Unit Lead (Disability and Rehabilitation) At World Health Organization

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

WHO’s work in countries operationalizes the General Programme of Work (GPW14) and the European Programme of Work 2025-2029 (EPW2). GPW14 focuses on accelerating progress toward Health for All by strengthening systems for health, improving access to essential services, advancing preparedness and resilience, and reducing health inequalities. EPW2, endorsed at RC75 following extensive consultation with Member States, reaffirms WHO/Europe’s role in bringing unique value to countries through five core functions:
1. International knowledge hub for health – providing authoritative evidence, norms, policies and best practices from across the Region and globally to inform national public health decision-making.
2. Impartial coordinator for everyone’s health – convening national stakeholders and partners to align strategies and support coherent, multisectoral responses to shared health challenges.
3. Leader in tracking and managing cross-border health threats – supporting surveillance, preparedness, and coordinated action on public health emergencies in line with the Preparedness 2.0 agenda.
4. Driver of health system transformation – advising national authorities on evidence-informed reforms and policies that strengthen health systems and improve performance.
5. Voice for health equity – helping countries identify who is being left behind and integrating equity considerations into health policies and strategies.

In this context, WHO Country Offices enable the translation of global and regional commitments into national action. They support Member States by providing strategic advice, convening dialogue across sectors and partners, connecting national authorities with WHO’s technical expertise, and facilitating the use of evidence and best practices to inform policy.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

To lead the WHO Ukraine Country Offices’ Rehabilitation and Disability Unit, of the Health Programs team, to implement the 5-year Rehabilitation, Assistive Technologies, Long Term Care and Disability Strategy in Ukraine. To provide technical support and assist the Government of Ukraine in improving the health of people with impairments and disabilities through access to general health services as well as rehabilitation, assistive devices and disability inclusion, and to increase evidence-based policy and program decision-making through improved data and appropriate information systems.

Key duties:

• Provide leadership and coordination for the WHO rehab and disability team and visiting consultants, to ensure all activities are aligned with WHO’s 5-year strategy and monitoring framework and that any emergency interventionspromote longer-term heath system strengthening in Ukraine.
• Provide direct technical and methodological support todevelop/strengthen rehabilitation services for key stakeholders.
• Provide technical support to strengthen WHO’s approach to specialized rehabilitation for patients with traumatic and other injuries and to non-specialized rehab at primary andsecondary levels by:
• Supporting leadership of the Rehabilitation Working Group (RWG) by strengthening service mapping and identification of gaps.
• Maintainingup to date information on centres and organizations providing rehabilitation services and assistive products.
• Improving referral pathways of trauma patients, working with rehab partners and clinical stakeholders in eastern oblasts.
• In collaboration with WHO logistics and procurement teams support the provision of essential equipment and AT to raise capacity of inpatient rehabilitation settings and promote AT access in the community inmultiple Oblasts of Ukraine.
• Support recruitment and deployment of WHO consultancy and other staff, including multi-disciplinary international rehabilitation teams.
• Support development of project proposals and project implementation,monitoring and evaluation plans ensuring alignment with the WHO Ukraine 5-year rehab and disability monitoring framework.
• Support further resourcemobilization for Ukraine CO. Providetechnical support to strengthen WHO’s disability inclusion strategy by:
• Providing technical support to the UN Disability Task Team (DTT) coordination body; andimplementation of the new WHO disability inclusion project in partnership withOPDs, NGOs and UN agencies.
• Identify and communicate priorities, plans, needs andconcerns related to the emergency health response, recommending coordination mechanisms, training and improvements to the country’s response.
• This will include ongoing need assessments and response planning.
• Support the national rehabilitation and disability technicalofficer to influence rehabilitation and AT policy development in Ukraine.
• Contribute to the development of country and regional evidence and data on disability and rehabilitation including vision and hearing impairment.
• Oversee, enhance, implement, monitor and evaluate the European regional work on Disability and Rehabilitation.
• Develop and recommend norms and procedures concerning the technical aspects of disabilities and rehabilitation services.
• Representt he Organization in technical meetings, seminars and academic events in thearea of disabilities and rehabilitation programs.
• Perform other related responsibilities and duties within the scope ofthe work as required by the supervisors.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: Advanced University (Master`s level) degree in rehabilitation, public health, medicine, or related areas relevant to the position.
Desirable: Additional post-graduate qualification in management.

Experience

Essential: At least seven yearsof experience at the international level in planning, implementing, managing andevaluating programmes in disability and rehabilitation. Practical experience inimplementing or advising health or governmental institutions, NGOs, etc. onrehabilitation and assistive technology, such as wheelchairs or prostheticdevices, in lower- and middle-income countries.
Desirable: Relevantexperience working with WHO, the United Nations, orother multi development agencies which are active in the field of disability, rehabilitationand assistive technology. Professional experience working in countries withinthe WHO European Region.

Skills

• Excellent knowledge of the technical area of rehabilitation, assistivetechnology, disability and community-based service development and good general knowledge of public health from a national and international perspective.
• Ability to work comfortably in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated knowledge of standard text, spreadsheet and presentationsoftware applications.
• Emotional intelligence; Ability to identify and manage one’s ownemotions, as well as helping others to do the same.

WHO Competencies

1. Teamwork
2. Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
3. Communication
4. Producing results
5. Moving forward in a changing environment
6. Creating an empowering and motivating environment

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable: Knowledge of any other UN language.

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 86,027 (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 2014 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

Link to apply: Job Description – Unit Lead (Disability and Rehabilitation) (2602890)