WHO’s work in countries operationalizes the General Programme of Work (GPW14) and the European Programme of Work 2025-2029 (EPW2). GPW14 focuses on accelerating progress toward Health for All by strengthening systems for health, improving access to essential services, advancing preparedness and resilience, and reducing health inequalities. EPW2, endorsed at RC75 following extensive consultation with Member States, reaffirms WHO/Europe’s role in bringing unique value to countries through five core functions:
1. International knowledge hub for health – providing authoritative evidence, norms, policies and best practices from across the Region and globally to inform national public health decision-making.
2. Impartial coordinator for everyone’s health – convening national stakeholders and partners to align strategies and support coherent, multisectoral responses to shared health challenges.
3. Leader in tracking and managing cross-border health threats – supporting surveillance, preparedness, and coordinated action on public health emergencies in line with the Preparedness 2.0 agenda.
4. Driver of health system transformation – advising national authorities on evidence-informed reforms and policies that strengthen health systems and improve performance.
5. Voice for health equity – helping countries identify who is being left behind and integrating equity considerations into health policies and strategies.
In this context, WHO Country Offices enable the translation of global and regional commitments into national action. They support Member States by providing strategic advice, convening dialogue across sectors and partners, connecting national authorities with WHO’s technical expertise, and facilitating the use of evidence and best practices to inform policy.
With the overall aim of advancing progress towards Universal Health Coverage, promoting good practices in health financing and reducing financial hardship, the incumbent leads WHO's health financing work in Ukraine and provides technical advice to national counterparts on health financing policy and reform.
Key duties:
1. Coordinate and provide technical leadership for the design, implementation and monitoring of WHO's health financing workstream, as programmed in the Country Cooperation Strategy (CCS) Biennial Collaborative Agreement (BCA), including WHO's contribution to health sector coordination and national policy dialogue.
2. Provide technical advice to the Ministry of Health, the National Health Service of Ukraine (NHSU) and other national partners on the development, implementation and evaluation of health financing policies and reforms at national and subnational levels, including strategic purchasing, the design of the Programme of Medical Guarantees, public financial management, to improve health system performance, including financial protection and progress towards universal health coverage.
3. Identify and guide priority areas for collaboration, capacity development and technical assistance in health financing, and translate these priorities into deliverable and costed workplans under the CCS BCA and donor-financed projects.
4. Lead and oversee the generation and use of evidence to support health financing policy and reform. This includes overseeing the analysis of health financing data and the planning, commissioning and quality assurance of studies, policy briefs, situation analyses, reports and other technical products on health financing, health system performance, service coverage and aid effectiveness. Work closely with WHO technical programmes to ensure that evidence generated is used to inform policy advice and dialogue, as well as the monitoring and evaluation of health financing reforms.
5. Lead and oversee the effective and high-quality implementation of health financing activities under donor-financed initiatives and agreed partnerships at country level. Provide technical direction for technical assistance, policy dialogue and capacity development, ensuring that activities are aligned with agreed objectives, priorities and deliverables. Monitor implementation and results and ensure timely and appropriate reporting to relevant stakeholders and donors.
6. Represent WHO, as appropriate, in discussions with national authorities, development partners and other stakeholders on health financing. Lead and contribute to technical discussions, coordination mechanisms and policy dialogue, and strengthen collaboration among partners to support coherent implementation of health financing reforms.
7. Supervise and provide technical direction to the staff working on health financing. Assign and prioritize work, clarify responsibilities, review the quality and timeliness of technical outputs, provide feedback and guidance, and support their performance and professional development. Ensure effective coordination between their respective areas of work and coherence across the health financing portfolio.
8. Contribute to strengthening national capacity in health financing through technical guidance, knowledge sharing and capacity development activities, in collaboration with national institutions and relevant partners.
9. Organize and substantively support WHO missions, visits and high-level engagements on health financing, and follow up on agreed recommendations and actions to ensure appropriate implementation.
Essential: A university degree (Bachelor's level) in business administration, management, economics or health economics, health policy, public health, social and political sciences, with concentration in health financing.
Desirable: Master's degree or postgraduate degree in any of the above fields.
Essential: At least five years of professional experience in health systems strengthening, including substantial experience in health financing. Experience working with national health authorities, purchasing agencies, academic institutions, international organizations and/or non-governmental organizations. Demonstrated experience contributing to or providing technical input to national health financing policy processes and policy dialogue.
Desirable: Experience in WHO/UN and international agencies; Experience providing policy advice on health systems strengthening, health financing and health sector reform, particularly in transition, reform or post-crisis settings.
1. Teamwork
2. Respecting & promoting individual and cultural differences
3. Communication
4. Moving forward in a changing environment
5. Building and promoting partnerships across the Organization and beyond
Essential: Expert knowledge of English. Expert knowledge of Ukrainian.
Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of any other UN language.
Remuneration comprises an annual base salary starting at USD 64,825 (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 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.
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 is a National Professional Officer position. Therefore, only applications from nationals of the country where the duty station is located will be accepted. Applicants who are not nationals of this country will not be considered.
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