Senior External Relations Officer, Innovative Financing. (Time-limited Parental coverage)

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The mission of the External Relations and Governance Division (EXT) is to ensure a strong and supportive set of stakeholder relations for WHO and encompasses resource mobilization, governing bodies, partnership functions, and aspects of communications. Within the division, the new team in charge of innovative finance will seek to complement the division current effort to accelerate SDGs through the use of new financial structures that can leverage additional resources for Global Health.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

• Develop the Innovative Finance and Impact Investment Agenda within WHO.
• Lead the innovative finance and impact investment team.
• Lead the New Health Impact Investment Platform by coordinating the MDBs and WHO at the three levels of the organization to ensure the implementation of concrete investment projects within this platform.
• Evaluate where specific opportunities around innovative finance can be built to serve WHO General Programme of Work and WHO investment round.
• Provide senior level advice and guidance to the Assistant Director General on the technical and programmatic content related to impact investment and innovative finance that will enable the ADG to carry-out his/her mandate effectively.
• Make recommendations to ADG on innovative finance instruments that can be used within the Investment round.
• Provide technical advice, expertise, and leadership advice to ADG to ensure the development and execution of advocacy efforts that will ensure effective commitment of critical partners such as MDBs at the highest level.
• Oversee the preparation of data, analysis and background documentation to support ADG agenda items and provide strategic guidance to Senior management to facilitate strategic decision-making on priority projects linked to MDBs.
• Represent the ADG in various technical level internal and external across the Three Levels of the Organization, within the UN agencies, Member States, Donors, and other Stakeholders.
• Lead and organize under the mandate of ADG, high level meetings involving head of MDBs, head of States, high level representants from Governments, Private Sector to promote investment in Health.
• Develop innovative financial instruments with MDBs using blended finance solutions, pay-for-performance, guarantees to support Global Health and contribute to SDGs progress.
• Ability to engage with Senior Leadership and to promote potential financial instrument to senior leadership, including ADG and DG level. Work across the three levels of WHO and technical divisions at HQ, Regional and country level to identify and implement new financial opportunities with high impact.
• Build capacity within the Innovative Finance team and beyond to be able to understand and implement appropriate innovative finance solutions.
• Represent WHO when needed and act as an Innovative Finance focal point for the Organization.
• Carry out other duties as assigned by the ADG.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: Advanced level university degree in international relations with a qualification in international finance.

Experience

Essential:

• At least ten years' experience focusing on Impact Investments with Strong experience engaging with Multilateral Development Banks.
• Considerable experience in developing new partnerships with MDBs.
• Considerable experience in developing and implementing innovative financing instruments/transactions to support low middle income countries using various MDBs instruments such as guarantees, blending, debt swaps, outcome payment schemes.
• Strong experience working across teams.
• Experience in organizing and leading high-level dialogues, events, involving head of MDBs, high level representant from Governments.
• Experience in organizing and leading pledges with concrete outcomes and results.
• Considerable experience in writing and editing, particularly briefing notes, talking points, and developing messaging for advocacy purposes.

Desirable: Experience working with decision makers in area of innovative finance and impact investment.

Skills

• Excellent networking and negotiation skills with multilateral development banks.
• Knowledge and understanding of MDBs landscape and available financial instruments that can be applied to Global Health.
• Substantial experience in building financial transactions / innovative finance solutions with MDBs to support Global Health and any other relevant sector.
• Experience and ability to work with executives and experts in Multilateral Development Banks.
• Ability to manage external and internal political complexity.Excellent interpersonal and diplomatic skills.Integrity, tact, and discretion.

WHO Competencies

• Teamwork
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
• Communication
• Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond
• Producing results
• Creating an empowering and motivating environment

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of French. Intermediate knowledge of WHO offcl. language.

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, and currently amounts to USD 7364 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

• Time limited parental coverage. Maximum duration up to 27 June 2025.
• This selection maybe subject to special selection procedures.
• This vacancy is for a parental leave coverage. There is no expectation of extension beyond this date.
• Continuing appointments/Fixed-term appointments offered this time limited role, will be subject to release by their supervisor for a loan period.
• Temporary appointments offered this limited role, will be required to resign from their temporary appointment with no expectation of renewal.
• 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.
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• The WHO is committed to achieving gender parity and geographical diversity in its workforce. 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.
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• Please note that WHO’s contracts are conditional on members of the workforce confirming that they are vaccinated as required by WHO before undertaking a WHO assignment, except where a medical condition does not allow such vaccination, as certified by the WHO Staff Health and Wellbeing Services (SHW). The successful candidate will be asked to provide relevant evidence related to this condition. A copy of the updated vaccination card must be shared with WHO medical service in the medical clearance process. Please note that certain countries require proof of specific vaccinations for entry or exit. For example, official proof /certification of yellow fever vaccination is required to enter many countries. Country-specific vaccine recommendations can be found on the WHO international travel and Staff Health and Wellbeing website. For vaccination-related queries please directly contact SHW directly at shws@who.int.

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