Health System Strengthening Officer

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 primary goal is to ensure that all people can attain the highest possible level of health, focusing on universal health coverage, health emergencies, and promoting healthier populations.

Job Overview:
The Health System Strengthening (HSS) position is designed to support the recovery, resilience, and sustainability of Syria's national health system, aiming to promote progress towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC). The incumbent will work closely with local authorities and partners to ensure that vulnerable populations have access to quality and affordable healthcare. This role involves building local capacity and fostering long-term development within Syria's fragmented health system. The incumbent will contribute to policy analysis, development, and implementation, while also enhancing planning efficiency and equity in resource mobilization and monitoring.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The incumbent will perform a variety of responsibilities, including:

• Collaborating with WHO Country Office colleagues and health partners to strengthen health system governance, access to medicines, health workforce, health financing, and service delivery.
• Managing the implementation of the EU-funded health system recovery program (BUSLA), ensuring compliance with donor requirements for reporting and evaluation.
• Supporting the Ministry of Health (MoH) and partners in building governance and management capacities at all levels.
• Generating evidence and best practices for low-cost, high-impact health interventions that promote UHC.
• Assisting in the implementation of the Syria National Primary Health Care Strategy 2023-202
• Supporting policy and planning interventions in line with global health standards.
• Conducting assessments to map health resources and improve primary health care services.
• Developing plans for operationalizing humanitarian, development, and peace nexus (HDPN) in primary health care.
• Collaborating with the MoH and partners to enhance service delivery. 1
• Establishing linkages between the MoH and international public health institutes. 1
• Strengthening the institutional capacity of the Centre for Strategic Studies and Health Training of the MoH. 1
• Organizing capacity-building activities in essential public health functions. 1
• Developing project proposals for funding health system strengthening projects. 1
• Documenting lessons learned and identifying research needs in health system strengthening.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess sound knowledge of health systems, particularly in post-conflict and fragile contexts. They should have expertise in health systems reform, primary health care, and Universal Health Coverage. Proven skills in health policy development, planning, monitoring, and evaluation are essential. The ability to provide methodological and technical advice to stakeholders is crucial, along with strong communication skills to convey complex concepts effectively. Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and familiarity with online data collection and statistical analysis tools is also required.

Educational Background:
Essential qualifications include a university degree (Bachelor or higher) in a health discipline such as Medicine, Nursing, Dentistry, or Public Health. Desirable qualifications include postgraduate studies in program management, which would enhance the candidate's ability to manage health programs effectively.

Experience:
Candidates should have at least 5 years of experience at the national level in health systems and/or health policy development. Desirable experience includes prior work with WHO, other UN agencies, health cluster partners, recognized humanitarian organizations, or international NGOs with expertise in health systems in fragile situations.

Languages:
Expert knowledge of English and Arabic is essential for this position. Proficiency in additional languages may be considered an asset but is not mandatory.

Additional Notes:
This position is classified as a National Professional Officer role, meaning only applications from nationals of Syria will be accepted. The remuneration for this position starts at USD 28,828.00 annually, with additional benefits including 30 days of annual leave, allowances for dependents, home leave, and an education grant for dependent children. The position may involve a written test or video assessment as part of the screening process. WHO is committed to diversity and inclusion, encouraging applications from women, persons with disabilities, and individuals from underrepresented Member States. Candidates must confirm vaccination status as required by WHO before undertaking the assignment.