Technical Officer (Health Systems Strengthening)

Contract

This is a P-4 contract. This kind of contract is known as Professional and Director staff. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 7 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 90,970 USD and 117,287 USD.

Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The Division of Country Health Policies and Systems (CPS) assists countries in the Region with the design and implementation of appropriate health policies and systems to strengthen universal health coverage. It works to strengthen data-driven, evidence-informed, contextually tailored health policy development and implementation at national, regional and local levels, taking an inclusive approach across the life course. The Division advocates strengthening of public health leadership, focusing on implementing people-centred policies, promoting health, preventing illness, and addressing the social and economic determinants of health, while fostering leadership on equity, human rights and gender mainstreaming in health. It focuses on building capacity for health systems innovation to enable the sustainable delivery of high-quality primary health and community services that are effectively linked to hospitals, mental health, public health and social care services. To do so, CPS supports country efforts to facilitate access to leave nobody behind, improve financial protection, strengthen the health workforce, increase access to affordable medicines and technologies, and promote the uptake and implementation of digital technology.

The Health Workforce and Service Delivery (HWD) unit provides strategic direction, technical assistance and tailored support to countries to improve access and quality of health and long-term care services delivered by a competent and sustainable health and care workforce. It engages with professional bodies and patients to support the design and transformation of services which are geared to improve: patient experience of care across the health and social sector; health of the population, health care efficiency and the experience and engagement of the health and care workforce. To deliver these objectives aligned with the European Programme of Work and GPW 13 the unit supports countries through the development of policies, strategies, tools and capacities in the areas of the health workforce, (including nursing and midwifery and the public health workforce) to improve working conditions, retain and motivate the existing workforce; and align the education, training and production of the future workforce with population health needs, promote integration in service delivery to better bridge the divide between health systems and social care across the whole continuum of care, as well as supporting Member States efforts to put people at the centre of services.

The WHO Country Office supports the Member State to shape its health policy in line with WHO’s principles and values and advocates for an integrated approach to health development. By means of a single, unified and functionally integrated country representation, WHO facilitates the implementation of the BCA with the Member State and its corresponding country work plan. WHO helps the country to improve its health system and provides technical support as necessary.

The Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP) for Romania was approved by the European Council to support the implementation of sustainable reforms. The Ministry of Health (MoH) is the national agency responsible for the implementation of the reforms related to health care. Within the RRP, WHO is responsible for the provision of technical assistance to the 3.2 component that addresses Romania’s country-specific recommendation for improving healthcare access and cost-efficiency, including through the shift to outpatient care. It also focuses on strengthening the health system’s resilience, including in the areas of health workers and medical products, and improving access to health services.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

To provide advice and guidance to the Ministry of Health (MoH) of Romania to strengthen the national health system specifically in the context of the implementation of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP) for Romania and the framework of the Biennial Collaborative Agreement (BCA) between the WHO Regional Office for Europe and the MoH ROM.

To coordinate and facilitate the health system team efforts within the RRP project team in the WHO Country Office and across the programs involved to attain greater effectiveness of its work at country level.

Key duties:

A. Support to the Ministry of Health in implementing the health-related component of the National RRP:

1. Coordinate the provision of state-of-the-art knowledge and expertise through WHO/EURO and its expert network to support the Ministry of Health in formulating and advocating for evidence-informed health system strengthening policies in order to implement key policies in the Strategy and its related Concepts.

2. Support the Ministry of Health with expert technical advice in implementing the RRP in a timely fashion drawing on European best practices and mobilizing expertise and know-how in reform implementation, in particular, to improve overall sector governance arrangements and transparency.

3. Organize tailored capacity-building activities for national and, if appropriate, subnational stakeholders in key areas of the RRP maintaining the focus on increased capacity for the management of public health funds with the WHO Regional Office for Europe.

4. Coordinate and contribute to the improvement and implementation of a monitoring and evaluation framework for the patient safety agenda, health workforce and service management, and digital health agreeable to all stakeholders including joint review mechanisms of progress based on annual implementation reports.

5. Coordinate, contribute to, and if delegated, support the management of analytical work (impact evaluation) of RRP.

6. In coordination with the Regional Adviser HWD (CPS) and WR/ROM, support the Ministry of Health in advocating for the alignment of international partners and other health institutions with the RRP key objectives, timeline, national planning and budgeting cycles as well as, with the inclusion of RRP content into the agreed country health policy dialogue mechanisms.

B. Capacity development of national stakeholders to organize and lead an effective health policy dialogue:

1. Support with expert technical advice the design and implementation of a structured health policy dialogue and communications process towards key stakeholders including higher levels of the government, local governments, parliamentarians, civil society and the population on priority reform areas;

2. Work with the government and national stakeholders to develop strategic intelligence on key health system reform issues and the policy environment, and channel these to the policy dialogue and reform implementation process;

3. Support the MOH in stakeholder mapping and building a strategic alliance around the RRP and national policies.

C. Coordinate the RRP project activities:

1. Mobilize resources to efficiently deliver services/products within the country and intercountry workplans.

2. Responsible for the allocation and rational use of project related resources within the country and intercountry workplan, taking account of availability of funds, and ensuring effective monitoring of budget timelines and constraints.

3. Regularly monitor and assess the performance of the project through evaluation and reporting.

D. Perform other related duties within the scope of the project as required by HWD.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: Advanced university degree (Master's level) in public health, health policy, health management, health economics, policy analysis, public policy.

Desirable: Postgraduate degree in one of the above-mentioned areas of study.

Experience

Essential: At least seven years of relevant combined national and international experience in health system strengthening, with at least 3 years of international experience and emphasis on the countries of the WHO European Region. Demonstrated experience in supporting national agencies in national health policy planning, implementation, and monitoring. Demonstrated experience in providing policy advice in the areas of health system transformation, health financing, public health, or primary care in low and middle-income countries. Proven track record in organizing capacity-building and policy dialogue events in the health sector.

Desirable: Specific experience in any of the following areas: 1. Supporting implementation of health policies to move towards universal health coverage. 2. Experience in public health service. 3. Relevant experience within WHO, the United Nations or other international organizations.

Skills

1. Sound theoretical and applied knowledge of key strategic directions in health system strengthening in the WHO European region with a specific focus on health policy development, and public health and primary care services.

2. Proven ability to effectively conduct policy dialogue at country level.

3. Demonstrated good knowledge of political systems, social and health systems in the WHO European countries.

4. Ability to manage a wide group of key national stakeholders

5. Ability to establish harmonious and effective working relationships as part of a team, adapt to diverse educational and cultural backgrounds, and maintain a high standard of personal conduct.

6. Strong skills in data management, analysis and reporting.

7. Ability to identify and manage one’s own emotions, as well as helping others to do the same.

8. Ability to work comfortably in a fast-paced environment.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork

Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences

Communication

Producing results

Ensuring the effective use of resources

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English.

Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of Romanian. 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 75,602 (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 460 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 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.

• WHO has a mobility policy which can be found at the following link: http://www.who.int/employment/en/. Candidates appointed to an international post with WHO are subject to mobility and may be assigned to any activity or duty station of the Organization throughout the world.

• Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.