OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

A. Division Mandate: For the Future: Towards the Healthiest and Safest Region outlines a vision for WHO work with Member States and partners in the Western Pacific. Strong, resilient, sustainable health systems are integral to delivering the four thematic priorities. Up to 60% of people living in some countries in the Region do not have access to safe, quality and affordable health services and medicines. One in five families spend 10% of their income on healthcare. This threatens individuals, families, communities and economies. The Division of Health Systems and Services (DHS) will contribute to taking forward the vision of, and the thematic priorities in For the Future. DHS will support Member States with high quality advice and assistance on health financing, health workforce, medical products, quality and safety, law and governance, women and children, rehabilitation, surgery and health services including primary health care so that they can build resilient, responsive and sustainable health systems.

B. Unit Mandates Health Policy and Service Design (HPS)

HPS supports Member States to develop and implement policies, strategies, and plans and service delivery design, including primary health care (PHC), to strengthen governance, financing, health workforce in order to ensure access to needed promotive, preventative, curative, rehabilitative and palliative services without financial hardship.

Health Information Systems (HIS)

HIS supports Member States to develop and implement integrated health information systems combining surveillance and programme monitoring data to inform individual patient monitoring and programme design and adaptation. It also includes development of web-based and other applications using digital media.

Essential Medicines and Health Technologies (EMT)

EMT supports Member States o strengthen pharmaceutical systems and regulations, including for traditional medicines to ensure equitable access to quality-assured, safe and effective therapies and health technologies and works along with other programmes to accelerate the fight against antimicrobial resistance in the Western Pacific Region.

Maternal Child Health and Quality Safety (MCQ)

MCQ supports Member States to improve health systems to provide the best and safest possible health facility services to all people, regardless of race, beliefs, gender, economic and social condition and to ensure universal health coverage serves all people, startingfrom women and children.

Health Law and Ethics (HLE)

HLE supports Member States to understand, develop and implement quality and ethical legal frameworks for health. Grounded in human rights and international good practice standards, legal frameworks for health guide transformative policies and innovative programming.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Under the direct supervision of the Health Systems and Social Determinants Coordinator with the general guidance of the Head of WHO Country Office, the incumbent will have the following responsibilities:

 

1.      Manage and lead the maternal, child and adolescent health, health care quality (including infection prevention and control), patient safety and safe and affordable surgery areas of work, including the formulation of programme proposals, implementation and monitoring of delivery programmes and participation in the evaluation of programme outcomes;

 

2.      Lead the strategic development, including the setting of targets, for implementation and evaluation of reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health (RMNCH) programmes in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic according to the National Strategy and Action Plan on RMNCH programmes in line with the For the Future vision and towards the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals;

 

3.      Promote and support the use of indicators and methodologies to monitor and evaluate the health status of children and adolescents, and programmes/interventions designed to improve child and adolescent health;

 

4.      Provide technical support in designing and implementing reforms towards strengthening PHC and the effective implementation in alignment with relevant national strategies and plans and the regional framework on the future of PHC;

 

5.      Lead the strategic development, including setting of targets, for implementation and evaluation of programmes to improve health care quality including infection prevention and control, patient safety and safe and affordable surgery;

 

6.      Collaborate with partner organizations including local development partners and WHO collaborating centres in related technical areas to drive forward and deliver results in the designated technical area;

 

7.      Participate in the preparation of the work plan, budget, implementation reports and donor reports; and

 

8.      Perform other related duties as assigned.

 

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: Advanced university degree (master’s or higher) in medicine, nursing or midwifery or related health sciences from a recognized university.
Desirable: Qualifications in public health related to maternal and child health, clinical management, health care quality, patient safety or surgery.

Experience

Essential: Minimum of seven years’ relevant work experience at national and international level in planning, management and implementation of public health programmes, including at least one of the following: maternal, child and adolescent health, health care quality, patient safety, infection prevention and control, or clinical management.
Desirable: Experience in strengthening clinical capacity, specifically surgery services, in resource limited settings is an asset. International experience working with a broad range of partners.

Skills

-High level expertise and knowledge in RMNCH interventions.

-Good knowledge and expertise in developing strategies/policies/plans, implementing and monitoring programmes related to RMNCH, clinical management, health care quality, patient safety or surgery.

-Expertise in national and subnational planning in public health.

-Good knowledge on health policy and PHC approach to health system development.

-Good understanding of the various global health initiatives providing RMNCH and health system strengthening support.

-Strong professional communication skills including the development of reports, oral presentations, and technical documents. -Ability to establish harmonious working relationships as part of a team, adapt to diverse educational and cultural backgrounds, and maintain a high standard of personal conduct.

-Ability to demonstrate gender equity and cultural appropriateness in the delivery of services to the Member States.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences.
Communication
Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond
Producing results
Creating an empowering and motivating environment

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of UN 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 2030 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 short-listed candidates.
• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
• 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. For external applicants, only those who are expected to complete the term of appointment will normally be considered.
• For information on WHO’s operations please visit: http://www.who.int
• Staff members in other duty stations are encouraged to apply.
• 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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