Special Services Agreement - Health Systems Officer

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Title: Health Systems Officer

Grade: No grade

Contractual arrangement: Special Service Agreement (SSA)

Contract duration: 12 months

Primary location: Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Schedule: Full-time

Overview of the programme

WHO works with national authorities to achieve the highest standard of health as a fundamental human right, based on equity and on the principle of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of ‘leaving no one behind’. WHO actions are ingrained in the 14th General Programme of Work (GPW14) 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 (UHC). 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.

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 Second European Programme of Work, 2026–2030 – “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 Country Office in Uzbekistan (WCO/UZB) collaborates with the Government of Uzbekistan and relevant national and international stakeholders and partners. Within the framework of the collaborative Country Cooperation Strategy, WCO/UZB supports the development and implementation of Uzbekistan’s national health policies, strategies and plans aiming at the overall health systems strengthening and progressed towards achieving UHC. It delivers technical cooperation through practical, actionable and country-focused solutions to health challenges, keeping in perspective that achieving health and well-being is a ‘whole-of-society’ and ‘whole-of-government’ endeavor.

Purpose of Technical Support

The purpose of this assignment is to provide technical support to the Government of Uzbekistan on health systems strengthening, with a focus on one of the areas: primary health care (PHC), health workforce and service delivery, health financing. Working in close coordination with WHO staff and experts, as well as with personnel from the Ministry of Health of Uzbekistan and key national health stakeholders, Health Systems Officer will contribute to analytical work, technical documentation (briefing materials, reports and knowledge products), stakeholder consultations, policy dialogue, technical missions, study visits and workshops. S/he will support the collection, review and synthesis of information from national authorities, development partners and other relevant sources, and provide technical inputs to WHO-supported reform processes.

Job Description

• Support overall day-to-day implementation of WCO/UZB work on health systems and related areas, monitor developments in Uzbekistan’s health policy process.

• Support the collection, review and synthesis of information on health systems strengthening reforms in Uzbekistan, contribute to identifying gaps and enabling factors related to health systems strengthening.
• Assist in reviewing national policies, strategies, decrees, reform roadmaps, implementation plans and technical documents relevant to health system reform.

• Assist in the preparation and documentation of trainings, policy dialogues, consultations, technical meetings, study visits and expert missions, including support in drafting agendas, concept notes, background materials, presentations, briefing packs, draft correspondence, meeting summaries and technical notes.
• Contribute to the drafting of technical reports, mission reports, meeting summaries, policy briefs, donor reporting inputs and other knowledge and communication products.

• Assist in tracking agreed follow-up actions from meetings, missions and consultations and documenting implementation status, challenges and emerging priorities.
• Support WCO/UZB staff in liaising with relevant national stakeholders.

• Support the Ministry of Health in aligning Uzbekistan’s national health policies with WHO global guidance and best international practice,
• Undertake other duties related to health systems strengthening, as agreed between WHO and the Ministry of Health of Uzbekistan

Educational and experience requirements

Education

Essential: University degree in Public Health, Medicine, Health Policy, Health Systems, Development Studies, International Relations, Public Policy, Political Science or another relevant field.
Desirable: Advance degree (Master’s or higher) in one of the areas above.

Experience

Essential:

· At least five years of relevant professional experience in public health, health systems strengthening, health policy or a related area

· Experience in supporting coordination and implementation of projects and programs in public health

· Experience in reviewing and preparing technical documents on health systems or related issues.

· Experience in planning, organizing and facilitating meetings, events, workshops for national and international audience

Desirable:

· Experience working with WHO, UN agency, national or international organization

· Experience in public health policy mainstreaming

Technical skills and knowledge

· In-depth understanding of health systems reforms in Uzbekistan

· Familiarity with key national and international partners working on health systems in Uzbekistan

· Knowledge of WHO policies and approaches on health systems strengthening

· Good coordination and stakeholder engagement skills

· Ability to support planning, implementation and monitoring of multi-partners activities

· Ability to work independently and collaboratively with diverse stakeholders

· Strong drafting, analytical and presentation skills

· Competency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) or similar software

Language

Essential: Fluency in Uzbek and English

Desirable: Good knowledge of Russian

Competency

· Communication

· Teamwork

· Producing results

· Building and promoting partnerships

· Technical expertise

Details of the proposed position

· This role is subject to local recruitment. Only nationals of Uzbekistan are eligible to apply

· Contract duration: 12 months, with the possibility of an extension subject to satisfactory performance, availability of funds and the need for the role

Additional Information

· This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar special services agreements at the same level.

· Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.

· A written test may be used as a form of screening.

· In the event your candidature is retained for 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.

· For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int.

· The WHO is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The WHO recruits workforce 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 for WHO jobs.

· 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

· 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.

· 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.

· 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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