Technical Officer

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The Global Preparedness Monitoring Board (GPMB) is a successor to the Secretary General's Global Health Crisis Panel and Task Force, created in 2016 in response to the 2014-2016 West Africa Ebola outbreak. It recommended in its mid-2017 final report to the UN General Assembly the need for robust ongoing monitoring of global health emergency preparedness. In response, the WB and WHO co-convened and established the GPMB. Unlike existing WHO accountability and oversight mechanisms for the WHO Health Emergencies Programme, the GPMB provides a much broader mechanism/platform to monitor and hold the global community accountable for work related to health emergency preparedness including multisectoral action, health sector strengthening, and community engagement across many institutions, stakeholders, and sectors. The role of the GPMB is to provide independent and ongoing monitoring and assessment of the state of the world's health emergency preparedness. The Board's Secretariat is located in WHO Headquarters, Geneva, and is established for a 5-year period, renewable on the decision of WHO and WBG. The GPMB Secretariat supports the GPMB in fulfilling its mandate by preparing and convening meetings, producing and commissioning annual and other reports, and research at the request of the GPMB, proactively maintaining communication channels with and on behalf of the GPMB, and providing day-to-day monitoring and follow-up on Board priorities and recommendations. The Secretariat further organizes advocacy efforts and actions to promote the implementation and uptake of the GPMB's recommended Actions.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

• Research, develop, draft and edit written documents, background papers, policy briefs, strategies, case studies, and other relevant reports and related communications and advocacy materials, drawing content from multiple sources (including technical counterparts across WHE and WHO) and externally, in accordance with WHO style, standards and publishing procedures.
• Emphasis on writing for high-level decision-makers, and multi-sectoral audiences.
• Support the development and implementation of a coherent annual GPMB monitoring framework and work plan, including preparing data, analysis and background documentation to support the work of the GPMB.
• Support the timely delivery of outputs and the preparation of regular communications between the Secretariat and the GPMB Members.
• Provide technical and programmatic expertise and support to the meetings of the GPMB, including developing agendas, and background documents, coordinating communications with GPMB Members and producing official meeting reports and messages for internal and external audiences; effective monitoring and follow-up to the decisions and action points.
• Contribute to the development of and writing of GPMB annual reports on the state of health emergency preparedness for the endorsement of the Board and dissemination.
• Build relations and work together with technical counterparts in government, agencies, organizations, academia and other partners on work undertaken by relevant sections to take forward recommendations emanating from the Board.
• Provide technical expertise and knowledge in the development and execution of GPMB advocacy efforts.
• Ensure the substantive preparation and organization for briefings and consultations attended by the Director of the Secretariat at the request of the Board Chairs.
• As requested, represent the GPMB in various UN, inter-governmental and non-governmental international, regional or national technical forums. Discharge any other functions at the request of the Director of the Secretariat. Performs all other related duties as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: Advanced level university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in public health, law, international relations, political or social sciences, or related field relevant to the position.
Desirable:

Experience

Essential: A minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible experience in health emergency technical or programmatic fields and public health, international public health, and policy development, including coordinating multi-stakeholder actions and support to Boards or related bodies. Demonstrated experience at the international level.
Desirable: Previous experience working in WHO or UN Agency and/or in an international organization related to health emergencies.

Skills

• Excellent monitoring/assessment results tracking, technical and programmatic knowledge, strategic planning, and writing skills;
• Excellent understanding of systems, institutions, global public health issues, and communicable disease/pandemic and health emergency preparedness issues of the key instruments (e.g. the International Health Regulations (2005)); with multisectoral and “whole-of-government” actions, community and stakeholder engagement; technical expertise in communicable disease control and/or health emergencies;
• Knowledge of international organizations, stakeholders engaged in, and legal instruments used for healthy emergency preparedness.
• Knowledge of processes to develop guidance, and written scientific publications.
• Proven capacity to coordinate a wide range of stakeholders, working groups and staff in pursuance of global goals and policy initiatives;
• Experience with supporting members of a Board, planning and convening Board meetings.
• Experience with crafting and supporting advocacy messages targeted to different audiences. Excellent interpersonal skills, discretion, tact and diplomacy.
• High level of judgment and initiative.
• Ability to negotiate while maintaining effective working relations.

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 other WHO languages.

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 74,913 (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 5356 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 zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of final candidates.
• 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.