SSA National Coordinator - Support of 7th Global Ministerial Mental Health Summit

Job Posting Organization:
The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health. Established on April 7, 1948, WHO's mission is to promote health, keep the world safe, and serve vulnerable populations. The organization operates in over 150 countries and has a workforce of more than 7,000 employees. WHO's work encompasses a wide range of health issues, including mental health, infectious diseases, and health systems strengthening, among others. The organization collaborates with various stakeholders, including governments, non-governmental organizations, and international partners, to achieve its goals and improve health outcomes globally.

Job Overview:
The SSA National Coordinator will play a crucial role in the preparation, organization, delivery, and immediate follow-up of the 7th Global Ministerial Mental Health Summit scheduled to take place in March 2027 in Rwanda. This position is designed to provide dedicated national-level support, ensuring that all aspects of the summit are meticulously planned and executed. The coordinator will be responsible for maintaining planning tools, tracking agreed actions, facilitating communication among various stakeholders, and assisting with practical preparations as needed. It is important to note that this role is primarily focused on coordination and implementation support, without decision-making authority or institutional responsibility for functions that remain under the purview of WHO, the Government of Rwanda, or other designated entities. The successful candidate will work closely with various partners, including government officials, international organizations, and civil society representatives, to ensure a successful summit that addresses critical mental health issues.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The incumbent will report to the Diseases Prevention and Control cluster Team Leader and will work under the general guidance of the WHO Representative in Rwanda. Key responsibilities include:

• Developing an inception note and initial workplan within the first month of the assignment.
• Maintaining an updated rolling workplan, action tracker, contact list, issue/risk log, and pending decision list.
• Preparing brief monthly activity reports that summarize completed work, progress, key issues, risks, decisions required, and priorities for the upcoming month.
• Creating meeting agendas, notes, and action points for coordination meetings.
• Compiling consolidated coordination trackers for stakeholders, participants, speakers, logistics, and other relevant areas.
• Providing periodic readiness updates for the supervisor and relevant coordination meetings.
• Documenting on-site coordination notes and issue logs during the summit.
• Preparing a final handover package and a brief operational lessons note after the summit.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a university degree in public health, international relations, event management, project management, social sciences, health systems, mental health, development studies, business administration, or a related field. An advanced degree in public health, global health, mental health, project management, international development, or a related discipline is desirable. Additionally, candidates should have at least 5 years of relevant professional experience in project coordination, conference organization, public health program support, government liaison, international event coordination, or related areas. Experience in developing workplans, trackers, meeting notes, reports, logistics checklists, and operational tools is essential. Familiarity with national government institutions in Rwanda and experience coordinating multi-stakeholder processes involving government, UN agencies, international partners, technical experts, or civil society will be considered an asset.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a university degree in relevant fields such as public health, international relations, event management, project management, social sciences, health systems, mental health, development studies, or business administration. An advanced degree in public health, global health, mental health, project management, international development, or a related discipline is highly desirable and will enhance the candidate's qualifications for the role.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience in areas such as project coordination, conference organization, public health program support, government liaison, and international event coordination. Candidates should have a proven track record of developing workplans, trackers, meeting notes, reports, and logistics checklists. Experience working with national government institutions in Rwanda and coordinating multi-stakeholder processes involving various actors, including government, UN agencies, and civil society, is highly advantageous. Additionally, experience supporting high-level meetings, conferences, workshops, or official events will be beneficial.

Languages:
The essential language requirement for this position is excellent written and spoken English. A working knowledge of French is desirable, and knowledge of Kinyarwanda would be an advantage, as it would facilitate communication with local stakeholders and enhance the effectiveness of the coordination efforts.

Additional Notes:
The duty station for this position will be based in Kigali, Rwanda, at the WHO country offices. The expected duration of the contract is 10 months, with a monthly salary on Grade NOC and 30 days of annual leave per year. This vacancy notice may also be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level. Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted, and a written test may be used as a form of screening. Candidates selected for an interview will be required to provide scanned copies of their degree(s), diploma(s), and certificate(s) in advance. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from accredited institutions recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED). The organization is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and encourages applications from women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of underrepresented Member States.