OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

• To support and collaborate with the Member States for further development and implementation of national policies and strategies which ensure equitable and universal access to quality health care:
• To improve health of women special focus on pregnant, delivering and post natal women, and newborn;
• To end preventable maternal deaths by implementing WHO recommendations on Antenatal care, intrapartum care and post natal care;
• To end preventable stillbirths and support Member States to achieve 2030 targets and beyond;
• To promote Public health in the area of sexual and reproductive health, as part of universal health coverage.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Under the guidance and supervision of Coordinator and overall guidance of the Director, Programme Management (DPM), the incumbent will carry out the following duties:

1. Provide technical and strategic guidance to Member States on the planning, development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of programme activities in the areas of maternal and reproductive health focusing on achieving 2030 SDG targets and beyond;
2. Provide guidance and technical support to shape the long term capacity development of Member States by collaborating in the planning and implementation of components of comprehensive, integrated and community-oriented health services related to the aforementioned areas;
3. Provide guidance and technical support for Maternal, Perinatal Death surveillance and Responses (MPDSR);
4. Participate with national authorities, non-government organizations and international organizations to formulate maternal and reproductive health policies, programmes and plans and activities and to implement them;
5. Country capacity building on sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn programme planning and short programme reviews;
6. Secure actively opportunities to build partnerships across an extensive network of contacts, expertise, including donor and institutional partners, professional associations and national focal points in the area of sexual, reproductive, maternal, and reproductive health and well-being, and facilitate and coordinate with donors to mobilize extra-budgetary resources to meet the programme needs where possible;
7. Promote the development of research programmes in the area of sexual, reproductive, maternal and newborn Health by encouraging the application of appropriate research methods, ensuring collection and distribution of research information, formulating protocols and scrutinizing research proposals for funding, advising on relevance and technical aspects of their design;
8. Promote, utilize and support the work of WHO Collaborating Centres on sexual, reproductive, Maternal and newborn Reproductive Health and national centres of expertise;
9. Coordinate and guide the overall direction in all advocacy and communication activities, with the goal of influencing key stakeholders (e.g., policy makers, community leaders) to generate awareness and promote positive community behavior towards maternal and reproductive health issues and help establish effective health practices of all sectors of society;
10. Establish and maintains Technical advisory groups/ expert groups for sexual, reproductive, maternal and newborn health programme;
11. Perform any other related functions as required and may be assigned from time to time.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: Degree in Medicine from a recognized university, and postgraduate degree in Medicine or Public Health in the fields relating to maternal and reproductive health.
Desirable: Extensive training and/or doctoral degree in sexual, reproductive, and maternal health, programmes and related areas

Experience

Essential: At least ten years of experience in the development and implementation of sexual, reproductive, maternal, and new born health programmes at high level in developing countries, including considerable experience obtained in an international context.
Desirable: Experience working within WHO or UN agencies, other international agencies in the area of sexual, reproductive, maternal and newborn would be an asset.

Skills

• Extensive knowledge of programmatic and technical support to national Maternal and Reproductive Health programmes.
• Experience and skills in proposal development, analysis of proposals and project management in the area of maternal and reproductive health.
• Ability to communicate effectively and establish good working relationships at national and international levels.
• Ability to negotiate with national ministries, international agencies and donors.

Desirable: Knowledge in the area of newborn health.

WHO Competencies

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

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English.

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 3771 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.

• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.

• For information on WHO’s operations please visit: http://www.who.int.

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Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements