Technical Officer, Strategic Information

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The overall objective of the HWF Programme is to support Member States in the WHO African Region to improve the availability of quality, equitably deployed, stable, and effectively utilized health workers for the delivery of health services towards the attainment of UHC, health security and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Programme achieves this through the provision to Member States of up-to-date, evidence-based guidance on the education and performance of health workers; the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of policies, strategies, frameworks and plans for the health workforce, within the context of health systems resilience, health emergencies and universal health coverage; through technical assistance and guidance for implementing innovative, quality HWF education and training systems including for leadership and management of the health workforce. The Programme supports the shaping of the HWF agenda, harmonizing approaches and increasing resources mobilized and investments; promotes accountability for the generation, analysis, and use of Health Workforce Intelligence (HWI) at all levels of health care delivery, and produces reports on trends in the development and evolution of the HWF agenda and progress towards national, regional, and global targets, documenting and sharing best practices. These services are provided to guide Member States in making operational and capital investments necessary to address HWF challenges in education, employment, equitable deployment, retention and utilization, and protection and safety to support the attainment of universal health coverage and ensure health security and resilience of the health system. These are anchored in: (1) providing cutting-edge and contextually relevant technical support to Member States, (2) generating strategic evidence/intelligence to inform our technical guidance and (3) strengthening WHO's leadership in shaping the HWF agenda in the region. The trademark of our work will be tailored and intensified support to Member States, contextually relevant strategic evidence for action, and leading the agenda for action.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

• Support countries in institutionalising National Health Workforce Accounts (NHWA) and other systems to track the health workforce, including establishing and strengthening their national observatories to enhance policy dialogue, planning, accountability, and reporting;
• Support countries to systematically monitor and evaluate the implementation of the HWF policies, strategies and investment plans;
• Support countries in institutionalising and strengthening systems for real-time, reliable and accurate HWF information, including HWF information systems or registries in the context of Health Information Systems;
• Lead in maintaining and updating the Africa Health Workforce Observatory with data and knowledge products;
• Analyse health workforce trends across countries and periodically produce reports on the state of the HWF of the region;
• Lead in the data collection, analysis, monitoring and reporting on health workforce resolutions, regional frameworks, strategies and plans for the health workforce;
• Document and disseminate best practices in health workforce planning, development, and utilization; Contribute to the development and adaptation of evidence-based methodologies and tools for health workforce analysis;
• Contribute to data mining and analytical support for health labour market analyses (HLMA);
• Perform other, related responsibilities as assigned in his/her area of expertise, including replacing and backstopping others as required.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: Advanced university degree in a quantitative field of Health Science, Public Health, Health Economics, Health Information/Biostatistics or a related field in Social sciences.
Desirable: PhD in one of the above-mentioned fields with an advanced training in Data Science/modelling or Statistics. Qualification as a health professional will be an added advantage.

Experience

Essential: A minimum of seven years' relevant experience health workforce assessments and analysis, health economics relating to labour market analysis in resource-limited countries at the national and international levels, complemented by experience applying complex statistical modelling and health analysis to public health issues and in monitoring public health indicators such as the Health Workforce Account.
Desirable: Experience in managing and analysing large health workforce datasets, applying complex statistical modelling in health issues, translating evidence into policy action and planning and monitoring public health indicators in the UN System or intergovernmental agencies.

Skills

• Broad knowledge and understanding of HWF policy and planning, national health workforce accounts, labour market analysis, HWF projection tools, complemented by technical ability in dealing with methodologies and analyses related to HWF;
• Ability to appropriately triangulate and synthesise evidence, develop decision analytic models, econometrics models for HWF analysis, complemented by ability to produce high quality technical and analytical reports.
• Strong organization skills and capacity to develop and conduct operational research, evaluation, monitoring, review, and analysis of data and translate data into knowledge products (policy briefs, publications, newsletters etc).

WHO Competencies

1. Teamwork
2. Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
3. Communication
4. Producing results
5. Creating an empowering and motivating environment.

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English or French with a good working knowledge of the other language.
Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of Portuguese.
The above language requirements are interchangeable.

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 77,326 (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 3267 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.

• According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible.

• 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.

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• WHO also offers wide range of benefits to staff, including parental leave and attractive flexible work arrangements to help promote a healthy work-life balance and to allow all staff members to express and develop their talents fully.

• The statutory retirement age for staff appointments is 65 years. For external applicants, only those who are expected to complete the term of appointment will normally be considered.

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