Health Analyst (Open to all applicants)

Please note the appropriate Tier indicated in the vacancy title and ensure that you are holding the applicable contract as defined below:

Tier 1: 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) and personnel on regular PSA contracts

Tier 3: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates

Background

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet.

Guided by the global UNDP Strategic Plan (2022 – 2025) and UNDP Country Programme Document (CPD) for Lao PDR (2022 – 2026), and in line with the UN Sustainable development Country Framework (UNSDCF) of the UN system with Lao PDR, UNDP in Lao PDR works closely with the line Ministries, mass organizations, civil society, development partners, and the private sector at both national and sub-national levels in pursuit of the national socio-economic development priorities defined in Lao PDR’s five-year National Socio-Economic Development Plan (NSEDP) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The UNDP’s work is strongly focused on the provision of policy advice and technical support to the Government of Lao PDR in the design and implementation of national legislation and strategies across three broad priority pillars – (1) inclusive growth and reduced inequalities, including UXO clearance and risk education, (2) natural resources, climate change and disaster risk reduction, and (3) effective, responsive, and accountable governance (Lao PDR | UNDP).

UNDP’s comparative advantage has been its ability to work closely with a very broad range of government and local-level institutions at all levels. The UNDP country programme is aligned with the 9th NSEDP and aims to support Lao PDR recover from the economic and social impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and continue its transition from LDC status, with a particular emphasis on supporting inclusive growth and reducing inequality.

UNDP Health Programme:

UNDP’s experience in health systems includes legal environment assessments, capacity building for legislators, integration of health into SDG and climate strategies, climate-health nexus, and facilitating stakeholder dialogues with government, civil society and private sectors. 

At the regional level, UNDP operates a Bangkok Regional Hub’s HIV and Health Team (HHT), which provides technical, policy and programming support to Country Offices (CO) across Asia and the Pacific. The HHT delivers high-quality advisory services grounded in global and regional evidence, applied research, and UNDP’s extensive operational experience. HHT supports COs in designing and implementing effective, integrated development programmes, including health and NCD governance. The Hub also facilitates access to knowledge, promotes regional capacity-building initiatives, and strengthens partnerships with governments, UN agencies, and development partners—ensuring countries benefit from tailored, context-specific solutions and innovations across the region. 

In Lao PDR, UNDP’s catalytic role in tobacco control reform, air quality monitoring and climate-health early warning systems, and aligns with our broader commitment to help Lao PDR achieve the SDGs, reduce inequalities and build resilient, inclusive systems for health.

In relation to Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) in Lao PDR, there is rapidly increasing due to changing lifestyles and environmental factors, straining health systems and hindering socio-economic development. Although a 2016 estimate indicated that 60% of total deaths attributed to NCDs, primarily cardiovascular diseases (27%), cancer (12%), chronic respiratory diseases (5%), diabetes (4%). However, there has been no updated data since then to capture the true burden of NCDs. This significant gap in NCD surveillance data makes it challenging for the government and donors to understand the disease's causes and impacts of NCDs, hindering investments to strengthen NCD management. Additionally, the constrained health budget (only 4-5% of total government expenditure), along with limited community awareness of prevention, further exacerbates the issue. Consequently, coverage of NCD services remains low. While the UHC Service Coverage Index for infectious diseases improved significantly from 7 in 2000 to 63 in 2021, the index for NCD services only rose from 35 to 56.

UNDP is aiming to support the government of Lao PDR through the health procurement, digital health transformation in alignment with the Lao Digital Health Strategy 2023-2027 and the development of a Multisectoral NCD Action Plan with Financing Strategy and strengthen Multisectoral NCD Governance.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Health Analyst will be performing the work under the overall guidance of the Team Leaders/ Unit Heads and direct supervision of Programme Analyst. 

The Health Analyst liaises closely with the national authorities and other UN agencies working in Health and Health sector, the donor community, and other UNDP programmes and projects in the country.

The Project Analyst works with the project experts and counterparts of the Government beneficiary institution(s), as well as engages with other national institutions, international organizations, and other relevant actors.

The UNDP is seeking to recruit a Health Analyst, who will perform day-to-day implementation of the activities under UNDP’s responsibility. 

The  Health Analyst will be under the overall guidance of the Team Leaders/ Unit Heads direct supervision of Programme Analyst. He/She will coordinate closely with government counterparts and other stakeholders in the execution of the project.

Specifically, the National Health & Health System Analyst will cover the following:

Coordinate effective project planning and implementation.

