Programme Assistant

Contract

This is a G-5 contract. This kind of contract is known as General Service and related categories. It is normally only for nationals. It usually requires 5 years of experience, depending on education. More about G-5 contracts.

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The Division of Country Health Programmes (CHP) assists country efforts to reduce the burden of non-communicable and communicable diseases and address the social, economic and environmental determinants of health, and promotes policies and actions for health through stewardship of the WHO European Healthy Cities Network. It focuses on health promotion measures; prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases, including cancers, cardiovascular diseases, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes, and risks related to tobacco use, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet, and the harmful use of alcohol; communicable diseases such as tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and hepatitis, and vector-borne and neglected tropical diseases; elimination and control of vaccine-preventable diseases and advocacy for increased use of vaccines; containing and controlling antimicrobial resistance; addressing existing and emerging environmental health risks, and supporting violence and injury prevention. A determination to ensure universal access to people-centred quality health services across the continuum of care is matched by enriching the evidence base for policy design and interventions using social, cultural and behavioural approaches, to drive implementation of innovation at national, regional and local levels. Within CHP, the Vaccine Preventable Diseases and Immunization Programme (VIF) aims to reduce disease and death caused by vaccine-preventable diseases by: --> strengthening routine immunization programmes by achieving and maintaining high vaccination coverage with childhood vaccines; --> ensuring that all children, adolescents, adults, and women of childbearing age have equal access to safe and high-quality immunization services; --> ensuring that epidemiological surveillance, including laboratory networks, is sufficient to achieve and sustain disease elimination targets; --> supporting the implementation of an immunization week to promote immunization; and --> fostering appropriate partnerships with governmental and intergovernmental agencies, nongovernmental organizations and other relevant partners.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

As partof a unit team, the incumbent performs a variety of secretarial, coordinating, monitoringand administrative services in support of project/programme activities, asfollows:Drafts correspondence and documents based onwritten/verbal prompts from the Professional staff of the unit. Independentlycomposes and finalizes correspondence of administrative nature. Revises unitcorrespondence, reports, and documents for proper form and (non-technical)content. Takes notes at meetings. Types reports and other documentation.Arranges duty travel.Scans, records, refers and follows up correspondence anddocuments, evaluates the urgency or critical nature of items, and brings themto the attention of the responsible staff. Informs and reminds responsiblestaff of follow-up dates and deadlines for response or specific actions,supplying supporting material as appropriate.Using GSM, monitors aspects of the implementation ofactivities and availability of funds for project/programme budget levels andfinancial expenditures, according to the approved projects. Assembles draftbackground for planning, monitoring and evaluation exercises. Inputs dutytravel recommendations and issues reminders re follow up, recordsproject/programme monitoring and evaluation notes.Makes administrative arrangements for country and intercountry activities including preparation of various committal documents relatedto procurement of goods and services, arrangements of study tours and dutytravel in accordance with the approved programme budget/collaborativeprogrammes with countries.Assists in the organization of meetings held in-house orin Member States (working groups, seminars/courses, workshops, and symposia),i.e.: makes administrative preparations, including organization of practicallocal arrangements, advance transport of documents/equipment and hospitality.Provides administrative and secretarial support during the meetings, and paysper diem to participants if required. Prepares administrative reports.Establishes and maintains the unit's filing system oftechnical documents and correspondence.Creates background files and compiles reference material as appropriate.Accesses and retrieves information from relevant databases and updates asrequired. Responds toand acts on telephone enquiries. Assesses the critical nature of technicalenquiries and refers them to appropriate staff for reply. Coordinatesappointments for supervisor and organizes programmes for visitors.Providesbriefing and guidance to all staff on general office practices and procedures;assists/replaces colleagues in the team and performs other related duties asrequired.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: Completion of secondary school or equivalent Desirable: Relevant higher education from an accredited institution.

Experience

Essential: At least 5 years of progressively responsible experience in thesecretarial/administrative field Desirable: Previous work experience with WHO/UN organizations

Skills

Proficiency in theuse of standard office computer software, note taking and operation ofcomputerised systems and databases.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences Communication Knowing and managing yourself Producing results

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English. Expert knowledge of local language. Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of Other WHO language.

REMUNERATION

WHO offers staff in the General Services category an attractive remuneration package, which for the above position includes an annual net base salary starting at EUR 20,825 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable) and 30 days of annual leave.

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 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.

• 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.

• For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int.

• WHO is committed to workforce diversity.

• 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.

• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.

• This post is subject to local recruitment and will be filled by persons recruited in the local commuting area of the duty station.