Programme Manager, Fragile and Conflict Countries Segment

Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance is a public-private partnership committed to saving children’s lives and protecting people’s health by increasing equitable use of vaccines in lower-income countries. The Vaccine Alliance brings together implementing country and donor governments, the World Health Organisation, UNICEF, the World Bank, the vaccine industry, technical agencies, civil society, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and other private sector partners. Gavi uses innovative finance mechanisms, including co-financing by recipient countries, to secure sustainable funding and adequate supply of quality vaccines. Since 2000, Gavi has contributed to the immunisation of more than 1 billion children and the prevention of more than 16.2 million future deaths.

THE ROLE

Please note this is a temporary role, until 31st December 2025.

The Fragile and Conflict Countries Segment works to achieve effective implementation of Gavi grants aimed at increasing immunisation coverage and equity, as well as financial sustainability in Gavi-eligible countries. This work is conducted in close collaboration with Gavi Alliance partners, country stakeholders, other development partners and the rest of the Gavi Secretariat.

The Fragile and Conflict Countries Segment comprised twelve countries classified as being fragile according to the indexes in the Gavi Fragilities, Emergencies and Displaced Population (FED) policy. The Programme Manager (PM) is responsible for supporting a Geneva-based Senior Country Manager (SCM) who plays a stewardship role in ensuring Gavi resources are optimally programmed to achieve the highest immunisation outcomes in some of the globe’s most extreme contexts.

Programme Managers in the Fragile and Conflict Team will be expected to support at least two countries, facing extremely challenging and volatile environments, often in the midst of humanitarian crises and permanent stress related to the uncertainty in which Gavi operates. Security conditions permitting, the PM is expected to travel to these locations regularly. Given the complex political context in many of these countries, with the need to sometimes operate differently in different parts of the same country, an understanding of emergency responses and operations, as well very strong diplomatic skills will be essential.

Working in close collaboration with the team’s SCM, the PM provides key support in conducting and ensuring completion of the various steps of the grant management lifecycle, managing risk and key relationships, and closely monitoring Gavi-funded programmes.

Key functions and deliverables:

• Timely, quality completion of the various steps of the portfolio management process, with high quality of grant management and other documents under PM’s responsibility;
• Robust contribution to strategic discussions with SCM and, where relevant, other Gavi country team members and in-country stakeholders in relation to a country’s portfolio of support;
• Compliance with policies, requirements, agreed timelines, formats and quality standards;
• Proactive identification and addressing of issues, risks and improvement opportunities related to portfolio management and other tasks under PM’s responsibility;
• Timely and quality delivery of specific workstreams/projects, as agreed with SCM and Team leads;
• High degree of satisfaction by all members of the team and other pertinent stakeholders regarding quality, timeliness, proactiveness of support services provided to them;
• Productive collaborations with relevant Gavi Secretariat colleagues and country and partner agency counterparts;
• Timely, high-quality communication of Gavi information (funding decisions, Board policy, etc.) to countries and other development partners.

MAIN DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

Overall engagement

• Support SCM with government and Alliance engagement to optimise funding and programmatic results;
• Draft various types of briefings, correspondence and memos in preparation of internal and external meetings and discussions;
• Act as liaison to coordinate meetings with in-country donors, technical partners, NGOs, CSOs, and other critical stakeholders;
• Represent and actively contribute to internal and external meetings – whether in country, at the regional level or at the Secretariat based on knowledge of country contexts – and bring experience across Gavi policies/processes;
• Act as ‘knowledge managers’ for all information related to the country: ensure proper management of all documents, correspondence, minutes, contracts, budgets, etc. and ensure updated country information for use by internal Secretariat stakeholders;
• Maintain a tracker of key actions and ensure that proper follow-up is undertaken (e.g., GMRs, Audit and others);
• Take quality meeting minutes relevant to one’s countries as necessary and follow up on any agreed actions;
• Support preparation and execution of Alliance’s high-level engagement, including joint missions, bilateral meetings with Gavi’s Executive Office and Senior Leadership Team.

