OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The Division of Country Health Policies and Systems (CPS) assists countries in the Region with the design and implementation of appropriate health policies and systems to strengthen universal health coverage. It works to strengthen data-driven, evidence-informed, contextually tailored health policy development and implementation at national, regional, and local levels, taking an inclusive approach across the life course. The Division advocates strengthening of public health leadership, focusing on implementing policies that are people centred, promote health, prevent illness, and address the social and economic determinants of health, while fostering leadership on equity, human rights, and gender mainstreaming in health. It focuses on building capacity for health systems innovation to enable the sustainable delivery of high-quality primary health and community services that are effectively linked to hospitals, and mental health, public health, and social care services. To do so, CPS supports country efforts to facilitate access so as to leave nobody behind, to improve financial protection, to strengthen the health workforce, to increase access to affordable medicines and technologies, and to promote the uptake and implementation of digital technology.

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 work to support the implementation of the WHO-led SDG JP on Digital Health in partnership with its PUNOs through communication activities, as well as supporting regular reporting, monitoring, and evaluation activities in coordination with relevant UN agencies. The incumbent will also support other relevant communication activities and ensure their harmonization with the country and relevant organizational priorities for strengthening the health system in the context of the country’s CCS and UNSDCF. This will serve to enhance knowledge about the work and role of the WHO country office and the UNCT in the health sector, as well as promote the visibility of WHO’s leadership role in the health sector and its joint work with UN partners to strengthen and transform the health system.

Key duties:

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

• Support the design and implementation of promotional activities, campaigns, communication strategies, and plans to raise awareness of the priorities and achievements of WHO, including of its joint programs with UN partners and national stakeholders, at the country level in coordination with relevant regional and/or headquarters communication focal points and in line with relevant corporate communication strategies.
• Identify marketable subjects/success stories and develop communications and advocacy products including for joint programming and partnerships’ initiatives.
• Support optimal outreach and dissemination to target audiences on suitable media channels and platforms, including social media.
• Organize media events, campaigns, and media technical briefings, coordinating between media, WHO experts, UN partners, and national stakeholders as required.
• Collaborate with national stakeholders, development and other strategic partners, and UN Information and Communication Officers to encourage the production and dissemination relevant and timely public health information, including from joint programmes and activities in the health sector with a focus on health system strengthening.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of strategies and plans for engagement with partners (including state and non-state actors such as national bodies, donors, UN partners, civil society organizations, non-governmental organizations, philanthropic foundations, academic institutions, etc) towards joint programming and funding opportunities, ensuring compliance with WHO and donor requirements.
• Advocate for organizational priorities and support WHO’s participation, functions, and commitments to the United Nations Communication Group.
• In close collaboration with technical staff, support reporting, monitoring, and evaluation functions of relevant joint programmes, including the SDG JP on Digital Health, thereby furthering implementation and ensuring progress towards agreed upon goals and targets.
• Build and maintain productive networks and contacts with the press/media and key, national communication counterparts to ensure positive and optimal coverage of WHO’s work, including its joint programmes and other relevant collaborate endeavours with the UN system in the health sector.
• Apply, as a national of the country or territory, knowledge of the cultural norms of diverse national stakeholders and audiences to: (i) support the development/updating of content and stakeholder linkages for the WHO country office website; and (ii) the sensitive design and delivery of effective social-media engagements.
• Support country office leadership on strategic, external, and internal communications with sensitivity to national cultural norms, where required.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: A university degree (bachelor’s) in a relevant field (such as communication, journalism, marketing, health communications, political science or international relations)
Desirable:

• Formal qualification in public health.
• Courses in communication techniques and/or graphic design and/or visual language in the use of social media.
• Training in risk communication.

Experience

Essential: A minimum of two years of work experience relevant to the position (delivering communications services and products) at the national level.

Skills

Understanding of public health and international development issues.

Proven skills in the development and implementation of communication/media products and approaches including solid writing skills.

Ability to represent and promote the WHO brand in virtual communities and networks.

Ability to develop messaging and positioning for an international organization.

Ability to elicit and communicate success stories.

Ability to identify and manage one’s own emotions, as well as helping others to do the same.

Desirable:

Knowledge of WHO/United Nations agencies programmes and practices

Understanding of WHO mandate and goals in the emergency incident management context.

WHO Competencies

• Teamwork
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
• Communication
• Producing results
• Ensuring the effective use of resources

Use of Language Skills

Essential:

• Expert knowledge of English.
• Expert knowledge of Kyrgyz.
• Expert knowledge of Russian.

REMUNERATION

Remuneration comprises an annual base salary starting at USD 30,699 (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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