MANDATE OF THE DEPARTMENT:
Provide leadership and coordinate support for an expanded UN system response to ending the AIDS epidemic as a public health threat at regional and country level. Promote, support and provide guidance to regional and national partners and the UN system in the region to fast-track HIV prevention, treatment, care and support and rapidly scale up HIV services focused on populations and in locations most affected by the epidemic. Promote effective use of strategic information and documentation of trends on the epidemic and the response to HIV in the region.

Main tasks and Responsibilities of the Position:
Under thedirect supervisionof the Senior Policy Advisor, the DFAT grant focal point in the Regional Support Team (RST),theincumbent will liaise, as relevant, with all UNAIDS Country Offices, and RST thematic focal points to coordinate and ensure the timely and effective management of Programme.

The Project Officer will have the following functions:
1- In collaboration with the Regional DFAT Focal Point, support the coordination of the overall implementation of the DFAT Programme, including its grant management, project coordination, monitoring, review and oversight.
2- Manage a contract with the Implementing Partner Organization (IPO) for the distribution of funds to sub-contracted organizations and individuals in line with the regional and country-derived implementation work plans and the related monitoring and evaluation framework.
3- Manage contracts of sub-contracted organizations and individuals implementing the regional component of the DFAT Programme
4- In collaboration with the RST DFAT Focal Point and the UNAIDS Country Offices in the four countries, facilitate technical coordination, assistance and oversight to the programme. This includes providing regular updates to Regional DFAT Focal Point on the performance of the project.
5- Participate in regular meetings with the RST thematic focal points for UNAIDS Country Offices, and the(IPO),to discuss progress and challenges, share experiences and learning and identify course corrections.
6- Prepare, support, and keep records of the DFAT Programme meetings hosted by RST.
7- Support countries to identify and manage risk factors that impact DFAT grant implementation.
8- Support the implementation and oversight of the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Plan, which includes a Communications Plan.
9- Support the development of an annual report to DFAT on the implementation of the grant and progress in all countries according to DFAT requirements and the agreed M&E plans.
10- Support documentation of best practices and approaches for deepening the knowledge base of the achievements and results of the DFAT Programme.
11- Work closely with the RST DFAT Focal Point to ensure timely documentation of experiences and inclusion of DFAT Programme report into the regional and global reporting.
12- Perform other duties required in support of the DFAT Programme.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education:
Essential: Advanced university degree or equivalent in the following areas: monitoring and evaluation, public administration, social and behavioural sciences, public health and demography or related fields. For internal candidates, a first university degree and 4 years of relevant work experience will be considered as equivalent.
Desirable: Specialization in above or related fields.

Experience:
Essential: Two years of professional experience in the HIV and AIDS field with a focus on implementing HIV prevention and/or treatment programmes in the region including technical experience such as project and/or grant management and monitoring and evaluation. Desirable: Experience working with UN agencies at country or regional level.

Languages:
Essential: Advanced knowledge of English and of the local language.
Desirable: Knowledge of another UN language