Portfolio Management – Plan & Design

• Taking into account Gavi’s differentiated approach to country engagement:
o Support discussions around private sector partnerships or innovative humanitarian and/or expanded partnerships in countries;
o Support Full Portfolio Planning process: undertake planning, draft FPP roadmap, manage communications, support preparation of consultation workshops and other meetings, coordinate with FD&R for IRC review;
• Support SCM to engage with sub-national levels, as appropriate, to plan and design tailored strategies;
• Support SCM to engage with other humanitarian actors, humanitarian coordination mechanisms, as appropriate, to ensure Gavi support reaches the entire country.
Portfolio Management – Review, Approve, Disburse
• Based on Gavi’s differentiated approach to country engagement, support coordination of quality assurance, compliance and pre-screening across teams before the review of the Independent Review Committee (IRC); following review, facilitate any required follow-up;
• Support finalisation of grant-making post IRC review: multi-year approval; budget and workplan;
• Grant Management Requirements; draft grant agreements; and track and monitor disbursements; a
• Work with Programme Assistant to ensure all ERP systems-related tasks are completed in an efficient manner.

Portfolio Management – Implement & Monitor

• Taking into account Gavi’s differentiated approach to country engagement:
o Support SCM to monitor and pro-actively mitigate programmatic and fiduciary risks; including through the tracking and follow-up of audit findings, grant management requirements, evaluations findings, etc.;
o Support the coordination of regular performance reviews of Technical Assistance, in alignment with other streams of support;
o Support the preparation of Joint Appraisals, monitoring missions, meetings and other joint engagements;
o Participate and lead in country mission, with or without the SCM, as necessary and according to the portfolio needs/priorities.
• Support day-to-day problem solving to ensure that programme implementation is effective, impactful, and in line with Theory of Change, across all streams of support, with pro-active coordination of reprogramming against needs;
• Keep track of required reporting and coordinate with the country to ensure they submit high quality reports on time (e.g vaccines stock reporting, financial and programmatic progress reporting, follow up on vaccine introductions and campaigns, etc.);
• Act as liaison between Gavi Secretariat and the Country to support the regular programme audit.

Note: The essential functions listed in this section are not exhaustive of the job responsibilities; other duties may be assigned consistently with the department needs.

QUALIFICATIONS

ACADEMIC

• University degree in public health, health economics, development or social sciences, business administration (with experience in international development) or related field, or other relevant qualification.

WORK EXPERIENCE

• Minimum of 8 years of professional experience working in public health or international development,
including a minimum of two years of experience working in the humanitarian field, fragile and/or conflict settings;
• Experience in immunisation programmes or health systems a strong asset;
• Experience working in/with developing countries on technical issues a strong asset required;
• Some grant-, project- and/or programme-management experience required, including in situations of considerable complexity, challenging environments and political sensitivity;
• Experience in bilateral and multilateral aid environments and working in fragile environments and humanitarian contexts strongly desirable.

SKILLS/COMPETENCIES

• Demonstrated capacity to manage a variety of activities simultaneously and to take initiative;
• Prioritisation, planning, and project coordination skills;
• Analysis, problem-solving, sound judgment;
• Action and results orientation; continuous improvement;
• Interpersonal and teamwork skills; diplomacy and tact;
• Strong oral communication, writing and presentational skills;
• Computer skills, including internet navigation and various office applications;
• Ability to work successfully in an international, multicultural, multi-partner environment, and establish harmonious working relationships, both within and outside the organisation;
• Knowledge/understanding of immunisation, health or international development issues and procedures is an asset;
• Health or international development technical skills is also an asset.

LANGUAGES

• Written and spoken fluency in English essential;
• Written and spoken fluency in French highly desirable.

CONTACTS

• Gavi Secretariat;
• Developing country governments;
• Gavi’s alliance partners;
• UN;
• Multilateral & bilateral donor agencies;
• Humanitarian actors;
• Civil society organisations.