Programme Manager [Open to internal and external applicants]

Tiered Approach:

In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP/UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a toered application process whereby:

• Tier 0: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026
• Tier 1: Other UNDP/ UNCDF/ UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed term (FTA) appointments (defined as “internal” candidates).
• Tier 2: UNDP/ UNCDF/ UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers.
• Tier 3 or no tier indicated: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates.

Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.

Background

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the UN’s global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. We are on the ground in 170 countries and territories, working with governments and people on their own solutions to global and national development challenges to help empower lives and build resilient nations.
The Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) has the responsibility for developing all relevant policy and guidance and supports the results of UNDP’s 2014-2017 Strategic Plan, focusing on seven outcomes including, strengthening institutions to progressively deliver universal access to basic services (Outcome 3). The HIV, Health and Development Group (HHD Group), within BPPS, is helping to contribute towards this outcome.
The HIV, Health and Development Strategy 2026–2030 : ‘Connecting the Dots’ elaborates UNDP's work on HIV and health in the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. UNDP has 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 UN entities and other organizations. This is done through UNDP’s core work in reducing inequalities and social exclusion that drive HIV and poor health, promoting effective and inclusive governance for health, and building resilient and sustainable systems for health. UNDP also contributes through its coordinating and convening role in bringing together multiple partners and resources at national and local levels.
UNDP works with partners to address the interactions between governance, human rights and health responses. Sometimes this is done through focused or specialized programmes, such as promoting attention to the role of legal environments (law and access to justice) in facilitating stronger HIV responses, including the use of flexibilities in intellectual property and human rights law to lower the cost of drugs and diagnostics and to increase access to HIV-related treatment. UNDP also works to empower and include people living with HIV and marginalized populations who are disproportionately affected by HIV - also known as key populations - such as sex workers, men who have sex with men, transgender people. Beyond these focused efforts, UNDP plays a key role in ensuring attention to HIV and health within broader governance and rights initiatives, strengthening of national human rights institutions and increasing access to justice for marginalized populations.
As a trusted, long-term partner with extensive operational experience, UNDP supports countries in effective implementation of complex, multilateral and multi-sectoral health programmes while simultaneously investing in capacity development so that national and local partners can assume these responsibilities over time. When requested, UNDP acts as interim Principal Recipient (PR), working with national partners and The Global Fund (GF) to improve management, implementation and oversight, while simultaneously developing national capacity for governments or local entities to be able to assume the PR role over time. Within the HHD Group the Global Fund /Health Implementation Support Team (GF-HIST) is a dedicated team providing support to UNDP Country Offices throughout the grant lifecycle. The support includes, programme management, monitoring and evaluation, financial management, capacity development and/or transition and sustainability planning and support to strategic policies and plans and funding proposals.
The Ministry of Health (Burundi) and UNDP are forging an important partnership towards accelerating health services delivery through integrated and effective health governance reforms. UNDP has been requested to be the interim Principal Recipient (PR) for the GF HIV, TB and malaria programmes to start on 1 June 2026.

Under the direct supervision of Resident Representative, the Programme Manager:

• Ensures effective management of the Global Fund grants
• Ensures creation of strategic partnerships and support the implementation of the resource mobilization
• Ensures provision of policy advice and strategic technical guidance
• Ensures guidance and capacity building and facilitation of knowledge building and sharing.

In addition to these core responsibilities, the Programme Manager is expected to foster strong collaboration between the Ministry of Health, national stakeholders, and international partners to ensure the effective integration of HIV, TB, and malaria interventions within Burundi’s health system. The role requires proactive engagement in capacity development initiatives, facilitating knowledge exchange and technical support to empower local entities for long-term sustainability. By leveraging UNDP’s operational expertise and strategic partnerships, the Programme Manager will ensure that programmatic goals align with national health priorities while maintaining compliance with both UNDP and Global Fund standards. This integrated approach will not only contribute to improving health outcomes but also strengthen resilience within the health sector and support Burundi’s progress toward the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

Duties and Responsibilities

1) Ensure effective management of the Global Fund programme focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Oversight and management of grants’ planning, implementation with emphasis on achievement of national targets.
• Coordination and supervision of administrative, financial, procurement and programmatic aspects of the Global Fund grants in accordance with the grant agreement and policies with the Global Fund and UNDP rules and regulations.
• Financial and substantive monitoring and evaluation of the GF Programme, identification of potential implementation problems and recommend appropriate solutions.
• Ensure that activities managed by SRs are executed on time according to their work plan, budgets in compliance with application manual of procedure and the terms and conditions of grant agreements ensuring quality of the grants and achievement of national targets.
• Development and regular review of the risk management matrix for the GF grants, Sub recipients (SRs) and technical partners.
• Assess the programmatic impact and oversee the appropriateness and the accuracy of methods use to verify progress and the results; ensure smooth collaboration between the Sub-recipients (SRs), other national units, partners and the local fund agent (LFA) on requested deliverables.
• Participate in recruitment process of PMU personnel performance management and supervision of UNDP programme and project staff to motivate and promote organizational excellence for optimal implementation.
• Lead on the GF grants’ audits and ensure follow up on audit recommendations in liaison with the Audit Focal point in the Country Office.
• Review and follow up with SRs of their asset lists.
• Ensure timely submission of core documents and reports to the Global funds (PU, PUDRs, program reviews etc.).
• On-going assessment of processes and identification of bottlenecks and key issues at the Sub recipient level and implementation of mitigation measure and actions
• Reinforcement of the supply chain management of the central medical warehouse (CAMEBU), with management of the central warehouse (CAMEBU), national programmes (SRs) and technical partners to reinforce the supply chain management to the last mile and quantification.
• Coordination of planned studies and program review with the national programs in collaboration with civil society and technical partners.
• Coordinate the involvement of involvements of all SR and partners (civil society, government, NGOs, Camebu, etc.).

