OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The Division of Country Support and Partnerships (CPA) supports the development and delivery of WHO’s strategic engagement portfolio in Member States with and without country offices. It aims to maximize WHO’s impact in countries by helping them realize their health and development ambitions and strategies inline with the European Programme of Work (EPW) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). CPA recognizes that each country is different and needs tailored collaboration. The Division works by bringing people and units together across WHO divisions, offices and key partners. The Division has the principal function to develop mechanisms that help the organization understand, strategize, implement and connect for country impact. In this, it focuses on gathering, analyzing and presenting information for country impact; developing, tracking and refining strategic country engagement plans; supporting programme implementation in countries; and facilitating effective collaboration and networks within the organization and with countries and partners. This includes working with partners and Member States to manage and respond to the health needs of refugees and migrants, with a focus on access to health services and on preparedness for refugee and migrant influxes. CPA operates in particular proximity to Country Offices and provides opportunities for frequent mobility between assignments in the Division and in countries (in particular for team lead positions). Individual technical officers will have -in addition to their specific technical focus- a geographic responsibility by virtue of being a focal point for a limited number of country offices, for which they will provide support across all technical areas covered by CPA.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

The purpose of this position is to maximize implementation of WHO’s programme of work in the European Region by leveraging sub-regional partnerships between Member States for creating policies, investments and operational opportunities for health. The incumbent advises the Executive Council on, and leads the development of, a coordinated and cohesive approach of the Regional Office’s engagement with sub-regional partnerships in a collaborative effort cutting across the Regional Office’ divisions and Country Offices. For select assigned partnerships s/he acts as WHO’s main facilitator and focal point for collaboration.

Key duties:

As lead advisor for Sub-regional Partnerships, develop and coordinate the Regional Office’s approach to operational partnerships with sub-regional networks of Member States and partners for policy impact and delivery:

Coordinate an internal cross-cutting working group in the Regional Office of colleagues involved in the collaboration with sub-regional country networks;

Coordinate and advise colleagues who are assigned as focal points for specific sub-regional partnerships on their programme of work;

Create opportunities for translating cooperative agreements into concrete roadmaps for joint activities at policy and technical level with a clear impact-oriented strategy & investments that match results;

Develop methodologies and tools to assess current and new partnership to build ‘investment cases;

Monitor and analyze and document the impact of partnerships;

Documenting practice and develop publications, including by establishing a partnerships dashboard.

Arrange regular interaction between sub-regional partnerships and the Regional Office leadership for agenda setting and policy making and facilitate the development of MoUs as follows:

Represent the Regional Office in liaison with network secretariats at senior level Establish EURO Agenda for high level/executive level/operational level meetings;

Support the participation of EURO colleagues in sub-regional partnership events and forums;

Coordinate participation of partnerships in the Regional Committee and other WHO technical and other meetings/events;

Implement joint webinars and other technical events with partners;

Establish relevant a rolling calendar of sub-regional partnerships events;

Organize capacity building opportunities for partnerships & joint endeavors;

Develop events and communication products (such as a EURO Partnering for Health newsletter, EURO web page on partnerships).

Acting as the WHO/EURO geographic focal point for the countries and/or sub-regional networks allocated to him/her, the incumbent performs under direct supervision of Director:

Coordinates and facilitates the overall planning of the country work undertaken by the Regional Office ensuring its alignment with key strategic direction/regional country work priorities through the regular monitoring of work plans, BCAs, Country Cooperation Strategies (CCS) and development of other instruments. This includes contributing to the development of regional workplans based on up to date knowledge and intelligence about matters related to Member States;

Leads and coordinates the development, implementation and monitoring of BCAs and CCSs;

Monitors the relevance and overall timeliness of EURO technical assistance to countries deliverables through both country and intercountry work plans;

Ensures that across divisional approach is applied by technical programmes in delivering technical assistance to countries, guiding, advising and assisting technical programmes as appropriate; develop coordination mechanisms, instruments and tools for cross-divisional country work delivery in collaboration with technical divisions;

Ensures effective country work delivery by liaising between Country Offices and technical programmes as well as other entities in the Regional Office crucial for effective programme execution;

Organizes and lead prepares Country Days/stock takes and official high-level visits to and from Member States.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: University degree (Master’s level) in medicine, public health, social sciences, international relations or a related field, relevant to the position.
Desirable: Additional university degree in any of the above fields.

Experience

Essential: At least 10 years of professional experience in public health policymaking, programme implementation and/or health research at national and international levels. Relevant experience in senior government position(s).
Desirable: Demonstrated experience in intergovernmental partnership building in particular in Central Asia and/or the Western Balkan. Relevant experience within WHO, the United Nations or other international organizations, including in senior country level positions.

Skills

Demonstrated skills on effective project planning and managing staff. Strong communication and negotiation skills. Demonstrated knowledge of the political, social, and health systems of countries in the WHO European Region. Demonstrated ability to forge health partnerships in politically sensitive contexts. Political acumen and track record in political analysis of intergovernmental, regional and geopolitical contexts. Emotional awareness; ability to identify and harness one’s emotions and apply them to tasks; and the ability to manage emotions, which includes both regulating one’s own emotions when necessary and helping others to do the same.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond
Driving the Organization’s Position in Health Leadership
Creating an empowering and motivating environment

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of Russian.

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 92,731 (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 6035 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.

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• 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.

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