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 the many communities remain at the 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. 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), 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. The department also establishes strategic links to, and supports the advancement of global initiatives such as GPMB, GHSA, EU ACP, Health and Security Alliance, Foreign Affairs for Global Health initiative and the UN System Plan for Disaster Risk Reduction for Resilience. 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

– Provides technical leadership, coordination and managerial support within the Department/Programme, in the Unit of Country Simulation Exercise & Review (CER) ensuring that activities in this area are carried out efficiently and effectively.

– Develops and proposes technical health policies and strategies for implementation through collaboration with Regional and Country Offices and provides advice in developing further the Country Simulation Exercise & After Action Reviews (AAR) for strengthening and improving technical capacity of target clienteles.

– Oversees a unit of technical teams specialized in various domains within their area of expertise and facilitates the efficient flow of team synergies.

– Manages the programme area in delivering its objectives through efficient managing a team of technical staff, financial resources and effective work planning to optimize the programme’s deliverables in line with the mandate of the Organization.

– Leads and conducts research on best practices in implementing programmes and activities and dissemination of information for capacity building in the respective area of work.

– Manages the monitoring and evaluation and reporting of the subject area of work of key performance indicators and reporting requirements and mechanisms to optimize performance of Programme deliverables.

– Serves as the technical reference among the peer community, UN Agencies and other stakeholders at the technical levels for simulation exercises and after action reviews.

– Liaises with and utilizes partnerships in other UN Agencies, Donor, or research institutions in the Simulation Exercise & After Action Reviews to position the technical area of work and implementation into Global and/or National policies.

– Represents the programme area of work at various meetings to advocate for Country Simulation Exercise & After Action Reviews.

– Perform all other related duties as assigned.Specific duties:1

1. Lead the elaboration of state-of-the-art processes to critically document, monitor and evaluate performance and results, as well as the demonstrated value of simulations and AARs in capacities building; proactively share information on lessons learned in the implementation of AAR and Simulation exercises.
2. Lead the WHO Corporate strategy for simulation exercises and the Cross-cutting Task Team for Simulation Exercises to ensure a harmonized one-WHE approach through all levels of the organization, and lead the work on institutionalizing AAR at the national, regional and global levels

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: An advanced university degree in medicine, or Social Sciences, combined with an advanced university degree in Public health, Epidemiology, Disaster/emergency Management or related field.
Desirable: A PhD in one of the above-mentioned fields. Certification on emergency or crisis management, management, monitoring and evaluation, exercises, or after action reviews.

Experience

Essential: A minimum of 10 years of relevant professional experience in the design, conduct and evaluation of simulation exercise & after action reviews.

At least 10 years of experience in the area of health policies and strategies. Demonstrated experience managing human and financial resources.

Demonstrated relevant experience at the international level.
Desirable: Knowledge and understanding of WHO mandate, policies and processes. Emergency preparedness and response experience in the field, in particular in leading and managing (high-level) simulation exercises and After Action Reviews is an added advantage.

Skills

Concrete skills in the planning and coordination of multidisciplinary public health programmes, which may include the implementation of a public health/disease control programmes.

Strong skills in the area of developing and establishing polices and strategies.

Excellent skills and ability in managing diverse teams and financial resources.

Good skills in mobilizing resources

Good advocacy and communications skills with ability to engage and communicate effectively and diplomatically with external partners including Ministries of Health, Donor institutions, Civil Society, and other stakeholders. Commitment to collaborate effectively with other key partners in the Health Subject area.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond
Ensuring the effective use of resources
Creating an empowering and motivating environment

Use of Language Skills

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

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 92,731 (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 6785 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 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.
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• Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with WHO and an underlying premise of the international civil service.
• Candidates appointed to a fixed-term position in the Professional category with WHO are subject to mobility and may be assigned to any activity or duty station of the Organization throughout the world.
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