Purpose of the post:
To support the WHO engagement in multisectoral partnerships for environment and health. This includes, particularly, to lead the European Environment and Health Process (EHP) and the Transport, Health and Environment Pan European Programme (THE PEP, ensuring coordination and synergy with the work undertaken by WHO in relation to environment and health. To advise and guide on healthy and equitable policies, measures and strategies in public health and health systems and in other sectors, and involvement of stakeholders with clear lines of accountability and transparency; to design, organize and implement policy activities facilitating the integration of health considerations in decisions, planning and investments of Member States affecting natural and built environments, particularly in transport and mobility
The Division of Country Health Programmes (CHP) assists country efforts to reduce the burden of non-communicable and communicable diseases and address the social, economic and environmental determinants of health, and promotes policies and actions for health through stewardship of the WHO European Healthy Cities Network.
The WHO European Centre for Environment and Health in Bonn provides technical and scientific expertise on the impacts of environment on health. It delivers to countries policy advice, tools to inform and support decision -making in the areas of air quality, access to safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene, minimizing the adverse effects of chemicals, adaptation to and mitigation of climate change, environmental sustainability of health systems, urban health planning, including transport and mobility work, as well as violence and road traffic injury prevention.
The MPE Programme leads the implementation of commitments taken by Member States through multisectoral policy platforms and fosters the participation of WHO in these platforms. In particular, MPE provides secretariat functions to the European Environment and Health Process (EHP), and to the Transport, Health and Environment Pan-European Programme (THE PEP), jointly with the Unites Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). It coordinates and leverages the input of the ECEH technical programmes to the EHP and THE PEP and develops and promotes partnerships and collaboration with ministries of health, environment and transport, as well as with relevant intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, and sub-national and local levels of government. The work of the MPE programme aligns with the strategic WHO directions, as set in the 13th General Programme of Work (13 GPW), relevant WHA resolutions and roadmaps, including the Global Strategy om health, environment and climate change, and contributes to the achievement of the 2030 global Agenda for Sustainable Development. At the regional level, MPE activities align with priority areas of The European Programme of Work, 2020-2025 (EPW) – “United action for better health in Europe”; the 2017 Ostrava Declaration on Environment and Health; the 2016 New Urban Agenda; the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement; the 2002 Transport, Health and Environment Pan-European Programme.
Summary of Assigned Duties:
To support the WHO engagement in multisectoral partnerships for environment and health. This includes, particularly, to lead the European Environment and Health Process (EHP) and the Transport, Health and Environment Pan European Programme (THE PEP, ensuring coordination and synergy with the work undertaken by WHO in relation to environment and health. To advise and guide on healthy and equitable policies, measures and strategies in public health and health systems and in other sectors, and involvement of stakeholders with clear lines of accountability and transparency; to design, organize and implement policy activities facilitating the integration of health considerations in decisions, planning and investments of Member States affecting natural and built environments, particularly in transport and mobility.
Key duties:
Under the guidance of the relevant supervisors, the incumbent will assume the following responsibilities and achieve the following objectives:
Core responsibilities in assisting Member States in relation to environmental health issues, the policies in other sectors with impact on health and related to transport and health, as part of country efforts to strengthen public health systems and policies:
lead the secretariat services to the European Environment and Health Process, working closely with the European Environment and Health Task Force, its Chair and Co-chairpersons and its Bureau; lead the secretariat services to the Transport, Health and Environment Pan-European Programme (THE PEP), jointly with the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, working closely with THE PEP Steering Committee, its Chair and Co-Chairpersons and its Bureau promote coordination and synergy between the work under the European Environment and Health and the WHO engagement in relevant multilateral environmental agreements; supporting Divisional efforts to implement follow-up of the commitments taken through declarations at the various Ministerial Conferences on Environment and Health, including preparing forthcoming high-level/ministerial meetings; support Member States in the development and implementation of national policies on environment and health establish a dialogue with and provide advice to policy makers on healthy and equitable policies, measures and strategies. Advise and guide on responsibilities in public health and health systems, roles of other sectoral policies on health, and involvement of stakeholders with clear lines of accountability and transparency; articulate consistent ethical and evidence-based policy and advocacy positions and develop and implement innovative approaches, adapted to regional/country needs, in the selected technical areas; bring emerging issues and challenges in environment and health to the attention of Member States, by providing fora and platforms to discuss and address them, including policy dialogues and meetings of the EHTF, working closely with the environment and health programmes based in the ECEH; provide technical assistance with the development of mechanisms, instruments and tools (such as national health strategies and policies, monitoring and evaluation, performance assessment and performance management and approaches to enhance effectiveness of stakeholder involvement) as well as the estimation of the required resources (human, financial, infrastructure and technological) and knowledge (i.e. through research, evaluation, performance measurement and knowledge management) to build understanding and capacity for improving and assessing issues relating to environment and health (i.e. leading policy development and coordination, transforming information into intelligence and applying this to the development and assessment of health policies and strategies; mobilizing its legal and regulatory powers to attain health system goals; recommending that the health system is designed to adapt to changing needs; exerting influence across other sectors than health and advocating for better health; advocacy, knowledge transmission and advice for the enhancement of the capacities and skills of health ministries and other authorities in carrying out their functions, and in areas related to environment and health and health.
Competences
Teamwork; respecting diversity; communication; building partnerships; creating empowering environments.
Educational requirements
Essential: University degree (Master-s level) in public health, environmental health, epidemiology, natural sciences, or related disciplines.
Desirable: Post graduate degree in one of the above disciplines or post-graduate training in public health, environmental health or other relevant areas.
Experience
Essential: At least ten years of relevant work experience attaining senior managerial rank in environment and health at national and international levels. This includes practical experience implementing or advising on key domains of environment and health or public health. Experience with development, implementation or support to the administration of relevant international environmental agreements, and/or policy platforms on environment and health. Demonstrated experience advising on environment and health policies and their technical aspects.
Desirable: Experience on advising in environmental emergencies in lower and middle-income countries.Experience working in multi-national environment and health partnerships and/or implementation of multilateral environmental conventions and agreements concerning health. Demonstrated track record of publications in environment and health or other related fields.Experience in resource mobilization. Experience in project planning, coordination, budgeting and management;
Languages
Fluency in English required. Working/intermediate knowledge of either French, Russian or German is an asset.
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 88,162 (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 2689 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.
This vacancy is archived.