Health Policy Advisor - Multiple Locations at World Health Organization

Summary Of Assigned Duties

• WHO country offices support national authorities to shape their health policy in line with WHO’s principles and values and advocate for an integrated approach to health development. The health policy advisor will provide the head of the WHO country office and ministry of health with technical support and mobilize expertise for policy advisory services for the development and implementation of national health policies, strategies, and plans (NHPSP) to strengthen the country’s health system, moving towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

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

• Work in coordination with all technical focal points at regional and headquarters levels, under the

Guidance Of The Head Of The WHO Country Office.

• Provide and mobilize technical advice to the government and national stakeholders on the design, implementation, and evaluation of national health policies for health system strengthening to move towards universal health coverage (UHC), by:
• Strengthening the capacity of national stakeholders to organize and lead an effective health policy dialogue and reform the implementation process (including by developing strategic intelligence on key health system reform issues, focusing on priority areas of health financing, public health, primary care, health workforce and governance)
• the development of an aligned, service-delivery vision to strengthen public health and primary care services so as to better prevent and control communicable and noncommunicable diseases; and the transformation of health financing arrangements for universal health coverage, including improving governance and accountability
• the alignment of other critical system functions such as human resource and accessible policies for medicines and technologies, as well as strengthened governance arrangements.
• the improvement and implementation of a monitoring and evaluation framework for health systems strengthening, agreeable to all stakeholders, with communicable and noncommunicable diseases health targets, linked to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
• the provision 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
• the identification of 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.
• Establish and strengthen links and partnerships with public and private institutions, nongovernmental agencies and scientific bodies, for the exchange of information, coordination of activities and implementation of sector wide approaches.
• Demonstrate the impact of reforms on health outcomes and UHC through facilitating impact

evaluations in the areas of health financing, public health, and primary care.
Competencies

• Teamwork
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
• Communication
• Producing Results
• Ensuring effective use of resources
• Creating an empowering and motivating environment

Functional Knowledge And Skills

• Technical knowledge and skills in policy formulation and implementation.
• Technical knowledge and skills in planning, monitoring, and evaluating health systems.
• Knowledge of primary- healthcare-based health systems, health systems transformation and reform.
• Knowledge of health financing policy analysis for universal health coverage.
• Technical expertise in planning, monitoring and evaluating health systems.
• 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.
• Technical knowledge and skills in planning, monitoring, and evaluating health systems.
• Proficiency in computers and office software packages, handling of web-based management systems, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems and Cloud Management Enterprise System such as Workday.
• Ability to identify and manage one’s own emotions, as well as helping others to do the same.

Educational Qualifications

• Essential: Advanced university degree (master’s level) in public health, health systems/services administration, health management or health related field or formal, equivalent qualifications in International/global health policy or in similar fields.
• Desirable: Post-graduate training or specialization in health systems and/or health planning, management, or health economics.

Experience

• Essential: A minimum of seven years of work experience relevant to the position (such as in health-sector policy, strategy development, and planning), with some of it obtained in an international work environment. Specific experience required in health financing. A minimum of four years of experience is required in a governmental institution or international organization serving either (i) resource-limited countries or (ii) middle-income countries.
• Desirable: Experience in health sector assessments analyses, evaluation, and reporting. A track record in consensus building and enlisting cooperation by diverse national stakeholders. Some of the above-listed experience to have been obtained at an international level.

Use Of Language Skills

• Excellent knowledge of English . Working knowledge of another WHO official language would be an asset.