Roster- Health Policy Advisor

Roster – Health Policy Advisor – (2305152)

Grade: P5
Contractual Arrangement: Fixed-term appointment
Contract Duration (Years, Months, Days): Two (2) Years
Job Posting: Jun 6, 2023, 6:35:59 AM
Closing Date: Jun 26, 2023, 3:59:00 PM
Primary Location: Multiple locations
Organization: AF/ULC Universal Health Coverage/Life Course
Schedule: Full-time

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that the deadline for receipt of applications indicated above reflects your personal device’s system settings.

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME
To support the country to have an updated and comprehensive national health policy, national health strategy and plan (NHSP) that are costed, financed, implemented and monitored. Facilitate government stewardship and governance capacity to lead health development and manage partnerships with sound monitoring, evaluation and mutual accountability for results that promote good health at all key stages of life, taking into account and addressing health equity, social determinants of health and human rights, with a focus on preventing priority morbidity, mortality and disability. To address health systems bottlenecks to attainment of Universal Health Coverage and enhance equitable access to quality essential health services along the life course, while ensuring financial risk protection. This involves ensuring alignment and harmonization of all partners around NHSP, institutionalizing fair health financing mechanisms, strengthening integrated, people centered health services based on the primary healthcare approach, as well as developing the health workforce and health information systems to progress towards Universal Health Coverage.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
The incumbent is assigned all or part of the following responsibilities which are performed according to the needs and agenda:

1.  To lead the development of strategies and policies by proactively contributing to state-of-the-art health policies, strategies, plans and governance activities, promoting and facilitating their implementation at country level to improve national health policies, strategies and governance approaches, including but not limited to monitoring and analysing trends, promoting cross-cutting activities, set and review norms and standards, as well as guidelines for health policies, strategies and governance.
2.  To develop and/or oversee the development of policies and strategies toward the implementation of best practices in governance at the national and sub-national levels through facilitating and encouraging a culture of policy dialogue, reviews, assessments and information-sharing of lessons learnt related to health planning, capacity building and monitoring taking into consideration criteria such as health financing, social protection, services standards and quality and the analysis and evaluation of health sectors.
3.  To lead the coordination for advocacy and sensitization on the UHC agenda among all stakeholders, ensuring a common narrative and the establishing of functional coordination and policy dialogue platforms that promote synergies and complementarities of efforts for accelerating progress towards UHC
4.  To advocate for and monitor the implementation WHO AFRO framework for resilient health systems to achieve UHC and promote health security, ensuring establishment of functional national coordination platforms and mobilize resources for implementation of WHO’s work in the country
5.  To lead and coordinate partnerships building with Global Health Initiatives and support alignment of strategies and resources with the national UHC and health security agendas.
6.  Support high level advocacy for increased investment and multi-sectoral action for health development to advance the UHC and SDG agenda in countries
7.  Contribute to the identification and targeting of health inequities and the inclusion of vulnerable groups to ensure equitable access to quality health services.
8.  Contribute to the development, planning, and training of human resources in health aimed at increasing the efficiency, effectiveness, and quality of the workforce; organize, conduct, or facilitate capacity-building activities.
9.  Support and collaborate efforts for health systems strengthening interventions to address health through the life course, based on primary health care including the development and implementation of relevant policies, strategies, tools, standards and guidelines for Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal, New-born, Child and Adolescent Health.
10.  Lead and facilitate the development and implementation of resource mobilization and advocacy strategies, in close collaboration with team members, including but not limited to providing advice and guidance to national partners on advocacy strategies, work plans, and their implementation.
11.  Promote and support collaborations and partnerships for the Universal Health Coverage agenda through the United Nation Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) and Health Development Partners/Donor forums with the purpose of ensuring alignment and harmonization for realization of UHC priorities.
12.  To guide, coach, motivate and manage Universal Health Coverage Life Course Team/cluster at Country level staff, including resolving problems while promoting effective teamwork and results, within the framework of WHO Staff Rules and Regulations, and AFRO accepted procedures, supporting the development of WCO plans, managing the budget within the framework of WHO Staff Rules and Regulations, financial rules and AFRO accepted procedures.
13.  Provides leadership and guidance to the Universal Health Coverage Life Course Team/cluster at Country level, ensuring that activities are carried out in a highly professional and timely manner, where needed.
14.  To perform other related responsibilities as assigned, including replacing and backstopping for others as required.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education
Essential: An advanced university degree (Master’s level or above) in public health, health systems/services administration, health management or health related field from an accredited/recognized institute or formal qualifications in International/global health policy or in similar fields.

Desirable: PhD in one or more of the above fields and/or post-graduate training or specialization in health systems and/or health planning, management or heath Economics.

Experience
Essential: At least ten (10) years’ experience in health sector policy and planning at national and international levels, with sound management or technical assistance in a governmental institution or international organization in resource-limited countries in the field of health policies, strategies and governance development.

Desirable: Experience in health sector assessments and analyses and producing its reports, with track record in consensus building and enlisting cooperation, as well as the evaluation of health services and facilitating consultations. Prior humanitarian working experience at field level with WHO, other UN agency, health cluster partners; recognized humanitarian organizations or with an international nongovernmental organization with expertise in disaster and health emergencies response. As well as proven resource mobilization experience.

Other Skills (e.g. IT): Excellent knowledge of Microsoft Office applications.2. Working knowledge of online data collection applications, statistical analysis packages (Stata, SPSS, etc.). Working knowledge of supply forecasting and inventory control systems for medical supplies.

WHO Competencies

1. Teamwork
2. Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
3. Communication
4. Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond
5. Producing results
6. Creating an empowering and motivating environment.

Language Skills
Essential: Excellent knowledge of English.

Desirable: Working knowledge of French. Knowledge of Portuguese is an asset.

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 92,731 (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. 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.
• 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.
• Staff members in other duty stations are encouraged to apply.
• For information on WHO’s operations please visit: http://www.who.int.
• 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 for WHO jobs.
• 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.
• Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with WHO and an underlying premise of the international civil service. 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.
• 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.
• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
• *For WHO General Service staff who do not meet the minimum educational qualifications, please see e-Manual III.4.1, para 220.
• In case the website does not display properly, please retry by: (i) checking that you have the latest version of the browser installed (Chrome, Edge or Firefox); (ii) clearing your browser history and opening the site in a new browser (not a new tab within the same browser); or (iii) retry accessing the website using Mozilla Firefox browser or using another device. Click the link for detailed guidance on completing job applications: Instructions for candidates.