PROJECT MANAGER

Position details

• Vacancy number: 2603775
• Contractual arrangement: External consultant
• Contract duration: 6 Months
• Organization: AF_GNB Guinea Bissau
• Schedule: Full-time
• Closing date: Sep 4, 2026, 10:59:00 PM

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that the deadline for receipt of applications indicated above reflects your personal device's system settings.

    Area of expertise: Project and programme management

Purpose of consultancy  

The Project Manager [TEI/EU Support to INASA] is responsible for planning, organizing, and leading the project from Initiation to Closure. The Project Manager ensures effective delivery and oversight of the project, while implementing the services in scope and contributing towards achievement of partners’ goals and objectives. Acting on behalf of the Strategic Advisory Committee, the Project Manager ensures that project outputs are delivered within agreed tolerances of time, cost, scope, quality, risk, and benefits. The incumbent possesses and applies a deep understanding of Project planning, implementation, monitoring and control, while managing stakeholder expectations. and ensuring delivery is as per the terms of the Legal Agreement. The Project Manager serves as the focal point for coordination with donors, partners and beneficiaries, ensuring alignment with contractual commitments and WHO performance standards.

Background 

    The Project Manager may implement different projects within the WHO Country Office portfolio. The initial assignment is a project led by INASA (National Public Health Institute in Guinea-Bissau), through the Team Europe/EU Support to National Public Health Institutes, and implemented by the WHO Representative’s Office in Guinea-Bissau, in partnership with the Ministry of Public Health, the EU, other Development Partners, UN agencies and other WHO Collaborative Centers. The project supports national, regional and local governments to strengthen capacities to implement Essential Public Health Functions towards operationalizing national health policies, strategies and plans for Universal Health Coverage and Health Security and Resilience, inclusive of climate-resilient actions. The project addresses persistent constraints in evidence generation for policy action, including governance, weak institutions, fragmented planning, limited data, and insufficient integration across programs and sectors. It aims at improving integrated, people center health and care service delivery. The project will contribute to enhance capacity among central and local government officials to implement sound program management principles and practices; strengthen their capacity to design and implement national and local policies in support of resilient health systems; and update knowledge products at country level.

Deliverables

1. Project Delivery and Performance

·       Develop, complete and update the project implementation plan.

·       Implement the approved plan (including establishment of milestones) within tolerances set by the WHO Representative.

·       Embed sustainability dimensions, including social and gender considerations, and environmental and economic aspects, into the project life span

·       Manage the production of required outputs, taking responsibility for overall progress and use of resources while initiating corrective action where necessary.

·       Ensure that quality of work packages and deliverables comply with the quality requirements defined in the implementation plan.

·       Liaise with external suppliers or account managers to ensure quality and timely delivery of outputs.

·       Manage acceptance and delivery of work packages.

·       Monitor project progress, control project variances (if any), and manage changes.

·       Identify, anticipate and advise senior management and the project strategic advisory committee on mitigating measures against project risks to ensure that benefits to partners and other stakeholders are maximized.

·       Advocate and promote WHO service offerings, identify and report potential growth opportunities for WHO.

 

2. Procedures

·       Comply with the organization’s policies and standards and ensure project information is kept updated in project management systems.

·       Be aware of applicable local laws and regulations and ensure adherence. This includes international regulations and standards, where applicable, as well as technical standards.

·       Prepare and adapt all relevant plans for approval by the project Strategic Advisory Committee, and manage baselines

·       Manage the reporting obligations defined in the implementation plan and legal agreements.

·       Maintain project documentation in an orderly manner for accessibility and audit support when needed.

·       Understand and apply the WHO financial rules and regulations. Be accountable for the use of delegation of authority (where applicable) and ensure compliance with relevant policies and standards of ethics.

·       Provide a formal handover of the project to the closure manager when applicable.

·       Support project audit activities, including planning, preparation and coordination during audits and follow-up on audit observations/ recommendations.

 

3. Monitoring and Reporting

·       Include a results framework and M&E plan in the project implementation plan with clearly defined indicators and agreed targets, ensure regular monitoring and tracking of project results.

·       Prepare and issue regular project and financial reports in accordance with partner and WHO requirements for reporting.

·       Regularly review project status and evaluate performance criteria (scope, cost, schedule, and quality)

·       Maintain diaries and progress reports as required by WHO standard operating procedures.

·       Provide routine oversight and analysis of delivery data within the dashboard system.

·       Ensure all project team members track and regularly update milestones and targets for the duration of the project life span.

