Environment and Sustainable Urban Systems

The incumbent will report to the Head of Office of the Centre. Within the delegated authority and in collaboration with other specialists at the Centre, HQs and in other offices, the specialist will lead and manage the Healthy Environment and Sustainable Urban Systems Programmes, maintaining good relations with national, regional and international counterparts, Cities/Urban networks, and United Nations agencies and seek joint action programmes in areas such as climate change and health, urban health, air and water pollution, and chemical risk assessment programmes.

 Duties:

• Provide technical and managerial leadership in the area of Healthy Environment and Sustainable Urban Systems, ensuring that the activities in this area are well planned and coordinated and are carried out efficiently and effectively.
• Coordinate and responsible for the development of work plans and budgets for team activities including resource mobilization for the work programme and oversee the implementation of planned activities.
• Provide technical guidance and advice on the development and implementation of policies and strategies to promote sustainable, climate smart and health urban development
• Coordinate the development of guidance for situation analysis and needs assessment for addressing health, climate and environment linkages and advocate for adequate technical and strategic support to Member States.
• Oversee regional specific aspects in respect of the assigned programmatic areas covered and communicate these with the regional office/ Headquarters so that these findings can be utilized for organisational wide purposes.
• Lead and conduct research of relevance to Healthy Environment and Sustainable Urban Systems.
• Ensure and strengthen capacity building in the area of Healthy Environment and Sustainable Urban Systems and the related cross cutting areas.
• Promote and establish new community outreach activities to facilitate the expansion of community-based networks for improved health environment targeted towards controlling and preventing diseases.
• Respond to inquiries from the media, national or other institutions, and provide detailed and technical information concerning related principles, practices, issues, measures, techniques and procedures.
• Represent WHO at various meetings.
• Perform all other related duties as assigned.

Duties:

• Liaise with the Secretariat of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and other sectors working on climate change and health.
• In collaboration with DPS, liaise with SIDS (Small Island Developing States) initiatives relating to Healthy Environment and Sustainable Urban Systems

Education

Essential:

• An advanced university degree (master’s level or above) in public policy or public health with focus on urban and climate related determinants of health.

Experience

Essential:

• At least ten years of progressively responsible professional experience, including relevant international experience, in developing policies and strategies relating to Healthy Environment and Sustainable Urban Systems. Within this experience, demonstrated professional experience at regional or international level providing technical advice and services to governments and partners on environment and urban health initiatives. Experience managing diverse teams.

Skills:

• Excellent knowledge of scientific and technical issues pertaining to Healthy and Sustainable Urban Systems.
• Excellent knowledge and expertise of global and regional level situations and actors with regard to policies, priorities and strategies governing Healthy and Sustainable Urban Systems.
• Sound knowledge of relevant regional actors, needs, priorities and policies, along with WHO’s policies, practices and guidelines in the related areas.
• Ability to conduct research and analyze results, identify issues, formulate opinions, make conclusions and recommendations for strengthening Healthy and Sustainable Urban Systems.
• Ability to review and revise policies and objectives of assigned program and activities and ability to apply them in the country office setting.
• Commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of work.
• Excellent writing, communication and public speaking skills
• WHO Competencies
• Enhanced WHO Global Competency Model: who-enhanced-competence.pdf
• Producing results
• Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond
• Promoting the Organization’s position in health leadership
• Creating an empowering and motivating environment
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
• Communication.

Language Skills:

• Expert knowledge of English in required.
• Intermediate knowledge of French is desirable.

Source: https://careers.who.int/careersection/ex/jobdetail.ftl?job=2500112