• Country: Geneva, Switzerland
• No of vacancies: N/A
  
• Salary: N/A 
• Organization: WHO
• Gender: Both
• Deadline: 2024-02-13

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

Health emergencies continue to have significant and sometimes catastrophic impacts on countries health, economies and development. Both recent and ongoing public health events have demonstrated that many communities remain at high risk, and that strong levels of national preparedness across all relevant sectors are crucial to ensuring the effective management of health emergencies, when they occur. They also illustrate the need for scaling up the implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR) that requires countries to build and maintain the capacities to prevent, detect and rapidly respond to, and recover from public health emergencies, anchored on strong and resilient health systems. The Emergency Preparedness Division contributes to the implementation of the WHO Global Programme of Work (GPW 13) and is guided by WHO strategic priorities to “keep the world safe, improve health and serve the vulnerable”. The WHO strategic priorities drive the progress in health towards Universal Health Coverage, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and speaks particularly to SDG 3, to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. In 2023, WHO launched the global architecture for health emergency prevention, preparedness, response and resilience (HEPR), which introduces new mechanisms to secure sustainable financing for health emergency preparedness and response. The Health Security Preparedness (HSP) department supports Member States in enhancing national preparedness across the IHR core capacities to manage all-hazard risks and emergencies, and to build multisectoral approaches for health security. It ensures that WHO supports Member States to build sustainable preparedness capacities and scale up the implementation of the IHR (2005), HEPR and support the implementation of the Sendai Framework, the WHO Health Emergency and Disaster Risk Management Framework, Paris Agreement on Climate Change and other related global and regional frameworks. HSP works with partners and the broader global heath security community to ensure that the most vulnerable communities in all countries are protected from the impact of health emergencies.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Within the framework of the delegated authority, the incumbent will have the following roles and responsibilities, in close collaboration with other WHO departments, regions, and relevant stakeholders:

– Coordinate and support implementing the benchmark.

– Liaise with various technical units and/or sub systems-leads of 5Cs of HEPR, ROs, COs, Member States and partners to implement the benchmark to develop plans, monitor progress and identify resources.

– Coordinate with the technical units and partners to maintain and update the reference library of the WHO benchmark for strengthening health emergency capacities. Support conducting operational and implementation research based on the WHO Benchmarks and analysis.

– Support management of Benchmark IT portal and its dissemination for use.

– Liaise with departments, ROs, WCOs and partners working on health systems and health emergencies to implement the HS for HS framework, including supporting member states on reviewing the National Health Sector Plan (NHSP) of countries for health security and develop recommendations to ensure the foundational elements are in place.

– Develop a coordination mechanism and networks of partners, academia, and civil societies to strengthen health systems for health security and emergencies, including pandemics.

– Support of outbreak response capacity building and leveraging the COVID-19 pandemic response investments.

– Support to the ongoing pandemic and other outbreaks through a multisectoral, whole of society approach.

– Perform any other duties as requested by the supervisor.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: Advanced level university (Master’s) degree in medicine, public health, international relations and/or other related fields.
Desirable: Training and/or certification in emergency, IHR and health system development.

Experience

Essential: At least seven years of combined national and international professional experience in international health regulation and health system development.
Desirable: Experience with monitoring and evaluation and academic journal publication. Experience working with WHO or UN experience is an advantage.

Skills

– Extensive knowledge and work experience in IHR and health systems.

– Proven ability to work in multisectoral teams at an international level.

– Sensitivity to political and cultural issues. Proven ability to meet deadlines.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Moving forward in a changing environment
Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable: Expert knowledge of French. Intermediate knowledge of WHO language.

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 5658 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.

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