OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The Special Initiative on Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) and Innovation (SNI) supports Member States in their work to free the WHO European Region from avoidable NCDs. SNI recognizes both the urgency for immediate action as well as the need for a visionary paradigm shift that puts NCDs higher on the political and health agendas for future generations. Therefore, SNI takes a dual-track approach, promoting accelerated progress toward the NCD-related SDG commitments for 2030 (RACE to the Finish) while simultaneously championing the key generational shifts required, to address NCDs within the permacrisis (Vision2050), and achieve a sustainably healthier European Region. SNI’s commitment is to support Member States to achieve a healthier population and to close the gap in NCDs including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes that persist within countries and across the Region. SNI is also charged with fostering Innovation in Public Health across the whole of the work of WHO in the European Region (not just for NCDs). SNI promotes an approach to innovation that is forward thinking and agile, institutionalizing innovation and adjusting to meet the changing needs of a vast region facing demographic, societal and environmental shifts, emergencies, and rapid technological advances. The work under this area includes supporting an ecosystem of innovators in health, matching innovative solutions with stated public health needs in countries, and pushing the envelope in trending areas such as the application of artificial intelligence to public health.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 Work 2020-2025-“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

The incumbent will support the coordination, development, and implementation of action plans and programmes of activities in one or more of the programme areas belonging to Universal Health Coverage/Healthier Populations (UHC/HP): environment, climate change and health (ECH), health promotion, social determinants of health and health equity (HPD), nutrition and food safety (NUT); tobacco and reduction of other non-communicable disease risk factors (TNR), violence, injuries, or health and migration (PHM); and demographic change and ageing. Through a coordinated, intersectoral approach aimed at building capacities and enabling all people to enjoy better health and well-being, the incumbent will support the coordination of organizational contributions to public health actions designed to reduce health inequalities and the burden of preventable disease and injuries driven by environmental, social and economic determinants of health, including the reduction of risk factors. Following a One Health Approach will be critical in this.

Key duties: The incumbent will perform all or part of the following, and other related responsibilities as required by the needs of the office.

1. Coordinate technical expertise to advise the government and national stakeholders on the development of national strategies and policies and the formulation, management, and implementation of the respective HP work programme(s).
2. Provide coordination in the designated areas under the Universal Health Coverage/Healthier Populations (UHC/HP) portfolio (that is, environment, climate change and health; health promotion, social determinants of health and health equity; nutrition and food safety; tobacco and reduction of other non-communicable disease risk factors; violence, or injuries and disabilities; demographic change and ageing), through a One-health approach, ensuring that the activities are carried out efficiently and effectively.
3. Support the mobilization and optimization of resources for the respective projects and programmes including through partnerships with donors and development partners (United Nations, other multilateral and bilateral organizations as well as nongovernmental organizations).
4. Coordinate the engagement with UN partners and other stakeholders on matters relevant to the purpose of the position.
5. Coordinate and support the implementation of national programmes for capacity building in the respective healthier populations areas and management and financing of the systems.
6. Support the engagement with other sectors beyond health that are key to healthier populations (environment, transport, agriculture, urban, energy, water, etc.) in order to identify common objectives that improve people’s lives, health, and wellbeing.
7. Serve as a national resource concerning the multi-sectoral integration of programmes in healthier populations and mainstreaming of cross-cutting themes, such as health equity, commercial determinants, urban health, or migration and health or the use of behavioural sciences in implementing disease prevention and health promotion approaches.
8. Represent WHO in designated forums and function as a technical focal point for Healthier Populations’ programme areas.
9. Promote new community outreach activities to facilitate the expansion of networks that advance and/or focus on healthier populations’ programmatic work.
10. Support the establishment of monitoring and surveillance systems and collection of data and evidence in the areas of interest.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: A university degree (bachelor’s) in public health or related disciplines
Desirable: Post-graduate training or specialization in health systems.

Experience

Essential: A minimum of two years of work experience relevant to the position (in developing and implementing public health capacity-building policies/strategies and prevention or health promotion programmes), with national entities and/or international organizations.
Desirable: Some of the above-listed experience to have been obtained in an international context. A minimum of one year of experience in Healthier Population programmes.

Skills

• Knowledge of national Healthier Populations’ (HP) health systems’ capacity building.
• Knowledge of HP health systems development and management at country level.
• Skills to support the development and revision of elements of policies and objectives of assigned program and activities.
• Ability to communicate health-policy concepts and ideas.
• Knowledge of relevant country’s public-health needs, priorities, and policies.
• Skills to participate in consensus facilitation and resource mobilization activities.
• Communication skills to contribute to authoring reports, technical documents, and delivering presentations for internal and external audiences.
• Emotional intelligence; Ability to identify and manage one’s own emotions, as well as helping others to do the same.

Information technology (IT) and other skills:

• Proficiency in computers and office software packages, handling of web-based management systems, enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems and cloud management enterprise system such as Workday.

WHO Competencies

1. Teamwork
2. Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
3. Communication
4. Driving the Organization’s Position in Health Leadership
5. Creating an empowering and motivating environment

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English. Expert knowledge of Bulgarian.
Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of French. Intermediate knowledge of Russian, German.

REMUNERATION

Remuneration comprises an annual base salary starting at BGN 68,691 (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.

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