Background
The Health Development Partner’s Group (HDP) comprises of bilateral and multilateral development partners who support the health sector. In recognition that partners articulate same or similar interests and the understanding that they have something to contribute, the purpose of the HDP group is to:
a) Provide a forum for coordination with the ambition to harmonise and speak with one voice amongst bilateral and multilateral partners working in health, with the ultimate goal of reaching alignment to government plans and budgets;
b) Increase effectiveness and efficiency by sharing information, facilitating participation and strategizing on priorities and reducing transaction costs for agencies and Government in implementing the HSDP (Health Sector Development Plan);
c) Increase accountability towards government through continued dialogue in order to strengthen the partnership between GoU and Development Partners.
In order to facilitate the purpose of the HDP, the group utilizes the following modalities:
• Monthly meetings for coordination and harmonisation and formulation of joint responses on issues in the health sector raised in HPAC and various TWGs
• Conduct at least one annual retreat to review progress on results and update the HDP annual work-plan.
• Contributing to joint missions in the sector, compilation of the annual health sector performance report, provide input to the agenda of the Joint Mission at least one month in advance of the scheduled start of the mission as well as identifying members to participate in joint district visits and in joint think-tank exercises such as drafting aide memoires and ensuring an HDP coordinated follow-up of identified actions.
• Strengthen liaison with other development partner groups to ensure interaction at least every six-months.
• Utilizing the LDPG at least twice a year to channel high priority messages. This will include regularly strategizing message around financing for health and ensuring focus on social determinants for health (prevention attention) linked to implementation of SDGs.
WHO is the secretariat to the HDP group and through this role, WHO supports and facilitates the work of the HDPs to further enhance linkages, meet information and communication needs. WHO works in close collaboration with the HDP, and in particular with the chair, in all administrative tasks relating to coordination of HDP. WHO in its role as the secretariat is interested in recruiting a technical officer to better support the HDP group.
Role and scope of work for technical officer
Under the overall guidance supervision of the Health Systems & Strengthening Cluster lead, the technical officer will be responsible for supporting the coordination of WHO’s role as HDP secretariat. The technical officer will work in close collaboration with the HDP chair and co-chairs, organizing all administrative tasks relating to coordination of HDP. The specific scope of work of the technical officer include:
1) Facilitate Information Sharing
• Maintain updated HDP mailing list.
• Receive, organize, file and maintain electronic and hard copy database of health sector materials received from DPs, MoH and others.
• Ensure all new members receive an introductory package after joining the HDPs group.
• Disseminate information as requested by chair (or as is established routine).
• Proactively share potential relevant international publications, reports, websites, etc., with the HDPs in consultation/directed by the chair.
2) Foster coordination/ collaboration/ harmonization
• Promote transparency to government by conducting every year, mapping of partners’ interests and presence
• Facilitate increased aid efficiency and effectiveness by identifying every year, potential duplications and synergies
• Increase accountability to government by compiling partners’ resources mapping every year
• Working with various WHO technical officers, produce well analysed papers on various topics of interest, to facilitate discussion by the HDPs.
3) Support HDP Meetings
• Maintain a calendar for meetings
• Ensure meeting minutes are shared not more than ONE week after the meeting
• Follow up with action points from the meetings
• Compile the agenda and send invitations to HDPs at least ONE week prior to the meetings.
4) General support to chair and co-chairs
• Assist the chair to stay on top of and respond to various demands and commitments.
Key Deliverables
• Clean updated mailing list
• Database of important documents & materials
• Introductory packages provided to new members of HDP group
• Mapping of partners’ interest and presence
• Mapping of partners’ resources
• Papers produced for HDP discussion
• Timely dissemination of meeting minutes and invitations for meetings
The successful candidate will be hired at the level of UN National Officer Category (NO-B Grade Step 01) and will hold a type of contract referred to as Special Services Agreement (SSA). The contract will be initially for six months, renewable subject to satisfactory performance and availability of funds. The duty station will be located at WHO Country Office, Plot 60 Prince Charles Drive, Kampala, Uganda.
Qualifications and Experience
An advanced degree in public health, health policy and planning, program planning and management or related degree.
At least 10 years experience in providing technical assistance to the Ministry of Health to coordinate, manage and implement health programmes.
Experience of working with a non-governmental organisation, civil society organisation, the United Nations, or other multilateral or bilateral organizations would be an added advantage
Experience with Uganda’s health sector will be an added advantage
How to apply:
Applications should be sent to afwcougwrsec@who.int