OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

Over the last decade, and in contrast to the decade prior, there has been significant improvement in the availability of health workers. Improvements in production capacities, across countries large and small, points to continued improvement in the overall availability of health workers. However, key challenges remain in aligning health workforce to national health priorities, with focused attention to distribution, composition, competence and team performance. Quality, including in clinical and compassionate care, as well as in health worker working environment requires focused attention across countries of the Region.Critically, health needs and challenges are evolving, with rise of non-communicable diseases and mental health conditions, escalating climate effects, increasing frequency of novel pathogens alongside stalling or slowdown in progress related to communicable diseases and reproductive, maternal and child health. These changes are occurring in a context of geo-political and economic uncertainty. The importance of investment in health workforce for achievement of other SDG goals and targets, including those of inclusive economic growth, decent employment and gender quality is also increasingly recognized. Critically, accelerating progress towards UHC, health system resilience, health and other SDGs require strengthening PHC-orientation of health systems (as captured in the Regional PHC Strategy), including investment in and evolution of health workforce teams and associated planning, production, and management. Digital transformation across countries of the Region provides new opportunities. As emphasized in the WHO SE Asia Regional Roadmap for Results and Resilience ‘HRH is the backbone of health systems’, but to address afore identified challenges will require key tactical shifts from both Member States and WHO.The overall objective of the Department of Health Systems Development is to strengthen health systems in order to make progress towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC), health security and the SDGs inter-alia through strengthening health workforce and cross-country collaboration across the Region. Within the Department, the responsibilities of the Technical Officer, Human Resources for Health is to support the 11 countries in the South-East Asia Region on HRH through:i) support to monitoring and analysis of health workforce-related progress, innovations and need, across countries of the South-East Asia Region, including through support to countries for strengthening HRH Information Systems and completion of National Health Workforce Accounts;ii) support development and implementation of national HRH strategies and plans, as designed to support progress towards Universal Health Coverage, health system resilience and health security in WHO SEAR countries and based on best available evidence; iii) support efforts to improve quality of the health workforce and overall alignment to health for all, including through establishment and operation of a regional network of health professional regulators;iv) supporting policies to address health workforce retention in rural and hard to reach areas, performance, teamwork, and international migration; v) Catalyzing research on HRH and building and strengthening partnerships and networks.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Under the overall guidance of Director, UHC, Health Systems and direct supervision of Regional Adviser-Primary Health Care, the incumbent will:

1. Lead the development and implementation of the Region’s programme of work on HRH, as aligned to UHC and Health for All, the Regional PHC Strategy, the Regional Roadmap for Results and Resilience, and relevant global HRH-strategies and priorities.

2. Maintain up to date intelligence on health workforce strengthening developments at country level as well as regional health workforce trends, with a focus on key trends influencing alignment with national health priorities including distribution, quality, performance, international migration, and digital tools.

3. Provide technical advice and support to national authorities as requested to (a) ensure HRH development in accordance with health service requirements and overall health sector priorities and plans, based on best available evidence, and to(b) strengthen health workforce governance, including health workforce policy and strategy; regulations and incentives, and engagement with other parts of government involved in HRH development, deployment and retention.

4. Support establishment and operation of a regional network of health practitioner regulation to ensure cross-country learning and collaboration in support of ongoing implementation.

5. Support improvements in national HRH information systems to generate quality HRH data to monitor progress on HRH for sub-national and national needs, as well as associated regional and global monitoring.

6. Strengthen the regional HRH evidence base and engagement with range of partnership through national, regional and global networks.

7. Work with WHO colleagues in HQ on the development of high-quality HRH tools and guidelines, and provide guidance on the relevance and use of those in SEAR countries; work with colleagues in other units and departments in the Regional Office on cross-cutting health workforce development issues.

8. Facilitate relevant multi-country activities (MCAs) to develop capacity in priority HRH areas, by interaction with WHO country offices and national counterparts.

9. Ensure accountability for the programme of work on HRH, including producing high quality technical reports as needed for WHO Governing Bodies, managing staff & resources, in conjunction with Director HSD.

10. Perform other relevant functions as required by Director HSD and RA-PHC.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: University Degree in medicine, public health, social or management science from a recognized university. Postgraduate degree in public health; health systems; health workforce development; health economics; health administration or health service management

Desirable: Doctorate in health systems management or research; public health; health economics; political science.

Experience

Essential: At least seven (7) years of relevant experience in human resources for health and health systems development; in providing policy advice on HRH development in accordance with current and future health system requirements; and in advising on effective approaches to different dimensions of HRH institutional capacity development, including considerable experience obtained in an international context.

Desirable: Experience in Asia in health system development with a focus on HRH a strong asset. Knowledge and experience of WHO and the UN system, and of other major stakeholders and international agencies an asset.

Skills

Expert and up-to-date knowledge and skills in human resources for health policy, planning, transformative education, management, retention and HR information development and use; substantial knowledge of public health and health systems, with an in-depth knowledge of the relationship between human resources and the development of health systems for universal health coverage in different political and economic contexts; familiarity with concepts and methods of health systems, and skills in synthesizing the latest evidence in HRH policy and practice; programme management skills in WHO.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond
Producing results

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable:

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 77,326 (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 3145 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 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. 

• Staff members in other duty stations are encouraged to apply. 

• 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. 

• Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with WHO and an underlying premise of the international civil service. 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. 

• 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. 

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

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Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements