Programme Management 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. With over 7,000 employees and operations in more than 150 countries, WHO plays a critical role in coordinating global health responses, providing technical assistance, and setting health standards. The organization is dedicated to building resilient health systems and enhancing global health security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security, particularly in the face of health emergencies and pandemics.

Job Overview:
The Programme Management Officer position is designed to support the effective coordination, monitoring, and delivery of the Pandemic Fund single country project portfolio in the African Region. The incumbent will play a crucial role in ensuring technical coherence, operational efficiency, and compliance across assigned projects. This position is integral to strengthening country capacity for project implementation, reporting, and results-based management. The officer will facilitate coordination among country offices, the Regional Office, Headquarters, and external stakeholders, thereby supporting WHO’s role as an Implementing Entity of the Pandemic Fund. The ultimate goal is to enhance pandemic preparedness, health emergency readiness, and health systems resilience in Member States. The officer will initially support 12 projects across multiple countries, with potential for expansion, ensuring alignment with WHO’s strategic health security priorities.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The incumbent will be responsible for a variety of tasks, including:

• Project management support, coordination, compliance, and risk management: Develop and improve project management tools, lead onboarding of new projects, maintain a consolidated tracking mechanism for assigned projects, act as the focal point between countries and WHO, consolidate weekly updates for senior management, and support risk identification and mitigation planning.
• Country capacity building and delivery support: Build capacity of project teams, support technical leads in operationalizing workplans, track country progress against performance indicators, and review country deliverables.
• Governance, Reporting, and Stakeholder Engagement: Coordinate preparation of portfolio-level briefs, synthesize technical and financial inputs for reports, liaise with regional and country offices, and support workshop planning.
• Community of Practice and Strategic Knowledge Management: Establish a community of practice, facilitate coordination meetings, document lessons learned, and maintain a repository of tools and knowledge products.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires a university degree in public health, health policy, management, or international development. An advanced degree in one of these fields is desirable. Essential qualifications include at least five years of experience managing public health programs or operations, particularly in African contexts, with a focus on strategic planning and stakeholder engagement. Proven expertise in project management, strong interpersonal skills, and the ability to work collaboratively in teams are also essential. The candidate should possess excellent analytical, writing, and presentation skills, as well as high standards of integrity and discretion.

Educational Background:
Candidates must hold a university degree in public health, health policy, management, or international development. An advanced degree in one of these fields is considered an asset and enhances the candidate's qualifications for the role.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of five years of experience in managing public health programs or operations, preferably within African contexts. The candidate should have a strong focus on strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, and policy development in emergency or humanitarian settings. Proven expertise in project management, including the ability to oversee multiple projects and manage risks, is essential. Experience working with international organizations, particularly in health emergencies, is highly desirable.

Languages:
Excellent knowledge of English is mandatory for this position. Working knowledge of French or Portuguese would be considered an asset, enhancing the candidate's ability to engage with diverse stakeholders across the African region.

Additional Notes:
The position is full-time and may involve working under pressure to meet deadlines. The role is focused on international recruitment, and candidates should be prepared for potential travel within the region. Compensation and benefits will be aligned with WHO standards, and the position offers opportunities for professional development and capacity building.