World Health Organization
Venice, Italy
Description of duties
Purpose of the post
As a core staff member of the Policy and Cross-Cutting Programmes and Regional Director's Special projects Unit - European Office for Investment for Health and Development ("Venice Office"), the incumbent will be responsible for a dynamic and rapidly growing area of WHO's work in response to increasing requests from Member States and other partner institutions to coordinate and, when required, produce evidence and provide country policy support in two main areas: (1) strengthening the capacity of Member States in assessing the economic consequences of socially determined health inequities (2) systematizing the policy implications and the strengthening of Health Systems and Ministries of Health related to the social determinants of health. Such support needs to be provided by tailoring action to the specific country contexts of the 53 Member States of WHO/EURO. This work is closely linked to global WHO and United Nations initiatives, follow up actions to the recommendations from the Commission on Macroeconomics and Health (CMH), the Commission on Social Determinants of Health (CSDH), and the 2008 European Ministerial Conference on Health Systems. Within the context of the WHO Global MTSP 2008 - 2013, the incumbent would deliver technical assistance to achieve Global Expected Results within Strategic Objective 7 as well as Expected Results within other Strategic Objectives, when relevant.
Policy Support Function
In conjunction with other relevant technical units and WHO Country Offices, to assess the evidence to strengthen the capacity of Ministries of Health and governments, to enable them to advocate and achieve better synergy between their economic, social and health agenda and to ensure that socioeconomic determinants of health and of socially determined health inequities are addressed.
In cooperation with requesting Member States, to analyze the country patterns of ill-health and identify their major social and economic determinants, as well as the determinants of health inequities, and jointly develop potential policy options to address these determinants. To advise countries and provide policy support in the form of policy analysis, policy dialogue, training and know-how development on policy implementation to address the social determinants of health from a multi-sectoral perspective.
In collaboration with other technical officers, to contribute to the overall development and implementation of the Regional Office's work plan on investment in health and social determinants of health, and its methodological tools including their testing, application and implications of this work in addressing social determinants of health at country level.
Evidence Function
To take responsibility for the PCR Unit - Venice Office scientific products and publications related to the socio-economic determinants and consequences for population health, including socio-economic inequities in health, and coordinate the collection and analysis of policy-relevant evidence related to the findings from the Commission of Social Determinants of Health (CSDH), within the European context.
To coordinate with other core staff of the PCR unit, the review, monitoring and systematisation of new research findings linking social and economic development to health, including managing, coordinating and conducting selected country case studies.
Required Qualifications
Education
Essential:
Advanced university degree in development economics and/or public health, with specialization in quantitative methodologies and familiarity with qualitative methods of research in the field of socio-economic determinants of health.
Desirable: PhD in one of the above fields.
Skills:
Functional skills and knowledge:
- Excellent knowledge and understanding of the links between social, economic, cultural and environmental determinants of health and health equity. In particular, deep knowledge about how gender inequalities contribute to the poor quality of health of women and men among vulnerable populations, and how to address them. Knowledge of MS Office package;
- Building and promoting partnerships across the Organization: Ability to work collaboratively with team members and counter parts inside and outside the organization to achieve results. Encourages co-operation and builds rapport among fellow team members at all levels;
- Communicating in a credible and effective way: Excellent writing ability, as reflected in a history of high-quality and concise scientific articles and technical reports. Excellent presentation skills, as reflected in a history of high quality technical and policy related presentations in international fora;
- Producing results: Ability to produce high-quality results and workable solutions that meet client needs. Acts appropriately without prompting and makes things happen; handles problems effectively;
- Creating an empowering and motivating environment: Ability to provide staff with clear direction and support in meeting objectives. Provides staff with regular feedback, recognizes good performance and addresses performance issues. Motivates staff to achieve individual and team goals;
- Ensuring the effective use of resources: Establishes measures to monitor resources and progress of activities as planned. Monitors costs and seeks to use the most cost-effective methods. Identifies, organizes and effectively manages the financial and human resources needed to achieve results. Identifies priorities and defines realistic objectives and timelines.
Experience:
Essential:
A minimum of 7 years of professional experience in the domain of socio-economic determinants of health, of which at least 4 years of experience in applied policy research at the international level and/or with international agencies, academic and/or development institutions in the area of economic and social development. Proven experience with advising countries on health or economic policy and proven experience of work within the policymaking of finance, investment and development agencies.
Desirable: Experience in the European Region of WHO. Experience in scientific publications in the field of health and socioeconomic development.
Languages:
Essential: Excellent knowledge of English and working knowledge of another official WHO and/or WHO EURO language.
Desirable: Good knowledge of other European languages.
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