Within the GPN, the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) has the responsibility for developing all relevant policy and guidance to support the results of UNDP’s Strategic Plan. BPPS’s team provides technical advice to Country Offices, advocates for UNDP corporate messages, represents UNDP at multi-stakeholder fora including public-private dialogues, government and civil society dialogues, and engages in UN inter-agency coordination in specific thematic areas. BPPS works closely with UNDP’s Crisis Bureau (CB) to support emergency and crisis response. BPPS ensures that the risk management is fully integrated into UNDP’s development programmes.

The 2030 Agenda for SDGs and the pledge to leave no one behind reflect the interconnectedness of health and sustainable development, including widening economic and social inequalities, the climate crisis, rapid urbanization, the continuing burden of HIV and other infectious diseases (e.g., malaria, tuberculosis), the growing burden of non-communicable diseases and the emergence of health threats. The scope and scale of delivering health and well-being demands innovative partnerships and financing. As affirmed in the Political Declaration of the 2019 High-Level Meeting on Universal Health Coverage (UHC), the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund), the Vaccine Alliance (Gavi) and others are critical partners for delivering on the health-related goals of the 2030 Agenda.
UNDP’s partnership with the Global Fund, in line with UNDP’s HIV and Health Strategy 2022-2025: Connecting the Dots, makes a vital contribution to UNDP’s Strategic Plan 2022-2025, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the SDGs and the pledge to leave no one behind.

As a long-standing partner of the Global Fund, UNDP’s value proposition lies in providing an integrated package of development solutions to strengthen institutions to deliver health services. Based on demands from Country Offices, and building on the relationships, expertise, systems, partnerships, including across the UN family, and comparative advantage established through the Global Fund partnership, the GPN/BPPS/Global Fund Partnership/Health Systems Team (GFPHST) provides support to Country Offices through three overarching modalities: 1) the Global Fund portfolio, 2) health procurement and supply chain management (SCM) support, and 3) other health implementation support beyond the Global Fund, including Gavi-funded activities and Solar for Health. The GFPHST provides its support through a country team approach to strengthen and integrate the different functional capacities (e.g., monitoring and evaluation (M&E), data quality and management, programmatic, procurement/SCM strengthening including asset management, finance, capacity development of key stakeholders, Sub-recipient management and advocacy/public outreach/communication), leveraging technical assistance and policy support from the HIV and Health Group and other GPN teams and advisory services from the Office of Audit and Investigations.

Proactive risk management and investing in sustainability are the cornerstones of UNDP’s portfolio management approach in supporting to countries with significant national capacity constraints to manage large-scale health programmes. UNDP has established a comprehensive risk management framework (RMF) to mitigate and manage risks, through specific implementation modalities and other targeted measures to support effective risk management.  Integral components of the RMF are collection, quality, management and analysis and dissemination of epidemiological surveillance data for decision-making.  In addition, to support Country Offices and national stakeholders to verify data, ensure data quality, identify gaps in health information management and recommend corrective actions and design methods of capturing and consolidating evidence-based health interventions and document lessons-learnt and best practices.

Position Purpose:

Under the overall supervision of the Deputy Manager (GFPHST), the Risk and Compliance Specialist plays a key role in the provision of technical support to respond to the complexities, challenges, and sensitivities of this partnership, including risks related to reputation, fiduciary, partner management, and programme management. S/he will develop integrated risk management strategies and support management in making risk-informed decisions and will support  Country Offices, national entities and the Global Fund Partnership Health Systems Team in developing and implementing risk management and compliance strategies, in coordination with relevant Units across the organization, including Office of Legal Services and Office of Audit and Investigations.

Develop oversight and risk management strategies for UNDP’s Global Fund portfolio:

