Background

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the UN’s global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience, and resources to help people build a better life. We are on the ground in 170 countries and territories, working with governments and people on their own solutions to global and national development challenges to help empower lives and build resilient nations.

As a trusted, long-term partner of The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund, GF), UNDP’s value proposition lies in providing an integrated package of development solutions to strengthen institutions to deliver health services. Through its contributions as interim Principal Recipient and provider of technical assistance in over 53 countries since 2003, UNDP’s provision of integrated policy, implementation and capacity development support to countries has yielded significant health and development results in challenging operating environments. Proactive risk management and investing in sustainability are the cornerstones of UNDP’s portfolio management approach and providing technical assistance to national counterparts during all phases of implementation, strengthening legislation, policies, and regulatory frameworks, and building capacities across key functional areas, including financial management, health information systems, procurement and supply chain management. Within the HHD Group the Global Fund – Health Implementation Support Team (GF/HIST) is a dedicated team providing support to UNDP Country Offices implementing health and development programmes.

In Nepal, UNDP is the Co-Principal Recipient (PR) of the Global Fund GC7 grant for three diseases and work closely with the Government of Nepal. For effective implementation of the Global Fund programme, UNDP Nepal has established a Programme Management Unit (PMU) to coordinate and oversee the implementation and to ensure compliance of the terms and conditions of the grant agreements with the Global Fund and UNDP rules, policies, and procedures.  The PMU coordinates with the national partners particularly the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP), the Provincial and local government, government entities at federal and provinces, Non-Government Organizations, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), communities, technical partners, UN agencies, the Global Fund (Local Fund Agent) and the Country Coordinating Mechanism.

Duties and Responsibilities

The incumbent will work under overall supervision of Project Manager and direct supervision of Procurement and Supply Chain Management Specialist.

The Pharmaceutical Analyst will be responsible for conducting quality assurance and compliance checks on pharmaceuticals and health products procured under the Global Fund programme in Nepal. The role involves reviewing pharmaceutical data, monitoring supply chains in coordination with the Procurement and Supply Chain Management Analyst and ensuring adherence to national and international drug regulations. The Pharmaceutical Analyst will collaborate with government agencies, suppliers, and health institutions to ensure the safe distribution of quality-assured medicines across Nepal.

Quality assurance of Health Products:

• Ensure laboratory analysis and testing of pharmaceutical products is conducted to meet national and international quality standards (WHO prequalification, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) compliance under the Global Fund grant.
• Review Certificates of Analysis (CoA) from suppliers and ensure products comply with specifications.
• Coordinate with Department of Drug Administration to identify and report substandard, falsified, or counterfeit medicines.

Procurement of Health Products:

• Collaborate with the procurement team to review and verify Health product specifications.
• Collaborate with Procurement Analyst, Logistic Analyst, Lab Analyst to monitor the storage, transportation, and distribution of Health Products to ensure compliance with Good Distribution Practices (GDP).
• Ensure proper documentation and reporting of Health Products throughout the supply chain in collaboration with the Procurement and Supply Chain Management Analyst.

Regulatory Compliance & Risk Management:

• Stay updated with WHO guidelines and Global Fund policies on Health Products quality assurance and update the team accordingly.
• Support the registration of new Health products as required by the project.
• Identify risks in the Health Products supply chain and recommend mitigation strategies.
• Prepare reports on pharmaceutical quality assessments, including testing outcomes and risk analysis under GC7 grant.
• Maintain proper documentation of all Health products -related activities for audits and reviews.

Stakeholder Engagement:

• Liaise with government agencies, laboratories, suppliers, and partners to ensure a coordinated approach to Health Products quality assurance.
• Provide technical assistance to stakeholders on quality assurance protocols.
• Support capacity building initiatives to Government Stakeholders.

Facilitation of knowledge building:

• Ensures facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing to relevant stakeholders including country office. Assist in synthesis of lessons learnt and best practices to contribute to strengthening of national supply chain management.
• Interacts with and provides guidance for national partners and independent experts on developing adequate specifications for goods and services in line with the UNDP rules and procedures and review and adjustment as needed.

Contribution towards Gender and Social Inclusion (GESI)

• Promote a safe working environment by developing respectful and safe organizational culture and supporting practices.
• Collaborate with team members, programme partners, and sub-recipients to ensure safe implementation of programmes at the community level applying Do No Harm approach.
• Fully comply with UNDP’s GESI policy and ensure contribute to the zero tolerance for discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment, sexual exploitation, and abuse.

Perform other duties within your functional profile as assigned and deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the office.

Competencies

Core competencies

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback
• Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination

Cross-Functional & Technical Competences

Partnership Management

• Relationship Management – Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding

Business Management

• Customer Satisfaction/Client Management – Ability to respond timely and appropriately with a sense of urgency, provide consistent solutions, and deliver timely and quality results and/or solutions to fulfil and understand the real customers’ needs.
• Provide inputs to the development of customer service strategy. Look for ways to add value beyond clients’ immediate requests. Ability to anticipate client’s upcoming needs and concerns.

Business Direction and Strategy

• Systems 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 Development

• Knowledge Generation – Ability to research information and to turn it into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need. Ability to apply existing concepts to new situations, and to develop new concepts to generate workable solutions and new approaches. Knowledge of relevant concepts, conceptual models, and theories that can be useful in addressing new situations.

2030 Agenda: People

• Gender – Innovation for Gender Equality
• Health – Support to Global Fund and other health programmes

2030 Agenda: Prosperity

• Inclusive Growth – Social Inclusion

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s Degree or equivalent) in Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or a related field is required. OR
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree or equivalent) in the above-mentioned fields in combination with an additional 2 years of relevant experience will be given due consideration in lieu of master’s degree.

Experience:

• A minimum of 2 years (with a master’s degree) or 4 years (with a bachelor’s degree) of experience in pharmaceutical analysis, quality assurance, or regulatory affairs within national and international organizations or the public health sector.
• Excellent verbal and written communication abilities to effectively collaborate with team members, suppliers, and stakeholders.
• Experience in the use of computers and office software packages as well as web-based management systems is an asset.
• Familiarity with Nepal’s drug regulatory framework and global pharmaceutical standards.
• Strong knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Good Laboratory Practices (GLP), and Good Distribution Practices (GDP).
• Experience working in public health programs or donor-funded projects (e.g., Global Fund, USAID, WHO).
• Familiarity with procurement policies and procedures specific to the Global Fund or other donor-funded programs.
• Understanding of gender equality and diversity in Nepal’s context.
• Strong analytical skills to interpret data and make informed decisions.

Required Languages

• Fluency in English and Nepali is required.

Professional Certificates

• Certification or training in Quality Assurance or Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) is highly desirable.

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.