Job Opportunities at the World Health organization (WHO)

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The mission of WCO's is to build the capacity of Member States to manage a wide range of Health Programmes and interventions including health emergencies, to lead and coordinate the international health response to contain health issues including outbreaks. The WCO Support Unit will oversee the function of this position. This consists of the provision of high-quality, predictable administrative services (i.e. HR, Finance, work planning, grant management) to the WCO including Emergency Programme during emergency response, as well as effective monitoring of (and compliance with) SOPs, leading to continuous improvement and business process excellence.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Under the general guidance of the Operations Officer and the direct supervision of the HRO, the incumbent is assigned all or part of the following responsibilities:Perform HR roles related to pre-recruitment, recruitment and selection processes, in line with the harmonized selection policies, leading to timely sourcing, selection and placement of required talent. Initiates transparent and competitive centralized recruitment and selection processes in Stellis (review of job descriptions, provision of input to job classification process, vacancy announcement, longlisting, shortlisting, interviews and step determination); support the onboarding and end of assignment formalities and processes for staff and non-staff. Liaise with county offices, the Global Service Centre, the HR department on all aspects of recruitment, contractual and staffing actions;Inform staff and supervisors on WHO Staff Rules and Regulations, HR policies and procedures, administration of entitlements, duties, responsibilities, code of conduct and performance management and career development.Compile and analyze data and use it to generate/provide reports, trends and information required for strategic decision making by managers;Brief newly recruited staff on employment conditions and entitlements; guide them on their contractual status and attend to all queries related to the onboarding process including organizing orientation sessions;Act as focal point for Staff Development and Learning activities and programs i.e., initiation and coordination of trainings, orientations, briefings of staff members in WCO, NGA;6. Perform any other related duties as required

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: University degree in human resources/personnel management, public or business administration, law or social sciences, or any other related field.
Desirable: Specialized Training in human resources management/Personnel management or industrial relations.

Experience

Essential: At least 2 years of experience in Human Resource management.
Desirable: Experience in HR Operations within the UN System.

Skills

A thorough knowledge of human resources principles and practices. Excellent knowledge of contract management. Knowledge of staff benefits and entitlements. Ability to draft correspondence clearly and concisely.

WHO Competencies

• Teamwork
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
• Communication
• Producing results
• Moving forward in a changing environment

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable:

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 49,254 (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 2081 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.

go to method of application »

Purpose of consultancy

The consultant will contribute to the work of the Testing, Prevention and Populations (TPP) unit within the Department of the Global HIV, Hepatitis and Sexually Transmitted Infections Programmes (HHS) by facilitating the roll-out of the verification tool kit and helping countries to adopt the WHO HIV testing strategy and algorithm, and to include dual HIV/syphilis tests. 

Background

The TPP unit works on a range of topics such as HIV testing, voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC), biomedical prevention and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), HIV and sexual and reproductive health (SRH), as well as all relevant prevention and testing for key populations. WHO defines key populations in the context of HIV and viral hepatitis as people who inject drugs, people in prisons and other closed settings, men who have sex with men, sex workers and transgender people. Other populations remain vulnerable to HIV acquisition in various regions and countries depending on local epidemiology. 

HIV testing services (HTS) are an essential gateway to treatment and prevention, and for achieving the 95-95-95 targets by 2030. To advance these goals, WHO recommends a strategic mix of HTS to achieve greatest impact and efficiency including testing in facility and community settings, as well as partner notification and self-testing approaches. Accurate diagnosis underpins all HTS and moving to the WHO universal HIV testing strategy and completing verification of algorithms is a key priority to ensure quality testing services. The consultancy focuses on the roll-out the verification tool kit and supporting countries to adopt the WHO HIV testing strategy, implement rapid verification studies and select the optimal mix of products (including dual HIV/syphilis tests), to improve the quality of testing and accurate diagnosis for all people with HIV.  This consultancy will also contribute to activities for the forthcoming 2023 HTS guidelines and feedback the implementation lessons learned.

Deliverables

Output 1: Provide technical guidance to at least 5 countries to ensure alignment with WHO guidelines (standard 3 test strategy, inclusion of dual test HIV/syphilis as 1st test in ANC settings and for Key Populations).

Deliverable 1.1: Facilitate virtual stakeholder consultations (including national TWGs, WHO regional offices, PEPFAR and Global Fund) to ensure better understanding, buy-in and implementation of WHO recommendations and adoption of algorithm verification tool kit and produced meeting notes.

