The WHO Country Office supports the country to shape its health policy in line with WHO’s principles and values and advocates for an integrated approach to health development.
The Health Policy Advisor will provide technical support for and coordinate policy advisory services to the head of the WHO country office and ministry of health for the development and implementation of national health policies, strategies, and plans (NHPSP) including to strengthen the country’s health system, to move towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
The incumbent will perform all or part of the following, and other related responsibilities as required by the needs of the office.
● Work under the direct supervision of the respective (Senior) Health Policy Advisor and/or the head of the WHO country office and in coordination with all technical focal points at the regional and headquarters levels
● Coordinate and support provision of technical advice to the government and national stakeholders for the design, implementation and evaluation of national health policies for health system strengthening to move towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC)
● Support application of knowledge of the national context to strengthen the capacity of national stakeholders to organize and lead an effective health policy dialogue and reform implementation process including the development of strategic intelligence on key health system reform issues, focusing on priority areas of health financing, public health, primary care, health workforce and governance.
● Support development of an aligned, service-delivery vision to strengthen public health and primary care services to better prevent and control communicable and noncommunicable diseases.
● Contribute to transformation of health financing arrangements for UHC including improving governance and accountability.
● Support alignment with other critical system functions (such as human resource and accessible policies for medicines and technologies, as well as strengthened governance arrangements).
● Support the monitoring and evaluation framework for HSS, agreeable to all stakeholders, with communicable and noncommunicable diseases health targets, linked to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
● Facilitate development of models and approaches in evidence-informed, health policy implementation and health systems’ strengthening to facilitate learning and capacity building in policy making at national level.
● Contribute to and coordinate synergies and networking between the WHO country office and other UN organizations, non-state actors, and international donors towards the implementation of health systems transformation at the country-level.
● Support links and partnerships with public and private institutions, non-governmental agencies and scientific bodies, for the exchange of information, coordination of activities and implementation of sector wide approaches.
● Contribute to the impact of reforms on health outcomes and UHC through facilitating impact evaluations in the areas of health financing, public health, and primary care.
Essential: Bachelor’s degree in public health, or health policy, or health systems management or another relevant social science/field.
Desirable:
Post-graduate training or specialization in health systems and/or health planning, management, heath economics, health services, or relevant social science/field.
Essential:
● A minimum of two years of work experience in health-sector policy, strategy development, and planning at the national level.
● Professional experience providing technical services to Member States and other partners in health policy and planning in resource limited settings.
Desirable:
● Experience with intergovernmental agencies, the United Nations System or WHO and knowledge of national partnerships and networks.
● Experience in consensus building and enlisting cooperation by diverse national stakeholders.
● Technical knowledge and skills in:
o policy formulation and implementation; and/or
o planning, monitoring, and evaluating health systems.
● Knowledge of:
o primary- healthcare-based health systems, health systems transformation and reform; and/or
o health financing policy analysis for universal health coverage.
● Excellent oral and written communication, including for reports, presentations and technical documents.
● Ability to provide sound methodological and technical guidance in health policy to multiple stakeholders and partners in countries.
● Ability to integrate, synthesize, and communicate health-policy concepts and ideas.
Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Knowing and managing yourself
Producing results
Essential: Expert knowledge of English and of the local language.
Remuneration comprises an annual base salary starting at USD 44,373 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable) and 30 days of annual leave.
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 [email protected]