Technical Officer, EIP

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

All Member States of WHO in the European Region share the common value of the highest attainable standard of health as a fundamental human. All of WHO actions are based on this and rooted in the General Programme of Work. The 13th General Programme of Work defines the mission of WHO as one to promote health, to keep the world safe, and to protect the vulnerable.

The GPW calls for heightened accountability, prioritising impact and outcome at country level, and to improve the lives of three billion people, through universal health coverage, through addressing health emergencies, and promoting healthier populations.

WHO's mandate revolves around six core functions\: (i) providing leadership on global health matters; (ii) shaping the health research agenda; (iii) setting norms and standards; (iv) articulating evidence-based policy options; (v) providing technical support to countries; and (vi) monitoring and assessing health trends.

The European Region (EURO) of WHO is made up of 53 countries, with over 880 million people. The diversity of people and health situations requires, on the demand side, a solid understanding of the emerging socio-economic, epidemiologic and demographic patterns and trends at both aggregate as well as national and sub-national levels, with due sensitivity to disadvantaged populations and vulnerable segments of the society. On the supply side, it is equally crucial to have a solid understanding of the commonalities and divergences of the health systems, the circumstances and political economy under which they have evolved and operate and, more specifically, how these bear upon the way the health system stewardship function of health ministries is carried out.

The objective of the Division of Information, Evidence, Research and Innovation (DIR) is to facilitate the generation, dissemination and use of health information and research evidence as a corporate function of the World Health Organization (WHO). The Division catalyzes this function through the WHO European Health Information Initiative (EHII), which is a multimember network fostering an integrated, harmonized health information system for the entire WHO European Region to strengthen evidence-informed policy-making. The EHII is the key regional mechanism for implementing the Resolution and Action Plan to Strengthen the Use of Evidence, Information and Research for Decision-Making in the WHO European Region in line with the Health 2020 policy framework and contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Equitable and sustainable access to health knowledge remains a vital need to formulate evidence-informed health policies. The programme of Knowledge Management, Evidence and Research for Policy-making (KER) in DIR supports Member States in strengthening capacity for engaging in health research, following globally-accepted ethics principles, disseminating and translating evidence for the formulation of sound health policies and practices, and identifying and sharing lessons learned.

KER focuses on the following activities in the area of knowledge management, health research and dissemination\: developing tools to generate, synthesize and use evidence; producing multilingual and multiformat information products; enabling sustainable access to up-to-date scientific and technical knowledge for health policy development, including WHO information products; maintaining platforms for information sharing and stakeholder engagement on health research; managing and supporting knowledge networks; generating and translating evidence into policies and practices, and creating an environment more favourable to evidence-informed policy-making in the Region.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

The purpose of the position is to provide technical leadership and regional coordination for the Evidence-informed Policy Network (EVIPNet) Europe project and the implementation of the resolution and action plan to strengthen the use of evidence, information and research for decision-making in the WHO European Region in the area of knowledge translation. The responsibilities outlined play a critical role in building and institutionalizing country capacity in using evidence to develop sound and informed health policies for the Organization and Member States.

Under the supervision of the Unit leader\:

1. Lead and manage a sub-unit with multiple projects (including oversight of technical and administrative activities, and effective use of both human and financial resources)\:

a. develop annually an operational plan and oversee programme budget implementation for the sub-unit, including GSM work planning and reporting;

b. assume supervision responsibility for staff and non-staff (consultants), to ensure that management is both efficient and effective;

c. represents the Organization at high-level (ministerial) conferences and scientific meetings; and

d. respond to supervisor's request on various topics for technical meetings and documents, incl. briefing notes.

2. Lead the implementation of actions in relation to knowledge translation of the regional EIP action plan and resolution\:

a. coordinate, communicate and create awareness for related actions within and across divisions, and vis-a-vis partners, Member States and experts in the field.

b. coordinate the monitoring, evaluation and reporting of the related activities of the EIP action plan/resolution to governing bodies.

3. Lead and manage the EVIPNet Europe project\:

a. develop short-term and medium-term strategic plans to implement EVIPNet Europe at national and regional levels;

b. liaise with and provide guidance to Member State delegations, national focal points and Heads of Country Offices/WRs to efficiently plan, implement, monitor and evaluate EVIPNet Europe activities at country level;

c. provide and/or supervise the provision of technical expertise and cooperation to strengthen national capacity to identify, generate, translate and use evidence for policy,

d. develop and/or supervise the development of sound technical documents, guidelines, manuals and cutting-edge tools adapted to country needs;

e. coordinate the development of evidence briefs for policy and organize policy dialogues at country level;

f. oversee and ensure EIP country assessments, and

g. expand and/or sustain the network.

4. Lead and coordinate the development of tools and approaches to strengthen, monitor and evaluate national EIP capacity to identify, translate and use evidence for policy;

5. Identify, build new and expand existing strategic EIP partnerships to create synergetic effects and opportunities for innovation\:

a. establish, expand and manage a network of WHO collaborating centres in evidence informed health policy making; and

b. liaise and foster a wide range of relationships with key professional organizations, civil society organizations and other partners to strengthen EIP.

6. Develop and expand mechanisms to rapidly respond to key regional policy questions in form of evidence synthesis and dissemination of policy options.

7. Collect and disseminate best practices and lessons learned from national, regional and international EIP activities, and establish a comprehensive repository that is easily accessible to Member States and regularly updated.

8. Any other duties as assigned by the supervisor

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential\: Advanced university degree (Master's level) in international studies, political science or public health or equivalent subject field.

Desirable\: Postgraduate degree or PhD in any of the above fields.

Experience

Essential\: Seven years of relevant work experience in working with policy and/or technical experts, and network management, as well as progressively responsible experience with research and policy. Of which at least 3 years at international level.

Desirable\: UN/WHO experience and/or working experience of five year in an organization with a health or research focus. Experience with scientific communications, knowledge translation and facilitating networks of practice/expertise. Experience in publishing in peer-reviewed journals.

Skills

Expert knowledge in knowledge translation and bridging the research-to-policy gap. Familiar with the work of EVIPNet global and EIP in the WHO European Region.

Excellent writing and communication skills. Proficiency in standard MS Office applications and skills in spreadsheet and database software. Good understanding of the production of information products.

WHO Competencies

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

Use of Language Skills

Essential\: Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable\: Intermediate knowledge of Russian.

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 72,637 (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 3039 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.