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OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME The Department of Health Systems aims to strengthen health systems in the 10 Member States of the WHO South-East Asia Region, enabling them to advance towards UHC, achieve SDG 2030 health targets, and improve health system resilience. Within this context, the Health Information, Digital Health & AI (HDA) technical Unit supports countries in harnessing digital technologies—including data platforms, telehealth, digital public goods, interoperable systems, and responsible AI—to improve access, quality, efficiency, affordability, and equity of health services. The Unit provides technical leadership, strategic guidance, and capacity-building to help Member States design, govern, and scale secure, inclusive, and human-rights-aligned digital health ecosystems.
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
Under the overall guidance of the Director, Health Systems and the direct supervision of Regional Adviser, Digital Health and AI, the incumbent will:
1. Provide Technical Support: contribute to the development, implementation, and monitoring of regional and country-level strategies or blueprints on digital health and AI, including horizon scanning, innovations assessment, and identification of digital and AI solutions that strengthen health systems.
2. Support Country Capacity and Implementation: Provide technical assistance to Member States—individually and through intercountry initiatives—to design, implement, and evaluate digital health strategies, governance frameworks, enterprise architectures, and AI-enabled tools aligned with national health priorities and UHC goals.
3. Develop Norms, Tools, and Standards: Adapt and apply WHO guidelines, frameworks, and tools to strengthen digital health and AI governance, cyber security, health data quality, data and digital standards, digital interoperability, responsible AI use, and privacy & human-rights safeguards in Member States.
4. Policy Dialogue and Advocacy: Support the supervisor in engaging with senior government officials and multisectoral partners, including contributing to the provision of technical inputs on policies, financing mechanisms, regulatory requirements, and institutional arrangements that enable sustainable and equitable digital transformation.
5. Partnership Coordination: Collaborate closely with WHO Headquarters, WHO Country Offices, regional partners, UN agencies, multilateral institutions, technical networks, and WHO Collaborating Centres to build partnerships, mobilize support, and harmonize digital health and AI initiatives in the Region.
6. Knowledge Generation, Resource mobilization and Evidence Synthesis: Generate and synthesize evidence on digital health and AI, develop policy briefs, write grants for resource mobilization and regional knowledge products, contribute to research, and support evaluation of digital health programmes.
7. Communication and Knowledge Sharing: Develop communication materials, convene knowledge exchange events, and ensure timely updates to Member States and WHO leadership on progress, challenges, and impact of digital health and AI initiatives.
8. Technical and Administrative Support: Provide high-quality, timely, client-oriented support to country offices and budget centres, strengthening their capacity to deliver measurable results for Member States.
9. Deliver comprehensive, timely, client and solution-oriented technical and administrative support across all budget centers, proactively strengthening country office capacity through responsive engagement, collaboration, and accountability to deliver measurable results for Member States.
10. Perform Other Duties: Perform any additional tasks assigned by the Regional Adviser, Digital Health & AI, or the Director, Health Systems.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education
Essential: University degree in Computer Science, Information and Communication Technology, Digital Health, Health Informatics, Public health or a related discipline.
Desirable: Advanced degree (Master's or Doctorate) in computer science, public health, health informatics, digital health, or a related field. Formal training in AI, data science, or digital transformation.
Experience
Essential: At least five years of relevant experience, in implementing digital technologies including AI in health sector of which some experience in field of digital health strategy development or implementation of digital heath transformation at the country level
Desirable: Experience in UN or other multi- or bilateral development agencies active in digital health as well as international experience of work in digital health domain particularly in the WHO South-East Asia Region countries.
Skills
Essential: Demonstrated technical expertise in digital health, health information systems, and AI applications in health. Strong analytical skills to assess global digital health and AI trends and translate them into regional and national actionable strategies. Knowledge of digital health governance, interoperability, data protection, and cyber security. Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English. Ability to work collaboratively and effectively in multicultural and multidisciplinary environments.
Desirable: Familiarity with digital health maturity levels, enterprise architecture, and digital public infrastructure.Knowledge of digital health ecosystems in WHO South-East Asia Region countries.
WHO Competencies
-Teamwork
-Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
-Communication
-Producing results
-Moving forward in a changing environment
Use of Language Skills
Essential: Expert knowledge of English.
REMUNERATION
WHO salaries for staff in the Professional category are calculated in US dollars. The remuneration for the above position comprises an annual base salary starting at USD 71,335 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable), a variable post adjustment, which reflects the cost of living in a particular duty station, and currently amounts to USD 1813 per month for the duty station indicated above. Other benefits include 30 days of annual leave, allowances for dependent family members, home leave, and an education grant for dependent children.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- Staff members who have been separated as a result of the 2025 Prioritization and Realignment Process will be given special consideration.
- This vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade level
- Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
- A written test and/or an asynchronous video assessment may be used as a form of screening.
- In the event that 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.
- 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.
- Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and Manual.
- The Director-General retains the discretion to not make any appointment to this vacancy, to make an appointment at a lower grade, or to make an appointment with a modified job description, including shortening the duration of the appointment.
- Staff members in other duty stations are encouraged to apply.
- WHO is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. 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.
- WHO is committed to achieving gender parity and geographical diversity in its staff. 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 may request reasonable accommodations (modifications or adjustments to the application or recruitment process) to support their participation in the application and recruitment process. Please send an email to reasonableaccommodation@who.int with your full name, the vacancy number you are applying for, and specific details of the accommodation needed in your request.
- 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 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 final candidates.
- 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 International Professional category (Grades P1-D2) are eligible for Geographical Mobility and may be assigned to any activity or duty station of the Organization throughout the world.
- 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.
- The statutory retirement age for staff appointments is 65 years. For external applicants, only those who are expected to complete the term of appointment will normally be considered.
- 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.
- WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
- For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int.
- *For WHO General Service staff who do not meet the minimum educational qualifications, please see e-Manual III.4.1, para 220.
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