Consultant in Public Health Law

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 aims to achieve universal health coverage, address health emergencies, and promote healthier populations globally.

Job Overview:
The consultant will support the Health Systems, Governance, and Financing unit in generating evidence to advocate for legal reforms necessary for Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in the African Region. This role involves conducting assessments of UHC laws in various countries, managing a repository of UHC-related laws, and producing reports that highlight gaps and propose next steps. The consultant will also coordinate with stakeholders, including parliamentarians, to validate findings and develop a synthesis report that outlines the status of UHC-related laws across the region. The position requires a strong background in public health law and the ability to produce technical documents that reflect the views of multiple stakeholders.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Update and manage the AFRO repository of country UHC-related laws and technical materials from previous assessments.
• Facilitate data collection and analysis to draft country reports that identify gaps in UHC laws and suggest actionable next steps.
• Coordinate the validation process for draft country results, ensuring participation from relevant stakeholders, including parliamentarians.
• Produce a comprehensive regional synthesis report based on the analysis of all country reports, including tailored recommendations for country-specific support.
• Develop a final assessment tool for evaluating countries' legal frameworks for UHC, incorporating lessons learned from the assessment process.
• Initiate the creation of technical resource materials to assist countries in implementing legal reforms.
• Ensure that all deliverables, including validated reports and synthesis documents, are completed and available for publication.

Required Qualifications:
Essential qualifications include a first university degree in Law and at least five years of experience in health law and policy. The candidate should demonstrate project management skills, experience in collaborative partnerships, and proficiency in donor reporting. Desirable qualifications include a postgraduate degree in Law or an advanced degree in public health, health policy, or health economics. Experience with UN agencies and international development partners, as well as exposure to health systems strengthening in resource-limited countries, is also preferred.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess a first university degree in Law. A postgraduate degree in Law or an advanced degree in a relevant field such as public health, health policy, or health economics is desirable. Educational qualifications must be from institutions recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED).

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of five years of relevant experience in health law and policy, with a strong emphasis on project management and implementation. Candidates should have demonstrated experience in promoting collaborative partnerships and managing donor reporting. Desirable experience includes working with UN agencies and international development partners, as well as exposure to health systems strengthening and UHC/SDGs in resource-limited settings.

Languages:
Essential languages include expert knowledge of English and intermediate knowledge of French. Intermediate knowledge of Portuguese is considered an advantage but is not mandatory.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy is home-based with required duty travels to various countries, which will be determined later. The contract duration is five months, with a monthly remuneration of USD 7,00

• This vacancy may also be used to identify candidates for similar consultancies at the same level. Candidates under serious consideration will be contacted, and a written test may be part of the screening process. WHO emphasizes diversity and inclusion in its workforce and encourages applications from women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of underrepresented Member States. Candidates must confirm vaccination status as required by WHO before undertaking assignments.