Gender Specialist - Polio Eradication

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The overall objective of the Department is to coordinate WHO's efforts to eradicate polio, as the lead technical partner in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), as outlined in the Polio Eradication Strategy 2022-2026. This includes supporting the national governments and the global polio eradication partnership to interrupt the transmission of wild and vaccine-derived poliovirus worldwide, rapidly detect and interrupt outbreaks following the global withdrawal of the oral polio vaccine and sustain surveillance to keep countries polio-free.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

• To support gender mainstreaming work under the guidance of Executive Management Unit (EMU) Gender Specialist and in coordination with Gender Mainstreaming Group (GMG).
• Support WHO's input into the gender mainstreaming efforts and activities of the GPEI Global Programme Support Groups (e.g. Outbreak Response, Global Communication, Polio research and analytics, Finance Management Group, etc.) including the development of partnership-wide plans and budgets.
• Provide overall technical support for gender mainstreaming in WHO/POL's technical work, strategies, plans and policies as related to polio eradication and immunization.
• Act as gender focal point for WHO and GPEI gender-related performance indicators, supporting WHO and GPEI M&E frameworks.
• Coordinate and co-chair the Gender Data Working Group led by WHO/POL contributing to the realization of its deliverables, and collaborate with the Research Department for any possible research project on gender and immunization.
• Provide technical inputs into key WHO and GPEI programmatic, reporting, communication and strategic documents.
• Contribute to capacity building on gender mainstreaming in programming through gender training activities.
• Liaise and coordinate with WHO Regional and Country Office gender specialists/focal points for the implementation of the GPEI Gender Equality Strategy.
• Advocacy and Communication Support conception and organization of advocacy events and participate in communications activities on gender and polio/immunization.
• Produce gender content for the GPEI website, advocacy documents and social media in coordination with communications team.
• Support conception and delivering of Gender Sensitive Communication training and distribution of tools and guidance on gender sensitive communication across the three levels of WHO and in collaboration with GPEI Global Communication Group.
• Synergy with other WHO departments and external partners involved in gender and health/immunization.
• Collaborate with WHO's Immunization Vaccine and Biological department (IVB) for the development and dissemination of information materials as well as the design and delivery of gender training related to the Immunization Agenda 2030.
• Serve as designated alternate for the Gender Equity and Human Rights (GEHR network at WHO HQ and assist GEHR to regularly assess the polio department's work on integrating gender equality, equity and human rights in its work.
• Liaise with GAVI as part of the Alliance Gender Equality & Immunization Coordination Group to enhance gender mainstreaming activities in immunization and provide technical expertise for joint training courses.
• Facilitate joint projects with other WHO departments to improve recruiting, retaining and empowering the female polio workforce as per the Eradication Strategy 2022-2026.
• Collaborate with the corporate GER programme supporting capacity building across the programmes for and with departmental leads for gender, equity and human rights, and in the regional and country offices in support of regional leads; guide the implementation of the gender mainstreaming manual into programmatic work; guide implementation of the strategy for health equity, gender equality and human rights.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential:

• University degree in political or social science, women's human rights, international development, political science or another related discipline.

Desirable:

• Studies in public health

Experience

Essential:

• At least five years of relevant work experience including at international level in the field of public health, gender and international development cooperation of which 2 years in gender mainstreaming in health related programmes.

Desirable:

• Experience in project management across multi-level and international organizations and across stakeholder groups preferably in developing countries.
• Experience in gender mainstreaming immunization programmes would be an asset.

Skills

• Functional knowledge and skills on gender in health and mainstreaming approaches, including the use of qualitative and quantitative health equity analysis tools and data.
• Demonstrated skills to develop and implement capacity building training and processes.
• Proven ability to write technical documents, papers and presentations.
• Ability to develop and maintain good working relationships within interdisciplinary teams in a multi-cultural environment.
• Knowledge of public health and health systems in middle- and low-income countries.

WHO Competencies

• Teamwork
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
• Communication
• Producing results
• Moving forward in a changing environment

Use of Language Skills

Essential:

• Expert knowledge of English.

Desirable:

• Intermediate knowledge of French. Intermediate knowledge of WHO's official 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 62,692 (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 4106 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 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.

• 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.

• For WHO General Service staff who do not meet the minimum educational qualifications, please see e-Manual III.4.1, para 220.