Categories: Vacancies, May 2026

Global Malaria Advisor

The Global Malaria Advisor will provide senior technical leadership to drive the RBM Partnership’s malaria elimination agenda across Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America. Based in Addis Ababa and reporting to the CEO, the role leads regional strategies, oversees CRSPC workstreams, and supports delivery of the RBM Strategic Plan and Big Push Against Malaria. The Advisor will coordinate responses to drug resistance, climate-related risks, and complex operating contexts, while strengthening partnerships with institutions such as the African Union and Africa CDC. The position also guides regional teams, contributes to funding and programmatic strategies, and convenes high-level dialogues to address barriers, mobilize resources, and accelerate regional progress toward malaria elimination.

Location: Addis Ababa (with travel to project locations)

Organization: UNOPS

Deadline: 31-Dec-2025

Job Description

General Information

Publication for: Hosted Entity
Entity Name: RBM Partnership to End Malaria
Position Title: Global Malaria Advisor
Job Category: Programme
Duty Station(s): Addis Ababa
Seniority Level: Senior Level
ICS Level: ICS 12
Contract Type: ICA – IICA – Regular
Contract Level: IICA 4
Posting Start Date: 09-Dec-2025
Posting End Date: 31-Dec-2025
Duration: Open ended – subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance.

About the Region

The UNOPS Global Portfolios Office (GPO) unites the New York Portfolios, including the Peace and Security team (PSC); the Geneva Office; and the Vienna-based Water, Environment and Climate (WEC) teams, to maximize global impact, foster efficiencies and streamline global programmes. Leveraging our collective expertise and networks, GPO supports UNOPS’ strategic priorities and the SDGs across over 130 countries. We deliver project management, fund management, advisory services, project implementation, and HR services, working closely with major global partners. Our thematic focus includes sustainable development, climate action, health, peace & security, and humanitarian action.

About the Country/Multi-Country Office

From Geneva, UNOPS strives to facilitate the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), by working with governments, other United Nations (UN) agencies and partners. This includes supporting platforms and hosting high-profile, flagship initiatives and funds focusing on health, nutrition, water and sanitation, sustainable cities, environment, energy, climate and trade.

UNOPS is a recognized resource for the UN system in Geneva – from fund management and oversight and advisory services, to providing hosting solutions to a range of global initiatives, as well as operational support to partner organizations.

UNOPS provides quality services, integrated solutions and management support to UN agencies, initiatives and partners in a strategic, cohesive, cost-effective and results-oriented manner. Geneva is also home to UNOPS Europe and Central Asia Regional Office.

About the Project Office

The past fifteen years have seen tremendous gains in reducing the burden of disease and progressing towards malaria elimination. Since 2000, global malaria deaths have been cut by more than half, saving 12.7 million lives, primarily among children less than five years of age. Expansions in financing, strong political commitments, novel diagnostic and preventative measures, and multi-sectoral co-ordination have facilitated this progress. Since 1998, RBM Partnership to End Malaria has been central to the global fight against malaria.

It has been essential to mobilizing resources and scaling up innovative interventions, putting the world onto a path towards eliminating malaria. The Partnership comprises more than 500 partners committed to end malaria, including malaria endemic countries, their bilateral and multilateral development partners, the private sector, nongovernmental and community-based organizations, foundations, and research and academic institutions.

The RBM Partnership’s Vision is of a world free from the burden of malaria. The RBM Partnership is based in Geneva and hosted by UNOPS.

About the Group

As part of the Global Portfolio Office, UNOPS Geneva provides comprehensive solutions in secretariat hosting, operational support, and fund management. We manage global programmes, including the Water, Environment and Climate (WEC) Portfolio, offering project management, procurement, HR, and financial services. Geneva hosts the secretariats of eight global partnerships focused on health (RBM, Stop TB, ATscale), nutrition (SUN), water/sanitation (SHF), humanitarian leadership (GELI), urban development (Cities Alliance), and disaster displacement (PDD). We also provide fund management for EIF and UN Water, and operational support to Geneva-based partners like the Global Fund and UNHCR.

Job Specific Context

RBM Partnership to End Malaria

The RBM Partnership’s Vision is of a world free from the burden of malaria. The RBM Partnership is based in Geneva and hosted by UNOPS.

