Consultant for WHO/WPRO–Kanagawa Prefecture Collaboration

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. It 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 disease prevention, health promotion, and health systems strengthening, with a focus on achieving universal health coverage and addressing health emergencies.

Job Overview:
The consultant will play a crucial role in supporting the implementation of the collaboration between the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific (WPRO) and Kanagawa Prefecture, specifically through the ME-BYO Global Strategic Center. This position involves acting as a liaison and coordination hub with Japanese counterparts, facilitating knowledge exchange and research collaboration with domestic research institutions and WHO Collaborating Centres, and coordinating the planning and delivery of meetings, visits, and events in Japan. The consultant will be responsible for ensuring effective communication and collaboration among various stakeholders, tracking agreements and action items, and supporting the translation of research findings into practical policy options.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will have a comprehensive set of duties and responsibilities, including:

• Coordination with Japanese counterparts: Setting up and supporting regular and ad-hoc communications and meetings, tracking tri-party agreements and action items, and coordinating external announcements.
• Facilitation of research collaboration: Mapping and shortlisting potential academic and research partners in Japan, curating promising research examples, preparing tailored presentations, convening thematic workshops, and supporting knowledge-sharing initiatives.
• Exploring new collaboration with donors: Identifying potential sponsors, creating sponsor-facing materials, organizing bilateral sponsor meetings, and maintaining a sponsor engagement tracker.
• Progress tracking and reporting: Maintaining a monthly activity log, providing inputs for quarterly and annual reporting, and summarizing key interactions and issues.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires a university degree in public health, medicine, administration, international relations, political/social sciences, or a related field from a recognized university. An advanced university degree or PhD in a related field is desirable. Candidates should have a minimum of 5 years of hands-on coordination experience with government, academia, public interest corporations, or the private sector at an international level. Experience in healthy ageing and noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), brokering academic collaborations, and corporate/donor engagement is also desirable.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess a university degree in a relevant field such as public health, medicine, administration, international relations, or political/social sciences from a recognized institution. An advanced degree or PhD is preferred, indicating a higher level of expertise and knowledge in the field.

Experience:
The consultant should have at least 5 years of relevant experience in coordination roles, particularly in contexts involving government, academia, and international organizations. Experience in areas related to healthy ageing and NCDs, as well as in facilitating academic collaborations and engaging with corporate sponsors, is highly valued.

Languages:
Fluency in written and spoken English is mandatory, while native proficiency in Japanese is essential for effective communication with local stakeholders. Bilingual capabilities are necessary for preparing meeting notes, briefs, and presentations in both languages.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy is part-time (50% FTE) with a remuneration range of USD 4,000 - USD 4,500 per month. The contract duration is 10 months, from March to December 202

• The consultant will work remotely and is expected to participate in teleconference meetings and provide regular updates on work progress. Travel may be required as part of the assignment. The WHO emphasizes diversity and inclusion in its workforce and encourages applications from women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of underrepresented Member States. Candidates under serious consideration will be contacted, and a written test may be part of the screening process. WHO has a zero-tolerance policy towards abusive conduct and maintains a smoke-free environment.