IMPORTANT: This post is opened in the context of the Junior Professional Officer (JPO) scheme sponsored by the Government of the Netherlands and is addressed exclusively to nationals of the Netherlands.
For the minimum qualification requirements see the website of Nedworc Foundation:
Junior Professional Officer Programme - Nedworc Foundation
Maximal age limit is 32 years as of 31 December of the year of application.
Please read the criteria and FAQ section carefully before considering applying
Background information on Agency/Department/Section
The Junior Professional Officer will contribute to provide technical support in the implementation of WHO programmes in emergency preparedness and response, assisting health authorities and other relevant stakeholders in strengthening national preparedness, response, and core capacities. This contributes to the overall mission of the WHO Health Emergencies (WHE) programme — to help countries prevent, prepare for, detect, respond to, and recover from outbreaks and emergencies, while coordinating international action in these domains.
In the context of the Gaza emergency response, as health needs continue to exceed the capacity of the local health system and are expected to do so for the foreseeable future, WHO has supported local health authorities in operationalizing a system for medical evacuation. Since October 2023, WHO has coordinated the medical evacuation of nearly 8,000 patients, including over 5,400 children, from Gaza to specialized care abroad, ensuring safe transfers despite access restrictions and security constraints. Over 16,500 patients still await evacuation, prompting WHO to call for expanded medical corridors through Egypt and Jordan and increased acceptance of Gaza patients by Member States.
Training and Learning
Upon completion of the assignment the JPO will have/ will be able to:
• Gain a comprehensive knowledge of health emergency response in humanitarian settings, within the framework of WHO’s Health Emergencies (WHE) Programme — including the Organization’s mandate, functioning at the three levels (country, regional, headquarters), and engagement with state and non-state actors.
• Develop technical, operational, and tactical proficiency in planning, coordinating, and implementing WHO-supported medical evacuation (medevac) operations for critically ill and injured patients, ensuring safe, timely, and equitable access to care
• Strengthen interpersonal, communication, and negotiation skills, and develop the ability to collaborate effectively with national counterparts, UN partners, and diverse stakeholders, while exercising sound judgment and problem-solving in complex and high-pressure environments.
• Acquire expertise in data analysis, monitoring, and reporting for health emergency operations, including the ability to track access constraints, assess outcomes, and contribute to evidence-based decision-making, advocacy, and resource mobilization.
The JPO training programme includes the following learning elements:
• WHO induction on WHE structure, Incident Management System (IMS), and emergency response cycle. - Orientation on WHO’s coordination role within the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) and Health Cluster system. - Participation in briefings with WHO’s technical units, ministries of health, and humanitarian partners.
• On-the-job training in WHO medevac workflows, including patient identification, triage, referral documentation, and liaison with host countries and authorities. - Direct involvement in logistics coordination, clearance processes, and cross-border movements. - Learning from field mentors and simulations on emergency coordination, patient safety, and continuity of care
• Participation in inter-agency and Health Cluster coordination meetings and bilateral negotiations. - Mentoring and coaching in leadership, communication, and conflict-resolution techniques. - Hands-on experience representing WHO in partner discussions and operational coordination for a
• Training in WHO data systems and analytical tools (HeRAMS, Power BI, WHE dashboards). - Guided preparation of situation reports, donor updates, and analytical briefs. - Coaching in operational data visualization, performance monitoring, and impact evaluation.
• The JPO position includes a Duty travel and training allowance (DTTA) of $4000 per year which may be used for learning activities related to the assignment and career development.
Content and methodology of supervision
The work objectives and the expected outcome are discussed and agreed upon by the JPO and supervisor within the first four weeks of assignment. They are evaluated every six months by the supervisor against WHO's Performance Management and Development System (ePMDS+). There will be regular meetings with the supervisor throughout the assignment. In the regular meetings progress is evaluated, challenges are discussed, and plans are finalized together. In addition, team meetings will be held and will take place on different aspects of the work. Learning activities and developmental opportunities form part of the ePMDS+.
Duties and responsibilities
The Junior Professional Officer (JPO) will support the coordination, management, and technical leadership of WHO’s medical evacuation operations for critically ill and injured patients from the Gaza Strip, ensuring equitable access to lifesaving care unavailable locally. The JPO will contribute to strengthening coordination with national health authorities, facilitating cross-border transfers, overseeing operational planning, and contributing to WHO’s broader emergency health response and health system recovery efforts in the occupied Palestinian territory.