Role Purpose

The Global Malaria Advisor plays a pivotal role in advancing the RBM Partnership’s strategic vision for malaria elimination, with a focus on high-burden regions and continental leadership. Operating under the direct supervision of the CEO, the Advisor will lead and coordinate the Partnership’s global, regional, and sub-regional elimination strategies in Africa, South-East Asia, and Latin America. The position is strategically located in Addis Ababa to deepen collaboration with African Union institutions, including Africa CDC, regional economic communities, and diplomatic missions.

The Advisor will drive synergetic engagement across stakeholders, support the operationalization of regional hubs, and guide the Partnership’s alignment with the Big Push Against Malaria. The post will also directly supervise the CRSPC’s workstreams and ensure alignment with RBM’s strategic, technical, and advocacy goals.

Functions / Key Results Expected

1. Senior technical advisory on emerging trends and challenges for malaria

Actively contribute to executive-level decision-making as a member of the RBM Secretariat’s senior technical leadership.
Provide the CEO and partnership with regular updates on the progress of elimination efforts, identifying key risks and mitigation strategies.
Support strategic planning processes and the design and implementation of RBM Strategic Plan and the Big Push Against Malaria.
Mentor and guide technical staff in elimination-related programming

2. Lead Technical Coordination on Priority Continental Issues

Design and lead technical dialogues regional frameworks to address drug and insecticide resistance and malaria prevention, extreme weather events and response in complex operating settings
Serve as the lead technical focal point for malaria elimination regional initiatives.Guide and oversee regional strategies and support initiatives focused on elimination zones such as South-East Africa, the Sahel, the Great Lakes, Andean region, and South-East Asia.
Act as the primary focal point for translating global commitments into regionally tailored and context-specific interventions within the framework of regional bodies.
Lead the technical interface with continental institutions (e.g., AU, Africa CDC, NEPAD) and ensure alignment with regional priorities.
Provide direct strategic support and technical advice to the CEO and contribute to the design of high-level interventions and positioning efforts.

3. Operational Oversight and Advisory

Guide the work of CRSPC at global, regional, and subregional levels, ensuring coherence with the Big Push and elimination goals.
Coordinate and monitor implementation of elimination-oriented action plans and milestones for countries close to elimination
Provide thought leadership direction for integrated approaches to elimination, including domestic financing, surveillance, and multisectoral collaboration.
Support the development and review of funding proposals, programmatic strategies, and elimination metrics.
Supervise the Regional and Sub regional teams of RBM, and actively participate to strategic dialogue with the Country and Regional Support Partners Committee

4. Cultivate the Big Push Against Malaria at regional levels

Drive the operationalization of the Big Push Against Malaria across regions by ensuring strong technical, political, and financial alignment with RBM’s elimination objectives.
Coordinate closely with the Head of Programs, External Engagement Advisor, and Technical Coordinator to align messaging, resource mobilization, and stakeholder engagement strategies that amplify the Big Push’s visibility and country/regional traction.
Establish and maintain high-level technical partnerships with governments, regional economic communities, continental bodies, donors, and multilateral agencies to embed Big Push priorities within regional health and development frameworks.
Convene and steer high-impact regional and global dialogues, taskforces, and learning platforms aimed at removing policy, financing, and implementation barriers—accelerating measurable progress under the Big Push framework.
Act as an active member of the RBM Secretariat action lead sustainable financing efforts

Skills

Field Operations, Program Development, Program Management, Project Coordination, Stakeholder Engagement, Strategic Partnerships, Strategic Planning, Team Management, Technical Leadership.

Education Requirements

Required

A Master’s degree in public health, business management, public administration, science, social science or another relevant field is required.
A Bachelors degree in public health, business management, public administration, science, social science or other relevant field plus two additional years of experience will be considered in lieu of a Master’s degree.

Experience Requirements

Required

Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in the development, implementation and/or management of Public health projects is required. Within this prerequisite, at least 5 years at the senior management and/or leadership level is required
5 years of experience in managing malaria projects, or malaria programs is required
Experience in the public health sector, in particular with malaria endemic countries is required.

Desired

Experience working in challenging and politically complex situations.
Experience in multi-stakeholder partnerships management and engagement.
Understanding and experience working in digital and information technologies projects
Experience working with regional bodies
Proven ability to manage and motivate senior staff located in different geographical locations.
Specialization, experience or demonstrated understanding of international development related to malaria is preferred.