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Qualifications

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 (Vision 2050), 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 life course programme exists to end preventable deaths and promote the survival, good health, and well-being throughout the life course of populations by ensuring universal access to quality, evidence-based, preventive, and life-saving interventions at all levels of the health care delivery system. Maintaining a multi-sectoral overview, the position will support and coordinate the country office’s interventions and activities in the life course (LC) programme area, ensuring the availability of technical expertise for guidance to the national authorities in the development and implementation of integrated programmes in one or more of the following life course areas: special programme on primary health care; health workforce; integrated health services; health systems governance and financing; sexual and reproductive health and research; maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health and ageing.

Key duties:

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) Public Health Officer and/or the Head of the WHO country office. 
• Provide advice, leadership, technical expertise, and/or technical oversight to support the implementation of the WHO activities with a special focus on using the European Programme of Work and the Roadmap for Health and Well-being in the Western Balkans (2021-2025). This includes providing support to the Ministry of Health and other sectors in activities that relate to developing, implementing, and evaluating National Policies and Strategies that help to improve health system performance, inter-sectoral action for health and wellbeing with the involvement of stakeholders and securing alignment with the WHO mentioned documents.
• Maintaining liaison and coordination with national authorities, academic institutions, UN agencies, Civil Society Organizations, and other partners, as relevant to the scope of work on Universal Health Coverage, Healthier populations and areas defined in the Biennial Collaborative Agreement: primary health care and health system strengthening, human resources for health, health information system and data management, public health functions, health promotion and implementation of strategies and interventions to address the health burden of communicable, and non-communicable diseases across the life course; Anti-microbial resistance and One Health approach in conjunction with technical persons in Regional Office and Country Office.
• Coordinate, and/or facilitate the delivery of technical and managerial advice to the government and national stakeholders in the development and implementation of sustainable, multisectoral and integrated strategies, policies, work programmes and plans, promoting optimal outcomes in one, several, or all of the above-mentioned areas of life course.
• Develop and monitor work plans and budgets, and follow up on the implementation of planned activities, in consultation with national counterparts. 
• Provide, or coordinate the provision of, technical advice, strategies, and policies for strengthening country capacity to implement, evaluate and monitor Universal health coverage/life course programmes including financing of the systems. 
• Monitor the national burden of life course diseases or factors especially through health information systems and health research activities. 
• Facilitate the adaptation and implementation of evidence-based norms, standards, guidelines and tools in the broad programme areas. 
• Guide the collection, analysis and documenting of best practices and partners’ experiences in life course programmes, anchored in national and subnational perspectives. 
• Serve as a national and technical resource concerning the multi-sectoral integration of programmes in life course and mainstreaming of cross-cutting themes, such as health equity, and the elimination of exclusion. 
• Develop or strengthen strategic partnerships in, and mobilize resources for, life course activities and interventions. Support the national authorities in grant implementation and reporting. 
• Coordinate the development of information, education and communication (IEC) materials to foster community awareness and health practice in the life course area(s). 

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: A university degree (bachelor’s) in public health or related disciplines.

Desirable: Post-graduate training or specialization in one or more of the following disciplines: primary health care; health workforce; integrated health services; health systems governance and financing; sexual and reproductive health and research; maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health and ageing.

Experience

Essential: A minimum of five years of work experience relevant to the position (in developing and/or implementing public health, capacity-building policies/strategies, and programmes) at the national level. A minimum of two years of experience in life course programme interventions. Professional experience providing technical services to Member States and other partners in public health programmes in resource limited settings.

Desirable: Experience with intergovernmental agencies, the United Nations System or WHO and knowledge of national partnerships and networks. Prior experience in implementing life course surveillance systems in stable and emergency situations, research proposals and interpreting life course data.

Skills

• Knowledge and skills in programme management, for the development and implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of successful public-health action plans, programmes, and interventions in one or more life course areas, i.e., Special Programme on Primary Health Care; Health Workforce; Integrated Health Services; Health Systems Governance and Financing; Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research; Maternal, Newborn, Child & Adolescent Health & Ageing. 
• Knowledge, skills, and results in coordinating integrated, multi-sectoral, public-health programme interventions, taking into consideration the views of multiple stakeholders. 
• Knowledge of WHO policies, programmes and guidelines in life course will be an advantage 
• Skills to work effectively with national and international colleagues and partners in capacity building in resource-limited contexts. 
• Excellent oral and written communication, including for reports, presentations, and technical documents. 
• Skills to advocate and communicate critical life course messages. 
• 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 (Serbian).

Desirable: Knowledge of other UN Languages (French, Russian, German)

REMUNERATION

Remuneration comprises an annual base salary starting at EUR 64,376 (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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