PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

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.

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The Division of Country Health Policies and Systems (CPS) assists countries in the Region with the design and implementation of appropriate health policies and systems to strengthen universal health coverage. It works to strengthen data-driven, evidence-informed, contextually tailored health policy development and implementation at national, regional and local levels, taking an inclusive approach across the life course. The Division advocates strengthening of public health leadership, focusing on implementing policies that are people centred, promote health, prevent illness, and address the social and economic determinants of health, while fostering leadership on equity, human rights and gender mainstreaming in health. It focuses on building capacity for health systems innovation to enable the sustainable delivery of high-quality primary health and community services that are effectively linked to hospitals, and mental health, public health and social care services. To do so, CPS supports country efforts to facilitate access so as to leave nobody behind, to improve financial protection, to strengthen the health workforce, to increase access to affordable medicines and technologies, and to promote the uptake and implementation of digital technology.

The WHO country office works with the National Authorities to achieve the highest standard of health as a fundamental human right, based on equity and on SDGs principle of leaving no one behind. WHO actions are engrained in the WHO 13th General Programme of Work with its 3 prong objectives of promoting healthier populations, keeping the world safe through addressing health emergencies, and protecting the vulnerable through Universal Health Coverage. WHO’s mandate revolves around six core functions: (i) providing Global Health leadership; (ii) shaping the health research agenda; (iii) setting norms and standards; (iv) articulating evidence-based policy options; (v) providing technical support to countries; and (vi) monitoring and assessing health trends. The WHO Country Office is an integral part of the WHO Regional Office for Europe. Its main role is to facilitate and coordinate all WHO activities at country level and to implement the European Programme of Work 2020–2025 –“United Action for Better Health in Europe” which sets out a vision of how the WHO Regional Office for Europe can better support countries in meeting citizens’ expectations about health. WHO at country level delivers this through practical, actionable and country focused solutions to health challenges, keeping in perspective that achieving health and well-being is a whole-of-society endeavour; This is done through facilitating the implementation of the Biennial Collaborative Agreement with the country and its corresponding workplan. The WHO Country Office maintains good working relations and ensures information exchange between the country and WHO, policy and strategic guidance on Health issues to all national and international partners in the country, provision of direct technical expertise when needed and aims at more community engagement and participation, and to promote health equity.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

1. 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 interventions promote longer-term heath system strengthening in Ukraine.

2. Provide direct technical and methodological support to develop/strengthen rehabilitation services for key stakeholders.

3. 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 and secondary levels by:
a. Supporting leadership of the Rehabilitation Working Group (RWG) by strengthening service mapping and identification of gaps. Maintaining up to date information on centres and organizations providing rehabilitation services and assistive products.
b. Improving referral pathways of trauma patients, working with rehab partners and clinical stakeholders in eastern oblasts.

4. 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 in multiple Oblasts of Ukraine.

5. Support recruitment and deployment of WHO consultancy and other staff, including multi-disciplinary international rehabilitation teams.

6. 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 resource mobilization for Ukraine CO.

7. Provide technical support to strengthen WHO’s disability inclusion strategy by:
a. Providing technical support to the UN Disability Task Team (DTT) coordination body; and implementation of the new WHO disability inclusion project in partnership with OPDs, NGOs and UN agencies.

8. Identify and communicate priorities, plans, needs and concerns 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.

9. Support the national rehabilitation and disability technical officer to influence rehabilitation and AT policy development in Ukraine.

10. Contribute to the development of country and regional evidence and data on disability and rehabilitation including vision and hearing impairment.

11. Oversee, enhance, implement, monitor and evaluate the European regional work on Disability and Rehabilitation.

12. Develop and recommend norms and procedures concerning the technical aspects of disabilities and rehabilitation services.

13. Represent the Organization in technical meetings, seminars and academic events in the area of disabilities and rehabilitation programs.

14. Perform other related responsibilities and duties within the scope of the 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 years of experience at the international level in planning, implementing, managing and evaluating programmes in disability and rehabilitation. Practical experience in implementing or advising health or governmental institutions, NGOs, etc. on rehabilitation and assistive technology, such as wheelchairs or prosthetic devices, in lower- and middle-income countries.

Desirable: Relevant experience working with WHO, the United Nations, or other multi development agencies which are active in the field of disability, rehabilitation and assistive technology. Professional experience working in countries within the WHO European Region.

Skills

1. Excellent knowledge of the technical area of rehabilitation, assistive technology, disability and community-based service development and good general knowledge of public health from a national and international perspective.
2. Ability to work comfortably in a fast-paced environment.
3. Demonstrated knowledge of standard text, spreadsheet and presentation software applications.
4. Emotional intelligence; Ability to identify and manage one’s own emotions, 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: Basic knowledge of local language.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

1. This vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade level.

2. Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.

3. A written test and/or an asynchronous video assessment may be used as a form of screening.

4. In the event 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.

5. 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.

6. Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and E-Manual.

7. 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) 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 reasonableaccommodation@who.int

8. 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) into practice.

9. 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.

10. WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.

11. 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.

12. 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.

14. For information on WHO’s operations please visit: http://www.who.int

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

16. 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 Professional category with WHO are subject to mobility and may be assigned to any activity or duty station of the Organization throughout the world.

17. 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.

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