VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT
Title: National Professional Officer, FRH
Grade: NOC
Duty Station: WHO, Lesotho
Contract Type: Fixed Term
Duration: 2 years (renewable)
Vacancy Notice No.: 2308346
Deadline of Applications: 27 September 2023
Applications are invited from suitably qualified Basotho candidates for the position of National Professional Officer in the WHO Country Office – Lesotho.
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
The position is to provide technical support at the national level. The incumbent will manage reproductive, maternal, newborn child and adolescent health(RMNCAH including gender activities which include prevention and management of violence against women; provide technical guidance to the Ministry of Health(MOH) and partners on the managerial, organizational and operational aspects of RMNCAH, the improvements in the integrated (RMNCAH) interventions, ensuring the alignment with the Global strategy for women’s, children’s and adolescents’ health 2016–2030 and the WHO recommended strategies throughout the life cycle , with special focus on leaving none behind. Objectives of the Programme and of the immediate unit or field activity (Overview of the programme): The incumbent will report to the Team Leader of the FRH Cluster under the general guidance of the Head of the WHO country office. Within the delegated authority and in collaboration with other specialists at RO/HQs and in other offices the officer will undertake independently under broad guidance of the supervisor, family and Reproductive Health (FRH) in the country including establishing /maintaining good relations with national counterparts, multiple stakeholders from professional agencies to United Nations agencies, from development banks and other donors and funding agencies to establish collaborative and consultative models of policy dialogue and resource mobilization for projects. Organizational Context (Describe the work environment, the role of the individual within the team – team member, specialist, adviser, facilitator, coordinator/manager, representative, expert, authority in the field, etc.; available guidelines and degree of independence in decision making, and nature and purpose of contact within and outside the Organization): The incumbent will report to the Team Leader of the UHC/UCL Cluster under the general guidance of the Head of the WHO country office. Within the delegated authority and in collaboration with other specialists at HQs and RO and in other offices the officer will provide technical guidance to the MOH and partners. S/he will establish and maintain good collaboration with partners, and synergize with the WHO deployed RMNCAH staff , liaise with other units/teams within the country office, across the organization and partners for coordinating the implementation of the approved activities, ensuring alignment of purpose between headquarters and the respective regional office on matters related to RMNCAH/ Gender. S/he will also be responsible for reporting, performance assessment and evaluation of the planned activities, ensuring proper communication with partners and as appropriate.
Summary of Assigned Duties (Describe what the incumbent has to do to achieve main objectives; include main achievements expected):
- Provide technical guidance and managerial support to the WHO Country office team working on promoting health through the life course, facilitate the development and the implementation of the relevant work plans under the WHO-MOH collaborative programme and ensure the monitoring and evaluation of related activities.
- Promote the generation of evidence on promoting health through the life course and contribute to informed policy decisions by government and provide cutting edge policy advice.
- Help improve the information system on promoting health through the life course and the monitoring of progress towards UHC and facilitate its integration into the national health information system.
- Provide technical assistance and support for the development and adaptation to the country context of the relevant WHO’s normative materials (policy, strategies, guidelines, SOPs and production and/or adaptation of reports)
- Liaise and coordinate with concerned technical units/ departments of MOH and other concerned Ministries, WHO/ AFRO, WHO/HQ and donor and development partners (UN and bilateral) to harmonize recommendations on policies and strategies related to promoting health through the life course and advocate for inter-sectorial actions to address determinants.
- Contribute to the management of WCO’s knowledge and advise on matters regarding universal health coverage of promoting health through the life course, such as maternal and neonatal health, sexual and reproductive health, child and adolescent health and healthy ageing.
- Advise in strengthening and integrating, innovative models of engagement with private sector and other non-state actors, research, and innovations in the promotion of health through the life course approach.
- Collaborate with MOH and other concerned Ministries and sub national levels to undertake gap analyses and support capacity building efforts in deficient areas to ensure that priorities are fulfilled.
- Contribute to evaluation of the impact of WHO’s collaboration with the Government (aggregated and area specific) and to developing evaluation tools (e.g. defining the necessary performance indicators)
- Support information brokering/exchange function of the WCO through contributions to the health information repository at the WCO by collation, analysis and sharing of relevant health information and statistics.
- Contribute to the external relationships, representation, communication, and advocacy work of the WCO aimed at improving health system transparency and accountability.
- Prepare administrative and technical reports and presentations as necessary.
- Perform other duties as requested by supervisors.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education (Qualifications):
Essential: University degree in medicine, public health or a health-related field, with specialized training in pediatrics, obstetrics or reproductive health from an accredited/recognized institute.
Desirable: Advanced degree in medicine, public health or a health-related field.
Experience:
Essential: At least five years of progressively responsible professional experience in planning, implementing, coordination, monitoring and evaluating RMNCAH programmes. Practical and field experience in improving reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health services. Related experience working closely with government and international agencies.
Desirable: Relevant work experience with WHO and/or UN agencies, health cluster partners; experience working in relevant nongovernmental or humanitarian organizations.
Applications are to be submitted online at WHO’s Recruitment website: https://careers.who.int/careersection/ex/jobdetail.ftl?job=2308346&lang=en
The system provides instructions for online application procedures.
Note: Only short listed Candidates will be acknowledged. Any appointment /extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Rules and Procedures.
WHO is a tobacco-free environment
The candidate should have no history of sexual exploitation, abuse, harassment and bullying.