Liaison Officer

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The Division of Country Support, Emergency Preparedness and Response (CSE) supports the development and delivery of WHO's strategic engagement portfolio in Member States with and without country offices. It aims to maximize WHO's impact in countries by helping them realize their health and development ambitions and strategies in line with the European Programme of Work (EPW) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). CSE recognizes that each country is different and needs tailored collaboration. The Division works by bringing people and units together across WHO divisions, offices and key partners. The Division has the principal function to develop mechanisms that help the organization understand, strategize, implement and connect for country impact. In this, it focuses on gathering, analyzing and presenting information for country impact; developing, tracking and refining strategic country engagement plans; supporting programme implementation in countries; and facilitating effective collaboration and networks within the organization and with countries and partners. This includes working with partners and Member States to manage and respond to the health needs of refugees and migrants, with a focus on access to health services and on preparedness for refugee and migrant influxes. CSE operates in particular proximity to Country Offices and provides opportunities for frequent mobility between assignments in the Division and in countries (in particular for team lead positions). Individual technical officers will have -in addition to their specific technical focus- a geographic responsibility by virtue of being a focal point for a limited number of country offices, for which they will provide support across all technical areas covered by CSE.The Division houses the WHO Health Emergencies Programme (WHE) that provides technical guidance and operational support to prevent, prepare for, detect, rapidly respond to, and recover from outbreaks and emergencies. WHE assists countries to contain and mitigate the risk of high-threat diseases and infectious hazards; to detect and assess emergency health threats and inform public health decision-making; and to respond rapidly and effectively to emergencies under a coordinated Incident Management System. It ensures WHO's work in emergencies is effectively managed, sustainably financed, adequately staffed and operationally ready to fulfil its mission. Its hub-and-spoke structure ensures country-specific and inter-country activities in priority countries.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

The purpose of the post is to provide liaison, technical and managerial support to the WHO field office in Pristina in the implementation of national and regional work, including Biennial Collaborative Agreement (BCA).

Key duties:

1. As officer in charge of the field office of the Serbian country office, the incumbent is to provide managerial support to the field office and to the HWO Serbia, assuming the coordination and oversight of managerial processes and responsibilities, as well as administration of partnership activities.

2. Assist and contribute to promoting partnerships with relevant health stakeholders, and contribute to certifying the correct high technical quality, policy relevant and timely implementation of all tasks and activities carried out under the donor financed initiatives or in agreed partnerships at national and local level. Act as a neutral broker and facilitate multisectoral policy dialogue between national authorities, the donor community and other cooperation partners, including the UN Kosovo Team, on health and development policies.

3. Support the implementation of WHO activities with a special focus on using the relevant framework and approaches and GPW13. This includes providing support to the Ministry of Health and other sectors in activities which include developing, implementing and evaluating national policies and strategies that help to improve health system performance, inter-sectorial action for health and wellbeing with the involvement of stakeholders and actors at national, sub-national and sub-regional level.

4. Provide technical assistance and policy advice at national level on priority issues such as: strengthening Health Systems, public health functions, emergency preparedness, surveillance and response; implementation of strategies and interventions to address the health burden of communicable diseases, the environment and non-communicable diseases across the life-course.

5. Provide support in the application of tools and guidelines for the improvement of health information and collation of information, data analysis, and preparation of regular and timely briefings, reports, or situation analysis.

6. To oversee the day to day running and operations of the WHO Office in Pristina and liaise with key stakeholders and partners and expand partnership for health in all policies.

7. Link with institutions, associations and non-governmental agencies and scientific bodies, for exchange of information, coordination of activities and implementation of sector wide approaches.

8. Contribute in mobilizing support and resources for health and advocate for health to be considered as an integral part of national development and aid cooperation.

9. Ensure visibility of WHO's work by means of networking and partnerships with relevant health communications stakeholders (e.g. media, civil society, government and non-government communications experts from other agencies, etc.).

10. Assist in preparations of missions to the field and support consultants or on missions to neighbouring Member States.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: University degree (Bachelor's level) in medicine, public health, social, political sciences, economics or relevant areas.
Desirable: Master's degree in one of the above fields.

Experience

Essential: At least 5 years' demonstrated experience providing technical assistance and policy advice in any of the following areas: Strengthening health systems, public health functions, emergency preparedness, surveillance and response; implementation of strategies and interventions to address the health burden of communicable diseases, non-communicable diseases and the environment. Experience in any of the above fields at country level. Demonstrated experience coordinating activities with partners, stakeholders and donors in the areas public health, health systems or international development.
Desirable: Experience working with international organizations, WHO, or the UN in delivering policy advice and technical support to countries.

Skills

Ability to work in teams in complex cultural environments. Sound knowledge of WHO policies and programs. Direct knowledge and experience of working in a complex international environment, particularly collaborating with other UN agencies and intergovernmental organizations active in this field.Competence in managing teams in complex political context. Ability to adapt to difficult environments/ situations and tolerate uncertainties. Demonstrated ability in working with government officials, stakeholders, health actors, civil society and other networks in the area of public health.Analytical skills and demonstrated knowledge on health system analysis.Emotional awareness; Ability to identify and harness one's emotions and apply them to tasks; and the ability to manage emotions, which includes both regulating one's own emotions when necessary and helping others to do the same.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Producing results
Creating an empowering and motivating environment

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of French, Russian or German.

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 62,120 (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 1713 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.

• For WHO General Service staff who do not meet the minimum educational qualifications, please see e-Manual III.4.1, para 220.