Technical Officer, Essential Medicines

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The World Health Organization (WHO) promotes local production and technology transfer to improve timely access to essential quality-assured, safe, efficacious and effective health products in line with the mandates of World Health Assembly resolutions WHA 74.6 on Strengthening local production of medicines and other health technologies to improve access, WHA 61.21 on Global Strategy and Plan of Action on Public Health, Innovation and Intellectual Property, and other World Health Assembly resolutions and decisions related to access of health products. The Local Production and Assistance Unit (LPA) within the Regulation and Prequalification Department (RPQ) and Access to Medicines and Health Products Division (MHP) in WHO headquarters supports Member States in a holistic manner to promote and strengthen local production and technology transfer to improve access to quality-assured health products, reduce dependency on imports to strengthen national health security, stimulate local capacities for sustainable and quality production, innovation and of the health workforce, and stimulate a knowledge-based economy. LPA supports Member States, particularly low- and middle-income countries, in strengthening local production of quality-assured essential medical products, including development of strategies, policies and tools, capacity-building, technical assistance, facilitation of technology transfer and fostering partnerships and collaborations. The Universal Health Coverage/Life Course (ULC) Cluster in the WHO regional office for Africa oversees providing leadership and ensuring action in support to Member States in building and sustaining resilient health systems that provide equitable access to quality essential health services to people across the life course using people-centered approaches. This is done by strengthening leadership, governance and advocacy for health; improving the availability of and access to quality and motivated health workforce, improving access to essential medicines, vaccines, diagnostics and devices; strengthening country capacity in data and innovation, and improving access to quality essential health services, especially at the Primary Health Care level; while reducing the number of people suffering financial hardship in order to contribute to the attainment of UHC and the SDGs in the WHO African Region. This also includes promoting research and development and the local production of quality medicines and vaccines that meet public health needs. The position will be located structurally within the Medicines Supply, Health Infrastructure, Equipment Maintenance including Health Technologies, Medicines and Traditional Medicine (MIM) Unit in WHO Regional Office for Africa, with the position's functions within the Local Production and Assistance Unit in RPQ/MHP/WHO-HQ.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

The following tasks will be performed under the direct supervision of the first level supervisor, Unit Head of Local Production and Assistance Unit (LPA/RPQ/MHP/WHO HQ), and Team Lead, Medicines Supply, Health Infrastructure, Equipment Maintenance including Health Technologies, Medicines and Traditional Medicine (MIM) Unit within the UHC/LC in AFRO as second level supervisor. The position shall focus on the African region with global functions to:

• Contribute to the situational analyses/assessments of the ecosystem and identify gaps with the aim to strengthen quality and sustainable local production and technology transfer in the WHO African region;
• Develop and/or coordinate implementation of national/regional strategies or roadmaps for improved access to essential health products and sustainable quality local production in the WHO African region;
• Define and coordinate implementation of WHO essential packages to support capacity building and transformation of pharmaceutical systems, in line with WHO resolutions and plans;
• Contribute to the organization of the World Local Production Forum and the implementation of its recommendations;
• Contribute to the organization of capacity building and/or technical assistance to Member States toward quality assurance and sustainability in local production and technology transfer;
• Coordinate, collect and disseminate local production-related market intelligence and market data in WHO African region;
• Promote technology transfers to achieve local production of quality, safe, efficacious and effective health products;
• Perform other related tasks as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: Master's level university degree in pharmacy/pharmacology/medicine, sciences, life sciences, biotechnology or other health or socio-economic related fields.

Experience

Essential: A minimum of seven years of relevant professional experience in development, production, regulation or other experiences key to local production and/or technology transfer of medicines, vaccines and /or other health products.
Desirable: Professional experience in facilitating technology transfer of medicines, vaccines and/or other health products.

Skills

• Knowledge of WHO and other internationally-recognized quality assurance standards and regulatory requirements for medicines, vaccines and/or other health products; Ability to effectively plan and organize activities to timely achieve the goal(s);
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills and ability to use a range of IT tools (Word, Excel, presentation software, databases and web navigators);
• Demonstrated ability to interact with all stakeholders with tact and diplomacy, upholding the reputation of the Organization at all times.
• Knowledge of transferring technology for the production of quality-assured medicines, vaccines and/or other health products.
• Knowledge of health system, regulatory quality, safety and/or efficacy standards and requirements for medicines, vaccines and/or other medical products within the WHO African region;
• Knowledge of the industrial, economic, trade, financial and/or other aspects of the ecosystem for sustainable production of quality-assured medical products, particularly within context of the WHO African Region.

WHO Competencies

1. Teamwork
2. Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
3. Communication
4. Producing results
5. Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond
6. 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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