OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME
The Division of Country Health Programmes (CHP) assists country efforts to reduce the burden of non-communicable and communicable diseases and address the social, economic and environmental determinants of health, and promotes policies and actions for health through stewardship of the WHO European Healthy Cities Network. It focuses on health promotion measures; prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases, including cancers, cardiovascular diseases, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes, and risks related to tobacco use, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet, and the harmful use of alcohol; communicable diseases such as tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and hepatitis, and vector-borne and neglected tropical diseases; elimination and control of vaccine-preventable diseases and advocacyfor increased use of vaccines; containing and controlling antimicrobial resistance; addressing existing and emerging environmental health risks, and supporting violence and injury prevention. A determination to ensure universal access to people-centred quality health services across the continuum of careis matched by enriching the evidence base for policy design and interventions using social, cultural and behavioural approaches, to drive implementation of innovation at national, regional and local levels.
Within CHP, the Vaccine Preventable Diseases and Immunization Programme (VIF) aims to reduce disease anddeath caused by vaccine-preventable diseases by:strengthening routine immunization programmesby achieving and maintaining high vaccination coverage with childhood vaccines; ensuring that all children, adolescents, adults, and women of childbearing age have equal access to safe andhigh-quality immunization services; ensuring that epidemiological surveillance, including laboratory networks, is sufficient to achieve and sustain diseaseelimination targets; supporting the implementation of an immunization week to promote immunization; and fostering appropriate partnerships withgovernmental and intergovernmental agencies, nongovernmental organizations andother relevant partners.
The WHO Country Office is an integral part of the WHO Regional Office for Europe. Its main role is to facilitate and coordinate all WHO activities at country level. This is done through facilitating the implementation of the Biennial Collaborative Agreement with the country and its corresponding work plan. The WHO Country Office maintains good working relations and ensures a two-way flow ofi nformation exchange between the country and WHO.
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
As part of a unit team, the incumbent performs a variety of secretarial, coordinating, monitoring and administrative services in support of project/programme activities, as follows:
Drafts correspondence and documents based on written/verbal prompts from the Professional staff of the unit.
Independently composes and finalizes correspondence of administrative nature.
Revises unit correspondence, reports, and documents for proper form and (non-technical) content.
Takes notes at meetings.
Types reports and other documentation.
Arranges duty travel.
Scans, records, refers and follows up correspondence and documents, evaluates the urgency or critical nature of items, and brings them to the attention of the responsible staff.
Informs and reminds responsible staff of follow-up dates and deadlines for response or specific actions, supplying supporting material as appropriate.
Using GSM, monitors aspects of the implementation of activities and availability of funds for project/programme budget levels and financial expenditures, according to the approved projects.
Assembles draft background for planning, monitoring and evaluation exercises.
Inputs duty travel recommendations and issues reminders re follow up, records project/programme monitoring and evaluation notes.
Makes administrative arrangements for country and intercountry activities including preparation of various committal documents related to procurement of goods and services, arrangements of study tours and duty travel in accordance with the approved programme budget/collaborative programmes with countries.
Assists in the organization of meetings held in-house orin Member States (working groups, seminars/courses, workshops, and symposia), i.e.: makes administrative preparations, including organization of practical local arrangements, advance transport of documents/equipment and hospitality.
Provides administrative and secretarial support during the meetings, and pays per diem to participants if required.
Prepares administrative reports.
Establishes and maintains the unit's filing system oftechnical documents and correspondence.
Creates background files and compiles reference material as appropriate.
Accesses and retrieves information from relevant databases and updates as required.
Responds to and acts on telephone enquiries.
Assesses the critical nature of technical enquiries and refers them to appropriate staff for reply.
Coordinates appointments for supervisor and organizes programmes for visitors.
Provides briefing and guidance to all staff on general office practices and procedures; assists/replaces colleagues in the team and performs other related duties as required.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS Education
Essential: Completion of secondary school or equivalent.
Desirable: Relevant higher education from an accredited institution.
Experience
Essential: At least 5 years of progressively responsible experience in the secretarial/administrative field.
Desirable: Experience in an international environment or institution. Relevant experience in WHO or in the UN.
Skills
Proficiency in the use of standard office computer software, note taking and operation of computerised systems and databases.
Use of Language Skills
Essential: Expert knowledge of English. Intermediate knowledge of local language.
Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of another WHO language: Russian, German or French.
