Adviser on Health Policy

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

All Member States of WHO in the European Region share the common value of the highest attainable standard of health as a fundamental human right.All of WHO actions are based on this and rooted in the underlying value of equity as described in the General Programme of Work.

The 13th General Programme of Work defines the mission of WHO as one to promote health, to keep the world safe, and to protect the vulnerable. The GPW calls for heightened accountability, prioritizing impact and outcome at country level, and to improve the lives of three billion people, through universal health coverage, through addressing health emergencies, and promoting healthier populations.

WHO's mandate revolves around six core functions\: (i) providing leadership on global health matters; (ii) shaping the health research agenda; (iii) setting norms and standards; (iv) articulating evidence-based policy options; (v) providing technical support to countries; and (vi) monitoring and assessing health trends.

The European Region (EURO) of WHO is made up of 53 countries, with over 880 million people. The diversity of people and health situations requires, on the demand side, a solid understanding of the emerging socio-economic, epidemiologic and demographic patterns and trends at both aggregate as well as national and sub-national levels, with due sensitivity to disadvantaged populations and vulnerable segments of the society. On the supply side, it is equally crucial to have a solid understanding of the commonalities and divergences of the health systems, the circumstances and political economy under which they have evolved and operate and, more specifically, how these bear upon the way the health system stewardship function of health ministries is carried out.

The objective of the Division of Health Systems and Public Health (DSP) is to develop in the WHO European Region the strategic capacity to assist Member States to design, establish and promote comprehensive health and health systems policies; to enable countries to benefit from international experience in reforming their health systems and public health services stressing quality, accessibility and efficient use of resources. The Division contributes to the development and promotion of the European Health Policy and National Health Policies, Plans and Strategies, and the knowledge base in the broad thematic areas of health systems governance, financing, organization, service delivery and resource generation, in collaboration with other relevant international, regional, national and non-governmental partners.

The WHO Country Office supports the Member State to shape its health policy in line with WHO's principles and values and advocates for an integrated approach to health development. By means of a single, unified and functionally integrated country representation, WHO facilitates the implementation of the BCA with the Member State and its corresponding country work plan. WHO helps the country to improve its health system and provides technical support as necessary.The WHO Country Office administers, consolidates, manages and enhances WHO collaboration in the country including all resources deployed in the country either permanently or temporarily to maximize WHO impact. The Country Office also has a representational, fund-raising and resource steering function, as needed.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

To provide policy advice and guidance to the Ministry of Health of Ukraine to strengthen its health system with the aim of moving towards universal health coverage especially in the areas of transforming health financing arrangements and strengthening public health and primary health care services, by integrating evidence informed technical advice with stakeholders' views and preferences in order to improve the health of the Ukrainian population, reduce financial burden associated with illness and ensure access to high quality health services. Under the guidance of the WR and DSP technical experts, the incumbent will assume the following responsibilities\:

A. Support the MOH in the implementation of the National Health Sector Strategy and Health Financing Concept and Law of 2017.

1. Coordinate with the Regional Office and WHO Headquarters to provide and mobilize technical advice through WHO and its expert network to support the Ministry of Health in formulating and advocating for evidence-informed health system strengthening policies to implement key policies in the Strategy and its related Concepts. The incumbent will prioritize providing technical input in the following areas within an overall health systems approach\:

--> Support the development of the National Health Service of Ukraine (NHSU) to transform health financing arrangements for UHC with a focus on developing an equitable benefit package, strengthening strategic purchasing arrangements, and improving governance and accountability;

--> Support the development of an aligned service delivery vision to strengthen public health and primary care services in order to better prevent and control communicable and noncommunicable diseases;

2. Support the Ministry of Health in implementing the NHSS in a timely fashion drawing on European good practices and mobilizing expertise and know-how in reform implementation, in particular, to improve overall sector governance arrangements and transparency.

3. Organize tailored capacity building activities for national and, if appropriate, subnational stakeholders in key areas of the NHSS maintaining the focus on public health, primary care and health financing jointly with the WHO Regional Office for Europe.

4. Coordinate and contribute to the improvement and implementation of a monitoring and evaluation framework for the NHSS agreeable to all stakeholders including joint review mechanisms of progress based on annual implementation reports. Ensure that the monitoring framework is linked to the SDGs and includes health targets on communicable and noncommunicable diseases and universal health coverage.

5. Coordinate and if appropriate manage and contribute to the analytical work (impact evaluation) in the areas of health financing, public health and primary care to demonstrate the impact of reforms on health outcomes and UHC.

B. Strengthen capacity of national stakeholders to organize and lead an effective health policy dialogue focusing on priority areas of health financing, public health, and primary care.

1. Support the design and implementation of a structured health policy dialogue and communications process towards key stakeholders including higher levels of the government, local governments, parliamentarians, civil society and the population on priority reform areas;

2. Work with the government and national stakeholders to develop strategic intelligence on key health system reform issues and on the policy environment and channel these to the policy dialogue and reform implementation process;

3. Support the MOH in stakeholder mapping and building strategic alliance around the NHSS.

C. Support the MOH to develop mechanisms for aligning international support with the NHSS starting with priority reform areas.

1. In coordination with WR, support the MOH to advocate for alignment of international partners with the NHSS and other health institutions, with the national planning and budgeting cycles, with the agreed country health policy dialogue mechanisms and schedules and with the established national monitoring mechanisms.

D. Coordinate the health system activities and health system related team in WHO Country Office\:

1. to provide leadership and managerial oversight to the work of all programme/project staff in country office

2. to mobilize resources to efficiently deliver services/products within country and intercountry workplans

3. to be responsible for the allocation and rational use of resources within country and intercountry workplan, taking account of availability of funds, and ensuring effective monitoring of budget timelines and constraints.

4. to perform the general management of the programme's professional and general service staff, as first level supervisor (to include monitoring of workload, funds availability, performance management, and to establish mechanisms which ensure proper coordination within the team regarding travel and leave arrangements, in liaison with the Head of Country Office and technical staff

5. To regularly monitor and assess the performance of the technical programme through evaluation and reporting.

E. Perform other duties in the scope of the assignment as requested.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential\: University degree (Master's level) in public health, health policy, health management, health economics, policy analysis, public policy, or other relevant area of study;

Desirable\: Postgraduate degree in one of the above mentioned areas of study. Training in health economics and financing.

Experience

Essential\: At least seven years of combined national and international experience in health system strengthening. Demonstrated experience in supporting national agencies in national health policy planning, implementation, and monitoring. Demonstrated experience in providing policy advice in the areas of health system transformation, health financing, public health, or primary care in low and middle-income countries.Proven track-record in organizing capacity building and policy dialogue events in the health sector;

Desirable\: Specific experience in any of the following areas\: Supporting implementation of health financing policies to move towards universal health coverage. Experience in public finance analysis including budget analysis and projections; Relevant experience in health system reform in post-conflict context.Relevant experience in countries of the WHO European Region.

Skills

1. Sound theoretical and applied knowledge of key strategic directions in health system strengthening in the WHO European region with specific focus on health financing policy, and public health and primary care services; 2. Ability to establish harmonious working relationships as part of a team, adapt to diverse educational and cultural backgrounds, and maintain high standard of personal conduct. 3. Excellent communication skills.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Producing results
Ensuring the effective use of resources

Use of Language Skills

Essential\: Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable\: Intermediate knowledge of Russian.

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 72,637 (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 1247 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 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.