The vision of the Division of Health Promotion, Disease Prevention and Care (PPC) is to advance health for all by anticipating change and integrating promotion, prevention and care across all health and disease areas to address today's greatest health burdens and tomorrow's challenges. Within PPC Division, the Department of Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal, Child, Adolescent and Ageing Health (LHR) aims to advance a more just and equitable world where human rights are upheld and every person can achieve health, realize their rights, and live with dignity across the life course by harnessing science, generating and interpreting evidence, monitoring global trends, establishing international norms, and shaping integrated systems that enable individuals to thrive from birth through older age. Within the LHR Department, the UNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP) is the main instrument within the United Nations system for identifying research priorities on sexual and reproductive health and rights; for promoting, conducting, evaluating and coordinating related interdisciplinary research; for collaborating with countries to build national capacity to conduct research; and for promoting the use of research results in policy making and sexual and reproductive health and rights programmes. The Department draws on HRP research and global expertise to generate evidence, strengthen health systems, and impact lives through work to set norms and standards and develop global guidelines, and to support programme development in sexual and reproductive health and rights. More information about LHR and HRP can be found at https://www.who.int/hrp. The HRP Secretariat (SRT) supports the systems of HRP governance and accountability, strategy and operational delivery and works with HRP's UN cosponsor agencies, governing bodies and partners to optimize efficiency, effectiveness and impact across HRP's agenda. The Secretariat is responsible for HRP's governing and advisory bodies, HRP research governance and quality, SRHR horizon scanning and priority setting, strategic and operational planning, finance and administration, knowledge mobilization, digitalization and AI adoption, global advocacy, fundraising, partner engagement and HRP results tracking, reporting and improvement.
(1) Provide assistance in the financial planning, management and reporting of HRP projects and in the development, monitoring and implementation of work plans:
Assist the Programme Officer in developing the budget and coordinating the work planning process;
Assist in the management of the HR/staff plan and costing; assist in monitoring implementation in GSM/SPM;
Prepare and provide regular reports to senior staff on financial implementation of projects and individual analyses on demand, based on cash flow and resources monitoring; provide advice on budget reprogramming as required;
Assist in ensuring that all project expenditures comply with work plans and budgets, and provide procedural guidance to all departmental staff in the application of financial guidelines; review RP2 research project budgets and the narrative budget justification to make sure that they are error free, align with each other and assure value for money;
Review financial reports submitted by institutions working under TSA arrangements, and follow up as needed to ensure compliance with WHO procedure and generally accepted reporting standards;
Assist the Unit Heads in forecasting financial requirements in the context of new projects and provide costings accordingly;
Conduct regular monitoring of transactions for inter-regional projects and compile financial reports and statements;
Assist in award management by award creation, distribution and workplan funding, and to follow-up on payments due from donors;
Assist in encumbrance management by providing periodic reports to departmental staff and take necessary action.
(2) Assist the Programme Officer, Unit Heads and Director on financial matters encountered in the course of project implementation:
Review documents with financial implications for the Department to ensure accuracy and adherence to WHO rules and procedures, proposing modifications as appropriate;
Respond to routine and ad hoc queries on budget and finance related issues, prepare financial information on request;
Review and analyze financial implementation with special attention to award end date, reporting due date and outstanding encumbrances.
(3) Liaise with departmental, divisional and other staff as needed for the collation of cross cutting data and financial information needs required for ad hoc analyses, for example for external evaluations and external audits;
(4) Perform all other related duties as requested.
Essential: Completion of secondary or commercial school with a focus on administration and accountancy.
Desirable:
Training in UN accounting/finance systems is an advantage.
Formal training and/or certification in accounting or financial management an asset.
Essential:
At least eight years of experience in relevant administrative and finance positions, including several years' experience in budget and finance.
Experience of working with an Enterprise Resource Planning platform, e.g., Oracle, SAP.
Desirable: Experience of working in WHO or a United Nations Organization is an asset.
Demonstrated skills and knowledge in budget, finance and procurement with the ability to produce and analyse data and recommend appropriate actions.
Mature judgment and ability to detect shortcomings and anomalies and recommend remedial actions in line with WHO financial rules and regulations.
Very good knowledge and skills in the use of modern integrated ERP systems; exceptional skills in numeracy; knowledge of standard accounting practices; strong computer skills including Excel.
Ability to work under pressure with tight deadlines.
Sound judgment, integrity and tact in dealing with others.
Ability to maintain/update and learn new computer skills, either through attending courses or through self-instruction on-line.
Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Producing results
Ensuring the effective use of resources
Essential:
Expert knowledge of English
Intermediate knowledge of French
WHO offers staff in the General Services category an attractive remuneration package, which for the above position includes an annual net base salary starting at CHF 87,183 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable) and 30 days of annual leave.
Staff members separated due to the 2025 Prioritization and Realignment Process will receive special consideration according to the applicable regulatory framework.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
This post is subject to local recruitment and will be filled by persons recruited in the local commuting area of the duty station.
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