Mentorship and Community of Practice Support Programme

Support the structured mentorship programme for ISO 15189 readiness.

WHO - World Health Organization

Open positions at WHO

Home-based;

Volunteering

Application deadline in 8 days: Sunday 7 Jun 2026 at 00:00 UTC

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Overview

Support the structured mentorship programme for ISO 15189 readiness.

You have:

Background in Medical Microbiology, Laboratory Sciences, or related field
Understanding of ISO 15189:2022 quality management systems (preferred)
Experience in laboratory quality improvement, mentorship, or capacity-building programs
Strong analytical, documentation, and coordination skills
Familiarity with digital collaboration tools and virtual learning platforms
Ability to work in multicultural and multidisciplinary environments

Contract

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Details

In alignment with EMRO Resolution EM/RC63/R.4: Strategic Framework for Strengthening Health Laboratory Services in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region (extended to 2029), a key priority of the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Laboratory Unit (CSL) under the WHO development programme is to strengthen laboratory quality management systems (LQMS) and support public health laboratories in achieving readiness for accreditation against ISO 15189 through structured capacity building, mentorship, and peer learning. Within this development framework, and as a no-cost UN Volunteer assignment, support is required to strengthen the design and implementation of a structured mentorship programme for ISO 15189 readiness. This includes curating, adapting, and contextualizing mentorship tools, as well as supporting the development of a standardized mentorship approach that enables consistent technical guidance across countries. In addition, the assignment will support the facilitation of a digital Community of Practice (CoP) in collaboration with Project ECHO, aimed at strengthening continuous professional development, fostering peer-to-peer learning, and promoting sustainable knowledge exchange across Member States. This will contribute to institutionalizing mentorship and building long-term regional capacity for laboratory quality systems strengthening.

The Online Volunteers will support specific deliverables related to LQMS mentorship. The volunteers will contribute to: 1- Mapping and adaptation of available LQMS mentorship materials 2- Supporting the creation of a pool of regional mentors by assisting in the review of applications and contributing to the selection process

Expected Outputs 1. One curated and structured LQMS mentorship toolkit adapted for regional use 2. One draft mapping framework and roster template for regional mentors

• Background in Medical Microbiology, Laboratory Sciences, or related field • Understanding of ISO 15189:2022 quality management systems (preferred) • Experience in laboratory quality improvement, mentorship, or capacity-building programs • Strong analytical, documentation, and coordination skills • Familiarity with digital collaboration tools and virtual learning platforms • Ability to work in multicultural and multidisciplinary environments

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Potential interview questions

Can you describe your experience in mentoring and capacity-building programs?	This question assesses your practical experience related to the role.	Highlight specific examples of previous programs you were involved in.
What is your understanding of ISO 15189 quality management systems?	The interviewer seeks to gauge your knowledge about the quality standards relevant to the position.	Pro members can see the explanation.
Describe a situation where you had to work in a multicultural team. What were the challenges and how did you overcome them?	Pro members can see the explanation.	Pro members can see the explanation.
How familiar are you with digital collaboration tools? Can you provide an example of how you have used them effectively?	Pro members can see the explanation.	Pro members can see the explanation.
What strategies would you implement to encourage peer-to-peer learning in a Community of Practice?	Pro members can see the explanation.	Pro members can see the explanation.
How do you document and track mentoring progress?	Pro members can see the explanation.	Pro members can see the explanation.
What factors do you consider when adapting mentorship materials for regional use?	Pro members can see the explanation.	Pro members can see the explanation.
Can you give an example of a successful quality improvement initiative you have been part of?	Pro members can see the explanation.	Pro members can see the explanation.