Senior Public Health Advisor

The Senior Public Health Advisor provides high-level strategic, policy, and technical support to the Director of Programme Management (DPM), contributing to the effective planning, implementation, and oversight of WHO AFRO’s programme priorities. The incumbent supports the strengthening of programme coherence, cross-cluster integration, and alignment with WHO’s General Programme of Work (GPW14) and regional strategic frameworks, ensuring quality, consistency, and results-orientation across programme management processes.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-level technical and strategic inputs to support programme planning, implementation, monitoring, and reporting processes aligned with GPW14 and AFRO strategic priorities.
• Support in strengthening policy coherence and advancing integrated programmatic approaches across clusters.
• Facilitate coordination of cross-cluster programme initiatives and workstreams to enhance coherence, efficiency, and collective impact across the Regional Office.
• Support the integration of cross-cutting priorities, including gender, equity, human rights, and data-for-action, into programme planning and implementation.
• Contribute to strengthening linkages between the Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) Cluster, the Polio Eradication programme and development clusters to support implementation of the Humanitarian–Development–Peace Nexus.
• Provide technical and coordination support to key managerial and governance platforms, including the Executive Management, Regional Programme Meeting, and Directors’ coordination mechanisms.
• Contribute to strengthening coherence and functional linkages across governance structures to enhance organizational effectiveness.
• Support coordination of strategic processes, including those related to programme budgeting, biennial work planning, and implementation tracking.
• Contribute to the preparation, technical review, and quality assurance of strategic documents, including reports, strategies, resolutions, policy briefs, and submissions to governing bodies (e.g., Regional Committee, Executive Board, and World Health Assembly).
• Ensure that outputs from the DPM Office meet WHO standards for quality, coherence, and evidence-based policy.
• Support the coordination of strategic initiatives and major regional processes led by the DPM Office, including cross-cluster programmes and special initiatives.
• Contribute to strengthening collaboration with internal and external stakeholders, including HQ, country offices, and partners, to support programme delivery and alignment.
• Perform other related responsibilities as assigned.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in public health, health policy, health systems, or a related field from an accredited/recognized institution.
• Doctorate or additional postgraduate training in medicine, public health, programme management, or related disciplines is desirable.
• At least ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in public health, programme management, or international health, including experience at the international level.
• Experience in the UN system or international organizations is desirable.
• Experience in cross-sectoral programme coordination, partnerships, and resource mobilization is desirable.
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills in public health and programme management.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate complex, multi-disciplinary programmes in an international environment.
• Proven capacity to synthesize complex information and produce high-quality policy and technical outputs.
• Ability to work effectively across organizational boundaries and manage competing priorities.
• Sound knowledge of WHO programme planning, budgeting, monitoring, and evaluation frameworks.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Expert knowledge of English and French is essential.
• Intermediate knowledge of Portuguese or any other UN official language is desirable.

Skills

• Public Health
• Health Policy
• Health Systems
• Programme Management
• International Health
• Partnership Development
• Resource Mobilization
• Strategic Thinking
• Analytical Skills
• Policy Development
• Technical Writing
• Programme Planning
• Budgeting
• Monitoring and Evaluation
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Bilingual Communication
• WHO Programme Frameworks
• Multi-sector Programme Coordination

Languages

English, French, Portuguese