Medical Officer (Child Health) - P4  

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OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The overall objective of the CAH Programme is to support Member States in the WHO African Region in the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of policies, strategies and plans to increase access to evidence-based interventions to reduce risks and improve the overall health and wellbeing of children and adolescents towards the attainment of Universal Health Coverage. Within the framework of the Global Strategy for Women's, Children's and Adolescent's health (2016-2030), the Programme works with Member States to integrate national policies, strategies and plans for child and adolescent into national health sector strategic plans and national health systems, and guides their implementation, including reviewing and redesigning programming and organization of the health service delivery platforms, supporting implementation at national and subnational levels, and promoting quality of care. The Programme also provides support for the building of institutional capacity of Member States and catalyzing actions for improving the health and wellbeing of children and adolescents. In collaboration with the Assistant Regional Directors' Cluster, the Program supports countries in defining the research and innovations agenda to generate and use evidence and strategic information on trends and coverage of interventions and on health and well-being. In addition, the Programme advocates for, fosters partnerships and mobilizes increased resources for child and adolescent health services. The goal is to enable countries in the WHO African Region ensure that evidence-based policies and strategies are in place to achieve universal access to high-quality, integrated, health services, increase the coverage and quality of effective interventions, and to create mechanisms to measure the impact of those strategies and interventions.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

• Maintain at all times, an updated analytic profile of the situation of children in the WHO Africa Region using the best available data that summarizes trends, provides an overview of partner initiatives and financing, as well evolving opportunities and risks to children's health.
• Lead the development, management, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and results-based reporting of WHO AFRO plans for the health of children, coordinating closely with all concerned teams and clusters of WHO and among key stakeholders and partners.
• Support the strengthening of national legal and policy environment for increased access to integrated child -centered health services, and accountability to global, continental, region and national targets.
• Play a lead role in the coordination of the provision of technical support to countries in planning, implementation and monitoring of policies, strategies and plans for child health as part of the of the life-course continuum in the countries of the Africa Region.
• Promote effective collaboration for the development and implementation of technical guidance on programming and organization of promotive, preventive, curative and rehabilitative child-centered health service delivery platforms at all levels, in the context of primary health care (PHC) and universal health coverage (UHC).
• Coordinate the adoption and national adaptation of global recommendations, guidelines, standards, and tools on child health by countries, including at community levels, and ensure strong linkages with the work of teams focusing on other population groups (girl and boys, women, newborns and older persons), health systems strengthening, and other programmes important for the health of children (immunization, nutrition and other determinants of health, communicable and non-communicable diseases).
• Support countries to define packages of care to address child health based on national contexts, and guide and support countries in adopting/adapting and implementing standards for improving the quality of care for children in the context of PHC and UHC.
• Elaborate a plan for a coordinated approach to building institutional capacity of countries to achieve and sustain high coverage of child health interventions, including but not limited to development of a roster of experts; capacity building in program reviews and result based management; monitoring and evaluating results, recommending appropriate actions, solutions to issues and improvements.
• Foster an environment to motivate and guide national and regional capacity to advocate, communicate and disseminate key child and adolescent health messages, as well as comprehensive networks and linkages with other programmes within WHO and AFRO, as well as other stakeholders and partners, the UN and UN Agencies to promote child health.
• Proactively contribute to strengthening of strategic partnerships, including drafting proposals and projects, participating in resource mobilization for scaling up and maintaining high coverage child health interventions in countries of the African Region.
• Perform other related responsibilities as assigned in his/her area of expertise, including replacing and backstopping others as required.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: Medical degree with post-graduate degree in Pediatrics or Public Health.
Desirable: Training in management, business administration and/or monitoring and evaluation.

Experience

Essential: At least seven years' experience at the national and/or international level, in planning, implementing, management and evaluation of child health programmes, in resource-limited countries.
Desirable: Field experience managing and delivering public health programmes at subnational levels; experience as a facilitator trainer or implementing and evaluating integrated management of childhood illnesses (IMCI) strategy; experience working with intergovernmental agencies or the UN system

Skills

• Demonstrated expertise in child health as part of the life course continuum combined with in-depth knowledge of child health policies, strategies and approaches.
• Excellent understanding of strategic planning, management, monitoring and evaluation of child and adolescent health programmes.
• Proven ability to promote collaboration with a broad range of partners and stakeholders in politically sensitive and resources-limited contexts, combined with capacity to establish consensus while ensuring effective work practices and ethics, and negotiating skills especially in resources mobilization.
• Demonstrated abilities and skills in strategic, technical and scientific writing.

WHO Competencies

1. Teamwork
2. Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
3. Communication
4. Producing results
5. Moving forward in a changing environment

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English or French with 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 3583 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 and/or an asynchronous video assessment 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.
• The WHO is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The WHO recruits and employs staff regardless of disability status, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, language, race, marital status, religious, cultural, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, or any other personal characteristics.
• The WHO is committed to achieving gender parity and geographical diversity in its staff. Women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of unrepresented and underrepresented Member States (https://www.who.int/careers/diversity-equity-and-inclusion) are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Persons with disabilities can request reasonable accommodations to enable participation in the recruitment process. Requests for reasonable accommodation should be sent through an email to reasonableaccommodation@who.int
• An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential. WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter 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.
• Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with WHO and an underlying premise of the international civil service. 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.
• 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.
• Please note that WHO's contracts are conditional on members of the workforce confirming that they are vaccinated as required by WHO before undertaking a WHO assignment, except where a medical condition does not allow such vaccination, as certified by the WHO Staff Health and Wellbeing Services (SHW). The successful candidate will be asked to provide relevant evidence related to this condition. A copy of the updated vaccination card must be shared with WHO medical service in the medical clearance process. Please note that certain countries require proof of specific vaccinations for entry or exit. For example, official proof /certification of yellow fever vaccination is required to enter many countries. Country-specific vaccine recommendations can be found on the WHO international travel and Staff Health and Wellbeing website. For vaccination-related queries please directly contact SHW directly at shws@who.int.
• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
• For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int.
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