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Qualifications

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The mission of WHO’s Emergency Preparedness & Response (EPR) Cluster is to build the capacity of Member States to manage health emergency risks and, when national capacities are overwhelmed, to lead and coordinate the international health response to contain outbreaks and to provide effective relief and recovery to affected populations. Within EPR, the Strategic Support Unit coordinates EPR-related strategic activities at the regional level, including strategy planning, innovation, external relations, external communications, grant management as well as coordinates monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning activities across the EPR programme areas and countries. The STS team works together and collaborates with colleagues across the EPR Cluster and beyond to contribute to the delivery of the vision/goals of the EPR Cluster.

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

In early 2022, WHO AFRO, in collaboration with partners, launched three flagship programs to strengthen health Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) in Africa: Promoting Resilience of Systems for Emergencies (PROSE), Transforming African Surveillance Systems (TASS), and SURGE (Strengthening and Utilizing Response Groups for Emergencies). These programs aim to enhance country capacities in preparedness, detection, and response to health emergencies.
To further integrate emergency preparedness and response across the continent, African health ministers endorsed the Regional Strategy for Health Security and Emergencies 2022–2030 at the 72nd WHO Regional Committee Meeting for Africa. This strategy commits African Member States to achieving 12 targets by 2030, aligning with the Global Architecture for Health Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Resilience. WHO AFRO is implementing these flagship initiatives to support Member States in building resilient health systems.
A key initiative under this strategy is establishing Regional Emergency Hubs in Kenya, Senegal, and South Africa, with supply warehouses in Nairobi and Dakar. These Hubs will focus on emergency workforce development, data, innovation, intelligence, genomic surveillance, and R&D. Since the Nairobi Hub’s temporary warehouse became operational, the average time to deliver emergency supplies across Africa has decreased from three weeks to three days.
Recognizing the importance of partnerships, WHO and Africa CDC have formed a new collaboration to strengthen health emergency preparedness, response, and resilience (HEPR) across Africa. They have developed a five-year Joint Emergency Preparedness and Response Action Plan (JEAP) to enhance emergency capacity, coordination, and collaboration across the continent.
The success of these initiatives relies on effective program management and strategic partnerships. The Strategy and Partnerships Officer will coordinate these efforts, working closely with EPR leadership, technical staff, and external partners to ensure seamless execution and alignment with strategic objectives. Over the next five years (2023-2027), WHO and Africa CDC will implement activities across eight collaboration areas: workforce development; surveillance (including diagnostics and genome sequencing); response readiness and coordination; country preparedness assessments; logistics, supply chain, and stockpiling; risk communication and community engagement; digitalization; and climate change.
The Strategy and Partnership Officer’s role will be crucial in implementing JEAP’s action plan and coordinating between WHO and its strategic partners. The officer will also support resource mobilization for JEAP, the WHO EPR Cluster, the WHO Hubs.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

• Program Management Office (PMO) Functions for the JEAP Secretariat
  • Facilitate Governance and Management: Oversee the implementation of the JEAP Secretariat’s governance and management structures.
  • Coordinate Meetings: Prepare and facilitate weekly focal point meetings involving WHO AFRO, WHO EMRO, and Africa CDC, as well as quarterly Steering Committee meetings with senior leadership from these organizations.
  • Manage Technical Working Groups (TWGs): Facilitate bi-weekly meetings across eight TWGs, ensuring follow-up on workplans to keep them on track. Support the onboarding and institutionalization of three new TWGs.
  • Ensure Coordination: Coordinate between TWGs, focal points, and other stakeholders to ensure timely progress on workplan activities.
  • Monitor Progress and Reporting: Track JEAP progress, budgets, and workplans, providing regular reports and updates to maintain transparency and accountability.
  • Risk Management: Identify potential risks to the partnership and assist in developing mitigation strategies.
  • Partner Engagement: Support partner engagement by preparing tailored materials, such as decks and talking points, and assisting focal points with strategic planning and decision-making.
• Strategic Partnerships and Resource Mobilization Support
  • Proposal Development: Assist in developing critical proposals to secure resources.
  • Partner Relations: Build and maintain relationships with key partners.
  • Reporting and Event Organization: Support reporting activities for the EPR Cluster and assist in organizing key events.
  • Technical Liaison: Act as the technical focal point for service providers and consulting firms engaged with the EPR Cluster.
• Support to the Dakar Hub Coordination Office
  • Strategic Support: Assist the Hub Coordinator in developing strategic initiatives, resource mobilization efforts, and strategic partnerships.
  • Liaison Role: Serve as a liaison between the Dakar Hub teams and the STS unit, ensuring alignment with EPR unit competencies.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Educational Qualifications

Essential

First University degree in business administration, information management, public health, epidemiology, economics, international development or life sciences from a recognized university.

Desirable

• Certified training in project or programme management or at least 3 years of strategy and management consulting experience.
• Prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse training.
• Specialized training in emergency/humanitarian fields.

Experience

Essential

At least five (5) years of proven experience in program or project management role at the international level, including experience in public health development and/or emergency management.

Desirable

• Prior work experience within the United Nations System, private sector enterprise, recognized humanitarian organizations, or with an international non-governmental organization.
• Proven experience in program strategy development, including writing and editing a wide range of compelling strategy materials targeting a variety of audiences.
• Proven experience with change management.
• Experience working in Africa.

Skills

•  Background and objectives of emergency management programmes, practices, and procedures.
• Exceptional project management skills, including the ability to achieve consensus and chart clear paths forward from ambiguity.
• Exceptional problem-solving skills and with a thorough understanding of problem-solving approaches.
• Good research and documentation skills especially for best practices in organizational change.
• Proven ability to make recommendations related to work-processing approaches and procedures which would lead to more efficient systems design.
• Exceptional writing skills with the ability to simplify complex ideas without losing critical nuance.
• Strong facilitation skills (i.e., ability to plan and lead brainstorming sessions, workshops, etc.) with senior leaders.
• Skilled communicator comfortable engaging with a variety of stakeholders, from funders to staff members across the organization.
• Strong interpersonal and organizational skills.
• Track-record of producing results under pressure.
• Sound understanding of the impact of emergencies and crises on social and economic development, and its burden on populations.
• Good knowledge of WHO mandate and goals in the emergency incident management context.
• Strong people management skills especially in a multi-cultural context

WHO Competencies

1. Teamwork
2. Moving forward in a changing environment
3. Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
4. Communication
5. Technical Expertise

Use of Language Skills

Excellent knowledge of English is required.

Other Skills (e.g., IT)

Excellent knowledge of Microsoft Office applications

REMUNERATION

WHO offers staff in the Professional Category an attractive remuneration package, which for the above position includes an annual net base salary starting at 64,121 US Dollars (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable).
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 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 E-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 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 (https://www.who.int/about/who-we-are/our-values) 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 short-listed candidates.
• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
• 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. For external applicants, only those who are expected to complete the term of appointment will normally be considered.
• For information on WHO’s operations please visit: http://www.who.int
• Staff members in other duty stations are encouraged to apply.
• For WHO General Service staff who do not meet the minimum educational qualifications, please see e-Manual III.4.1, para 220
• 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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