Specialist, Planning and Performance Monitoring and Assessment

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Qualifications

OBJECTIVE OF THE OFFICE/DEPARTMENT

This requisition is for employment at the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)/Regional Office of the World Health Organization (WHO)

The Planning, Budget and Evaluation Department (PBE) is in charge of PAHO’s strategic and operational planning, budget management, corporate performance monitoring, assessment and reporting and evaluation. PBE coordinates the development of the Organization’s Strategic Plan (SP) and Program Budgets (PB) applying a results-based management (RBM) approach in line with the Organization’s mandates, policies, and strategies. It leads and facilitates operational planning and performance monitoring and assessment, in collaboration with all levels and parts of the Organization, to measure progress towards the priorities and results in the Strategic Plan and Program Budget. PBE also allocates resources to programs and monitors financing and implementation levels throughout the biennium. The Department is accountable to the Director and Deputy Director of PAHO for ensuring programmatic and budget accountability, including the preparation and presentation of reports to PAHO’s Executive Management and Governing Bodies, and to WHO.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Under the general supervision of the Director, Planning, Budget and Evaluation (PBE), and the direct supervision of the Chief, Planning (PBE/PM), the incumbent is responsible for, but not necessarily limited to, the following assigned duties:

a)   Provide strategic, technical, and operational support in the elaboration of the Organization’s Strategic Plan, Program Budget (PB) and operational plans;

b)   Prepare guidelines and other technical documents for the implementation of corporate planning, program management, and performance monitoring and assessment consistent with the Organization’s results-based management approach;

c)    Conduct analyses of current processes and practices, document lessons learned and make recommendations for the improvement and simplification of planning, program management, and performance monitoring and assessment processes at the corporate and entity levels;

d)   Support the analysis and development of proposals to align PAHO’s Strategic Plan and its operational planning components with the Sustainable Health Agenda for the Americas 2018-2030, as well as the WHO planning and budget instruments;

e)   Provide technical guidance and support to PASB entities in the elaboration of operational plans and their monitoring and assessment;

f)    Support the implementation of the corporate performance monitoring and assessment process across all PASB functional levels and the Organization’s joint assessment process with Member States, including the preparation of progress reports for Executive Management and PAHO Governing Bodies;

g)   Collaborate with technical teams to develop indicators and metrics to measure progress towards the achievement of impacts, outcomes and outputs, and with administration and other enabling offices to define key management performance indicators;

h)   Participate in and support the implementation and monitoring of the Sustainable Health Agenda for the Americas 2018-2030, including monitoring of the health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and targets;

i)     Gather, process and analyze programmatic and budget data to support the formulation and revision of policies, strategies, plans and/or management decisions;

j)    Support the preparation of regional reports for WHO’s Programme Budget mid-term and end-of-biennium assessments;

k)   Implement capacity building on strategic and operational planning, monitoring and assessment, and provide support to organizational entities and members of the planning and program management networks, ensuring effective and efficient program management;

l)     Collaborate in the formulation, review and monitoring of the Country Cooperation Strategies (CCS), regional strategies and plans, Country Cooperation for Health Development (CCHD), proposals and voluntary contributions, ensuring their alignment and contribution to the priorities set in the Sustainable Health Agenda for the Americas 2018-2030, PAHO Strategic Plan and its PB;

m)  Support the strategic and technical oversight for the corporate program management function.

n)   Implement planning and program management functionality for the PASB Management Information System (PMIS) and other institutional monitoring and assessment systems, as needed;

o)   Support organization-wide efforts for innovations in processes, mechanisms, and practices related to planning, performance monitoring and assessment, including convening or establishing communities of practice, as necessary;

p)   Collaborate in evaluation initiatives, at corporate and entity levels, as necessary;

q)   Support the functions and strengthening of the planning and program management networks and other cross-organizational teams, as needed;

r)    Perform other related duties, as assigned

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

Essential: A bachelor’s degree in health or social sciences, business administration, economics or any field related to the functions of the post, from a recognized university. Desirable: A master’s degree in public health, business administration, economics, planning or a related field; specialized training in planning, results-based management and/or project management.

