DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
Under the leadership of the WHO Regional Director and guidance of senior management, the Head of WHO Country Office will:
*Provide strategic advice to national authorities, through the development, negotiation, and implementation of the Biennial Collaborative Agreement (BCA) and/or the Country Cooperation Strategy (CCS), ensuring alignment with GPW14, EPW2, and national priorities.
*Act as a trusted advisor and impartial convenor, fostering constructive dialogue between the Ministry of Health, other government sectors, development partners, civil society, and WHO to advance coherent, multisectoral approaches to health.
*Represent WHO in senior-level government discussions, UN coordination mechanisms (where relevant), and partner forums, advocating for health as fundamental to national stability, prosperity and security.
*Enable access to WHO’s technical expertise, connecting national stakeholders with relevant specialists across the Regional Office, Headquarters, and regional/global networks to support evidence-informed policy-making and health system transformation.
*Promote and support health security and preparedness efforts, ensuring coordination on cross-border health threats and contributing to strengthened national and regional resilience.
*Bring a futures and foresight perspective to policy dialogue by identifying emerging trends, opportunities, and risks, and advising national counterparts and WHO technical divisions on their strategic implications.
*Maintain strategic relationships with national institutions, public bodies, academic and scientific organizations, professional associations, and media to support informed debate, transparency, and awareness of WHO’s work.
*Promote WHO’s equity agenda, helping national authorities identify inequities and integrate equity considerations into health planning, monitoring, and decision-making.
*Advance the sustainability and impact of WHO’s work in the country by supporting resource mobilization efforts and strengthening strategic partnerships, including with government, UN agencies, donors, civil society, and other stakeholders. This includes facilitating access to adequate and predictable financial and in-kind resources, in line with WHO policies, to strengthen WHO’s capacity to deliver its core advisory, convening, and technical functions in support of national health priorities.
*Ensure effective two-way communication between the Member State and WHO, informing national counterparts of relevant WHO resolutions, strategies, and initiatives, and providing the Regional Office with timely intelligence and strategic updates on country developments.
*Contribute to monitoring and reporting, ensuring that country-level progress, challenges, and lessons feed into regional and global processes, strengthening WHO’s collective situational awareness and accountability.
*Oversee the proper functioning of the Country Office, ensuring that operations are conducted efficiently, transparently, and in compliance with WHO rules, procedures, and standards.
REQUIRED QUALIFIATONS
Education
Essential: University degree in medicine, health related areas or social science
Desirable: Master’s degree in public health and/or health management.
Experience
Essential: At least 5 years of relevant experience at the national level in managing health programmes.
Desirable:
Experience within a UN organization.
Experience with the management of project
WHO Competencies
Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond
Producing results
Moving forward in a changing environment
Communication
Teamwork
Creating an empowering and motivating environment
Functional Knowledge and Skills
Sound knowledge of the socio-political, economic and health situation in the country.
USE OF LANGUAGE SKILLS
Essential:
Expert knowledge of English
Expert knowledge of local language