Timeline: November 2022, January 2023

Deliverable 1.2: Review and provide technical guidance in updating the national HTS strategies and technical documents for at least 5 countries to ensure alignment with latest WHO guidelines.

Timeline: November 2022

Deliverable 1.3: Provide technical guidance to at least 5 countries on implementing algorithm verification studies and developing new algorithms scale up plan through virtual meetings (meeting notes), development of supporting tools (SOPs, training modules, HTS registers, etc) and potentially country visits (mission reports).

Timeline:  March 2023

Output 2: Update the national policy review to maintain tracking and monitoring of country progress on testing strategy policy change and adoption, the implementation of dual HIV/syphilis testing in ANC and for KP, the roll-out of the verification tool kit. 

Deliverable 2.1: Update national policy review tracked and monitored of country progress on testing strategy policy change and adoption, the implementation of dual HIV/syphilis testing in ANC and for KP. 

Timeline: November 2022

Deliverable 2.2: Report on the roll out of the implementation of verification studies.

Timeline:  January 2023

Deliverable 2.3: Contribute to the development of a collaboration with the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria to set up a verification study consultant pool including identifying suitable consultants, orienting them to protocols, and organizing regular meetings to monitor, track and troubleshoot (remote or in person).

Output 3: Develop resource materials including technical updates and slides on lessons learned and progress on adopting the WHO HIV testing strategy, algorithm verification studies, and use of HIV/Syphilis Dual test in key populations and pregnant women, support multicounty analysis of verification study results, and disseminate findings and lessons learned.

Deliverable 3.1: Collect tools and develop slide sets, presentations, and technical updates to verification toolkit.

Timeline: October 2022

Deliverable 3.2: Analyze reports and results incorporated in slides deck of individual country study results (at least 5 countries).

Timeline:  January 2023

Deliverables 3.3: Background documents, agenda and slide deck prepared for the multi-country result dissemination and lessons learn webinar.

Timeline:  February 2023

Output 4: Contribute to the development of LMICs adapted HTS Quality Management System technical guidance (lab and other testing sites).

Deliverable 4.1: Completed desk review and consultations and synthesized findings into a report and slide set for dissemination (ASLM, WHO, CDC and other stakeholders, technical documents, country experiences).

Timeline: December 2022

Deliverable 4.2: Updated QMS guidance drafted based on the findings.

Timeline: February 2022

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential:

Advanced University degree in laboratory science, public health.

Experience

Essential:

• Over 5 years’ experience working in HIV testing services including laboratory support, laboratory data analysis, and procurement, policy & strategy development, and its implementation. 
• At least two years of experience working with rapid diagnostic tests in countries.  
• Experience with technical writing, data analysis and report writing.

Skills/Knowledge:

• Good communication, presentation and coordination skills.

Languages required:

• Expert knowledge of English.

Location 

Off site: Home based.

Travel 

The consultant is expected to travel.

Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):

Remuneration:

Band level B
7,000 - 9,980 per month. 

Living expenses (A living expense is payable to on-site consultants who are internationally recruited):
N/A

Expected duration of contract: 

6 months.

go to method of application »

Purpose of consultancy

To provide technical expertise to  the Local Production & Assistance (LPA) Unit with programme activities in strengthening local production and technology transfer for improving access to quality-assured, safe and effective in-vitro diagnostics and other medical devices.

Background  

The COVID-19 pandemic has shown a concentration of global production capacity of essential health products in a few regions/countries and vulnerabilities in global supply chains. For low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) that rely largely on importation of medical products to meet public health demands, they are at greater risk for lack of access to quality-assured medical products. The LPA Unit has been receiving requests from Member States for support in strengthening quality local production and technology transfer as many LMICs look to technology transfer and strengthening local manufacturing capacity to improve timely access and strengthen national health security, particularly during emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

The LPA Unit in the Regulation and Prequalification Department is responsible for supporting Member States in strengthening local production and technology transfer of quality-assured essential health products to improve access under the context of WHA74.6 on Strengthening local production of medicines and other health technologies to improve access and other WHA resolutions and decisions related to local production and access to health products. The focus of work is on promoting sustainable quality local production and technology transfer in a holistic manner, such as conducting feasibility assessments for sustainable local production, developing strategies, roadmaps and tools, providing capacity building and specialized technical assistance and facilitating technology transfer. 

