Technical Officer (Social Determinants of Health)

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that the deadline for receipt of applications indicated above reflects your personal device's system settings.

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The Division of Health Promotion, Disease Prevention and Control (DPC) aims to support Member States in achieving healthier populations through integrated, evidence-based, and equity-focused public health action. The Division's strategic objective is to reduce the burden of communicable and noncommunicable diseases, improve mental, child, and adolescent health, and address the broader determinants of health through multisectoral collaboration and life-course approaches. Through the Health Promotion and Policy (HPP) Unit, Social Determinants and Healthy Settings (SDH) Unit, and Nutrition and Food Safety (NFS) Unit, the Division supports Member States in advancing tobacco and alcohol control, injury prevention, physical activity, food safety, nutrition, and action on the social determinants of health—including gender, equity, human rights, violence prevention, and migration.

The Social Determinants and Healthy Settings (SDH) unit supports Member States to create healthier, more equitable communities by addressing the social, economic and commercial determinants of health. This is achieved by strengthening governance and leadership for health equity; facilitating intersectoral collaboration to promote healthy settings; advancing community engagement to reach vulnerable populations; and improving data, monitoring and accountability to inform policy and action, including through the integration of gender equality and human rights.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Generic Duties

1. Provide input to the work program in the area of Public health with regards to Health Equity and Social Determinants of Health and assist the Responsible Officer in the successful implementation of national health systems and/public health policies.

2. Undertakes research on the public health topics to facilitate the development and implementation of the public health programmes and activities.

3. Draft, revise and further develop public health guidelines, national strategies and provide recommendations on a plan of action for improvement in the existing public health policies and health systems.

4. Monitor work plans and budgets including resource mobilization for the work programme and follow up on the implementation of planned activities.

5. Conduct data analyses and information on best practices and partners' experiences in implementing sustainable Public health systems and disseminate information.

6. Participates in capacity building in the area of Public health systems and the management and financing of the systems.

7. Analyze and evaluate best practices from a variety of public health databanks and information related to disease outbreak; identify disease sources and provide recommendations concerning appropriate response to identified risks, and implementation of preventative measures and prepare reports

8. Conducts a variety of community outreach activities concerning the extension of health-care networks.

9. Serve as a technical resource at counterpart level concerning communicable diseases in the country(ies); respond to inquiries and provide detailed and technical information concerning related principles, practices, issues, measures, techniques and procedures

10. Perform all other related duties as assigned.

Specific duties

11. Inline with the WHO Fourteenth General Programme of Work, to coordinate the implementation of the social determinants policies and programmes to promote health equity.

12. To network and liaise with partners, stakeholders and other WHO offices and headquarters to foster joint initiatives at regional and country levels.

13. Produce high quality written documents such as concept notes, technical briefs, draft oral communications and reports on the SDH and related issues.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: A first university degree in public health or social sciences or health sciences or related discipline.
Desirable: Advanced university degree in public health, sociology, gender, equity, community engagement and/or human rights.

Experience

Essential: At least five years' experience, including relevant international exposure, in public health and health inequity programmes. Experience in social determinants of health and cross-cutting issues, including gender, human rights and health equity mainstreaming
Desirable:

Skills

• Strong theoretical and practical knowledge of social determinants of health and their role in reducing health inequities
• Ability to adapt and apply the general concepts of health equity and social determinants and proportionate universalismto country contexts
• Strong interpersonal and diplomatic skills
• Integrity, tact, discretion and sensitivity to cultural differences
• Good negotiation, communication and advocacy skills Excellent writing skills
• Ability to review and revise policies and objectives
• Ability to establish harmonious working relationships as part of a team, adapt to diverse educational and cultural backgrounds, and maintain a high standard of personal conduct
• Ability to demonstrate gender equity and cultural appropriateness in the delivery of services to Member States.
  

WHO Competencies

Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Producing results
Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of Other UN languages.

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 71,335 (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 1629 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

• Staff members separated due to the 2025 Prioritization and Realignment Process will receive special consideration according to the applicable regulatory framework.

• 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 eManual.

• The Director-General retains the discretion to not make any appointment to this vacancy, to make an appointment at a lower grade, or to make an appointment with a modified job description, including shortening the duration of the appointment.

• Staff members in other duty stations are encouraged to apply.

• WHO is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. 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.

• 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 may request reasonable accommodations (modifications or adjustments to the application or recruitment process) to support their participation in the application and recruitment process. Please send an email to reasonableaccommodation@who.int with your full name, the vacancy number you are applying for, and specific details of the accommodation needed in your request.

• 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 a fixed-term position in the International Professional category (Grades P1-D2) are eligible for Geographical 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.

• *For WHO General Service staff who do not meet the minimum educational qualifications, please see e-Manual III.4.1, para 220.

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