 

4. Stakeholder Engagement

·       Develop stakeholder engagement strategies and plans. Actively engage stakeholders, take feedback, and adjust as necessary. 

·       Establish solid working relationships with the project Strategic Advisory Committee (executive, senior users and senior suppliers); clients; and key stakeholders.

·       Enable formulation of project communication plans and monitor effectiveness of project communications.

·       Coordinate stakeholder engagement and communication, ensuring effective timing and interdependency management of communications. Ensure stakeholders are aware of project activities, progress, and exceptions, and are in a position to accept handover outputs.

 

5. Quality Assurance

·       Work with internal stakeholders to ensure projects comply with audit requirements.

·       Work with procurement/ purchasing personnel to ensure effective interface with suppliers’ quality systems.

·       Coordinate quality reviews of project documents and deliverables. 

·       Provide quality control for management outputs (e.g. project documents, reports, etc).

 

6. Knowledge Management and Innovation

·       Create a learning environment for the project team, encourage knowledge sharing and training to contribute to longer-term capacity building.

·       Actively interact with other project managers and the wider project management (PM) community, share case studies, lessons learned and best practices.

·       Stay abreast with latest updates and good practices of the profession, participate in training and learning activities for self to advance proficiency and competency.

·       Ensure lessons learned are shared in a timely and appropriate manner. 

·       Provide feedback to corporate practice groups on policy and systems, when needed.

·       Provide feedback to functional groups on policies and related guidance to support the continuous improvement of WHO policy framework

 

7. Personnel Management

·       Organize and structure the project team, ensure clearly defined roles and responsibilities. Provide regular guidance and direction, as needed, and support the team in effectively performing their tasks. 

·       Lead and motivate the project management team and manage performance.

·       Ensure performance reviews are conducted fairly, accurately, and on time.

·       Select, recruit, and train project teams as required, taking gender parity and diversity objectives into account.

·       Ensure safety and security for all project personnel in compliance with the UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) standards.

 

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:  

Essential:

First level university degree in public administration, international development studies, international relations, public health or other related field, with five years of relevant experience.

Desirable:

Project management certification from a globally recognized institute.

Professional certification from a reputed institute in technical topic relevant to the job area.

 

Experience 

Essential: At least 2 years' Relevant experience is defined as professional experience in the implementation of complex multi-country projects related to public health programs, working with donors, national and sub-national governments authorities and implementing partners in developing countries.

Experience in project planning, implementation, and control, including project communication and reporting

Knowledge of quality assurance methodologies.

Experience of managing project risks in a multi-stakeholder context.

Experience providing technical assistance and capacity building, including the design and delivery of training and workshops.

Experience in analyzing cross-sectoral infrastructure data and conducting national or subnational infrastructure assessments.

Experience in integrating climate resilience, sustainability and/or inclusion considerations into infrastructure context assessments and capacity building tools

Desirable

·       Experience of working in multicultural environments or UN system organizations in a developing country.

·       Experience in development or humanitarian contexts.

·       Work experience using assessment and prioritization tools (such as Gap Analysis, Best Practices Repository and Benchmarking).

·       Experience developing or adapting tools, methodologies or knowledge products to support government capacity. 

·       Experience supporting governments to develop national or local plans related to public policies/public health initiatives. 

 

Languages and level required (Basic/Intermediate/Expert):

Essential:

Expert knowledge of English or French or Portuguese

     Location

On site : Bissau, Guinea Bissau

Travel

The consultant is expected to travel.  

    Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):

The consultant will be paid at Band A level (P2 level) [please mention the Monthly Pay band range: USD 5,480 to USD 6,980

a.     Living expenses (A living expenses is payable to on-site consultants who are internationally recruited):

b.     Expected duration of contract is six months

c.     Hiring Manager:  Dr Walter Kazadi Mulombo

Additional Information 

·       This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.

• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
• A written test may be used as a form of screening.
• If your candidature is retained for 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/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
• For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int.

·       The WHO is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The WHO recruits workforce regardless of disability status, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, language, race, marital status, religious, cultural, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, or any other personal characteristics.

The WHO is committed to achieving gender parity and geographical diversity in its workforce. Women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of unrepresented and underrepresented Member States (https://www.who.int/careers/diversity-equity-and-inclusion) are strongly encouraged to apply for WHO jobs.

Persons with disabilities can request reasonable accommodations to enable participation in the recruitment process. Requests for reasonable accommodation should be sent through an email to  reasonableaccommodation@who.int

·       An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential. WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter (https://www.who.int/about/who-we-are/our-values) into practice.

• WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of short-listed candidates.
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