Deliverables

• Organize and/or conduct up to 6 capacity building and technical assistance activities to relevant stakeholders on local production and/or technology transfer of quality-assured IVDs and/or medical devices and prepare the relevant materials (e.g.   agenda, pre-workshop documents).
• Facilitate organizing and/or providing specialized technical assistance related to WHO Prequalification (PQ) or Emergency Use Listing (EUL) for up to 8 manufacturers of in-vitro diagnostics (IVDs) and prepare the relevant documents (e.g.   reports).
• Prepare training materials related to the sustainable local production of quality, safe and effective IVDs and other devices.
• Contribute to organizing up to 6 fora, meetings, etc.   related to local production and technology transfer organized by or involving the LPA Unit as assigned and prepare relevant materials.
• Contribute to the drafting of technical products related to local production and technology transfer of in-vitro diagnostics and other devices, such as “frequently asked questions” documents, etc.   
• Contribute to the preparation and/or development of research/evidence-based documents related to local production and technology transfer of in-vitro diagnostics and other devices, such as surveys and literature reviews.

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential:

First level university degree in a field related to pharmacy, sciences, life sciences (such as biochemistry, immunology, biotechnology, and biomedical engineering) or other health or science-related fields.

Desirable:

First level university degree in a field related to the design, development, manufacture and/or performance evaluation of IVDs.

Experience:

Essential:

A minimum of three years of professional experience in the design, development, manufacture, quality control and/or performance evaluation of IVDs in accordance with WHO or internationally recognized quality standards.   

Desirable:

• Professional experience working for an IVD manufacturer 
• Professional experience in implementing current international standards for quality management systems (QMS) and risk management systems in a manufacturing facility of IVDs
• Professional experience in conducting QMS audits of local and overseas manufacturers of IVDs in accordance with current international regulatory standards
• Professional experience working in a national regulatory authority (NRA) for regulating IVDs and medical devices in accordance with current national/international regulatory standards, e.g. assessing the product technical file for quality, inspecting the QMS of local and overseas manufacturing facilities, and/or conducting performance evaluation tests
• Professional experience working for a medical/clinical laboratory, particularly for communicable diseases
• Experience with the clinical development and/or evaluation of IVDs
• Experience with the submission of the product technical file and other regulatory documents to the NRA/certified notification body for life cycle management of the IVD in the local, regional and/or international market(s)
• Experience with WHO PQ and/or EUL for IVDs
• Experience in organizing meetings/workshops and providing training
• Experience in, or in collaboration with, an international organization
• Experience working in LMICs
• Experience with technology transfers related to IVDs and/or medical devices

Skills/Knowledge:

Essential:

• Technical knowledge in the design, development, manufacture, quality control and/or performance evaluation of IVDs
• Strong technical knowledge in WHO and other internationally-recognized quality assurance standards for IVDs and medical devices (e.g. ISO, GMP)
• Excellent writing skills
• Good communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to work in a multicultural team and maintain effective working relationships with recognized experts and stakeholders 
• Strong methodological and analytical skills with the ability to conduct research, identify and analyse literature relevant to the programme area
• Good planning and organizational skills with attention to detail and with the ability to multi-task and work under pressure
• Strong IT skills: Word, Excel, presentation software, databases and web navigators

Desirable:

• Technical knowledge in the regulation of IVDs and medical devices
• Technical knowledge of the requirements for the WHO PQ and/or EUL for IVDs
• Technical knowledge in the laboratory diagnosis of communicable diseases
• Technical knowledge in the design, development, manufacture, quality control and/or performance evaluation of medical devices
• Knowledge in the ecosystem for sustainable local production of IVDs and medical devices
• Knowledge in the transfer of technology for IVDs and/or medical devices

Languages required:

Essential:  

Expert knowledge of English 

Desirable:

Working knowledge of another WHO official language.

Location:

Off-site – Home-based. 

Travel:

The consultant is expected to travel to the manufacturing facility for PQ-related technical assistance.   

Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):

Remuneration:

Band level A
USD 3,955 - 6,980 per month 

Living expenses (A living expense is payable to on-site consultants who are internationally recruited):

N/A

Expected duration of contract: 

2 to 6 months

go to method of application »

Purpose of consultancy

The consultant will provide technical guidance on tobacco control, including the development and implementation of the 2023 World No Tobacco Day campaign and other advocacy and communication activities of the TFI unit, including the publication of tobacco knowledge summaries. The consultant will also provide communication outreach and advocacy as well as technical guidance in scaling up digital solutions for tobacco cessation.

Background  

Advocacy for tobacco control including MPOWER continues to remain an important strategy for WHO.  World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) is one such action. It is observed around the world every year on 31 May. This yearly celebration informs the public on the dangers of using tobacco, the business practices of tobacco companies, what WHO is doing to fight the tobacco epidemic, and what people around the world can do to claim their right to health and healthy living and to protect future generations.