• Develop project planning process and ensure the work plan and a fully costed budget are prepared based on sound capacity assessments and in accordance with UNDP POPP/PPM Guidelines. 
• Coordinate / manage the day-to-day activities of the assigned portfolio and the overall implementation process, including planning and monitoring in order to optimize the use of resources and to ensure the successful achievement of project objectives and results specified in project document. Provide subject matter technical advice and support and ensure outputs are delivered on time, within the set budget and specified constraints, and to high-quality standards.
• Develop Terms of Reference (TORs) for project activities and team members
• Facilitate establishment of interactive and inclusive platforms for project implementation and collaborate with other programme units and project teams to ensure integration of critical development issues in the project activities and expected project outputs. 
• Ensure implementation activities are in alignment with UNDP policy and programme management procedures and all project interventions integrate a gender equality perspective/gender equality mainstreaming to the extent local context allows.
• Ensure operational management of assigned portfolio including through timely procurement of goods, services and/or infrastructure (as relevant), effective management of human, technical and financial resources, etc.

Establish partnerships and open channels of communication.

• Develop and maintain strong relationships and strategic linkages with implementing and development partners, government officials, businesses, NGOs, other national stakeholders, and beneficiaries to support key objectives and ensure inclusive implementation and participation of key stakeholders in assigned portfolio.
• Develop and maintain stakeholder mapping and analysis to identify stakeholder needs and how best to leverage their participation and/or strengthen their engagement. Prepare substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation and opportunities for joint initiatives. Make recommendations to the management team on activities with potential for scale-up, replicability and synergies.
• Provide technical support to the implementing partners and act as a liaison between UNDP and the partners. 
•  Support resource mobilization efforts and project development of UNDP in Lao PDR

Monitor and report on progress in implementing project activities and achieving the targets set.

• Review the results framework and update the indicators, baselines, and targets of the assigned portfolio. Develop clear strategies and an effective system for data collection, means of verification, and information sharing and reporting. 
• Monitor implementation and progress in achieving goals and targets in accordance with the established quality criteria and UNDP rules, regulations, and standards. Identify, analyze, and take adequate measures to manage emerging issues, problems, and risks. Conduct field visits to project location sites.
• Liaise with the Finance team to ensure administrative requirements, budgets and use of financial resources are managed and executed in a timely and appropriate manner and within UNDP and donor rules and regulations.
• Prepare corporate, donor and government reports in line with the reporting schedule and UNDP and donor requirements.
• Ensure proper operational and financial closure of the project.

Facilitate knowledge and capacity building, knowledge sharing and advocacy relevant to Health and Health sector.

• Organize training, workshops, and capacity building activities in a consultative manner, involving technical experts and stakeholders that may include the government, private sector, NGOs, donors, and/or academia.
• Identify, synthesize and document best practices and lessons learned that are generated from the project and implementing partners.
• Participate in and ensure sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice on project related issues. Support establishment of knowledge platforms for the project, facilitate innovative mechanisms for dissemination of knowledge from the project, and develop knowledge resources and products to share with project partners and to support UNDP’s engagement in this area. 
• Promote advocacy on development trends and opportunities to collaborate in coordination with the project partners, stakeholders, and UNDP communications staff. 

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

Competencies

Core Competencies:

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning
• Adapt with Agility:  LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making 

People Management

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

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:

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

Business Management    

• Project Management: Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals
• Results Based Management: Ability to manage the implementation of strategies, programmes, and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results. Knowledge and understanding of relevant theories, concepts, methodologies, instruments, and tools.
• Communication: Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience, Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels.
• 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 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.

Partnership    

• Private sector resource mobilization: Ability to identify, develop and manage partnerships that leverage private sector technical expertise and resources.
   

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent) in Public Health, Health Policy and Management, Health Administration, Epidemiology, International Development, Public Administration or a closely related field is required. OR
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas stated above,  in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree

Experience:

• Minimum 2 years (with master’s degree) or 4 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience at the national or international level in providing management advisory services, and/or hands-on experience in design, monitoring and evaluation of development projects.

Required skills:

• Experience in the use of computers, office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and web-based management systems, and advanced knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages. 
• Knowledge and experience in relevant thematic areas to Non-Communicable Diseases, Health Policy and Management, Public Health and Health Administration.

Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section:

• Experience in working, liaising, and collaborating with UN agencies, governments, NGOs, civil society organizations, and public international organizations.
• Proven track record of in-dept technical knowledge of development issues under UNDP project, including: Health, Natural Resources management, Climate change, Environment, Energy, Green and Climate Finance, Social Protection, Poverty reduction, Governance, Rule of Law, Access to Justice, Digitalization, International development, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience in networking and partnership development
• Demonstrated ability to lead a team and to work in the team effectively.
• Experience in project monitoring and quality assurance is an advantage.

Required Languages:

• Fluency in English and Lao 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. 

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.

Scam alert

UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.