Strategic Desk Officer (Delivery for Impact)

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 in line 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 Intelligence, Strategy and Networking unit leads the Regional Office an agile approach to gathering, analysing and presenting information to inform WHO's strategic engagement for country impact, and provides support and guidance to the development and refinement of cohesive WHO strategic engagement plans in countries with and without Country offices. In this, the unit's work is central to ensuring a cohesive and strategic approach to funnelling 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); and strategic progress review routines (stock takes) and policy dialogues on delivery for impact. The unit works particularly closely with counterparts in the Division for Country Health Policies and Systems in linking WHO's strategic engagement to national health plans, and on information regarding progress towards health targets. In terms of the strategic content of engagement plans, CSE plays a coordination role to facilitate synergistic inputs by RDD, CPS, CHP and WHE. It interfaces closely with the Division of Business Operations on resource and administrative aspects of BCA and work plan development.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

The purpose of this position is to strengthen EURO`scountry work and the implementation of the European Programme of Work in MemberStates. Technically, the incumbent leads the development and implementation of approaches, systems and tools for a systematic approach for regular stock takes of progress in countries towards SDGs and EPW/GPW 13 implementation and the identification of corrective strategies. Geographically, the incumbent provides support to a distinct number of assigned Member States with WHO country offices across the areas of strategic information, strategic planning, implementation support and networking.

Key duties:

The core responsibilities infacilitation and providing guidance on country specific work in the Regional Office include: Acting as the WHO/EURO focal point for the countries allocated to him/her, the incumbent:

• Coordinates and facilitates the overall planning of the country work undertaken by the Regional Office ensuring its alignment with key strategic direction/regional country work priorities through the regular monitoring of work plans, BCAs, Country Cooperation Strategies (CCS) and development of other instruments. This includes contributing to the development of regional work plans based on up to date knowledge and intelligence about matters related to Member States
• Leads and coordinates the development,implementation and monitoring of BCAs and CCSs
• Monitors the relevance and overalltimeliness of EURO technical assistance to countries deliverables through bothcountry and intercountry workplans;
• Ensures that a cross divisional approach is applied by technical programmes in delivering technical assistanceto countries, guiding, advising and assisting technical programmes as appropriate
• Develops coordination mechanisms, instruments and tools forcross-divisional country work delivery in collaboration with technical divisions

Core responsibilities in supporting WHOs in assigned countries include:

• Ensure effective country work delivery by liaising between country offices and technical programmes as well as other entities inthe Regional Office crucial for effective programme execution
• Regularly update WHOs on new WHO Regional and Global initiatives and policies, sharing innovative approaches and best practices in the area of country work as applied by different Country Offices
• To support WHOs in sharing relevant knowledge with other nationalstakeholders

Core responsibilities in supporting the Regional Director and EURO ECO members with regard to assigned countries include:

• On a daily basis, to provide guidance and operational support to the management of country offices, making recommendations to the RD on these issues
• Analyse information from countries,focusing on situations of critical importance for the objectives set, identify potential areas that require special attention, and contribute to finding innovative ways to address these areas
• Obtain, organize and maintain knowledge/intelligence on country work in the form of case studies and evidence on best practices applied in the Region and produce quality briefings for RD and EXC members for their meetings with high level national health authorities
• Organize and lead preparation of Country Days and official high-level visits to and from Member States
• Provide input to the planning and reporting on the work plans of the countries under his/her responsibility
• Update the divisional work plan in relation to outputs under his/her responsibility, coordinating with Director CSE to regularly monitor and assess the performance of the team in connection with office - wide evaluation and reporting exercises

As the Division's lead on stocktakesand delivery:

• Develops a systematic approach, processes andtools for regular stock takes of progress in countries towards SDGs and in EPW/GPW implementation and delivery of WHO commitments and programmes
• Facilitates regular internal dialogues on thedelivery of WHO's work in countries and strategic course corrections
• Supports country offices to organizes regular stock takes and policy dialogues with country counterparts on progress towards SDGs and EPW/GPW implementation
• Coordinates with, and build capacity of, other desk officers with country responsibilities and supports them in the application of tools and approaches to stock takes and delivery in countries under their responsibility

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: University degree (Master's level) in Political, Social, or Health Sciences, Management or Economics
Desirable: Additional university degree in any of the above fields

Experience

Essential: At least 7 years of professional experience in international and country relations, public health, partnerships, or public relations, and experience in management and administration
Desirable: Working experience of the UN system, and WHO specifically, in the field of international relations, partnerships,and country relations. Work experience at country level in public health administration and/or in an international organization is an asset. Relevant experience within WHO, the United Nations or other international organizations

Skills

• Sound expertise and skills in the reviewing progress in strategy and programme implementation at organizational level, and gauging progress towards the implementation of medium- and long-term strategic health and/or development plans at national level.
• Substantial knowledge and skills in the formulation of public health policies and strategic frameworks at country level.
• Very solid knowledge of external relations with Member States.
• Ability to identify him/herself with, and have a strong commitment to, the core values of the World Health Organization.
• Skilful in modern management methods (performance measurement, design and operation of modern management information systems, planning and evaluation, etc.).
• Skillful in understanding the potential motivating factors of his/her staff for purposes of adjusting them to new approaches in an increasingly complex environment.
• Emotional awareness; ability to identify and harness one's emotions and apply them to tasks; and the ability to manage emotions, which includes both regulating one's own emotions when necessary and helping others to do the same.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond
Producing results

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of French, Russian and/or 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 77,326 (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 5361 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 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.

• Staff members in other duty stations are encouraged to apply.

• 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.

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• 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.

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