OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME


The Department of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health and Ageing supports a world where by 2030, every woman, newborn, child, adolescent and aging person in every setting realizes their rights to physical and mental health and well-being. This will be achieved by supporting WHO's General Programme of Work and universal health coverage for all. The department provides support to countries with a focus on high burden countries to ensure evidence-based policies and strategies are in place to achieve universal access to high quality health services for maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health and ageing (MNCAH&A), and increase coverage and quality of effective MNCAH&A interventions among pregnant women, newborns, children, adolescents, young adults and older people, and to create mechanisms to measure the impact of those strategies.


DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

 

  • Leads development of tools to facilitate knowledge transfer and skills building of relevant cadres who provide midwifery services.
     
  • Provides specialized technical support to Member States through the Regional Offices, to strengthen policy formulation, strategy development, and programming capacities at national level for improved maternal and newborn health services.
     
  • Supports countries that wish to transition to a midwifery model of care with evidence-based policy, programmatic and monitoring guidance and support.
     
  • Leads development of approaches to streamline midwifery workforce planning, particularly related to midwifery services, for maternal and newborn health into national strategy and planning processes, in close collaboration with other relevant WHO departments and with partners.
     
  • Contributes to developing the evidence-base for midwifery, and other, effective interventions to improve maternal and newborn health, as well as sexual and reproductive health of adolescents, including continuity of maternal and newborn care and networks of care.
     
  • Contributes to development of midwifery research priorities Provides technical support to Member States for the implementation of programmes to ensure universal access and coverage of quality midwifery care during pre-pregnancy, pregnancy, childbirth and in the postnatal period (women and newborns), ensuring a continuum of care and integrated delivery of services.
     
  • Provides technical support to Member States in the implementation of programs for adolescent sexual and reproductive health including prevention of early pregnancies.
     
  • Provides oversight and technical support to build global expertise and recognition of midwifery as a distinct profession.
     
  • Builds new, and expands existing, partnerships in midwifery, promoting WHO and the Regional Offices as a leading source of innovation and excellence in programme delivery; acts as the WHO DTO for the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) and strengthens collaboration with related professional bodies.
     
  • Collaborates closely with other programmes within WHO, international organizations and partners in providing backstopping support to countries.
     
  • Collects and systematically analyses country experiences and monitor progress in implementing MNH programmes with special attention to midwifery.
     
  • As part of resource mobilization initiatives, develops proposals to enlist donors' support under the guidance of the supervisor.

    Main achievements include:

    • Supports Member States in the policy development related to midwifery services and transitioning to midwifery models of care, continuous review and updating of technical interventions;
    • Integrates programmatic guidelines for implementation of MNH interventions;
    • Ensures that the highest technical standards are consistently reflected in WHO's work on midwifery.in support of better MNH outcomes.


      REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS


      Education


      Essential:

    • Degree in midwifery or nurse midwifery.
  • Advanced degree (Master-level or Ph.D.) in public health-related science or another health technical field directly relevant to the profile of this position.


    Desirable:

  • Postgraduate training in health systems development or international health or health research.

     

    Experience


    Essential:

  • A minimum of ten years' experience in maternal and newborn health services, including the practice of midwifery including clinical services, managing, supervision and teaching of midwives with demonstrated experience at both the global and in low- and middle-income country settings.
Demonstrated experience in planning and managing midwifery programmes/projects at country level in low- or middle-income settings. At least 10 peer-reviewed publications in the areas of midwifery and/or maternal and newborn health programmes or other relevant subject areas.


Desirable:

Experience in resource mobilization. Experience working with different intergovernmental agencies. Experience in leading and participating in related international working groups.

 

Skills

Extensive technical knowledge of midwifery, midwifery models of care, the management of midwifery services and maternal and newborn health programs, training and education of the midwifery workforce with midwifery competencies, as well as the broad determinants of maternal and newborn health. Excellent knowledge and practice of research, policy development, planning, and programme management particularly in relation to maternal, newborn, and health programming. Excellent knowledge of the theories, principles, methods and process of human resources development particularly in strengthening midwifery care services and the distinct profession of the midwife. Skills in comprehensive development and implementation of midwifery education and training, including leadership, policy, data analysis, monitoring and evaluation. Good negotiation skills and advocacy and demonstrated ability to work in multicultural and multidisciplinary settings and excellent inter-personal skills.

 

WHO Competencies

Teamwork Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences Communication Producing results Driving the Organization's Position in Health Leadership

 

 

Use of Language Skills


Essential:

Expert knowledge of English.


Desirable:

Intermediate knowledge of French. Intermediate knowledge of other WHO language.

 

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 90,664 (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 5938 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

 

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 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. Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and Manual. Staff members in other duty stations are encouraged to apply. For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int. WHO is committed to workforce diversity. 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. WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco. WHO has a mobility policy which can be found at the following link: http://www.who.int/employment/en/. Candidates appointed to an international post with WHO are subject to mobility and may be assigned to any activity or duty station of the Organization throughout the world. Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.

This vacancy is archived.

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