Health Policy Officer

Health Policy Officer, NO-B, Viet Nam - (2402376)

Grade: NO-B
Contractual Arrangement: Fixed-term appointment
Contract Duration (Years, Months, Days): 2 years
Posting Date Mar 13, 2024, 12:44:45 PM
Closing Date Apr 4, 2024, 4:59:00 AM
Primary Location Viet Nam-Hanoi
Organization WP_VNM Viet Nam
Schedule Full-time

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 WHO Country Office supports the country to shape its health policy in line with WHO’s principles and values and advocates for an integrated approach to health development.

The Health Policy Advisor will provide technical support for and coordinate policy advisory services to the head of the WHO country office and ministry of health for the development and implementation of national health policies, strategies, and plans (NHPSP) including to strengthen the country’s health system, to move towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

The incumbent will perform all or part of the following, and other related responsibilities as required by the needs of the office.

• Work under the direct supervision of the respective (Senior) Health Policy Advisor and/or the head of the WHO country office and in coordination with all technical focal points at the regional and headquarters levels
• Coordinate and support provision of technical advice to the government and national stakeholders for the design, implementation and evaluation of national health policies for health system strengthening to move towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC)
• Support application of knowledge of the national context to strengthen the capacity of national stakeholders to organize and lead an effective health policy dialogue and reform implementation process including the development of strategic intelligence on key health system reform issues, focusing on priority areas of health financing, public health, primary care, health workforce and governance.
• Support development of an aligned, service-delivery vision to strengthen public health and primary care services to better prevent and control communicable and noncommunicable diseases.
• Contribute to transformation of health financing arrangements for UHC including improving governance and accountability.
• Support alignment with other critical system functions (such as human resource and accessible policies for medicines and technologies, as well as strengthened governance arrangements).
• Support the monitoring and evaluation framework for HSS, agreeable to all stakeholders, with communicable and noncommunicable diseases health targets, linked to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• Facilitate development of models and approaches in evidence-informed, health policy implementation and health systems’ strengthening to facilitate learning and capacity building in policy making at national level.
• Contribute to and coordinate synergies and networking between the WHO country office and other UN organizations, non-state actors, and international donors towards the implementation of health systems transformation at the country-level.
• Support links and partnerships with public and private institutions, non-governmental agencies and scientific bodies, for the exchange of information, coordination of activities and implementation of sector wide approaches.
• Contribute to the impact of reforms on health outcomes and UHC through facilitating impact evaluations in the areas of health financing, public health, and primary care.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: Bachelor’s degree in public health, or health policy, or health systems management or another relevant social science/field.
Desirable: Post-graduate training or specialization in health systems and/or health planning, management, heath economics, health services, or relevant social science/field.

Experience

Essential:

• A minimum of two years of work experience in health-sector policy, strategy development, and planning at the national level.
• Professional experience providing technical services to Member States and other partners in health policy and planning in resource limited settings.

Desirable:

• Experience with intergovernmental agencies, the United Nations System or WHO and knowledge of national partnerships and networks.
• Experience in consensus building and enlisting cooperation by diverse national stakeholders.

Skills

• Technical knowledge and skills in:

1. policy formulation and implementation; and/or
2. planning, monitoring, and evaluating health systems.

• Knowledge of:

1. primary- healthcare-based health systems, health systems transformation and reform; and/or
2. health financing policy analysis for universal health coverage.

• Excellent oral and written communication, including for reports, presentations and technical documents.
• Ability to provide sound methodological and technical guidance in health policy to multiple stakeholders and partners in countries.
• Ability to integrate, synthesize, and communicate health-policy concepts and ideas.

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 English and of the local language.

REMUNERATION

Remuneration comprises an annual base salary starting at USD 44,373 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable) and 30 days of annual leave.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• 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 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/ [1]. 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 E-Manual. The WHO is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect.
• The 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.

The WHO is committed to achieving gender parity and geographical diversity in its workforce . Women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of unrepresented and underrepresented Member States (https://www.who.int/careers/diversity-equity-and-inclusion [2]) are strongly encouraged to apply.

Persons with disabilities can request reasonable accommodations to enable participation in the recruitment process. Requests for reasonable accommodation should be sent through an email to [email protected] [3]

• An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential. WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and
• 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 (https://www.who.int/about/who-we-are/our-values [4]) 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 short-listed candidates.
• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
• 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. For external applicants, only those who are expected to complete the term of appointment will normally be considered.
• For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int [5]
• This is a National Professional Officer position. Therefore, only applications from nationals of the country where the duty station is located will be accepted.
• Applicants who are not nationals of this country will not 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 [email protected] [6].
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