Objectives of the Cluster and Of the Immediate Strategic Objectives
The overall objective of the Programme is to provide leadership and ensure action in supporting Member States to prevent morbidity, mortality, and disability of their populations from Non-Communicable Disease using a multi-sectoral approach. It provides policy guidance and technical assistance to Member States to facilitate implementation of the NCD Global Action Plan, within the context of the WHO Special Initiatives for NCDs and Mental Health for a multisectoral response to NCDs, Mental and Neurologic Disorders (MNDs), and alcohol and substance use, while promoting human rights, gender and equity, and protecting public health from commercial interests.
The Programme builds and strengthens strategic partnerships with global and regional partners, for synergy and harmonization of strategies and approaches to enhance the capacity of Member States to develop, implement, monitor and evaluate multisectoral, integrated, evidence-based, and people-centered policies, strategies, guidelines and plans, as part of strengthened and resilient health systems, to deliver high-quality, integrated NCD and MNS services at all levels of care, especially at PHC level, to facilitate the attainment of Universal Health Care (UHC). These include early diagnosis, screening and treatment of NCDs and risk factors; eye, ear and oral health and rehabilitation and disability services. The Programme also supports the building and maintenance of national and regional and national information systems related to NCDs and mental health, neurology and alcohol and other substance use, including data collection, analysis, and reporting to meet the requirements related to GPW13 and SDGs, as well as Risk Factor Surveys, Facility Based Surveys, and monitoring country capacity and performance.
The goal is to enable countries in the WHO African Region to ensure evidence-based policies and strategies are in place to achieve universal access to high-quality, integrated, people-centered health services, increase the coverage and quality of effective interventions, and to create mechanisms to measure the impact of those strategies and interventions.
Purpose of the Position
Within the context of the UHC/CND Cluster, the purpose of the position is to provide technical leadership to the work of the Multicountry Assignment Teams (MCATs) in the identified locations in the guidance and support to Member States of an AFRO sub-region in the prevention and control of NCDs and mental disorders through strengthened and resilient health systems to deliver integrated, NCD services in health and related social sectors, at all levels; multisectoral action across the life course and continuum of care; the development and implementation of cross-cutting Guidelines, medicines and technology, strengthened surveillance; and the mobilizing of domestic and external resources for integrated NCDs and Mental disorders management and psychosocial support.
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):
Context – Under the direct supervision of the WHO Representative (WR) in the host country and UCN Director, in consultation with other WRs sharing in the Multicounty Assignment Teams (MCATs) in the identified locations, the incumbent is an organizational specialist who will provide direct technical guidance, and support to member states, in an AFRO sub-region, in the prevention and control of NCDs and mental disorders through the strengthening of their health systems to deliver integrated, NCD services in health and related social sectors, at PHC and all levels. S/he will implement the work assignments guided by the resolutions of the Regional Committee, the World Health Assembly, the WHO Global Action Plan for NCDs prevention and control 2013-2020; other relevant guidance documents as well as WHO/AFRO Strategies and frameworks, national priorities and needs of the Member States of the Region. The officer will exchange information and guide a range of internal and external partners, to enhance multi-sectoral collaboration in prevention and control of NCDs and mental disorders in the context of integrated NCDs’ prevention and control.
Contacts – Under the administrative and overall supervision of the hosting WR and UCN Director and in consultation with other WRs; the general Functional supervision of the MCATs Coordinator and; the technical supervision of the NCD Programme Coordinator the incumbent will collaborate, exchange information, promote, and integrate strategies, approaches, plans, and initiatives on the development and implementation of programmes for the prevention and control of NCDs and mental disorders including collaboration with other MCATs, Programmes and Clusters of the Regional Office, WHO Country offices and Collaborating Centers, as well as ministries of Health, research and teaching institutions, other national health officials, and strategic partners including UN Country teams, donors, Civil Society Organizations, NGOs, community-based and community-led organizations. S/he forges and strengthens partnerships and networks to enhance multi-sectoral collaboration to address integrated NCDs’ prevention and control with a focus on NCDs and mental disorders. The incumbent continually collaborates in cross-Cluster work and task teams to achieve organizational results.
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
The incumbent will be expected to perform the following duties:
• Provide leadership and promote the prevention and control of NCDs and mental disorders, across the life course even in emergency situations;
• Implement innovative ways of working to facilitate strong collaboration and linkages with programmes, clusters, and partners (WHO Collaborating Centers, research and teaching institutions, NGOs, regional and sub regional economic entities, etc.) to ensure that appropriate, efficient and timely support is provided to countries, even during emergencies.
