Terms of Reference (TOR)
Project Manager, under a Partner Personnel Services Agreement
1. Position Information
| Office/Unit/Project | UNAIDS Lesotho |
| Title | Project Manager |
| Level | NPSA11 |
| Duty station (City and Country) | Maseru, Lesotho |
| Type (Regular or Short term) | Regular |
| Office- or Home-based | Office based |
| Expected starting date | 1 February 2026 |
| Expected Duration | 1 year with possibility of 9 months extention |
2. Office/Unit/Project Description
The Lesotho Country Office is part of a multi-country office that includes Eswatini and South Africa. The Lesotho office draws on expertise from across the three countries, providing leadership and coordinating the expanded UN system response in Lesotho. Using an equity and equality lens as part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Lesotho Country Office scales up rights-based HIV services for all, focused on underserved populations including key populations, women and girls, people living with HIV and locations most at risk. It also works to ensure that equitable financing for the HIV response and broader health systems is available. The Lesotho Country Office further promotes effective use of strategic information to better understand and track the epidemic and its trends, and to measure progress and sustainable impact of the response. It strengthens the capacities of communities and their meaningful engagement in health, social protection, and human rights strategies and mechanisms, and provides support and technical guidance as necessary to national partners and policymakers.
The Lesotho Country Office was recently awarded funding by the Government of the People’s Republic of China through the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA) for a project to be implemented in Mokhotlong for a 24-month period. The project is titled “Eliminating the Triple Threat in Girls and Young Women in Lesotho” – Triple Threat Elimination and aims at contributing to prevention of new HIV infections, reduction of gender-based violence (GBV) and early and unintended pregnancies (EUP) in the district. Longer term, this will contribute to a reduction in maternal mortality amongst adolescent girls and young women (AGYW).
The key strategies underpinning this project include health systems strengthening focusing on capacity building; strengthening community-led responses through community engagement and delivery of person-centered integrated HIV and SRHR services; and provision of commodities, equipment and infrastructure rehabilitation to increase access to integrated services for vulnerable AGYW. In addition to working closely with the Ministry of Health as well as the District Health Management Team (DHMT) in Mokhotlong, other partners include UNFPA, Riders for Health and a local NGO.
UNAIDS’ role in the project is overall accountability and project management including planning, procurement, financial disbursement, contracting and oversight of implementing partners and reporting. It will also provide technical guidance and assistance for key project activities to ensure quality products and delivery.
3. Scope of Work
Working under the supervision of the Country Director, the Project Manager will focus on the overall management of the “Triple Threat Elimination” project, working closely with the Senior Coordinator in the Lesotho Country Office.
The Project Manager has the following key responsibilities:
Project planning and design
- Lead in development of detailed fund utilization plan or implementation plan formulated in accordance with the project and agreement documents, in close consultation with the other partners in the project.
- Prepare all necessary agreement documents for the project’s implementing (cooperation) partners in line with UNAIDS policies and procedures, including contracting the local NGO for implementation of the community component.
- Review and update other critical project documents including the procurement plan, communication plan, monitoring and evaluation plan and risk mitigation plan, ensuring alignment with project documents and UNAIDS templates and systems.
Project implementation, management and technical guidance
- Provide technical guidance to project implementing (cooperation) partners ensuring implementation and delivery of project activities and results in line with agreements and relevant national policies.
- Ensure effective focus for the “Triple Threat Elimination” project, promoting and driving innovative, integrated and person-centered approaches targeting adolescent girls and young women.
- Facilitate and support all procurement activities, aligning with UNAIDS procurement policies and procedures and donor requirements including continuous supply and distribution of SRHR and HIV commodities.
- Manage budgets and expenditures in line with donor and organizational requirements, ensuring cost-effectiveness and preventing misuse of resources, and manage audits.
- Manage and oversee the full range of management tasks, including administrative, human resources and communication, necessary for the implementation of the project.
Partnerships with relevant government ministries and other key partners
- Coordinate the project’s implementing (cooperation) partners, health facilities, and community groups in both Mokhotlong and at national level, facilitating and enhancing linkages across project activities.
- Establish and sustain partnerships with key government ministries, in particular the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Gender, Youth and Social Development, for effective collaboration with national initiatives focusing on HIV, GBV, and EUP.
- Develop and maintain operational and strategic partnerships with cosponsors and other national partners for the advancement of gender equality, human rights, community and youth engagement as these relate to HIV, GBV, and EUP.
- Represent the project in relevant national and regional coordination platforms and other fora as assigned by the Country Director.
Monitoring, evaluation and knowledge management
- Lead documentation of lessons learned, best practices, and human-interest stories for knowledge sharing and advocacy, building capacity of project implementing (cooperation) partners.
- Establish and coordinate data collection and management tools and processes for the project, working with implementing (cooperation) partners and closely aligning to national M&E systems.
- Facilitate and lead coordination and review meetings with DHMT and implementing (cooperation) partners and other relevant stakeholders in Mokhotlong.
- Participate in knowledge sharing and management initiatives within the multi-country office, regional support team and global centre, sharing good practices emerging from the project.
- Lead production of programmatic and financial quarterly and annual reports for submission to UNAIDS Global Centre and CIDCA.
4. Institutional Arrangement
The Project Manager will work under the supervision of the Country Director and will supervise the Finance and Administrative Associate. He/she will also work closely with the Senior Coordinator in the Lesotho Country Office.
5. Competencies
Core competencies: Commitment to the AIDS response; Applying expertise; Delivering results; Working in teams.
People management competencies: Managing performance and resources; Developing and empowering others.
6. Minimum Qualifications of the Successful PPSA
Education requirements
Advanced university degree in public health, international health, social or political science. A relevant first university degree and nine (9) years of relevant work experience will be considered as equivalent for internal candidates only.
Minimum years of relevant work experience
At least seven (7) years’ experience in managing health or HIV-related projects, preferably within NGOs or UN agencies, while working closely with government. Demonstrated knowledge and sound understanding of HIV responses.
Experience, knowledge and skills
- In-depth knowledge of HIV prevention and treatment, complemented by up-to-date knowledge of global HIV programmes and understanding of the HIV epidemic and its impact.
- Understanding of GBV and/or SRH with at least five (5) years working experience in either of these areas.
- Familiarity with health systems strengthening and community engagement in HIV/SRH/GBV programmes.
- Knowledge of the United Nations system organization and delivery mechanisms.
- UNAIDS highly values candidates who have lived experience or experience working with and supporting networks of people living with HIV/AIDS and key populations.
Desired skills
- Quantitative analytical skills including the use of standard and specialized software to analyze data and produce visuals.
- Ability to facilitate complex programme partnerships.
Required languages
English and Sesotho.
7. Remuneration and Benefits
Basic monthly remuneration (in LSL): 46,700.86 to 75,115.11 dependant on experience and qualifications
Other benefits: in lieu of pension contrubution; medical insurance; life anddisability insurance
8. Application Details
- Personal CV, indicating all past positions held and their main underlying functions, their durations (month/year), the qualifications, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate, and at least three (3) the most recent professional references of previous supervisors. References may also include peers.
- A cover letter (maximum length: 1 page) indicating why the candidate considers him-/herself to be suitable for the position.
- Submit the above by 5 January 2026 to [email protected] copying [email protected]