OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

To provide guidance to Member States on health system building/strengthening/transformation, with focus on governance and financing, based on the values and principles of primary health care, which include: universal health coverage, equity, social justice, right to health, community involvement, and multisectoral and people centeredness. To assist countries in developing national health policies, strategies and plans. To strengthen Member States’ capabilities in designing, managing and evaluating health care financing policies and strategies and in economic planning at the various levels of health systems in the Region. This will be achieved through improved coordination and collaboration among the various units of the Department of UHC/Health Systems and Life Course (UHS) as well as other relevant departments and units.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

To provide Member States with authoritative technical advice in the areas of health systems governance and financing to move towards universal health coverage and ensure health security through:

1. Support policy analysis and development in Member States, taking into consideration regional and national contexts and counterparts’ collaboration.
2. Provide overall coordination on technical advisory services on policies and strategies relating to health systems governance and financing through situation analysis and the development and/or dissemination of frameworks and guidelines related to health systems governance and financing.
3. Guide economic analyses of health policies and strategies, including assessing, designing and monitoring of national health financing policies and strategies.
4. Develop capacities in the use of economic tools in health policy, planning and management including cost analysis in health facilities and cost effectiveness studies.
5. Guide the improvement of data collection and analysis including household expenditures and utilization surveys and national health accounts.
6. Facilitate research and develop capacities in health governance, policy, planning and management, and in health economics and financing either carried out with national teams or contracted out to research institutions, to strengthen regional capabilities in:

• Analysis of health governance and financing strategies aimed at providing recommendations for improving health system performance.
• Implementation of EMR initiatives including national health policies, strategies and plans development, national health accounts, burden of disease and cost effectiveness studies aimed at improving priority setting in health systems.
• WHO normative functions related to health governance and economics including development of guidelines, manuals and training materials.

1. Promote networking between health professionals in the EMR dealing with health systems governance and financing.
2. Develop institutional capacity for sustainable results of WHO action programs in the area(s) assigned in Member States through the provision of advice on the design of structures, the ability to assess risks and challenges and to monitor and evaluate outcomes according to specified indicators.
3. Coordinate the design of frameworks and guidelines for Member States and their institutions including through the preparation of technical reports, discussion papers and technical studies based on research and analytical work.
4. Advocate in WHO forums of innovative health economics tools and exchange of experiences between countries using economic analysis in their managerial processes.
5. Lead and expand WHO’s leadership in the assigned areas of specialization.
6. Build partnerships and collaborate with appropriate technical networks, institutions, universities and WHO Collaborating Centers for developing appropriate training courses for national capacity building in health systems governance and financing.
7. Perform all other related duties as assigned.
8. Foster collaboration and coordinate efforts with international partners and donor agencies to mobilize resources and facilitate effective utilization of resources for projects and new initiatives.
9. Lead and coordinate information seminars and workshops and awareness/ advocacy campaigns and promote WHO’s position.
10. Work in collaboration with colleagues at all levels in WHO and external partners and collaborators in advocacy to facilitate the implementation of joint action plans.
11. Coordinate and lead capacity building initiatives related to implementation of related international standards and norms in the assigned area(s).
12. Provision of technical advice to the Regional Directors on main policy options related to health economics and health care financing.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: Advanced university degree (Masters level) in Medicine, health system, health economics, Public Health
Desirable: Doctorate degree in Health Economics or Health System Governance.

Experience

Essential: At least 10 years of international experience in health system governance or health economics and financing.
Desirable: Experience in health system strengthening in developing countries

Skills

1. Expert knowledge of the substantive field(s) of work related to health systems governance and financing.
2. Analytical skills in health economics.
3.  Excellent drafting skills to produce reports, policies and documents. Proven ability to manage the work of a team requiring an in-depth understanding of its strategic direction and is able to integrate the work of the team into the assigned work programme.
4. Excellent communication skills to provide expert advice on substantive issues and to defend and explain difficult issues with respect to action plans and WHO’s position in health system governance.
5. Ability to demonstrate professional competence and mastery of health system governance; to meet commitments, observe deadlines and achieve results.
6. Sound judgment and decision-making skills to identify the key issues in a complex situation, and find solutions to problems and take decisions with an eye to the impact on stakeholders and counterparts and on the Organization
7. Knowledge of principles of Project Management and operation research and statistics.
8. Ability to adapt to multinational environment

WHO Competencies

WHO global Competencies model at http://www.who.int/employment/WHO_competencies_EN.pdf?ua=1

Building and promoting partnership across the organization and beyond
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Promoting innovation and organizational learning
Moving forward in a changing environment
Creating an empowering and motivating environment

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English. Working knowledge of another WHO official language would be an asset

REMUNERATION

WHO salaries for staff in the Professional category are calculated in US dollars. The remuneration for the above position comprises an annual base salary starting at USD 101,540 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable), a variable post adjustment, which reflects the cost of living in a particular duty station, and currently amounts to USD 2005 per month for the duty station indicated above. Other benefits include 30 days of annual leave, allowances for dependent family members, home leave, and an education grant for dependent children.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• This vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade level

• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.

• A written test and/or an asynchronous video assessment may be used as a form of screening.

• In the event that your candidature is retained for an 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.

• According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible.

• Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and Manual.

• Staff members in other duty stations are encouraged to apply.

• The WHO is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The WHO recruits and employs staff 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 staff. 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.

• 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 [email protected]

• 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 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 final candidates.

• Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with WHO and an underlying premise of the international civil service. Candidates appointed to an international post with WHO are subject to mobility and may be assigned to any activity or duty station of the Organization throughout the world.

• WHO also offers wide range of benefits to staff, including parental leave and attractive flexible work arrangements to help promote a healthy work-life balance and to allow all staff members to express and develop their talents fully.

• The statutory retirement age for staff appointments is 65 years. For external applicants, only those who are expected to complete the term of appointment will normally be considered.

• Please note that WHO’s contracts are conditional on members of the workforce confirming that they are vaccinated as required by WHO before undertaking a WHO assignment, except where a medical condition does not allow such vaccination, as certified by the WHO Staff Health and Wellbeing Services (SHW). The successful candidate will be asked to provide relevant evidence related to this condition. A copy of the updated vaccination card must be shared with WHO medical service in the medical clearance process. Please note that certain countries require proof of specific vaccinations for entry or exit. For example, official proof /certification of yellow fever vaccination is required to enter many countries. Country-specific vaccine recommendations can be found on the WHO international travel and Staff Health and Wellbeing website. For vaccination-related queries please directly contact SHW directly at [email protected].

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