The World No Tobacco Day 2023 campaign will aim to mobilize governments, policymakers, researchers and the global community, including relevant UN agencies, to address some of the challenges identified related to tobacco growing, and to amplify advocacy efforts beyond health by showing the massive impact of tobacco growing on food scarcity. 

The WHO Tobacco Knowledge Summaries are prepared with the objective to summarize scientific knowledge in a specific area of tobacco control, as well as describe the effectiveness of specific and evidence-based interventions to reduce tobacco use and tobacco-related complications. These publications are also intended as an advocacy tool to widely include health care professionals in the fight for tobacco control and prevention of tobacco-related adverse health effects.

Scaling up O of MPOWER is another important area of work where there is need for more support. A series of digital tools for tobacco cessation (WHO digital health worker-Florence, tobacco cessation chatbots, online training courses) have recently been developed and promoted by WHO to support tobacco users in quitting. More work on communication, outreach and advocacy needs to be carried out to ensure that more countries are adopting and sustaining these digital tools as well as population-wide tobacco cessation programmes.

Deliverables

Deliverable 1 Provide technical input on the development and implementation of World No Tobacco Day 2023.  Expected by 30 June 2023

• conduct relevant research and develop technical content, including fact sheets, press release, web announcements, social media posts and tweets, talking points, media briefs and Q&As for World No Tobacco Day
• collaborate with WHO regional and country offices, partner networks, and global health exports and associations
• coordinate the review process of draft WNTD documents by internal technical units at WHO headquarters and incorporate their feedback into the material
• coordinate the production process of campaign material with contracted communications agencies, such as product design and video production; and facilitate event logistics.

Deliverable 2 Provide technical guidance for strengthening of tobacco control outreach and advocacy products.  Expected by November 2023

• coordinate development of two new Tobacco Knowledge Summaries on lung health/asthma and smokeless tobacco in collaboration with external partners, public health experts and academic institutions
• coordinate review of new Tobacco Knowledge Summaries by relevant technical units at WHO headquarters
• coordinate launch and promotion of Tobacco Knowledge Summaries in all official languages in collaboration with partnering research entities, which involves on-site coordination of press conferences, live Q&As and video statements; and
• provide technical guidance to Regional and Country Offices on communications strategies as needed.

Deliverable 3  Provide technical guidance for scaling up population-wide tobacco cessation interventions.  Expected by November 2023

• provide technical input on advocacy for tobacco cessation as an essential component of comprehensive tobacco control programme and awareness-raising of effective tobacco cessation tools
• provide technical input on conduct country-level tobacco cessation capacity building activities.

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential:

Minimum first university degree in Public Health and/or Business Administration and/or International Development or related field.

Experience

 

Essential:

• At least two years’ experience working in public health or related field.
• Practical experience in supporting countries on tobacco control (technical or advocacy) and communications campaigns for public health programmes. 
• Working experience with national public health institutions

Desirable:

• Working experience with WHO or any other UN organization 
• Working experience in tobacco control 

Skills/Knowledge:

• Project management skills
• Sound interpersonal and communication skills

Languages required:

Essential:  

Expert knowledge of English.

Location: 

Home based – Off-site. 

Travel: 

The consultant is expected to travel.

Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):

Remuneration:

Band level A
USD 3,955 - 6,980 per month 

Living expenses (A living expense is payable to on-site consultants who are internationally recruited):

N/A

Expected duration of contract: 

11 months

go to method of application »

1. Purpose of the Consultancy

The main objective of this consultancy is to provide technical expertise to the scientific approach to  trauma care in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. The consultant will be responsible for engaging with institutions, developing ties, and overseeing all published material.

1. Background

There are over 133.4 million people in need of humanitarian assistance globally, with 80% of that need driven by violent conflict.  The Eastern Mediterranean is the most affected region, with 74.8 million in need, representing 56% of the global total.[1]  These complex emergencies have also impacted neighbouring countries, either directly or indirectly. Surging migrant and refugee populations further increase the demands on emergency and trauma systems, while the political context and bureaucratic constraints applied by local authorities can constrain strategic and system planning.

Violent injury contributes a substantial disease burden in the region, especially in the on-going conflicts in Libya, occupied Palestinian territory, Somalia, Syria, Yemen and Afghanistan.   High incidence of violent injury requires sophisticated and well-resourced response mechanisms, placing enormous strains on already under-resourced and over-burdened health systems.  But traditionally, only a very small number of humanitarian agencies have developed capacities for providing trauma care in conflict settings.  Most humanitarian health agencies have not prioritized injury care in conflict because of mandate issues, security concerns and capacity and resource gaps; when non-specialized agencies do engage, it is too often uncoordinated and inconsistent with international standards.  But the growing burden of trauma in current-day humanitarian emergencies can no longer be ignored.  In several recent major humanitarian operations, WHO therefore has stepped in to lead and coordinate the trauma response.    

