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 Communicable Diseases, Environment and Health (CDE) assists country efforts to reduce the burden of communicable diseases and addresses 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, behavioral insights; 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 behavioral approaches, to drive implementation of innovation at national, regional and local levels. The WHO European Centre for Environment and Health (ECEH) in Bonn provides technical and scientific expertise on the impacts of environment on health. It delivers to countries policy advice, tools to inform and support decision-making in the areas of air quality, access to safe drinking-water, sanitation and hygiene, minimizing the adverse effects of chemicals, adaptation to and mitigation of climate change, environmental sustainability of health systems, urban health planning, including transport and mobility work, as well as violence and road traffic injury prevention. It works with all units to develop collaborative initiatives addressing environment-related diseases. The Centre strengthens country capacities to address environment and health challenges through development and delivery of a range of training courses on environment and health, including on health impact assessment. The Programme on Water and Climate (WAC)addresses the health-related aspects of water, sanitation, hygiene (WASH) and climate change adaptation. WAC provides the secretariat function to the Protocol on Water and Health to the 1992 Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes, jointly with UNECE. It also provides the secretariat for the Working Group on Health in Climate Change (HIC), a working group established by the European Environment and Health Task Force, to facilitate dialogue and cooperation among Member States in the WHO European Region to protect health from the adverse effects of climate change. WAC works with Member States to support the development of climate change health adaptation plans, and to develop and improve WASH regulations, management and surveillance approaches, as well as management of outbreaks of water-related disease. The programme supports the regional implementation of the WHA resolution 72.7 on WASH in health care facilities, and the achievement of SDG 6, for which WHO is the custodian agency.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

To Provide administrative assistance to the Climate Change area of work of the Water and Climate (WAC) Programme in WHO ECEH Bonn.

Key duties:

• As part of a unit team, to perform a variety of secretarial and administrative services in support of the activities of the technical Programmes of Bonn Office.
• Drafts correspondence and documents based on written/verbal prompts from the professional staff of the unit. Composes and finalizes correspondence of administrative nature.
• Provides rough translation or synopsis of incoming mail.
• Takes notes at meetings.
• Types reports and other documentation. Assists with the administrative preparation and conduct of regional meetings and educational activities, in accordance with established procedures.
• Makes travel arrangements for duty travels and, in accordance with established procedures, prepares approval memoranda, travel authorizations and follows upon issue of duty travel reports.
• Prepares correspondence for the recruitment of consultants and temporary advisers; arranges briefing appointments and provides secretarial support for them while in EURO;
• Processes agreements for performance of work and other types of contractual arrangements as required and related correspondence follows up on deadlines of such agreements/contracts and prepares payment instructions.
• Initiates action to process or follow up on correspondence, documentation and forms.
• Creates background files and compiles reference material as appropriate.
• Accesses and retrieves information from relevant databases and updates as required.
• Responds to and acts on telephone enquiries and requests for information.
• Assesses the critical nature of technical enquiries and refers them to appropriate staff for reply. Coordinates appointments for supervisor(s) and organizes programmes for visitors.
• Provides briefing and guidance to staff at all levels in the unit/ programme on office practices and procedures;
• Liaises with, assists or replaces other secretaries and/or programme assistants in the unit or department should the need arise.
• Performs other related duties as required.

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 experience in the secretarial/administrative field. Desirable: Experience in an international environment or institution. Relevant experience in WHO or the UN.

Skills

• Proficiency in the use of standard office computer software, note taking and operation of computerized systems and databases.
• Emotional intelligence;
• Ability to identify and manage one's own emotions, as well as helping others to do the same.

WHO Competencies

1. Teamwork
2. Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
3. Communication
4. Knowing and managing yourself
5. Producing results

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English. Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of French. Intermediate knowledge of Russian, German.

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 44,919 (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 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.

• 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 reasonableaccommodation@who.int

• 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.

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

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

• 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].

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

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