OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The Division of Country Support and Partnerships (CPA) 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). CPA 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. CPA 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 CPA. The WHO country office works with the National Authorities to achieve the highest standard of health as a fundamental human right, based on equity and on SDGs principle of leaving no one behind. WHO actions are engrained in the WHO 13th General Programme of Work with its 3 prong objectives of promoting healthier populations, keeping the world safe through addressing health emergencies, and protecting the vulnerable through Universal Health Coverage. WHO’s mandate revolves around six core functions: (i) providing Global Health leadership; (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 WHO Country Office is an integral part of the WHO Regional Office for Europe. Its main role is to facilitate and coordinate all WHO activities at country level and to implement the European Programme of Work2020-2025 -“United Action for Better Health in Europe” which sets out a vision of how the WHO Regional Office for Europe can better support countries in meeting citizens’ expectations about health. WHO at country level delivers this through practical, actionable and country focused solutions to health challenges, keeping in perspective that achieving health and well-being is a whole-of-society endeavour; This is done through facilitating the implementation of the Biennial Collaborative Agreement with the country and its corresponding workplan. The WHO Country Office maintains good working relations and ensures information exchange between the country and WHO, policy and strategic guidance on Health issues to all national and international partners in the country, provision of direct technical expertise when needed and aims at more community engagement and participation, and to promote health equity.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

To actively support the country work and Biennial Collaborative Agreement (BCA) through the implementation of the core and project-related activities -including preparatory processes and gathering background information from the country, supporting missions and other means to deliver results, follow-up on agreements, changes and developments and actively participate in WHO related country-level activities.

Key duties:

The incumbent will perform all, or part of the following, and other related responsibilities as required by the Special Representative (SR) /Head of WHO Country Office (HOCO), and the varying needs of the WHO Country Office (WCO):

• Ensure that the WHO Country Office collects, collates, and monitors all relevant existing country-specific health-related data, in collaboration with relevant national authorities. This includes national and subnational datasets, such as demographics of populations affected by specific diseases (relevant age, gender, etc.) and time trends. Help with analyzing such data sets and provide additional insights on the country’s health context and epidemiological situation
• Work in coordination with all technical focal points at WHO Regional Office for Europe (EURO) and at WHO Headquarters, under the guidance of the SR/HOCO.
• Technically support the provision of advice to national public health authorities and the management of the technical work of the country office that underpins policy formulation and support relevant national teams on building core capacities in identified priority public health areas
• Serve as focal person for all internal and external requests related to country-specific data. As needed, request and garner government’s agreement for the use and sharing of such data for public health practice purposes.
• Assist WHO efforts aimed at government and relevant institutions for the enhancement of national capacities in priority areas mutually agreed with national authorities including mental health, health systems strengthening, AMR, epidemic and communicable disease-trends’ forecasting and detection systems, including epidemiology and laboratory surveillance for epidemiological intelligence as related to AMR, HAI, &other priority diseases.
• Technically support WCO with development &conduct of trainings, workshops, & technical meetings in the country
• Coordinate the WCO’s support to the host government and UNFICYP in conducting field investigations of public health events, when required by the country and/or the health situation.
• Collaborate with WHO & national Health Emergency teams to develop infection prevention and control programs in healthcare facilities, including (where and when required) focusing on Hospital Acquired Infections (HAI), and preparedness and response to epidemics and pandemic diseases.
• Collaborate with relevant authorities on the development and maintenance of a national system for comprehensive data collection and trend analysis of public health events including VPIs.
• Encourage collaboration and support the development of advocacy initiatives and project proposals for joint action and resource mobilization to augment national, operational responses to public health events.
• Act as the liaison between government and WHO (all levels) on country-specific data gathering and dissemination of WHO-generated reports and analyses.
• Any other duty assigned by the SR

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: University degree (Bachelor’s level) in public health, medical or other related studies in a field directly related to the position

Experience

Essential: A minimum of two (2) years of work experience relevant to the position (in public health practice including developing and/or implementing programs, policies, and guidelines as well as monitoring and evaluation of diseases and public health issues), at the national level.
Desirable: Relevant experience working in public or private sector on large, multi-partner public health projects. Experience in WHO or within the UN system with an understanding of its mandate, goals, and procedures.

Skills

• Demonstrated knowledge and professional skills in the development and implementation of public health
• Strong ability to process, analyze and interpret data.
• Knowledge of the communicable and non-communicable disease profile of the country.
• Ability to multi-task & contribute to multidisciplinary teams, projects, and programs.
• Emotional intelligence; Ability to identify and manage one’s own emotions, as well as helping others to do the same

WHO Competencies

Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Knowing and managing yourself
Producing results

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English. Expert knowledge of Local Language (Greek).

REMUNERATION

Remuneration comprises an annual base salary starting at EUR 48,416 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable) and 30 days of annual leave.

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.

• 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.

• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.

• For information on WHO’s operations please visit: http://www.who.int.

• 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.

• 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.

• This is a National Professional Officer position. Therefore, only applications from nationals of the country where the duty station is located will be accepted. Applicants who are not nationals of this country will not be considered.

• In case the website does not display properly, please retry by: (i) checking that you have the latest version of the browser installed (Chrome, Edge or Firefox); (ii) clearing your browser history and opening the site in a new browser (not a new tab within the same browser); or (iii) retry accessing the website using Mozilla Firefox browser or using another device. Click this link for detailed guidance on completing job applications: Instructions for candidates