Technical Officer (Information and Country Support)

Overview

Support WHO's strategic engagement with Member States through intelligence management.

You have:

• University degree (Bachelor's level) in Political, Social, or Health Sciences, Management or Economics.
• At least 2 years in global health and national-level public health policy, with demonstrated experience with information products.
• Expert knowledge of English.
• Intermediate knowledge of French, Russian, or German (desirable).
• Broad knowledge in public health data management and presentation.
• Demonstrated ability to work within a multi-disciplinary and multi-national team(s).
• Demonstrated writing and communication skills.
• Flexibility and ability to adapt to changing priorities.
• Interpersonal skills, diplomacy, tact and discretion.
• Emotional intelligence; Ability to identify and manage one's own emotions, as well as helping others to do the same.

Contract

This is a P-2 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 2 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 100,561 USD and 136,587 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 Support, Emergency Preparedness and Response (CSE) supports the development and delivery of WHO's strategic engagement portfolio in Member States with and without country offices. It aims to maximize WHO's impact in countries by helping them realize their health and development ambitions and strategies inline with the European Programme of Work (EPW) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). CSE recognizes that each country is different and needs tailored collaboration. The Division works by bringing people and units together across WHO divisions, offices and key partners. The Division has the principal function to develop mechanisms that help the organization understand, strategize, implement and connect for country impact. In this, it focuses on gathering, analyzing and presenting information for country impact; developing, tracking and refining strategic country engagement plans; supporting programme implementation in countries; and facilitating effective collaboration and networks within the organization and with countries and partners. This includes working with partners and Member States to manage and respond to the health needs of refugees and migrants, with a focus on access to health services and on preparedness for refugee and migrant influxes. CSE operates in particular proximity to Country Offices and provides opportunities for frequent mobility between assignments in the Division and in countries (in particular for team lead positions). Individual technical officers will have -in addition to their specific technical focus- a geographic responsibility by virtue of being a focal point for a limited number of country offices, for which they will provide support across all technical areas covered by CSE. The Division houses the WHO Health Emergencies Programme (WHE) that provides technical guidance and operational support to prevent, prepare for, detect, rapidly respond to, and recover from outbreaks and emergencies. WHE assists countries to contain and mitigate the risk of high-threat diseases and infectious hazards; to detect and assess emergency health threats and inform public health decision-making; and to respond rapidly and effectively to emergencies under a coordinated Incident Management System. It ensures WHO's work in emergencies is effectively managed, sustainably financed, adequately staffed and operationally ready to fulfill its mission. Its hub-and-spoke structure ensures country-specific and inter-country activities in priority countries.

The Intelligence, Strategies and Networking (ISN) Unit (1) leads the Regional Office in an agile approach to gathering, analysing and presenting information to inform WHO's strategic engagement for country impact, (2) provides support and guidance to the development and refinement of cohesive WHO strategic engagement plans in countries with and without Country offices and (3) facilitates effective collaboration in-house, with individual countries and between countries and partners at sub-regional level. In this, the unit's work is central to ensuring a cohesive and strategic approach to funneling the totality of WHO's resources to providing tailored support to countries for realizing their national health and development ambitions and implementing the EPW. Main deliverables of the unit include: strategic intelligence repository; information products and briefings (including daily executive briefs), political analysis and foresight; aligned country cooperation strategies (CCS) for countries with and without WHO offices and aligned biennial cooperation agreements (BCA); strategic progress review routines(stock takes) and policy dialogues on delivery for impact; reflection of health and EPW in subregional initiatives and partnerships; active network of National WHO Counterparts Country and liaison service for countries without country offices; internal networking, including WR/ECO retreats; one stop shop for accessing Regional Office counterparts. Facilitation of high-level country missions and visits of governments to the Regional Office draws on close collaboration with the Office of Regional Director, Divisions of Country Health Programmes and of Country Health Policies and Systems, and WHE. The unit interfaces closely with the Regional Director's Division on planning and resource aspects of development and implementation of CCS and BCA.

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DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

To provide technical input and ensure delivery and optimization of the management of country intelligence for the delivery of WHO's strategic engagements with Member States, a key objective oft he Division for Country Support, and provide support to the unit in its work to optimize WHO/Europe's presence and work in countries through its implementation of the recently adopted “Strategy for collaboration between the WHO Regional Office for Europe and Member States in the WHO European Region” at RC72.

Key Duties:

Within the framework of the delegated authority, the incumbent is assigned all or part of the following responsibilities :

1. Maintain the organization and implementation of CSE's strategic intelligence systems and reporting routines, including tracking interactions with countries, tracking action points of interactions with countries and tracking national statements at latest sessions of World Health Assembly, UN General Assembly and WHO Regional Committee for Europe
2. Support the Team Lead and Strategic Desk Officers in gathering intelligence for documentation packages for WHO/Europe Executive management missions to and other interactions with countries, such as country profiles, briefing on WHO technical activities in the country and national statements at latest governing body sessions.
3. Ensures consolidation of country relevant information from a variety of sources with WHO and outside of WHO and manages the drafting and publication of regular rapid insights / briefs for the senior leadership in various formats.
4. Support the development of tools for gathering information and analysis for countries, including a repository of information and approaches for regular bidirectional information sharing between the Country Office and the Regional Office including a more comprehensive information architecture for country impact.
5. Promote, support and guide CSE in its various processes in the context of the implementation of the newly adopted by the RC72, Regional Strategy for Country Collaboration.
6. Provide continuation with technical and organizational support to the WHO/Europe's Coordination Group on country collaboration strategy implementation, including the organization of regular team interactions; support drafting reports and minutes; contribute to the development of tools and guidance notes; and support the elaboration of the implementation plan.
7. Contribute to the organization of regular HWCO/ECO interactions and communication, including meetings, retreats and help with the organization of capacity building opportunities for country offices.
8. Perform other related duties including replacing and backstopping as required.

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REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: University degree (Bachelor's level) in Political, Social, or Health Sciences, Management or Economics. Desirable: Master's degree in public health, with specialization in global health.

Experience

Essential: At least 2 years in global health and national-level public health policy, with demonstrated experience with information products. Desirable: Relevant work experience with WHO, the UN or an international public health organization.

Skills

• Broad knowledge in public health data management and presentation.
• Excellent organizational and analytical skills.
• Demonstrated writing and communication skills.
• Flexibility and ability to adapt to changing priorities.
• Interpersonal skills, diplomacy, tact and discretion, sound judgment and initiative
• Demonstrated ability to work within a multi-disciplinary and multi-national team(s).
• 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. Producing results
5. Promoting innovation and organizational learning

Use of Language Skills

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

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 50,377 (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 2271 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.

• *For WHO General Service staff who do not meet the minimum educational qualifications, please see e-Manual III.4.1, para 220.

Potential interview questions