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 centered, 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 Data and Digital Health (DDH) coordinates the digital health flagship and provides technical and policy guidance and expertise on the safety and efficacy of digital health solutions; and preserving health equity, gender equality, equity and human rights as core values in their deployment. Through its work it will support countries to leverage the use of digital technologies for improving the interface between people and health services; for improving health system performance; and for strengthening critical public health functions including disease surveillance, early warning and risk assessment. Furthermore, the unit is responsible foredate collection, collation, analysis, presentation and dissemination. It will monitor and measure progress in achieving the SDGs and the triple billion goals whilst developing and implementing a measurement framework for the EPW. It will provide strategic direction, technical assistance and tailored support to countries to strengthen their capacity to be able to generate timely, credible, reliable and actionable data. The priority will be to strengthen health information systems in non-EU countries. The unit will engage with experts and partners both within and outside the Region to harness synergies, reduce data collection burden and fill important data gaps. It will seek to develop new approaches and methodologies including the use of big data to complement traditional methods for timely measurement and monitoring of health status and health system performance. It will also be responsible for ensuring timely and effective dissemination of health statistics to serve as a basis for planning and prioritization of activities in countries.
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
To provide senior technical leadership and oversight for the Digital Health Flagship on the application of digital technologies supporting the transformation of health systems and services in the European Region. The main focus of the positions will be leading the “ICT Platform on Quality of Health Care” workstream under the HEALTH-IQ Project in the Quality-of-Care Office OR coordinating the implementation of the Healthcare and Digitalization Components of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan for Romania 2022-2026.
Key duties:
Under the guidance of the Regional Adviser, DDH, the incumbent assumes following duties:
- Coordinates the “ICT Platform on Quality of Health Care “workstream under the HEALTH-IQ Project in the Quality-of-Care Office;
- Leads the technical implementation and support the coordination of the Healthcare and Digitalization Components of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan for Romania 2022-2026;
- Provides expert and specialized advice and technical leadership on attainment of programme objectives and execution options, developing concrete proposals and implementation plans for concrete actions.
- Develops and integrates contributions from across the organization for implementing approaches for strengthening Health systems and public health in Member States through the implementation of appropriate digital technologies.
- Coordinates the design, development and delivery of activities for implementing digital transformation of Health Services at country level with a strong focus on implementation of digital health for health systems strengthening and universal health coverage.
- Provides technical leadership and contribution to the development and delivery of key programmatic activities and events, relevant frameworks and technical guidance.
- Partners with national research institutes, non-governmental organizations, intergovernmental organizations and Non-State Actors, where relevant, to advance the implementation of the data and digital health programme through united action with various partners and identifies and draws experts from related fields and institutions into an active network of cooperation for delivery of the strategic objectives of the DDH programme.
- Provides consultation, technical assistance, training and support to Ministries of Health in the formulation of national policies and programmes intended to innovate and strengthen health systems through digitalization as well as to empower people to protect their own health and prevent disease.
- Advocates for the incorporation of human rights and gender equality in policies, workshops, activities by the actors normally involved in policy-making.
- Promotes awareness among Member States and identifies opportunities for collaboration that lead to greater focus on innovation of health systems through digitalization and helps secure funding and other resource streams.
- Contributes to the formulation of regional technical and operational guidance across all aspects of digital health.12. Provide technical assistance in other related work within the above areas, as relevant and needed by DDH.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education
Essential: University degree (Master’s level) in computer sciences, statistics, demography, epidemiology, public health, health systems or similar sciences.
Desirable: Additional university degree in any of the above fields or training in public health, health technology, digital health, health informatics.
Experience
Essential: At least 7 years of relevant professional experience in the area of health data governance and digital technologies applied to health services. Experience assessing or developing conceptual frameworks and policy proposals for health data governance, digitalization of public systems, healthcare delivery and public health. Experience participating in networks or advising international entities or organizations on health data and digital health.
Desirable: Relevant experience within WHO, the United Nations or other international organizations. Relevant experience in research-to-policy engagements, health systems political outreach, facilitation and analysis.
Skills
- Proven skills in the design and implementation of health data governance and digital health architectures and digital service design.
- Proven skills in strengthening and innovation of public health functions through digital means.
- Proven ability to provide sound policy and technical advice to institutions and governments.
- Knowledge of Project management frameworks and methodologies, process reengineering, and innovation practices is required.
- Ability to work comfortably in an international, multi-disciplinary, fast-paced environment.
- Emotional intelligence;
- Ability to identify and manage one’s own emotions, as well as helping others to do the same.
WHO Competencies
Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Moving forward in a changing environment
Producing results
Use of Language Skills
Essential: Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of French, Russian, German.
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 5252 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.
- 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.
- In case the website does not display properly, please retry by: (i) checking that you have the latest version of the browser installed (Chrome, Edge or Firefox); (ii) clearing your browser history and opening the site in a new browser (not a new tab within the same browser); or (iii) retry accessing the website using Mozilla Firefox browser or using another device. Click this link for detailed guidance on completing job applications: Instructions for candidates