Technical Officer (Violence Prevention)

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME
The mission of WHO's UHC/Healthier Populations (HEP) Division is to contribute to reducing health inequalities and reducing preventable disease and injury caused by environmental, social and economic determinants of health. This is achieved through a coordinated inter-sectoral approach aimed at enabling all people to enjoy better health and well-being, in line with the Organization's 13th General Programme of Work (GPW13) and the Sustainable Development Goals.

Within the HEP Division, the Department of Social Determinants of Health (SDH) leads WHO's efforts on addressing the social, physical and economic conditions that impact upon health, by compiling and disseminating evidence on what works to address these determinants, building capacity and advocating for more action. The Department supports Member States and other partners to address violence and unintentional injuries, foster healthy ageing and improve equity and well-being. This will be facilitated through cross-cutting initiatives on improving urban health, addressing economic determinants, and developing strategic frameworks and evidence-based policies.

Within the Department, the Violence Prevention (PVL) Unit focuses upon advancing a four-step public health approach to the prevention of interpersonal violence that includes: 1) defining the problem; 2) identifying causes and risk factors; 3) designing and testing interventions, and 4) increasing the scale of effective interventions. As a WHO Headquarters team, its functions are to: 1) provide strategic leadership and advocate for the prioritization of actions on violence and its risk factors through prevention and treatment; 2) set global norms and standards for evidence-based violence prevention and response, including development of global goods and tools for implementation, and promote their uptake; 3) strengthen partnerships and collaboration, including through multisectoral and multi-stakeholder action, to accelerate national violence prevention progress; 4) track global regional and national violence prevention progress and promote accountability through monitoring and evaluation, including reporting to WHO and United Nations (UN) Governing Bodies, and 5) provide specialized technical assistance and technical backstopping to WHO regional and country offices.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
• Lead the SDH technical work on the establishment and implementation of evidence-based prevention and victim service strategies and programmes for addressing violence against children at country level, in close coordination with WHO country and regional offices.
• Coordinate technical liaison and consensus building between WHO and the Global Partnership to End Violence against Children.
• Co-manage and develop the INSPIRE adaptation and scale up project for interventions to prevent and respond to violence against children in coordination with the INSPIRE Implementation Working Group.
• Provide senior technical advice and expertise to Member States, UN agencies and CSO on the implementation of evidence-based approaches to preventing and responding to violence against children.
• Lead WHO's contributions to policy development, advice and guidance on the integration of evidence-based violence prevention principles, competencies and practices in policies and programmes for preventing violence against children in humanitarian settings.
• Raise funds and support strategic engagement of donors in countries and ensure integration of the INSPIRE Framework into strategic planning.
• Raise funds and support strategic engagement of donors in countries and ensure integration of the INSPIRE Framework into strategic planning.
• Manages the overall commitment, expenditure and liquidation of funds and takes necessary action for optimum use of available resources.
• Establish and participate in global, regional and national strategic initiatives to raise awareness, stimulate leadership commitment to action and raise the standard of national violence prevention efforts.
• Represent WHO in key meetings and conferences with high level government officials, inter-agency mechanisms and networks (e.g. UNGA, WHA, HLPF, CRC) multi- and bilateral agencies, development banks, key institutions, NGOs, the private sector and other stake-holders and negotiates and advocates for the goal of ending violence against children.
• Performs all other related duties as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education
Essential: An advanced university degree in the social sciences or public health related to the functions of the position.
Desirable: A PhD in one of the above-mentioned fields with a focus upon science-based approaches to understanding and preventing interpersonal violence.

Experience
Essential:
• A minimum of 10 years of professional experience in evidence-based violence prevention with a specific focus on violence against children, including at the international level and in low- or middle-income countries.
• Experience in the documentation, analysis and development of national-level violence prevention policies and plans, and in global violence prevention advocacy and consensus development processes.
• Experience in running international partnerships, including project and staff management, strategic planning and advocacy.
Desirable: At least five years of professional experience involving increasing responsibilities at international level in the development of international partnerships and networks aimed at advancing the prevention of violence against children.

Skills
• Strong skills and expertise in the field of violence prevention. 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;
• Strong skills in mobilizing resources;
• 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 prevention of violence.

In addition, the following specific knowledge and skills are required:
• Excellent knowledge of global and regional partnerships and networks committed to advancing the uptake, implementation and monitoring of evidence-based approaches to the understanding and prevention of violence against children in low-, middle- and high-income countries.

WHO Competencies
• Teamwork
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
• Communication
• Driving the Organization's Position in Health Leadership
• Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond

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 88,162 (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 6399 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.
• Staff members in other duty stations are encouraged to apply.
• For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int.
• WHO is committed to workforce diversity.
• WHO's workforce adheres to the WHO Values Charter and is committed to put the WHO Values into practice.
• 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.