Strategic Health Information Officer

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

To facilitate evidence-based decision making in planning, implementing, and monitoring health systems and services interventions through a primary health care approach, that will aid movement towards universal health coverage and other health related SDG targets. The incumbent will provide expert, technical guidance to the relevant national authorities in developing and implementing legislative policies, frameworks, and strategic plans for health information systems, aligned with global standards for data collection and management.

DESCRIPTION OF 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 guidance of the head of the WHO country office.- Guide the national authorities in the development and implementation of legislative policies, frameworks, and strategic plans in health information systems (HIS), in collaboration with national partners, ensuring their alignment with global standards of data collection, management procedures and reporting requirements. – Identify and leverage opportunities for harmonizing and strengthening standards and tools for improved data collection, analysis, and dissemination. Ensure and coordinate effective technical collaboration with other United Nations agencies, partners, and national stakeholders. – Identify priority areas in need of strengthening, including underlying data systems, data quality, data dissemination and analytical capacity. Disseminate best practices and approaches to address related issues.- Guide the national capacity enhancement and institutionalization of health information systems, including for health data and data-quality analysis and synthesis, the availability of robust systems for generation, storage and transmission of all key health data, and their quality and availability in formats for all levels. Promote the national application of International Classifications pertaining to facility and community certification, reporting of births, deaths, and cause of death according to WHO standards.- Promote the use of data for decision-making, including through the development/ implementation/ enhancement of a centralized, integrated and publicly accessible data repository for storing and maintaining all national health data. – Guide the promotion of policies which facilitate access to data, and production and sharing of key information.- Facilitate the promotion of new technologies, innovations, and best practices to the improve health information system in the country.- Strategically lead the proactive engagement with traditional and non-traditional, development partners for collaboration and the mobilizing of resources to strengthen national health information systems.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: Advanced university degree (master’s level) in a relevant field (such as epidemiology, biostatistics, information science) with studies/training in public health.
Desirable: PhD in epidemiology, biostatistics, information science, with studies/training in public health.

Experience

Essential: A minimum of seven years of work experience relevant to the position (in developing and implementing health information and knowledge management systems, including in quantitative or qualitative health research, health systems and epidemiological research), with some of it obtained at an international level.
Desirable: Demonstrated professional experience working at the country and/or regional level providing technical advice and services to Ministries of Health/Member States and other partners on public health programmes.

Skills

1. Demonstrated expertise in health information systems, quantitative and qualitative research complemented by excellent knowledge of all the key sources of health data and their limitations and approaches to dealing with data quality problems.2. Proven skills in health data collection, transmission, and storage, including in design of data collection methods, use of digital data collection software such as CSPro application, DHIS 2, and electronic medical records systems and/or skills in analysis and synthesis of health data, use of data analysis tools such as STATA, R, SPSS, SAS, and Excel.3. Skills to facilitate consensus and communicate progress and results.Capacity to participate in resource mobilization activities, preferably in the context of capacity building, and/or health systems.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Moving forward in a changing environment
Creating an empowering and motivating environment
Creating an empowering and motivating environment

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of French.
Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of English.
The above language requirements are interchangeable.

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 2294 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.

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