience, either in the publics health programs or in the design, management administration, monitoring and evaluation or in the delivry or management of health programs, including primary health care, health quality impovement, health strenghning, with a bachelor's degree
      • Experience working on management and maintenance of health equipment and infrastructure is an asset.
    • Ability to work with minimal supervision in a complex environment is required;
  • Previous successful involvement with, and good knowledge of the Ministry of Public Health, NGOs and civil society is required.
• Willingness to undertake regular field visits. Languages:
  
• Full working knowledge (Fluency) in written and oral French is required.

Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.

Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.

Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.

UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce.

Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.

We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

Terms and Conditions

For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post.

For retainer contracts, you must complete a few Mandatory Courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. For more information on a retainer contract here.

All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

UNOPS in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) provides services from its main office in Kinshasa and its office in the provinces of the DRC. CAMCO's (Central Africa Multi Country Office) covers 15 French-speaking countries in Central and Southern Africa such as DRC, Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Cameroon, Burundi, Rwanda, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Madagascar, Angola and Comoros Islands.

UNOPS helps partners achieve their project objectives, including physical and social infrastructure, elections and environmental protection.