OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

Division Mandate:

To support countries to attain universal coverage of health services for better and equitable health outcomes. Health systems act as the foundation that both underpins and unifies public health efforts aimed at combating diseases and building healthy communities in an efficient and equitable manner, especially for high priority, excluded and underserved population groups. A strong health system foundation enables effectiveness of individual programmes and efficient use of shared system resources for all programmes. In addition, it also promotes community empowerment and participatory governance as means of integrating equity-enhancing and rights-based approaches as well as addressing the social determinants of health.

Unit Mandate:

To collaborate with Member States to address the underlying social determinants of health through health-in-all policies, community engagement and other approaches; develop and implement health policies and programmes that enhance health equity and integrate pro-poor, gender-responsive, and human rights-based approaches; and put in place policies and strategies to improve health literacy and to address the health needs of vulnerable populations such as older people, migrants and ethnic minorities.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Under the guidance and supervision of the Coordinator, Equity and Social Determinants and the Director, Health Systems, the incumbent will perform the following tasks:

• Support the provision of policy dialogue and advocacy to Member States in developing equity focused and gender responsive service models to advance universal health coverage and the SDGs;
• In line with the SDGs and the Thirteenth General Programme of Work, support WHO staff at the regional and country level to strengthen attention to, understanding of and capacity to integrate gender, equity, human rights and social determinants in policies and programmes;
• Support the provision of policy dialogue and advocacy to Member States on designing, implementing and monitoring policies and actions on gender, equity, social determinants of health, human rights and community engagement by promoting consensus across networks of internal/external stakeholders and support cross-sectoral work;
• Support the provision of policy dialogue and advocacy to Member States on tackling gender-based violence against women and girls;
• Facilitate, conduct research and support the development of tools and communication materials to be used in the advocacy on social determinants, equity, gender, human rights, migration, community engagement and SDGs, including maintaining webpages, databases and documenting and analyzing regional experiences and practices to promote continuous learning and quality improvement;
• Build partnerships and networks, liaise with other WHO offices and headquarters to support joint initiatives at regional and country levels and support new ways of working across programmes, sectors and stakeholders required for the achievement of universal health coverage and the SDGs; and
• Perform other tasks as required.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• Essential: University degree in one of the following or related fields: social/ political/ health sciences, economics, anthropology, international development or public health.
• Desirable: Advanced university degree in public health, gender, equity, community engagement or human rights.

Experience

• Essential: At least five years' experience, of which some should be exposure at the international level in public health, social sciences, economics, gender, human rights or related field.
• Desirable: Broad experience in mainstreaming gender, equity, human rights and other cross-cutting issues would be an asset.

Skills

• Broad expertise in mainstreaming gender, equity, human rights, social determinants, and experience in public health strategic planning.
• Ability to adapt and apply the general concepts of gender, equity, human rights and social determinants to country contexts.
• Strong interpersonal and diplomatic skills.
• Integrity, tact, discretion and sensitivity to cultural differences.
• Good negotiation, communication and advocacy skills.

WHO Competencies

• Teamwork
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
• Communication
• Knowing and managing yourself
• Producing results

Use of Language Skills

• Essential: Expert knowledge of written and spoken English.
• Desirable: Beginners knowledge of other UN languages.

Source:https://careers.who.int/careersection/ex/jobdetail.ftl?job=1901862&tz=GMT%2B05%3A30