TECHNICAL OFFICER

JOB 6

TECHNICAL OFFICER

POST NO: 2105031

GRADE: P3

CONTRACT: TEMPORARY APPOINTMENT

DUTY STATION: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

DEADLINE:10 NOVEMBER 2021

1. Background and Justification
• Purpose of the Position

This vacancy notice will be used to establish a roster of qualified candidates for the position of Technical Officer in WHO Headquarters. Placement on the roster does not guarantee appointment to a position. Decisions on selection and appointment will be taken through a separate process.

The purpose of the position is to conduct the implementation of the Quality of Care (QoC) for maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH) and support the development of guidance and tools for strategy, policy and planning of maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health (MNCAH) programmes in countries. The position is also required to provide technical assistance to countries and partners engaged in the global Network to Improve Quality of Care for MNCH.

1. Job Description
• Objectives of the Programme and of the immediate Strategic Objective

The Department of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health and Ageing supports a world where by 2030, every woman, newborn, child, adolescent and aging person in every setting realizes their rights to physical and mental health and well-being. This will be achieved by supporting WHO’s General Programme of Work and universal health coverage for all. The department provides support to countries with a focus on high burden countries to ensure evidence-based policies and strategies are in place to achieve universal access to high quality health services for maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health and ageing (MNCAH&A), and increase coverage and quality of effective MNCAH&A interventions among pregnant women, newborns, children, adolescents, young adults and older people, and to create mechanisms to measure the impact of those strategies.

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• Organizational context

The Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health and Ageing (MCA) Department sits within the Division of Universal Health Coverage-Life Course (UHL). The Universal Health Coverage across the Life course division brings together the building blocks for UHC – ensuring alignment between the systems, the financing and health workforce needed. The work is aimed at strengthening service delivery at the country level for more impact, with a people-centred focus which is built from strong primary health care, and emphasizes key areas around reproductive and sexual health and rights; maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health; and a strong focus on healthy ageing, with the aim to achieve that 1 billion more people benefit from universal health coverage. Within this Division, the specific purpose of the MCA department is to enable countries to strengthen their health systems to address population-specific health needs, reduce risk factors for ill health and address barriers to equity, across the life course and through multisectoral action.

The MCA department is made up of six units:

- Maternal Health unit

- Newborn Health unit

- Child Health and Development unit

- Adolescent and Young Adult Health unit

- Ageing and Health unit

- Epidemiology, Monitoring and Evaluation unit

The units work across four cross-cutting teams:

- Research and Guidelines

- Policies, Standards and Programmes

- Epidemiology, Monitoring and Evaluation

- Life-course trajectories.

Under the direct guidance of the supervisor, the Technical Officer works closely with other staff members of the department. S/he engages with countries and partners providing technical input in development and implementation of strategies, and plans and coordinates activities within the QoC Network. S/he liaises with counterparts in cross-cutting Programmes and the Programmes, Strategies and Policy Thematic Team to contribute to the development of guidance and implementation strategies and tools for MNCAH programmes. The work requires independent judgment and initiative with respect to technical aspects, with general direction on policy matters to be given by the immediate supervisory line.

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• Summary of Assigned Duties
• Support the coordination of the strategic activities and operations of the QoC Network with a focus on supporting country implementation and the partnership dialogue within the Network.
• Provide technical input to the QoC Network in the development and implementation of a national strategy and action plan and creation of local and global multi-stakeholder partnerships in countries.
• Build capacities of country partners and stakeholders for implementation of standards of QoC and quality improvement interventions.
• Support the development of the QoC Network global learning platform, including the development of functional learning platforms at national and global levels.
• Assist the development of the evidence-based analysis to inform programmatic approaches for MNCAH programme and strategy development and implementation, and contribute to the design of innovative tools for strengthening country capacity for programme and strategy development, planning and implementation.
• Prepare information briefs to support countries in development and implementation of national strategies and action plans to improve MNCAH programmes and services, and build local capabilities for implementation.
• Support coordination of country technical assistance and implementation across MNCH.
• Support the implementation of the various technical projects under the umbrella of the Global Strategy for Women's, Children's and Adolescents' Health, and the realization of the WHO vision for universal health care (UHC) and primary health care (PHC).
• Other duties as may be assigned by the supervisory line.

1. Recruitment Profile Competencies: Generic

Select up to two additional core, management and leadership competencies. See the Enhanced WHO Global Competency Model Guidelines.

1. Teamwork
2. Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
3. Communication

1. Producing results
2. Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond

Competencies: Management

For all Positions that possess Managerial/Supervisory responsibilities, an additional mandatory Management Competency is required.

Is this a Supervisory Position? No

6. Functional Knowledge and Skills

Describe the essential knowledge and the skills specific to the position

Good knowledge of global maternal, newborn and child health issues, quality of care and policy development; Knowledge of the operations of WHO. Good communication skills, both written and oral; Excellent organizational and programme management skills; Ability to function effectively in a team setting in a cross-cultural environment.

Education Qualifications

Essential

A first university degree in a related health area from a recognized university.

Desirable

Advanced university degree in Public Health or related discipline.

Experience

Essential

A minimum of five years of health related work experience, including working with maternal, newborn and child health programme and quality of care. Experience in conducting programme implementation at the country level in the context of developing countries. Demonstrated exposure at the international level.

Desirable

Experience in the development of normative guidance and programme implementation tools. Experience in supporting MNCH programme development and implementation at the country level. Experience in health systems strengthening.

1. Use of Language Skills

Languages English	Read:	Expert knowledge [Yes] Required [] Desirable
	Write: Speak:	Expert knowledge Expert knowledge