Unit Lead (Disability and Rehabilitation)

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The Division of Country Health Policiesand Systems (CPS) assistscountries in the Region with the design and implementation of appropriatehealth policies and systems to strengthen universal health coverage. It worksto strengthen data-driven, evidence-informed, contextually tailored healthpolicy development and implementation at national, regional and local levels,taking an inclusive approach across the life course.

The Division advocatesstrengthening of public health leadership, focusing on implementing policiesthat are people centred, promote health, prevent illness, and address thesocial and economic determinants of health, while fostering leadership onequity, human rights and gender mainstreaming in health. It focuses on buildingcapacity for health systems innovation to enable the sustainable delivery ofhigh-quality primary health and community services that are effectively linkedto hospitals, and mental health, public health and social care services.

To doso, CPS supports country efforts to facilitate access so as to leave nobodybehind, to improve financial protection, to strengthen the health workforce, toincrease access to affordable medicines and technologies, and to promote theuptake and implementation of digital technology.The WHO country office works with the National Authorities toachieve the highest standard of health as a fundamental human right, based onequity and on SDGs principle of leaving no one behind.

WHO actions areengrained in the WHO 13th General Programme of Work with its 3 prong objectivesof promoting healthier populations, keeping the world safe through addressinghealth emergencies, and protecting the vulnerable through Universal HealthCoverage. WHO's mandate revolves around six core functions:

(i) providingGlobal 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 assessinghealth trends. The WHO Country Office is an integral part of the WHO RegionalOffice for Europe. Its main role is to facilitate and coordinate all WHOactivities at country level and to implement the European Programme of Work2020-2025 -“United Action for Better Health in Europe” which sets out a visionof how the WHO Regional Office for Europe can better support countries inmeeting citizens' expectations about health.

WHO at country level delivers this through practical,actionable and country focused solutions to health challenges, keeping inperspective that achieving health and well-being is a whole-of-societyendeavour; This is done through facilitating the implementation of the BiennialCollaborative Agreement with the country and its corresponding workplan.

TheWHO Country Office maintains good working relations and ensures informationexchange between the country and WHO, policy and strategic guidance on Healthissues to all national and international partners in the country, provision ofdirect technical expertise when needed and aims at more community engagementand participation, and to promote health equity.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

To lead the WHO Ukraine Country Offices' Rehabilitation and DisabilityUnit, of the Health Programs team, to implement the 5-year Rehabilitation,Assistive Technologies, Long Term Care and Disability Strategy in Ukraine. To provide technical support and assist the Government of Ukraine in improving the health of people with impairments and disabilities through access to general health services as well as rehabilitation, assistive devices and disabilityinclusion, and to increase evidence-based policy and program decision-makingthrough improved data and appropriate information systems.

Key duties

• Provide leadership and coordination for the WHO rehab and disability team and visiting consultants, to ensure all activities are aligned with WHO's 5-year strategy and monitoring framework and that any emergency interventionspromote longer-term heath system strengthening in Ukraine.
• Provide direct technical and methodological support todevelop/strengthen rehabilitation services for key stakeholders.
• Provide technical support to strengthen WHO's approach to specialized rehabilitation for patients with traumatic and other injuries and to non-specialized rehab at primary andsecondary levels by:
• Supporting leadership of the Rehabilitation Working Group (RWG) by strengthening service mapping and identification of gaps.
• Maintainingup to date information on centres and organizations providing rehabilitation services and assistive products.
• Improving referral pathways of trauma patients, working with rehab partners and clinical stakeholders in eastern oblasts.
• In collaboration with WHO logistics and procurement teams support the provision of essential equipment and AT to raise capacity of inpatient rehabilitation settings and promote AT access in the community inmultiple Oblasts of Ukraine.
• Support recruitment and deployment of WHO consultancy and other staff, including multi-disciplinary international rehabilitation teams.
• Support development of project proposals and project implementation,monitoring and evaluation plans ensuring alignment with the WHO Ukraine 5-year rehab and disability monitoring framework.
• Support further resourcemobilization for Ukraine CO. Providetechnical support to strengthen WHO's disability inclusion strategy by:
• Providing technical support to the UN Disability Task Team (DTT) coordination body; andimplementation of the new WHO disability inclusion project in partnership withOPDs, NGOs and UN agencies.
• Identify and communicate priorities, plans, needs andconcerns related to the emergency health response, recommending coordination mechanisms, training and improvements to the country's response.
• This will include ongoing need assessments and response planning.
• Support the national rehabilitation and disability technicalofficer to influence rehabilitation and AT policy development in Ukraine.
• Contribute to the development of country and regional evidence and data on disability and rehabilitation including vision and hearing impairment.
• Oversee, enhance, implement, monitor and evaluate the European regional workon Disability and Rehabilitation.\
• Develop and recommend norms and procedures concerning the technical aspects of disabilities and rehabilitation services.
• Representt he Organization in technical meetings, seminars and academic events in thearea of disabilities and rehabilitation programs.
• Perform other related responsibilities and duties within the scope ofthe work as required by the supervisors.

Education

Essential : Advanced University(Master`s level) degree in rehabilitation, public health, medicine, or relatedareas relevant to the position.

Desirable : Additionalpost-graduate qualification in management.

Experience

Essential : At least seven yearsof experience at the international level in planning, implementing, managing andevaluating programmes in disability and rehabilitation. Practical experience inimplementing or advising health or governmental institutions, NGOs, etc. onrehabilitation and assistive technology, such as wheelchairs or prostheticdevices, in lower- and middle-income countries.

Desirable : Relevantexperience working with WHO, the United Nations, orother multi development agencies which are active in the field of disability, rehabilitationand assistive technology. Professional experience working in countries withinthe WHO European Region.

Skills

• Excellent knowledge of the technical area of rehabilitation, assistivetechnology, disability and community-based service development and good general knowledge of public health from a national and international perspective.
• Ability to work comfortably in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated knowledge of standard text, spreadsheet and presentationsoftware applications.
• Emotional intelligence; Ability to identify and manage one's ownemotions, as well as helping others to do the same.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork

• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
• Communication
• Producing results
• Moving forward in a changing environment
• Creating an empowering and motivating environment

Use of Language Skills

Essential : Expert knowledge of English.

Desirable : Beginners knowledge of Russian.

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 86,027 (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 3,055 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.
• 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 eManual.
• 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.
• In case the website does not display properly, please retry by: (i) checking that you have the latest version of the browser installed (Chrome, Edge or Firefox); (ii) clearing your browser history and opening the site in a new browser (not a new tab within the same browser); or (iii) retry accessing the website using Mozilla Firefox browser or using another device. Click this link for detailed guidance on completing job applications: Instructions for candidates