In the event that your candidature is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position.  WHO, only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. PAHO will also use the databases of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation http://www.chea.org and College Navigator, found on the website of the National Centre for Educational Statistics, https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator to support the validation process.

Experience:

Essential: Seven years of combined national and international experience working in planning, program management, monitoring and assessment, and/or evaluation.

Desirable: Experience working with a UN common system organization, in the public health field and/or in developing countries would be an asset.

SKILLS:

PAHO Competencies:

·       Overall attitude at work: Maintains integrity and takes a clear ethical approach and stance; demonstrates commitment to the Organization’s mandate and promotes the values of the Organization in daily work and behavior; is accountable for work carried out in line with own role and responsibilities; is respectful towards, and trusted by, colleagues and counterparts.

·       Teamwork: Collaborate and cooperate with others/Deal effectively with conflict - Creates team spirit; promotes collaboration and open communication in the team; proactively supports others; welcomes team responsibilities and drives team results; promotes knowledge sharing in the team.  Proactively identifies conflicts and facilitates their resolution in a respectful manner; tactfully resolves conflicts between or with others and takes action to reduce any possible tension; effectively builds a rapport with individuals and teams, establishing good personal and professional relationships, as well as minimizing risk of potential conflict.

·       Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences:  Relate well to diversity in others and capitalize on such diversity - Treats all people with dignity and respect. Relates well to people with different cultures, gender, orientations, backgrounds and/or positions; examines own behavior to avoid stereotypical responses; considers issues from the perspective of others and values their diversity.

·       Communication: Express oneself clearly when speaking/Listen/Write effectively/Share knowledge - Foresees communication needs of audience and targets message accordingly.  Facilitates open communication; encourages others to share their views openly and takes time to understand and consider their views.  Writes down ideas in a clear, structured, logical and credible way; drafts and supports the development of guidelines, policies and procedures.  Shares relevant information openly and ensures that the shared information is understood; considers knowledge sharing as a constructive working method and demonstrates awareness of the Organization.

·       Producing Results:  Work efficiently and independently/Deliver quality results/Take responsibility - Prioritizes work, monitors own progress against objectives and adapts plans as required; communicates adjustments as necessary. Acts proactively and stimulates action as needed; handles problems effectively and constructively. Produces high-quality results and workable solutions that meet clients’ needs. Works independently to produce new results and sets own time lines effectively and efficiently.  Shows awareness of own role and clarifies roles of team members in relation to project’s expected results. Makes proposals for improving processes as required and takes responsibility for own work and/or actions, as necessary.  Demonstrates positive attitude in working on new projects and initiatives. Demonstrates accountability for own success, as well as for errors; learns from experience.

·       Moving forward in a changing environment: Propose change/Adapt to change - Actively supports Organizational change initiatives and demonstrates personal commitment to them, including when faced with new demands; proposes workable solutions to challenging situations.  Engages in positive responses to a changing environment and promotes workable solutions to achieve own and team’s results.  Welcomes, and actively seeks to apply, new ideas, approaches and working methods and technologies in order to improve own and/or team’s work processes and results; demonstrates commitment to Organizational change initiatives.

Technical Expertise:

-       Theoretical and practical knowledge of policy formulation, planning, monitoring, and evaluation of programs in the health or social sectors and disciplines related to results-based management, including indicators and metrics to measure impact, outcomes and performance of social programs.

-       Theoretical and practical knowledge of international technical cooperation, with emphasis on the management of international cooperation programs and projects.

-       Mature judgment, strong technical, analytical, and conceptual skills; demonstrated ability to assess, analyze, synthesize, and provide recommendations on key technical issues.

-       Ability to integrate managerial and technical inputs into recommendations for decision-making processes; ability to manage multiple issues and tasks in a complex organizational environment, and to re-prioritize actions on short notice.

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