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Qualifications

Important note: This advertisement will be used to fill other similar positions.

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The non-communicable diseases (NCD) Team is part of and contributes to the work of the Universal Health Coverage – Communicable and Non-communicable diseases (UHC/UCN) cluster of the WHO Regional Office for Africa. The work of the UCN cluster is guided by its strategic agenda: “disease burden reduction through using analytics to inform tailored interventions and guide disease control investments”. Objectives pursued by UCN thereby – to which the NCD team and all members of the NCD team contribute – are to: (i) provide leadership on disease control coordination, partnership and resource mobilization; (ii) contribute to the development of WHO disease control technical products, services and tools including adoption of new technologies and innovations; (iii) support generation and use of strategic information for action and decision making including optimizing investment; and (iv) facilitate country support – Technical assistance in deployment of WHO technical products and institutional capacity building including support to national disease programmes and regulatory authorities – towards improved program governance, improved interventions coverage and improved interventions quality. UCN investments towards these objectives are developed and delivered as guided by two guiding principles: comprehensive whole of society approach; and people-centred, integrated approach. The comprehensive whole of society approach involves coherent implementation of a triple response to priority diseases: (a) technical response involving deployment of disease specific normative guidance, and intervention mixes and medical commodities; (b) health systems response involving health systems capacity strengthening especially in disease mapping and stratification, interventions tailoring, and integrated sector/subsector planning; and (c) multi-sectoral response involving empowerment of prioritized high risk communities and their non-health and private sector stakeholders and philanthropies, to manage socio-economic and environmental determinants of diseases, and demand accountability from local health systems stewards. The people centered, integrated approach to disease control involves: (a) integrated disease control guidance specific for each health service delivery platform, a move away from stand-alone disease specific operational manuals; and (b) integrated disease control investing in strengthening the capacity of each health services delivery platform to deliver optimally for disease control as well as life course programmes, deploying technologies and analytics to guide stratification of diseases risks across population groups, develop and deploy comprehensive packages of interventions specific to the population group that enters the health system through each health service delivery platform, and monitor interventions access, coverage and impact on each population group to leave no one behind.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

The incumbent is expected to lead UCN/NCDs investing in the major NCDs: Cardiovascular Diseases, Diabetes, Cancers, Chronic Respiratory Diseases and Sickle Cell Disease as follows:
1.    To guide in the production of timely IEC materials and activities to support Cardiovascular Diseases (CVD), Diabetes, Cancer, Chronic Respiratory Diseases (CRD) and Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) interventions implementation at regional, sub regional and national levels.
2.    To coordinate the implementation of Global and regional public health goods related to CVDs, Diabetes, Cancers, CRD and SCD including setting annual priorities, and setting key performance targets for these diseases in the Region.
3.    To provide expertise on advocacy for NCD prevention and control in the Region for CVDs, Diabetes, Cancers, CRD and SCD through integration and adapting them for multisectoral utilization.
4.   To provide technical guidance, mobilize and coordinate expertise to advise countries, promote, implement, and evaluate integrated and evidence-based policies, strategies, plans, programmes, and initiatives addressing the countries priorities in NCDs (CVDs, Diabetes, Cancers, CRD, SCD) prevention and management, ensuring the following:
– public/private partnerships in providing comprehensive and evidence-based prevention, care, and treatment services.
– strengthening the capacity of public health care workers in providing CVDs, Diabetes, Cancers, CRD and SCD- related integrated services within PHC service delivery systems.

– the inclusion of CVDs, Diabetes, Cancers, CRD and SCD prevention and control interventions across the life course and continuum of care.
– the orientation of health systems towards addressing NCDs-particularly CVDs and Diabetes– inequities through inclusion in Universal Health Coverage.
– facilitating the procurement of safe, efficacious, and affordable medicines and technologies for CVDs, Diabetes, Cancers, CRD and SCD.
5.    To monitor and evaluate the implementation of work plans, budgets, and team performance at the RO and country levels on CVDs, Diabetes, Cancers, CRD, SCD and, documenting and disseminating best practices and partners’ experiences to scale-up programmes.
6.    To manage related operational research, surveillance, epidemiology, and health surveys.
7.    To forge/strengthen partnerships and networks to enhance multi-sectoral collaboration to address NCDs and particularly CVDs, Diabetes, CRD and SCD in the context of integrated NCDs prevention and control.
8.    To perform other related responsibilities as assigned, including replacing and backstopping for others as required.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential:
Medical degree with specialization in one of the major NCDs (Cardiology, Endocrinology/Diabetology, Oncology, Hematology or Pulmonology or related specialization) from an accredited/recognized institution.

Desirable:
Advanced university degree (master’s level or above) in Public Health or related fields.

Experience

Essential:
Minimum of 7 years’ experience (with at least 3 at the international level) in developing, managing and/or providing medical advisory services for the prevention and management of NCDs (CVDs, Diabetes, Cancers, CRD or SCD) through advocacy, policy guidance and capacity building in Programmes, at the international and national level.

Desirable:

Experience in capacity building, developing, and promoting collaborative partnerships as well as other, relevant work experience in WHO and/or other UN agencies, non-governmental or humanitarian organizations. Field experience in developing countries is also desirable.

Skills

•    Extensive area-specific, technical, and programmatic knowledge of programmes and approaches for integrated capacity-building programmes CVDs, Diabetes, Cancers, CRD and SCD Interventions
•    Working knowledge of district hospital care, Universal health coverage, in-service and pre-service training, and capacity building;
•    Knowledge in Essential Medicines for NCDs and PHC delivery systems
•    Knowledge of WHO’s role, mandates, strategies & action plans (global, regional, and country-specific).
•    Demonstrated ability to provide clear advice and guidance to multiple stakeholders and partners. Willingness to share technical knowledge

WHO Competencies

•    Teamwork
•    Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences.
•    Communication
•    Producing results
•    Promoting the Organization’s position in Health Leadership.

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Excellent knowledge of English or French.
Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of any other UN official languages.

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 3, 479 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