2) Ensure creation of strategic partnerships and support the implementation of resource mobilization:

• Provide on an on-going basis strategic information, grant’s updated information and forecasts to the Global fund country team for decision-making.
• Coordinate, build partnerships and maintain excellent relationship with PNLIP, PNLS, PNLIT, Ministry of Health and its different departments, UN Agencies, Croix Rouge, CARITAS, civil society, central medical store (CAMEBU), financial and technical partners and other implementing partners as well as with international and local stakeholders to ensure transparent and effective implementation of the GF Programme.
• Support the national strategic planning processes for the GF grants based on evidence gained during implementation of the Programme.
• Maintain close co-ordination between the GF grants with other health initiatives in the country to ensure and promote continuity, partnership building and avoid duplication of programmatic activities.
• Maintain effective partnership with government and regional institutions, implementing partners and UNDP colleagues to exchange critical and technical information and resolve programme/project implementation issues to ensure results are achieved as planned.
• Establish dialogue with donors, partners and stakeholders to maintain effective working relationships, sustain interests, resource mobilization and cooperation.

3) Ensure provision of policy advice and strategic technical guidance focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Ensure harmonization and integration of the GF Programme into the national strategic documents on disease programmes.
• Provide technical advice to the Ministry of Health, other government ministries, national disease programmed, and implementing partners and support work on programme adjustments as necessary.
• Participate in technical committees of the CCM and provide advice on Global Fund procedures as required.

4) Ensure guidance and capacity building and facilitation of knowledge building and sharing:

• Engage with national partners to build the capacity of national systems and health institutions including national disease programmes in the key areas of procurement, financial management and oversight, risk management, project implementation and monitoring.
• Engage with national partners and oversee the development of capacity development (CD) strategies aimed at assisting governments and national entities to implement and assume the PR role.
• Ensure access to appropriate tools and resources required to support government and national entities in the implementation and oversight of their Global Fund programmes and for timely transfer of UNDP’s PR role.
• Support the work of the technical committees and provide advice on Global Fund procedures.
• Synthesis of lessons learnt and disseminate best practices for management of the Programme

Other duties: The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: Supervision and performance management of Global Funds team.

Competencies

1) Achieve Results:

LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact.

2) Think Innovatively:

LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems.
3) Learn Continuously:

LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiencesl.

4) Adapt with Agility:

LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands.
5) Act with Determination:

LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results.

6) Engage and Partner:

LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration.
7) Enable Diversity and Inclusion:

LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity.

People Management

UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site.

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

1) Business Direction & Strategy:

• System Thinking: Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.

2) Partnership Management:

• Strategic Engagement: Ability to capture and sustain attention, interest and agreement of high-level, influential policy and decision makers and secure their buy-in of high-level vision and objectives.

3) Business Development:

• Knowledge Facilitation: Ability to animate individuals and groups, internally and externally, and to design and facilitate activities, to share and exchange knowledge, information and ideas. Knowledge of tools and approaches to stimulate active participation, contribution, and exchange.

4) Business Management:

• Customer Satisfaction/Client Management: Ability to respond timely and appropriately with a sense of urgency, provide consistent solutions, and deliver timely and quality results and/or solutions to fulfil and understand the real customers' needs; provide inputs to the development of customer service strategy; look for ways to add value beyond clients' immediate requests; ability to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns.
• Project Management: Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.
• Portfolio Management: Ability to select, prioritize and control the organization's programmes and projects in line with its strategic objectives and capacity; ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives with regular activities for optimal return on investment; knowledge and understanding of key principles of project, programme, and portfolio management.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced University Degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Public Administration, Economics, International Development, Business Administration, Political Sciences, Social Sciences, Medical & Health Sciences or related field. OR
• A first level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the above-mentioned fields of study, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• Minimum of 10 years (with master’s degree) or 12 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience at the national and/or international level in leading implementation of complex programmes is required.
• Experience working in developing countries as an asset.
• Demonstrated experience in working with UN/UNDP is desired
• Experience in working in multi-stakeholders context is desired
• Experience with Global Fund Grants is preferred.
• Experience in capacity building of national counterparts is desired.
• Experience in resource mobilization is desired.
• Proven ability to foster diversity and Inclusion is desired

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in French, both written and oral is required.
• Fluency in English, both written and oral is required.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.

Probation

For all new UNDP fixed term appointments (FTA), including for staff members being transferred or seconded to UNDP under the Inter-Organization Agreement concerning Transfer, Secondment or Loan of Staff, on an appointment of more than one year, continuation of the appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Use of AI by candidates

Applicants are invited to read UNDP’s guidance for candidates on using AI responsibly in UNDP recruitment and selection

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