BACKGROUND

• COVID-19 is a critical issue for UNDP. It is as much a health and development emergency as it is a human security crisis. In order to deliver on its mission eradicating poverty, reducing inequalities and building resilience to crisis and shocks, UNDP helps countries to urgently and effectively respond to COVID-19 in the context of the 2030 Agenda.
• Urgently and effectively addressing COVID-19 is critical to safeguarding progress on the SDGs. Through its presence in 140 countries and its integrator role, UNDP together with UN and other partners can support countries to immediately scale up evidence- and rights-based multisectoral responses, i.e. whole-of-government/whole-of-society responses, needed to effectively tackle COVID-19. In so doing, the organization can rapidly leverage its extensive presence and networks at global, regional and country levels, its mandate to work broadly – to connect the dots – across humanitarian and development sectors.
• The national and international health landscapes are rapidly changing. New health initiatives are emerging, particularly in relation to non-communicable diseases, which brings to light pressing challenges linked to health systems strengthening including, health product procurement and supply chain management. These opportunities go beyond UNDP’s partnership with the Global Fund and require a new modus operandi to optimize UNDP’s investments into global health. Increasingly, UNDP is supporting governments in thematic area of health product procurement and supply chain management with funding from national budgets. In addition, UNDP is expanding opportunities for partnerships with key stakeholders including the World Bank group (WBG).

UNDP and the World Bank:

• In support of the UN-World Bank partnership framework since 2009, UNDP and the World Bank have had a long-standing cooperation in more than 100 countries, including on analysis and assessments, knowledge products and policy support, capacity development and project implementation to help advance the Sustainable Development Agenda.
• Since 2020, UNDP and the World Bank have been collaborating on COVID-19 socio-economic assessments in 24 countries. Procurement of health supplies and strengthening health systems are the scope of WBG-UNDP engagement for COVID-19 response.

World Bank’s Loan Agreement to Turkmenistan

• On 28 July 2021 the Ministry of Finance and Economy of Turkmenistan signed an agreement with the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development of the World Bank Group on allocation of a $20,0 mln loan to combat COVID-19. The loan allocated by the WB to Turkmenistan will support the efforts of the Government of Turkmenistan on the prevention, diagnosis and treatment in case of confirmed COVID-19 cases.

The Objective of the project is to prevent, detect, and respond to the threat posed by COVID-19 and strengthen national systems for public health preparedness in Turkmenistan. The Objective will be achieved through three components as follows:

• Component 1 will aim to strengthen country-level coordination, risk communication and community outreach, early case detection, isolation and contact tracing, testing, and response capacities (activities which mostly fall within the responsibility of the MoHMI Division for Sanitary and Epidemiological Safety and Control).
• Component 2 will focus on strengthening infection prevention and control and case management practices in health facilities (activities which mostly fall within the responsibility of the MoHMI Division for Patient Care).
• Component 3 will support the project management, and monitoring and evaluation.
• UNDP country office (CO) in Turkmenistan will be the implementer of the project, under overall coordination of the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan (MoHMI).
• In order to coordinate the smooth implementation of the WB funded programme and to achieve the Project objectives, UNDP Turkmenistan is seeking the services of the Project Manager (PM) to coordinate the implementation of the project, provide strategic direction for the programme, ensure institutional capacity development and health system strengthening for national response to COVID-19 as well as related health issues. The Project Manager will provide technical leadership to the implementation of the project, in collaboration with the Government, UN Agencies, donor and other partners, to ensure that the implemented Project will contribute to the broader national strategy and capacity development of national systems.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

OVERALL PROJECT MANAGEMENT:

• Management of the project implementation team on a daily basis to achieve the performance indicators agreed with the donor and in line with the approved Budgets and Work Plans; Management and supervision of project implementation and evaluation across all components.
• Assess the programmatic impact and oversee the appropriateness and the accuracy of methods used to verify progress and the results
• Analyse programmatic impact and takes decisions to correct possible deviations from targets
• Assurance of successful completion of the project in accordance with the stated outcomes and performance indicators summarized in the Project Appraisal Document.
• Regular communication and coordination with the National Partner, members of the Project Board, and all other partners and interested stakeholders, with regard to all project activities. Organization of Project Board meetings at least twice a year.
• Regular communication with senior UNDP management with regard to all project activities. Assurance of coordination with other UNDP projects and broad strategic initiatives.
• Preparation of Annual Work Plans (AWP), including monthly targets and deliverables as well as annual spending targets in accordance with the Project Document. Tracking of work outputs throughout the year in light of these Annual Work Plans.
• Tracking and managing of project spending in accordance with the project budget, as well as UNDP rules and procedures, to ensure transparency, responsibility, and timely fulfilment of both program targets and budget targets.
• Preparation of regular progress reports (programmatic and financial) as per the requirements of the World Bank spelled out in the Loan Agreement and Output Agreements.
• Preparation and submission of annual Project Implementation Reviews and other required progress reports to the Project Board and UNDP in accordance with applicable requirements, in all required languages (English, Russian, and/or Turkmen, using outside translation as needed).
• Coordination of the work of international and national consultants engaged in the project.
• Supervision of regular data collection and analysis, as well as reporting and public outreach via the mass media, events, and other means, to disseminate the results of the project.
• Oversight of the overall administration of the project office.
• Travel to the project sites within Turkmenistan if required; possible travel outside the country for participation in directly relevant international meetings.
• Support during the project evaluations, if any.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

Education:

• University Degree in any field.
• University or master’s degree in Medicine, Public Health, Pharmacy will be advantage

Work Experience:

• A minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in management and implementation of a development project at national and international level.
• Experience in management of a medical or public health project will be advantage.
• Experience in the area of infectious diseases will be advantage.
• Experience in procurement, supply, or maintenance of medical equipment will be advantage.
• Experience in partnership building and management with multi-stakeholders, including government agencies, health donors and civil society organizations.

Language requirements:

• Fluency in English, Russian, and Turkmen.

Source:https://jobs.partneragencies.net/erecruitjobs.html?JobOpeningId=39708&HRS_JO_PST_SEQ=1&hrs_site_id=2