National Professional Officer (Maternal & Reproductive Health) - WHO
- Grade: P3
- Contractual Arrangement: Fixed-term appointment
- Contract Duration (Years, Months, Days): One (1) year
- Job Posting: Aug 26, 2021, 11:37:33 AM
- Closing Date: Sep 17, 2021, 12:59:00 AM
- Primary Location: Congo-Brazzaville
- Organization: AF/ARD Assistant Regional Director
- Schedule: Full-time
OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME
The Assistant Regional Directors Cluster at WHO in the African Region is designed to perform cross cutting technical functions by working closely with countries and programme areas across various clusters that include ULC, UCN, HPD and EPR. This cluster focuses on essential functions in key subject areas that prepare WHO and Member States to make evidence-informed decisions and harness the cutting-edge research and innovations for the acceleration of health improvements in the African Region. This cluster also coordinates work across the organization related to key strategic priorities: integrated service delivery, diagnostic and laboratory services, and antimicrobial resistance. The cluster works to ensure that these priorities are integrated into programs at every level in a manner that improves efficiency and ensures progress towards the attainment of UHC and One Health approach goals.
Though various units the cluster will serve distinct purposes with unique intervention areas, the cluster is designed to serve as technical support and an expert advisory service to strengthen coordination mechanisms, platforms and partnerships across both WHO and Member States in these key focus areas. The cluster provides support to Member States to develop and expand access to these key services and functions. ARD units lead the development of guidance and frameworks for implementation of action plans and activities in these areas at country level, to include the generation and use of related research and data, as well as the facilitation of monitoring, reporting and evaluation of these activities. The cluster supports the mainstreaming
these areas and priorities across program and emergency-oriented clusters within AFRO, while collaborating to leverage research and innovation to support countries to build capacity for expanding efforts in these priority areas at country level.
It is essential that we work to accelerate improvements in health outcomes by better coordinating essential functions and managing information internally and externally to the organization. WHO AFRO has established the cluster under the ARD to achieve this goals and better leverage WHO’s mandate on health to:
- Provide leadership and enhance the role of science and evidence in achieving WHOs 3 billion targets, SDG and other health objectives in the region.
- generate and ensure the use of health intelligence to guide decision making by Member States, while complementing the generation of data and statistics from technical programmes.
- lead and facilitate the processes for conducting high quality and outcome-focused Research, Innovation and Digital Health activities
- provide appropriate leadership, guidance and advice to Member States for improving access to integrated people-centered health services, based on the Primary Health Care (PHC) approach
- support countries improve their laboratory and imaging services using a more collaborative and integrated approach
- define, advance, promote and monitor comprehensive policies and strategies that prevent, reduce, and mitigate drug-resistant infections.
It is essential that a strategy and programs be developed in a well-coordinated and effective manner to inform country prioritization, strategic priorities and agendas, and provide options for internal and external technical partners for improving access to care, health and future preparedness, surveillance, and response. Additional human resource support is required for WHO AFRO to successfully drive this work.
PURPOSE OF THE POSITION
To support the Cluster Director in strengthening the overall executive management function in the Cluster under the below 4 objectives:
- Objective 1: Support development and implementation of an effective organization structure for the ARD cluster;
- Objective 2: Project management support for implementation of ARD support strategy;
- Objective 3: Engage key stakeholders and support development of framework for communication and collaboration with ARD internal and external stakeholders;
- Objective 4: Efficient and effective managerial coordination of the Office of the Cluster Director.
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
Under the direct supervision of the Cluster Director, the incumbent supports the Cluster Director in ensuring efficient and effective technical and managerial coordination of the Office of the Cluster Director.
- Support cluster leadership to conduct mapping of intra- and inter- cluster functions and information flows;
- Support cluster leadership to develop support strategy for internal and external stakeholders aligned with broader WHO and global health goals (GPW13, GSPOA, SDGs, etc.);
- Engage and support country offices to adapt and adopt country level innovation support strategies for supporting health sector innovation;
- Support implementation of innovation initiatives that amplify visibility and impact of ARD work;
- Support development and monitoring work plan for strategy implementation using KPIs to assess progress and impact of program;
- Support team to establish collaboration and communications mechanisms for both internal and external key program stakeholders such as committees for reviewing evidence and channels for disseminate knowledge;
- Collaborate with WHO transformation to support at the regional and country office levels;
- Support development and implementation of framework for communication and collaboration with ARD internal and external stakeholders (partners, donors, country offices, and staff) including but not limited to planning and facilitation of events and development of communications supports for ARD activities;
- Support technical teams to establish collaboration and communications mechanisms for both internal and external key program stakeholders such as committees for reviewing evidence and channels for disseminate knowledge;
- Support WCOs to better engage and interface with ARD technical teams and support units;
- Collaborate with WHO transformation and change teams internally to support at the regional and country office levels;
- Oversee the Cluster Director's e-mail and other correspondence information flow: analyze information, identify priorities, initiate responses when appropriate, coordinate with internal/external parties to ensure requisite and timely follow up on actions, monitor progress, provide regular updates to Cluster Director;
- Support the Cluster Director in the preparation and review of technical documents, papers and reports as required by the Cluster Director;
- Edit electronic and hard copy correspondence as well as managerial documentation prepared in English or French for Cluster Director's signature, ensuring compliance with rules, regulations and procedures. Initiate responses, as appropriate;
- Attend meetings with the Cluster Director; whenever necessary, prepare minutes and ensure timely and efficient follow up on implementation of ensuing actions;
- Execute any other duties as required by the Cluster Director.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education
- Essential: University Degree in public health or technical health profession.
- Desirable: Post graduate training in public health or similar health-related discipline, business administration or international development would be an added asset.
Experience
- Essential: At least 5 years’ experience in positions related to project/program management in the fields of health service delivery and/or public health including at least 2 years’ experience within an international context. Experience in strategy development, stakeholder engagement, program planning, project management and established skills in coordinating with senior leaders.
- Desirable: Additional years of proven experience in responsible roles in the above mentioned areas of work.
Skills
- . Ability to multi-task and complete assignments with efficiency, adhering to deadlines and emergency/shifting priorities;
- . Ability to assist in coordination and follow up with Member States and other partners;
- . Excellent planning and organizational skills with a confirmed ability to switch priorities at short notice, as and when required;
- . Ability to act independently and exercise mature judgment;
- . Very good analytical and conceptual skills with ability to think beyond boundaries;
- . Excellent drafting and writing skills with demonstrated;
- . Strong communication and interpersonal skills to enable effective interaction with staff at all levels and with varying cultural backgrounds;
- . Ability to exercise tact and discretion at all times given sensitive nature of position.
Use of Language Skills
Essential: Excellent knowledge of English or French with working knowledge of other.
Desirable:
Other Skills (e.g. IT):
Computer literate and ability to use relevant software and applications for word processing, presentations, scheduling, virtual meetings, etc.
REMUNERATION
WHO offers staff in the Professional Category an attractive remuneration package, which for the above position includes an annual net base salary starting at 60,233 US Dollars (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable) and 30 days of annual leave.
How to Apply
Interested candidates are strongly encouraged to apply on-line. For assessment of your application, please ensure that your profile on Stellis is updated; all experience records are entered with elaboration on tasks performed at the time. Kindly note that CV/PHFs inserted via LinkedIn are not accessible.