• In coordination with the WRs, improve or establish mechanisms or platforms for cross-border activities which should address multiple issues and document best practices in cross-border collaboration;
• Promote cross-cutting, end-to-end delivery to achieve impact and strengthen health systems to deliver integrated, NCD services at PHC and all levels of care for UHC;
• Technically lead the development and implementation of cross-cutting Guidelines, medicines, and technology, strengthening effective referral services;
• Build the capacity of Member States and WHO technical staff; at all levels, for provision of essential NCDs and mental health services in all situations and advocate for conducive policies and strategies;
• Provide technical advisory and support services to enable countries to develop/adapt and implement WHO technical packages at PHC level to address NCD and their risk factors, mental health, and substance abuse through multisectoral action across the life course and continuum of care;
• Foster research, and promote innovations on the integrated service delivery of NCDs in the region and ensure that the individual county technical support needs are fulfilled working with the WRs, clusters and partners including through the use of expertise outside of WHO;
• Strengthen surveillance, monitoring and evaluation of NCDs, their risk factors, and mental health including the GPW 13 impacts and outcomes, global and regional health trends, Sustainable Development Goals’ indicators, health inequalities and disaggregated data; and Support individual countries consolidate health data, information and intelligence to highlight progress and identify challenges to achieving programmatic goals and on the basis of that document the technical support needs to improve or sustain progress;
• Technically advocate for and support the inclusion of NCDs and Mental disorders into the national Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) system in order to strengthen individual disease/condition-based surveillance;
• Collaborate with, and technically support national officials and country staff to adapt the WHO Package of Essential NCDs interventions (WHO PEN), MH GAP, and other NCD and mental-health, service-delivery models;
• Provide support to countries in the MCATs to prevent and control NCDs and mental disorders in the context of national health policies and strategies and promote a system-based approach to integrate NCDs and MH in health and related social sectors, in coordination with relevant agencies and entities;
• Technically support member States to develop, implement, and evaluate NCDs and Mental health policies, strategies, and national plans for strengthening health systems to provide priority health services at PHC facilities;
• Strengthen partnership and collaboration with all stakeholders and alliances in order to harmonize and streamline country support for integrated management of NCDs and mental disorders at all levels;
• Contribute to mobilizing domestic and external resources for integrated NCDs and Mental disorders prevention and management and psychosocial support, by using innovative resource mobilization techniques;
• Perform other related responsibilities as assigned, including replacing and backstopping for others as required.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
WHO Competencies
• Moving forward in a changing environment
• Promoting the Organization’s position in Health Leadership
• Producing Results
• Building and Promoting Partnerships across the Organization and Beyond
• Communication
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Functional Knowledge and Skills
• Extensive, area-specific, technical and programmatic knowledge of programmes and approaches for integrated, capacity-building programmes and interventions including one or more of the following disciplines: clinical public health; Cardiovascular diseases; Diabetes; chronic respiratory diseases; Cancers; Mental Health and substance abuse; common NCD risks factors prevention, working knowledge of district hospital care, Universal health coverage, in-service and pre-service training and capacity building, Essential NCD and MH drugs, PHC delivery systems;.
• Demonstrated ability to innovate, provide clear advice and guidance to multiple stakeholders and partners.
• Willingness to share technical knowledge.
Education
Essential:
Medical degree with post-graduate degree in public health or specialization in one of the four major NCDs from an accredited/recognized institute
Desirable:
Advanced university degree (Masters level or above) in a health-related field
Experience
Essential:
• A minimum of 7 years’ experience in developing, managing, and/or providing medical advisory services for the prevention and management of one or more major NCDs through policy guidance and capacity building in programmes, at the international and national level.
Desirable:
• Experience in capacity building, developing, and promoting collaborative partnerships.
• Relevant work experience in International Organizations, UN agencies, non-governmental or humanitarian organizations.
• Field experience in developing countries.
Use of Language Skills
Essential:
Expert knowledge of English or French with good working knowledge of the other.
The above language requirements are interchangeable.
Desirable:
Intermediate knowledge of Portuguese.
Other Skills (e.g. IT):
Working level of computer literacy with proven ability to use standard office software packages, including eHealth tools.
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 77,326 (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, Other benefits include 30 days of annual leave, allowances for dependent family members, home leave, and an education grant for dependent children.