Under the direct supervision of the WHO Health Emergencies Team Lead, the JPO will support all or part of the following duties, and other related responsibilities as required by the needs of the office:
Technical and Operational Coordination
1. Support the end-to-end WHO-supported medical evacuation (medevac) process for patients requiring specialized treatment outside Gaza, ensuring operational, medical, and administrative compliance.
2. Support operational planning for medical evacuations, ensuring readiness, security clearance, and coordination with host countries and health partners, and lead medical evacuation missions. 3. Liaise with the Ministry of Health, the Referral Committee, national authorities, health cluster partners, and receiving countries to facilitate the timely clearance, referral, and transfer of patients.
4. Support the re-establishment and functioning of medical referral corridors through Rafah, Kerem Shalom, and other potential routes, ensuring rapid scale-up when feasible.
5. Support and coordinate WHO efforts related to the safe return of patients to Gaza when conditions allow.
Health Emergency Preparedness and Response
6. Provide strategic and technical guidance to national authorities and partners to strengthen referral systems, medical transport, and pre-transfer stabilization capacities within Gaza.
7. Support with the integration of medevac operations into national and subnational emergency preparedness and response plans, ensuring alignment with broader humanitarian health objectives.
8. Monitor and assess emerging risks that may affect patient movement or access to care, proposing mitigation measures and operational adjustments as needed.
Data, Monitoring, and Reporting
9. Maintain and analyze comprehensive data on medical evacuations, including patient categories, destinations, and access bottlenecks, and ensure timely reporting through WHO dashboards and information products.
10. Prepare situation reports, analytical briefs, donor updates, and after-action reviews on medevac operations, access trends, and humanitarian health outcomes.
11. Support and coordinate evaluations of medevac effectiveness, impact, and quality of care.
Resource Mobilization and Advocacy
12. Identify operational and funding gaps in medical evacuation systems and support on advocacy with partners and donors for necessary resources.
13. Contribute to WHO’s advocacy with Member States and partners to expand acceptance of Gaza patients and restore traditional referral corridors, including to the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
Capacity Building and Knowledge Management
14. Support on the development and implementation of training and capacity-building initiatives for health, logistics, and coordination personnel involved in patient triage, referral, and evacuation operations.
15. Document and disseminate lessons learned, best practices, and operational guidelines to strengthen WHO’s emergency medical evacuation mechanisms in future responses.
Representation and Coordination
16. Participate in inter-agency forums, humanitarian coordination mechanisms, and health cluster meetings related to medical evacuations and access to care.
17. Promote collaboration with UN agencies, NGOs, and national partners to ensure coherence and complementarity within the wider humanitarian health response.
18. Provide briefings to senior management, donors, and stakeholders on medevac operations and related humanitarian access issues.
Other
19. The JPO will perform any other duties as required by the functional supervisor, in particular in the context of WHO’s emergency response activities
Required Qualifications and Experience
Education:
- Master degree or equivalent in medicine, public health, health management, or a related field from a recognized institution.
- In exceptional cases candidates with a Bachelor’s degree plus a minimum of 4 years relevant working experience can be considered.
Working experience:
- Minimum of two years relevant working experience after obtaining Master degree, or minimum of 4 years relevant working experience for candidates with a Bachelor’s degree.
- At least two years of relevant experience in health emergency operations, medical logistics, patient referral systems, and/or humanitarian coordination at national and international levels.
- Experience in complex emergencies or conflict-affected contexts is essential
- Work experience within the UN system should not exceed 1 year, including UNV, (paid) UN internship and UN consultancy.
- All paid work experience since obtaining Bachelor’s degree will/can be considered.
Languages:
- Fluency in English is required.
- Knowledge of Arabic is an advantage.
Age of candidate:
- Maximal age limit is 32 years as of 31 December of the year of application.
Nationality of candidate:
This post is opened in the context of the Junior Professional Officer (JPO) scheme sponsored by the Government of the Netherlands and is addressed exclusively to nationals of the Netherlands.
Key skills:
- Direct experience in emergency medical evacuation systems, patient referral coordination, and/or operational logistics.
- Experience in negotiation and coordination skills, with the ability to work effectively under pressure in high-stress environments.
- Excellent analytical, communication, and writing skills, with proven ability to produce technical reports.
- Proficiency in the use of health information and data management systems
Attachments:
- A brief motivation letter in English that explains why you are the perfect candidate for the position by using examples of your interests and achievements
- Copy of your passport
- Copy of your educational degrees
Equal opportunity
As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.
UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.
Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority
UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.
Right to select multiple candidates
UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.
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