In spite of the demonstrated effectiveness of WHOs interventions, implementation of trauma services that apply best practice referral pathways and clinical care remains ad hoc and unpredictable, dependent on the technical and financial resources available at the time.  WHO is committed to ensure that effective trauma services are consistently established during humanitarian emergencies in the Eastern Mediterranean Region and to use these services to build the longer-term resilience of emergency medical systems. 

The WHO has recently established the Operational Trauma Initiative, which aims to measurably improve health outcomes from trauma driven by humanitarian emergencies in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR). As a new approach to working in humanitarian emergencies, at the heart of this initiative is a small, specialized Trauma Operational & Advisory Team (TOpAT). The TOpAT is a mobile team that works in humanitarian emergencies and provides both technical direction, and hands- on support.  In some countries, where the needs are particularly high, the TOpAT will be complimented by a dedicated focal point in-country; an extension of the TOpAT. All of the interventions are judged by their ability to positively impact trauma patient outcomes.

One of the central pillars of the TOpAT is to ensure evidence -based practice in the region and invest in trauma research that can pave the way for effective healthcare interventions, ultimately shaping a new approach to humanitarian work in the field of the trauma care and thereby improving patient outcomes

1. Planned timelines

The consultant is expected to work a total of 90 days remotely beginning on the  14th November 2022 until the 14th October.

1. Work to be performed:

Output 1:  Lead the development of operational research for the trauma initiative

• Deliverable 1.1 Provide technical guidance and direction to the trauma research arm of the TOpAT
• Deliverable 1.2 Represent the TOpAT with external stakeholders and build a knowledge network of leading research institutions across the EMR, and globally.

Output 2. Coordinate activities and build consensus with the key external stakeholders to promote the trauma care vision and foster relationships for collaboration

• Deliverable 2.1 Coordinate and liaise with external stakeholders, including the CDC, Cambridge University, and others.

Output 3. Decide on all scientific material published by the TOpAT 

• Deliverable 3.1 Direct, develop, review, edit and advise on the publication of all scientific material

Output 4. Conduct missions to countries as requested to undertake research, assessments and design trauma programmes

• Deliverable 4.1 Lead medical missions to WCOs as requested to undertake research, conduct assessments, and design trauma programmes 
• Deliverable 4.2 Lead seminars and workshops to capacitate the WCOs on trauma research and writing

1. Technical Supervision

The selected individual will work under the supervision of:

Technical Responsible Officer:	Dr. Sara Halimah Regional Trauma Specialist	Email:	halimahs@who.int
Manager:	Dr. Mohamed Ali Karim, WHO/ WHE Operations Programme Area Manager	Email:	kamilmo@who.int

 

1. Duration and Remuneration (exclusive of per diem, travel costs or other expenses)

The consultant is expected to work  for 90- days

 7. Specific requirements

Consultant should have:

Education

• Minimum an advanced university (Master’s) degree in trauma sciences

Experience

• Over 10 years of humanitarian and/or military experience in delivering trauma services, including experience in editing medical manuscripts, related to trauma care. International experience is mandatory.

1. Place of assignment

The Consultant may be requested to travel to countries, although this is not mandatory.

Skills / Technical skills and knowledge:

• Understanding of the data publishing landscape, including detailed knowledge of open access publishing, and familiarity with community priorities in this area
• Proven skills in data analysis of a range of data sources.

• Extensive demonstrable editorial knowledge and experience in the selection and processing of manuscripts Proven skills and know-how in data representation and visualisation.
• Ability to work in a flexible manner under pressure to meet deadlines. 
• Ability to work in a collaborative manner. 
• Clear understanding of implementation methods and implementation science where applicable. 
• Concrete skills and background of analyzing large data sets especially from low and middle-income countries.

 Language requirements:

Excellent knowledge of English

1. Place of assignment

Remote

1. Medical clearance

The incumbent will be expected to provide a medical certificate of fitness for work.

1. Travel

Some travel will be required. To be confirmed.

10. Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):

1. Remuneration: Payband level C - USD - Payband min. daily range USD500
2. Living expenses (A living expense is payable to on-site consultants who are internationally recruited): currency and rate
3. Expected duration of contract is 11 months