1. Background and Justification
Purpose of the Position
To provide strategic programme leadership and coordination for the Women in Leadership Programme, ensuring timely delivery of grant-funded results, effective management of implementing partners and service providers, adherence to donor requirements, achievement of project milestones, and integration of programme outputs into WHO AFRO policies, systems and practices.
2. Job Description
Objective of the Programme and the immediate Strategic Objective
The General Management and Coordination (GMC) Cluster plays a central role in ensuring that WHO’s regional and country operations are supported through coherent administrative, logistical, and operational frameworks. GMC has the overall responsibility for leading and coordinating the work of various Teams within its Cluster: the Regional Support Unit (RSU), the Regional Office Support Unit (ROSU), Budget and Management Systems (BMS), Compliance & Risk Management (CRMA), and Health and Medical Services (HMS).
The RSU is based in Pretoria and extends GMC’s operational reach by offering proximity administrative and operational services to the 47 country offices in WHO’s Africa Region, promoting agile, context-sensitive service delivery aligned with WHO’s priorities in the Region. The ROSU is based in Brazzaville and provides proximity support to the Regional Office for Africa, promoting agile, context-sensitive service delivery aligned with WHO’s operational priorities in the Region.
It also supports the Pretoria-based Regional Support Unit in providing effective and efficient operational services to the 47 countries of the region.
Organizational context (Describe the individual role of the incumbent within the team, focus in on work environment within and outside the organization)
The WHO Regional Office for Africa (AFRO) is implementing a Women in Leadership (WIL) programme supported through external grant funding which serves as a strategic organizational transformation initiative for WHO in the African Region. The 12-months programme seeks to accelerate progress towards gender equality across the African Region through strengthened accountability, organizational culture change and improved systems to attract, recruit, retain and advance women into leadership roles. The Programme Coordinator serves as the overall programme manager responsible for delivery of grant-funded outputs, management of service providers, stakeholder engagement, donor reporting and programme governance.
The incumbent reports to the Team Lead, Regional Office Support Unit (ROSU), WHO AFRO, and provides day-to-day supervision and work coordination for project personnel, consultants and service providers, including the Data and Reporting Officer (UNV).
Summary of Assigned duties (Describe what the incumbent has to do to achieve main objectives; include main achievements expected)
Specifically, the incumbent is responsible for:
1. Programme Management and Delivery
Lead planning, prioritization and sequencing of programme interventions across multiple organizational workstreams.
Identify implementation risks, recommend corrective actions, ensure compliance with donor and WHO requirements, and advise senior management on organizational readiness and policy implications.
Ensure alignment between programme outputs, WHO corporate priorities and regional transformation initiatives.
Coordinate overall implementation of the Women in Leadership Programme and achievement of project milestones and deliverables.
Develop and maintain project plans, workplans, schedules, risk registers and implementation trackers.
Monitor progress against the Results Framework and recommend corrective actions.
Coordinate programme governance structures, prepare decision-papers and facilitate executive level decision making.
2. Management of Service Providers and Consultants
Develop terms of reference, technical specifications and procurement requirements.
Coordinate procurement, contracting and onboarding of consultants and vendors.
Supervise and quality assure consultant deliverables.
Coordinate multiple outsourced workstreams and ensure integration of outputs.
3. Budget and Resource Management
Provide financial oversight of programme implementation, resource allocation and grant utilization
Track expenditure, forecasts and utilization of project resources ensuring compliance with donor and WHO financial requirements.
4. Stakeholder and Partnership Engagement
Coordinate engagement with senior management, country offices, employee networks and partners.
Organize consultations, workshops, validation meetings and stakeholder forums.
Serve as focal point for project communications and coordination.
5. Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Reporting
Supervise the Data and Reporting Officer and oversee MEL implementation.
Oversee the development and updating of project dashboards, indicators and reporting mechanisms.
Oversee the finalization of donor reports, progress reports and management updates.
Ensure lessons learned and evidence are captured and translated into recommendations.
6. Change Management and Organizational Integration
Provide substantive inputs to organizational change management efforts to facilitate adoption of new policies, behaviours and institutional practices supporting women's leadership across WHO AFRO.
Liaise with Business Owners for the integration of project outputs into AFRO policies, systems and management practices.
Promote organizational ownership and sustainability of programme outcomes.
Performs other duties as required.
3. Recruitment Profile
Competencies:
Describe the core, management and leadership competencies. See the Enhanced WHO Global Competency Model Guidelines.
Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Producing results
Moving forward in a changing environment
Functional Knowledge and Skills
Describe the essential knowledge and the skills specific to the position
Project management; stakeholder engagement; contract and consultant management; budget management; monitoring and evaluation; reporting; change management; communication and facilitation.
Education Qualifications
Essential
First university degree in Human Resources Management, Organizational Development, Public Administration, Social Sciences, Gender Studies, International Development, Public Health, Business Administration or related field.
Desirable
Advanced university degree.
Experience
Essential
Minimum five years of progressively responsible professional experience in project/programme management, monitoring and reporting, consultant management, stakeholder engagement and organizational change initiatives.
Desirable
Working experience from UN, international or NGO organizations
Use of Language Skills
Essential: Excellent knowledge of English or French with a good working knowledge of the other
Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of Portuguese
Other Skills (e.g., IT)
Computer literate and ability to use relevant software and applications.
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 2,669 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 separated due to the 2025 Prioritization and Realignment Process will receive special consideration according to the applicable regulatory framework.
Special selection procedures may apply.
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.
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.
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