• Advise and contribute to develop and implement strategies related to comprehensive risk and compliance management for UNDP’s Global Fund partnership;
• Lead tasks in support of oversight and risk management of UNDP’s Global Fund-financed programmes, including developing global monitoring systems, analyzing performance issues and risks, and supporting efforts to developing responses to recurring and emerging complex challenges;
• Support the Deputy Manager, GFPHST, in liaising with the Office of Audit and Investigations (OAI) in all matters related to supporting Country Offices for audit and investigations (internal and external) ensuring effective planning and timely follow up to OAI findings and recommendations in coordination with Country Office and Regional Bureaus;
• Support the Deputy Manager, GFPHST, in the analysis of various audits and investigation recommendations and findings (OAI, Global Fund’s Office of Inspector General, Sub-recipient audits), including trough examining and verifying accounts and records, using oversight mechanisms put in place within the project life-cycle management vis-à-vis approved project document and rules and regulations of UNDP and the GF through the development of action plans to address recurring issues, including thorough innovative approaches, developing procedures, guidance materials, and trainings;
• Be able to report to OAI any irregularities linked to tissues derived from their analysis contravening UNDP rules and regulations, the framework agreement, or the required compliance that may constitute wrongdoing.
• Support recovery actions in coordination with Country Offices, OAI, Regional and Central Bureaus, Global Fund, including supporting on communication strategies and corporate reporting; and
• Serve as a focal point for annual reporting on risk management on GF portfolio to  the Organizational Performance Group of UNDP.

Provide advisory and technical support services related to risks and compliance management to UNDP’s Global Fund Portfolio and Country Offices:

• Support the Manager and Deputy Manager, GFPHST, in their liaison with the Office of Legal Services to ensure adequate interpretation, development and amendment of grant agreements, processes and procedures with Global Fund, Gavi, WHO, governments and other partners, including multilateral and bilateral partners, private sector and academia;
• Support in the identification of programmatic and policy issues, challenges and risks and provide constructive solutions in coordination with the Office of Legal Services, Regional and Central Bureaus;
• Assess and advise on actions with regard to cases of exception in the application of UNDP rules, regulations, policies and procedures as well as other legislation affecting the operation of UNDP’s Global Fund portfolio;
• In coordination with Office of Legal Services, identifies needs for support in the settlement of claims and disputes arising from agreements and other arrangements involving UNDP’s Global Fund Portfolio.
• Leverage internal and external risk management tools such HACT and security in close coordination with OAI, Monitoring and Evaluation Specialists and other functional area leads within HHD, BPPS and BMS, continuously monitor the risk registers of the GF portfolio within UNDP, and ensure the risk treatment and mitigation plans well integrated throughout the life-cycle of the GF grant and reported regularly during the quarterly reviews.
• Through a regular consultation with the key external and internal stakeholders bring smart technology, digitalization and open source data to allow the COs and GFPHST to assess inherent internal or external risks and opportunities for the portfolio.

Facilitation of capacity and knowledge building and sharing in UNDP’s Global Fund portfolio focusing on the achievement of enhanced compliance to UNDP’s rules and regulations and operational efficiency:

• Contribute to the development of compliance Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for managing the oversight and compliance function of the portfolio, including training materials and modules, following best international practices on risk management for the country teams as well as for the project implementing partners.
• Support to the programme teams in the development and implementation of capacity development plans for Sub-Recipient with a risk management perspective including all aspects of grant management.
• Support in the preparation and delivery of trainings at HQs, regional and Country Office levels on the institutional arrangements of UNDP’s partnership with Global Fund, Gavi, WHO, government financing agreements and other partners, and ensures the availability of training materials and technical updates.

Any other activity assigned by the Deputy Manager, GFPHST

Achieve Results:

• Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact

Think Innovatively:

• Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems

Learn Continuously:

• Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences

Adapt with Agility: 

• Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands

Act with Determination:

• Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results

Engage and Partner:

• Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration

Enable Diversity and Inclusion:

• Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

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

Cross-Functional & Technical:

Business Direction and 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.

Business Direction and Strategy – Negotiation and Influence:

• Ability to reach an understanding, persuade others, resolve points of difference, gain advantage in the outcome of dialogue, negotiate mutually acceptable solutions through compromise and create ‘win-win’ situations

Business Management – Partnerships Management:

• Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies

Business Management – Risk Management:

• Ability to identify and organize action around mitigating and proactively managing risks

Legal – Knowledge of applicable legal framework: 

• Understanding of the legal norms as applied to the United Nations in general, and to UNDP in particular. This includes an understanding of the structure, functioning and operations of UNDP within the broader UN system and the application of international treaties, including the UN Charter, GA resolutions, the relevant basic country assistance agreement and UN system-wide legal instruments, as well as an understanding of the internal legal framework (financial regulations and rules, policies, and procedures) of UNDP

Business Management – Portfolio Management:

• Ability to select, prioritise and control the organization´s programmes and projects, in line with its strategic objectives and capacity; ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives and the maintenance of business-as-usual, while optimising return on investment.

Agenda 2030: People – Health:

• Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria (GF)