Medical Officer

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The World Health Organization's Department of Reproductive Health and Research (RHR) includes the UNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP). HRP is the main instrument within the United Nations system for identifying research priorities on sexual and reproductive health and rights; for promoting, conducting, evaluating and coordinating related interdisciplinary research; for collaborating with countries to build national capacity to conduct research; and for promoting the use of research results in policy making and sexual and reproductive health programmes. The Department draws on research and global expertise to set norms and standards and develop global guidelines on sexual and reproductive health and rights. More information about RHR can be found at http\://www.who.int/reproductive-health/

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Manage the Fellowship in Family Planning programme run by the Department and provide mentorship and technical support to the Fellows placed in the Department. 

1.This will included working with them to develop their research skills and developing new research proposals for in-country establishment, implementation, and coordinating links and fostering collaborative work across alumni of the Fellowship Program.

2.Provide technical advice and support for the revision of the Safe Abortion\: Technical and Policy Guidelines. This includes developing new guidelines and revising current guidelines and it's scope and managing the updating process of various reproductive health policies. (i.e. synthesizing the evidence on clinical and service delivery issues).

3. Advocate for and identify opportunities for strategic partnerships at country level for implementing the guidelines towards improving access to safe abortion services (including post-abortion contraception), quality care and reducing mortality and morbidity from unsafe abortion.

4. Design and coordinate the implementation of country-level workshops focused on developing plans to implementand scale safe abortion services and supporting follow up.

5. Provide timely technical support for country level work on the adaptation of the WHO guidelines to the local context.

6. Provide build capacity support to WHO regional and country offices towards adaptation of the WHO guidelines on Safe Abortion to the regional and local framework.

7. Collaborate in the development of implementation research to design and test programmatic de-centralizedmodels of providing medical abortion /post abortion contraception.

8. Ensure periodic reporting on the performance of Safe Abortion Fellowship programme and other critical benchmarks of the programme.

9. Perform all other work related to safe abortion and post-abortion contraception.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential\: An advanced university medical degree (Masters level or above) in obstetrics and gynecology with a specialization in Family planning.
Desirable\: An advanced university degree (Master's level of above) or other specialization in a field related to sexual and reproductive health and rights.

Experience

Essential\: At least 7 years of professional clinical, and /or research and training experience related to abortion care including in low and middle income countries with a high burden of unintended pregnancies and unsafe abortion.
Desirable\: Experience in developing programmatic tools and training materials to support country adoption of guidelines, such as standards and training materials. Evidence of active engagement in working with and supporting national policy makers in dealing with issues of unintended pregnancy and unsafe abortion. Experience managing and mentoring within a Fellowship program aimed at new medical graduates.

Skills

Sound technical knowledge of both public health and clinical aspects of unsafe abortion. Demonstrated ability as a trainer. Ability to work effectively with multiple external partners in different countries and collaborate with researchers, trainers, policy makers and programme managers in low and middle income country settings. Research and analytical skills, as evidenced by a track record of publication in peer reviewed scientific journals. Skills in writing research proposals and conducting systematic reviews.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond
Producing results

Use of Language Skills

Essential\: Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable\: Intermediate knowledge of UN language.

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 70,647 (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 4963 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 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.

• Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and Manual.

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

• WHO is committed to workforce diversity.

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

• WHO has a mobility policy which can be found at the following link\: http\://www.who.int/employment/en/. 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.

• Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.