Consultant - Conduct Comprehensive Governance review in WHO-EUROPE

Overview

Conduct a comprehensive review of WHO Europe governance.

You have:

• Advanced university degree in international relations, international law, political science, public health or a field relevant.
• 10 years of proven track record for professional delivery of high-quality written products/reports.
• Ability to conduct research, collect information, consult with relevant actors and synthesize information.
• Excellent writing skills in English, including for technical and general audiences.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively.
• Extensive knowledge of WHO, UN or another international public organization in the area of global health law, governance, diplomacy.
• Knowledge of international institutional and constitutional frameworks.
• Knowledge of the WHO governing bodies both at global and regional level; knowledge of the WHO rules of procedures and decision making.

-PURPOSE OF CONSULTANCY

• To conduct a comprehensive governance review in WHO/Europe and:

  • assess the need for any changes to the Rules of Procedure of the Regional Committee for Europe (RC) and/or the Rules of Procedure of the Standing Committee of the Regional Committee for Europe (SCRC) with a view to increasing the effectiveness of both bodies, including on priority setting;
  • explore the need for any clarification, adjustment or specification of existing governance practices at regional level, including setting out clearly the parameters within which change is possible;
  • explore options for improving the links between regional and global governance structures, including different options for regional representation on global governing bodies;
  • review the current status on active mandates at regional level, and assess the need for renewing, sunsetting or adjusting them, in alignment with global governance rules and practices;
  • develop concrete proposals for change and any of the above;
• To present findings to Member States via the SCRC subgroup on governance;
• Prepare a final report reflecting the findings and proposals, to be presented for consideration to the 30th Standing Committee of the Regional Committee (June 2023), with a view to adoption at the 73rd Regional Committee for Europe for adoption (October 2023).

BACKGROUND

The WHO Regional Committee for Europe (SCRC) requested in resolution EUR/RC60/R3 “to initiate a cycle of comprehensive reviews of governance in the WHO European Region and to report back to the Regional Committee on lessons learned in this regard at such intervals as the Standing Committee itself deems appropriate”.

In line with WHO/Europe’s guiding principles of leadership, accountability, inclusiveness and agility, and with further steps taken towards making the governance processes equitable, transparent and predictable, the Twenty-ninth Standing Committee, in its report to the 72nd WHO Regional Committee for Europe, recommended for the Thirtieth SCRC to conduct a more comprehensive review of governance, as is traditionally undertaken in the year preceding the election of the Regional Director. The consultant will support this comprehensive governance review through the development of a report including concrete proposals and recommendations for consideration by the 30th Standing Committee of the Regional Committee through its subgroup on WHO/Europe’s governance.

For this, the consultant will:

• review key governing bodies documents including previous governance reviews in the European region;
• analyze WHO global governance reform at large, including ongoing consultations under the Agile Member States Task Group on strengthening WHO’s Budgetary, Programmatic and Financing Governance, and any other relevant processes conducted at global level;
• consider alternative models in use in other similar organisations within the UN and wider multilateral system, and assess their applicability and potential benefits for WHO Europe
• consult with the Secretariat and SCRC members.

This review could cover specific aspects of governance, such as: a) the new reality of virtual and hybrid governing bodies’ meetings; b) the conduct of governing bodies’ meetings at regional level; c) the production of and consultation on governance documents, including the development of resolutions at regional level; d) the monitoring, renewal and sunsetting of regional mandates (resolutions); e) the process for nomination and election of members to serve on governing bodies and committees, including the selection criteria applied, the procedure followed, the schedule of future vacant seats per subregional grouping; the attribution of elective (officers) posts; f) scope for changing the current model of representation on global governing bodies including through moving to a constituency model g) the process for the election of the Regional Director; h) the decision-making process on the establishment of WHO outpost offices (geographically dispersed offices, project offices and technical hubs) and their specific roles and functions in supporting Member States. i) the process for consultation with Member States on:

• the establishment of WHO outpost offices (geographically dispersed offices, project offices and technical hubs) and their specific roles and functions in supporting Member States;
• the offshoring of WHO technical centers and functions;
• the reform and improvement of accountability and oversight mechanisms at regional level.

In all of the above the consultant’s analysis and recommendations should refer to the effectiveness of WHO Europe in setting priorities for improving health outcomes in the region, linking these to budget decisions; and monitoring progress on delivery and impact.

DELIVERABLES

• Deliverable 1: 1st draft review report. Expected by: 28 February 2023
• Deliverable 2: 2nd draft review report. Expected by: 15 May 2023
• Deliverable 3: final governance review report. Expected by: 3 July 2023

QUALIFICATIONS

Educational Qualifications

Essential:

• Advanced university degree in international relations, international law, political science, public health or a field relevant.

Experience

Essential:

• 10 years of proven track record for professional delivery of high-quality written products/reports.

Desirable:

• Extensive knowledge of WHO, UN or another international public organization in the area of global health law, governance, diplomacy.

Skills/Knowledge

Essential:

• Ability to conduct research, collect information, consult with relevant actors and synthesize information.
• Excellent writing skills in English, including for technical and general audiences.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively.

Desirable:

• Report writing.
• Knowledge of international institutional and constitutional frameworks.
• Knowledge of the WHO governing bodies both at global and regional level; knowledge of the WHO rules of procedures and decision making.

Languages

English: Expert knowledge

LOCATION

Off-site

TRAVEL

No travel is anticipated. Consultation with Member States and others should be via virtual platforms.

REMUNERATION

Pay band level B – USD - Daily rate 499 USD

EXPECTED DURATION OF CONTRACT

60 days in the timespan of 7 months

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.
• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
• A written test may be used as a form of screening.
• If your candidature is retained for 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.
• For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int.
• WHO is committed to workforce diversity.
• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
• Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.
• 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.
• Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority. The execution of the work under a consultant contract does not create an employer/employee relationship between WHO and the Consultant.
• WHO shall have no responsibility whatsoever for any taxes, duties, social security contributions or other contributions payable by the Consultant. The Consultant shall be solely responsible for withholding and paying any taxes, duties, social security contributions and any other contributions which are applicable to the Consultant in in each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the Consultant shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by WHO.

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Potential interview questions

Added 3 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: who.int